Tag: Bengali

We will never accept linguistic terrorism: Mamata Banerjee in Bolpur

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From Rabindranath Tagore’s Birbhum, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress Chairperson Mamata Banerjee launched the movement to protect the Bengali language. She led a nearly 4-kilometre-long protest march in Bolpur. It around 2 pm from the Tourist Lodge Crossing and ended at Jambani Bus Stand.

Leaders carried portraits of Rabindranath Tagore and the Bengali alphabet, and marched to the tune of Pratul Mukhopadhyay’s unforgettable song, ‘Ami Banglay Gaan Gai’ (‘I sing in Bengali”). At the end of the march, Mamata Banerjee addressed a public meeting from the stage.

Highlights of her speech:

I thank and congratulate everyone who participated in the march. I am overwhelmed by your love.

I am proud to be born in Bengal. May I remain one with this soil, and continue to walk this path with everyone and speak for everyone.

In the freedom movement, Bengal and its people led the way—and now you’ve forgotten Bengal? I won’t name anyone. Those who understand, will understand. How could you forget Bengal’s contribution?

They demolished the house of Dwarkanath Tagore—is that acceptable? I’ll ask the Bolpur Development Authority to instal a plaque there.

I know the culture of Santiniketan, Visva-Bharati, Jorasanko.

If we can shelter people, why can’t you? Twenty-two lakh migrant workers from Bengal work outside the state.

They’re calling whoever they feel like ‘Bangladeshi’ and ‘Rohingya’, and pushing them to Bangladesh—even when these people have all the citizenship documents. Why this harassment?

Don’t forget history, don’t forget Bengal’s significance.

When you go to Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, Maldives and hug people while giving money—do you check if they’re Hindu or Muslim?

In Delhi, a family is being harassed by being dragged to different police stations. People in the Bengali colonies there are being told to leave the state. A minority-community person was killed and stuffed into a sack in Maharashtra. Is this how your ‘double engine’ government works?

A big plan is underway—using something called SIR (Special Intensive Revision) to blacklist people and thus implement NRC.

I have no right to interfere in other states’ affairs, and I don’t.

But they’re sitting in Gujarat and making lists of Bengalis. Labelling them Rohingyas and deleting crores of names. Where did so many Rohingyas suddenly come from?

Does everyone speak the same language? No. Go to villages in Birbhum, Murshidabad, Bardhaman, visit the Rajbanshis, the Matuas—people of each region has a distinct dialect.

I’m not against any language, and I oppose any divisive policy. I want unity in the country. We in India have a proud tradition of unity in diversity.

People who came legally from Bangladesh after independence—up to March 1971—still speak with that accent. The subcontinent was united once. Now there’s Bangladesh, Pakistan and India. We are citizens of India.

I do not want any division. The country is not anyone’s private estate, to do as they please; it belongs to its people.

Try removing even one name from Bengal’s electoral rolls, and I’ll raise the war cry.

In Assam, seven lakh names were deleted from electoral rolls.

Don’t harass people. As long as I’m alive, I won’t allow NRC or detention camps in Bengal.

They earn money by defaming people while calling others thieves; they are using central agencies to do whatever they please.

If needed, I’ll give my life, but I won’t let anyone harm the Bengali language. This language is the backbone of our culture.

The fight is on, and it will continue. I urge those who are being harassed in other states to come back to Bengal. Call the police helpline—I’ll bring you back on trains, I’ll give you a chance to live.

We don’t have divisions amongst us; we live in harmony and with solidarity.

This worthless policy of theirs will destroy the country. This government won’t last till 2029. Hope they have decided the place where you will go when ousted from power. The Centre is controlling the Election Commission.

In many states, our people are being harassed just for speaking Bengali. We will never accept linguistic terrorism.

 

Mamata Banerjee slams the BJP on NRC issue

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Bangla Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack against BJP president Amit Shah on the NRC issue on Tuesday.

Speaking at Nabanna, the state secretariat, she questioned the BJP chief and asked whether his parents had birth certificates.

The brutal attack came after Mamata Banerjee met a delegation from United Bengali Forum who had come from Assam to highlight their plight over the NRC issue.

“I want to ask Amit Shah, does his mother and father have birth certificates? If you ask me, I do not have my parent’s birth certificates. Would Swami Vivekananda have the certificates? Atal ji is ill now, so I cannot ask him, but I wish I could ask him whether he has all the certificates? One family can keep the record, not all. I belonged to a backward family, certificates were not maintained,” Mamata Banerjee said. She also said, “Would Gandhiji’s family have certificates?”

She went on to call the entire NRC exercise as politically motivated. “This is a political move ahead of the elections. Sometimes they (the Centre) will play India-Pakistan, sometimes they will play India-China. I am also hearing that they are getting the currency notes printed outside the country,” the CM alleged.

She alleged that Bengali-speaking population was being targeted. She claimed a majority of the 40 lakh who did not make it to the Assam draft list were a Bengali-speaking people.

“Of the total 40 lakh, 25 lakhs are Bengali Hindus, 13 lakhs Bengali Muslims and 2 lakh Nepalis, Biharis and others. I have shown you so many documents. People in Punjab and Pakistan speak the same language. People in Bengal and Bangladesh speak the same language. Isn’t Hindi and Urdu widely spoken in the country? If you do not like a particular community, you cannot spread hatred like this. Hasina ji (Bangla PM) is welcome, others not? Didn’t Bengal participate in the freedom struggle? What’s wrong in speaking the Bangla language?” she said.

She further said that even cows should now be given certificates to identify whether a cow is a refugee or an infiltrator. “My question is to all the Gau-rakshaks, is cow a refugee or an infiltrators. Make certificates for cows so that we know whether they are refugees or infiltrators. Amit Shah may not eat Hilsa fish. But people in Bangladesh, Bengal, UP and Bihar eat Hilsa fish. Is Hilsa a refugee or an infiltrator? This is super-emergency,” she claimed.

KMC to introduce computers in its schools

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Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will soon introduce computer education in its schools. The syllabus in this regard has already been prepared by the Education Department of the civic body.

The Member Mayor-in-Council (MMiC) Education said that the syllabus has been framed in accordance with the computer syllabus of the State primary schools that are run by the West Bengal Board of Primary Education. Also, the syllabus has been prepared in three languages: Hindi, Bengali and English.

The KMC plans to start computer education in nearly 50 schools at first and then proceed further.

 Source: Millennium Post

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Grouper fish to complement bhetki this winter

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The State Fisheries Department has decided to serve a new type of fish on the plates of Bengalis this winter – grouper. The hatchlings are being procured from Visakhapatnam. They would be reared at the government hatchery in Fraserganj.
The reason for focusing on grouper is that it tastes just like an eternal favourite of Bengalis – bhetki. The government’s aim is to satisfy part of the high demand for bhetki with grouper. This would prevent unscrupulous traders from hiking up the price of bhetki to unreasonable levels – something they are wont to during winter, when the demand is high.
To initiate the project, a few lakh hatchlings would be bought by the Bengal Government this March. The Trinamool Congress Government has been putting a lot of stress in the farming of fish as well as on its exporting. Then, a lot of restaurants and ready-to-eat outlets are opening up in Kolkata and its outskirts as well as across the state, many by the State Government too, creating a huge demand for bhetki, among other types of fishes. Hence, the potential for grouper is quite high.
The whole project is being overseen by the State Fisheries Development Corporation (SFDC). According to officials of SFDC, the tastes of both the fishes are similar and hence the grouper’s price too would be at the same level as the bhetki’s. SFDC officials expect grouper to capture the hearts and minds of Bengalis soon.

আগামী শীতে ভেটকির বদলে নতুন মাছ গ্রুপার

 

আগামী শীতে বাঙালির পাতে নতুন মাছ পৌঁছে দিতে উদ্যোগী রাজ্য মৎস্য উন্নয়ন নিগম। বিশাখাপত্তনম থেকে আনা হচ্ছে নতুন মাছের চারা। এই মাছের নাম গ্রুপার। এই চারা নিয়ে যাওয়া হবে ফ্রেজারগঞ্জ হ্যাচারিতে। সেখানেই এই মাছের চাষ করবে নিগম।

এই মাছ দেখতে ভেটকি মাছের মতো। স্বাদও একই রকম। শীতের সময় যেভাবে ভেটকি মাছের চাহিদা বাড়ে, তাঁর সঙ্গে পাল্লা দিয়ে জোগান দেওয়া যায় না, এই ঘাটতি মেটাতেই এই নতুন মাছের কথা ভাবা হয়েছে।

নিগমের বক্তব্য অনুযায়ী, এই মাছের স্বাদ ভেটকি মাছের থেকেও ভালো, তাই, আশা করা যাচ্ছে বাঙালির পাতে এই মাছ সহজেই জায়গা করে নেবে। এই মাছের বৃদ্ধির হার একটু কম, তাই এক দেড় কিলোর মাছ পেতেও অন্তত শীতকাল পর্যন্ত অপেক্ষা করতে হবে।

ভেটকি মাছের মতোই এই মাছের দাম রাখা হবে বলে মনে করা হচ্ছে।

Source: Khabar 365 Din

Joynagarer moa to be sold in foreign countries soon

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Joynagarer moa, that is, moa (a type of sweet roasted-rice-based ball) from Joynagar, is a traditional favourite among Bengalis. It is available only during the winter season, when the ingredients are available. Now, with the help of the State Government, this traditional sweetmeat is going to be exported.

Being unique to Joynagar in South 24 Parganas district, the sweetmeat got a geographical indication (GI) tag, for which process the Bengal Government had played an active part.

Over the last few years, this unique sweet is being widely marketed. Significantly, it is available in the Biswa Bangla Stores at the airports, as a result of which foreign tourists too have got a taste of it, and have appreciated it as well.

This goodwill would now be put to good use, as packets of moa are going to be exported.

Packets would also be more widely available in the state, in shopping malls, departmental stores and big sweet shops.

Source: Bartaman

এবার বিদেশে পাড়ি দেবে রাজ্যের জি.আই. প্রাপ্ত জয়নগরের মোয়া

বাংলার রসগোল্লার মতেই বাঙালির অত্যন্ত প্রিয় জয়নগরের মোয়া। রসগোল্লার আগেই জিওগ্রাফিক্যাল ইন্ডিকেশনের খেতাব (জিআই) পেয়েছে জয়নগরের মোয়া। আর জিআই পাওয়ার পর এই প্রথম বিদেশের বাজারে পাড়ি দিতে চলেছে ‘জয়নগরের মোয়া’।

এই ডিসেম্বরেই নলেন গুড় ও কনকচূড় ধান দিয়ে তৈরি প্যাকেট করা মোয়া দক্ষিণ শহরতলির সীমানা ছাড়িয়ে রপ্তানির জন্য পাড়ি দেবে। বিশেষভাবে তৈরি প্রতিটি প্যাকেটে ১০টি করে মোয়া থাকবে। যার একটির দাম পড়বে ২০ টাকা। পাশাপাশি এবারই প্রথম কলকাতার বড় বড় শপিং মল, বিপণি ও প্রতিষ্ঠিত মিষ্টির দোকানেও জিআই-এর লোগোসহ জয়নগরের মোয়া পাওয়া যাবে। জানা গিয়েছে, বিদেশে মোয়া পাঠানোর বিষয়ে প্রাথমিক পর্যায়ে উদ্যোগ নিয়েছে জেলা শিল্প কেন্দ্র।

দীর্ঘ লড়াইয়ের পর ২০১৫ সালের ২৩ মার্চ স্বত্ব স্বীকৃতি হিসাবে ‘মোয়ার’ জিআ‌ই পায় জয়নগর মোয়া নির্মাণকারী সোসাইটি। তার আড়াই বছর পর প্রথম সেই জয়নগরের মোয়াকে দেশের বাইরে পাঠানোর প্রস্তুতি নিয়েছে দক্ষিণ ২৪ পরগনা জেলা শিল্প কেন্দ্র। প্রথম পর্যায়ে বাংলাদেশ দিয়ে এর যাত্রা শুরু হচ্ছে। পরবর্তী সময়ে ব্রিটেন ও অন্য দেশগুলিতে পাঠানোর বিষয়ে চিন্তাভাবনা চলছে।

রাজ্য সরকারের বিশ্ব বাংলা মার্কেটিং কর্পোরেশনের হাত ধরে জয়নগরের মোয়া প্রথম দমদম বিমানবন্দরের বিশ্ববাংলা বিপণিতে জায়গা পেয়েছিল। সেখান থেকে বিদেশ ও দেশের বিভিন্ন প্রান্তের মানুষ সেই মোয়া কিনেছেন। তার ফলে এবার চাহিদা আরও বেড়েছে। এমনিতে অনলাইনে মোয়া কেনার ব্যবস্থা করা হয়েছে। এর বাইরে এবার বিশ্ব বাংলা মার্কেটিং কর্পোরেশন আগে থেকে মোয়ার অর্ডার দিয়ে রেখেছে। এছাড়া কলকাতার বেশ কয়েকটি নামী শপিং মল ও একটি মিষ্টির দোকান জয়নগরের মোয়া কিনবে বলে চুক্তি করছে।

Nolen gurer payesh by State Govt and Mother Dairy

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This winter sweet-lovers are in for a real treat. The Bengal Government and Mother Dairy (now owned by the State Government) are together creating a branded nolen gurer payesh that is, rice pudding with nolen gur flavouring, an eternal favourite among Bengalis.

The rich payesh would be made with gobindobhog rice, cashews, raisins and cardamom; and instead of sugar there would be nolen gur, which is available only during the winter months.

The venture would also manufacture normal payesh, made with sugar. Nolen gurer payesh would be priced at Rs 25 per cup, and the sugar payesh at Rs 20.

Source: Dainik Jugasankha

শীতের মরসুমে বাজারে আসছে নলেন গুড়ের পায়েস

রসগোল্লার জিআই রেজিস্ট্রেশনের পর ফের মিষ্টি প্রেমী বাঙালিদের জন্য সুখবর। গতবারের পর ফের এবার শীতের মরসুমে বাজারে আসছে মাদার ডেয়ারির নলেন গুড়ের পায়েস।

জন্মদিন হোক বা ঠাকুর পুজো, এলাচের গন্ধ ওয়ালা দুধ ও গোবিন্দভোগ চাল দিয়ে তৈরি এই দেবভোগ্য খাবার পাতের পাশে স্বমহিমায় হাজির থাকে ৷ এর সঙ্গে নলেন গুড়ের যুগলবন্দি হলে তো কথাই নেই ৷ বাড়িতে বাড়িতে এই নলেন গুড়ের পায়েস ছিল শীতকালের খাবার মেনুর সেরা আকর্ষণ ৷ পুরনো দিনের সেই স্বাদ নিয়েই মাদার ডেয়ারি ফের হাজির করেছে নলেন গুড়ের পায়েস ৷ হেঁশেলের রেসিপি থেকেই তৈরি হয়েছে এই পায়েস ৷

ডিসেম্বর থেকেই মাদার ডেয়ারি ও বিভিন্ন সরকারি স্টলে মিলবে এই পায়েস। পায়েসের দাম রাখা হয়েছে পঁচিশ টাকা। চিনি দিয়ে তৈরি পায়েসের দাম রাখা হয়েছে ২০ টাকা। জানিয়েছেন প্রাণী সম্পদ বিকাশ মন্ত্রী।

গতবার শীতে মাদার ডেয়ারিতে প্রথম চালু হয়েছিল গুড়ের পায়েস। আত্মপ্রকাশের পরই মিষ্টি বিলাসী বাঙালির মন জয় করে নেয় নলেন গুড়ের গন্ধ মাখানো এই পায়েস৷ এবার ফের বাজারে আসছে সুস্বাদু নলেন গুড়ের পায়েস।

Bengal Govt makes Bangla language compulsory from Class I to X in all schools

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The Bengal State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee called an urgent press conference on Monday night and said that all schools in West Bengal irrespective of boards would have to have three languages from Class I to X, one of which would have to be Bengali.

“From now, every student would compulsorily need to learn Bengali in schools. English medium schools will have Bengali as an optional subject, either as a second or third language, from Class I,” the Education Minister said. Every student would compulsorily need to learn Bengali in schools, he said.

The seven languages offered in schools affiliated to the West Bengal board at present are Bengali, English, Hindi, Urdu, Nepali, Alchiki and Gurumukhi.

According to the new rule, students who have any other language other than Bengali as their first language, would have to opt for two more languages, one of which would have to be Bengali.

It has been decided because we have received complaints that Bengali language was not an option at several schools here,” the Education Minister said.

He also said that legalities of the decision were being looked into and he was hopeful that a clearance by the state cabinet would be good enough to put it in force.

 

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee put up a post of Facebook today regarding the language issue, which is reproduced below:

Bengal respects all languages and languages of all States. Our three language formula shows how we really do…

India is a vast country and the strength of our nation is unity in diversity. We must respect every mother tongue and also give every regional language its importance. We believe in the freedom of choice and the three language formula.

Students have the freedom to take any language of their choice as a first language, second or third language.

If the student choses Bengali, Hindi, English, Urdu , Gurmukhi, Nepali, Alchiki as a first language, he/she may opt for two other languages of their choice. One of the three languages would have to be Bengali.The two other choices are completely dependent on what the students chooses.

This method would enable them to reach regional, national and international standards.

 

 

রাজ্যের সমস্ত স্কুলে দশম শ্রেণী পর্যন্ত ‘বাংলা’ বাধ্যতামূলক করল রাজ্য সরকার

সোমবার সাংবাদিক সম্মেলন করে শিক্ষামন্ত্রী পার্থ চট্টোপাধ্যায় ঘোষণা করেন এবার থেকে রাজ্যে সব স্কুলে দ্বিতীয় বা তৃতীয় আবশ্যিক ভাষা হিসেবে পড়ানো হবে বাংলা। রাজ্যের সব মাধ্যম স্কুলের জন্যই চালু হচ্ছে ত্রিভাষা নীতি।

এদিন তিনি বলেন, “বৈচিত্রের মধ্যে ঐক্য ভারতের শক্তি। প্রতিটি মাতৃভাষার প্রতি আমরা শ্রদ্ধাশীল। এবং প্রতিটি আঞ্চলিক ভাষার গুরুত্ব আছে। আমাদের বিশ্বাস, প্রতিটি ছাত্র ছাত্রীর নিজস্ব ভাষা চয়নের স্বাধীনতা আছে। ছাত্রসমাজের স্বাধীনতা আছে তারা তাদের মতো প্রথম, দ্বিতীয় বা তৃতীয় ভাষা হিসেবে যে কোনও ভাষা চয়ন করতে পারবে”।

“বাংলা, হিন্দি বা ইংরেজি, উর্দু, নেপালি, গুরুমুখী কিংবা অলচিকিকে প্রথম ভাষা হিসেবে চয়ন করলে ছাত্র বা ছাত্রীটিকে আরও দুটি ভাষাকে তাদের পছন্দমতো চয়ন করতে হবেএবং ত্রিভাষার মধ্যে বাংলা ভাষা থাকতে হবে। এই প্রক্রিয়ায় ছাত্রসমাজের পক্ষে আঞ্চলিক, জাতীয় ও আন্তর্জাতিক মানে পৌছনো সহজ হবে” মন্ত্রী বলেন।

রাজ্যের বিভিন্ন অঞ্চল থেকে যেখানে জানা গেছে অনেক স্কুলে বাংলা ভাষা চয়ন করার কোনও সুযোগ নেই বলে অনেক অভিযোগ এসেছে তাই এই সিদ্ধান্ত নেওয়া হয়েছে। রাজ্য মন্ত্রিসভা এই সিদ্ধান্তের অনুমোদন দিলে, খুব শীঘ্রই এই নিয়ম চালু করা হবে।

এই প্রসঙ্গে আজ একটি ফেসবুক পোস্টও করেছেন মুখ্যমন্ত্রী। 

 

 

Mamata help for Bengali course in UK

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A top British institute, which has been teaching Bengali for about 100 years, is set to get a helping hand from Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in running the course.

WB CM will announce a string of scholarships for students willing to study Bengali at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), a premier institute under University of London, when she visits UK later this month.

She is expected to make the announcement while paying her homage to Rabindranath Tagore at Gordon Square in central London, near which SOAS is also located. SOAS has been teaching Bengali language ever since its inception 99 years ago.

The study of Bengali language and literature, and of Bengali history , society and culture, has a long history at SOAS, dating back to the foundation of the institute in 1916. The first London University post in Bengali had been established at the University College of London in the 1850s and it was presumably moved to SOAS when the school was established.

State Tourism Dept launches website on Bengali cuisine

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Not just places of interest, West Bengal Tourism Department will now tug at the gastronomic strings of tourists with a new website devoted solely to Bengali cuisine.

The recently-launched website is a powerhouse of information on Bengali cuisine, various recipes and also provides region-wise information of food available in the State. The ministry hopes this website will bring Bengali cuisine on the international culinary map.

Minister Bratya Basu said, “Tourists who are visiting Bengal will be encouraged by this website. They can now get any information on the food and culinary delights in any part of the State – be it Cooch Behar or Krishnagar”.

“Food is ingrained in Bengali culture. Promoting Bengali cuisine is a great way to promote tourism,” he added.

Experts in the field feel this move will go a long way in boosting tourism in Bengal and boost the restaurant and hospitality infrastructure in the State. Themes like ‘street food walk’ will also be more popular.

 

Click here to view the website.

People of both countries will work together: WB CM at Bangladesh

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WB CM Ms Mamata Banerjee today addressed a business meet organised by India- Bangladesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in association with the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry and the Indian Chambers of Commerce, Kolkata.

She urged both the countries to work together.

She said, “People of both countries must work together. Let us think about solutions instead of problems. India and Bangladesh had two issues. One was land boundary. We have solved the issue. The other issue that of the Teesta water, will be solved soon. When one problem has been solved, the other one will be solved too, I believe that.”

She added on a concluding note, “We pray that both Bengals keep prospering. আমার সোনার বাংলা, আমি তোমায় ভালবাসি.”