West Bengal Gets a Name-Change Twist: Paschim Banga Bill Coming Soon
West Bengal Says Goodbye to ‘West’? Paschim Banga Name Change Bill Likely Soon.
West Bengal may soon get a new official name “Paschim Banga” as the State Government is set to bring a Bill seeking to rename the State in the upcoming Assembly session.
West Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the proposed name has been chosen to maintain a link with the State’s history and its formation after Independence. He indicated that names such as ‘Bangla’, ‘Banga’ and ‘Bengal’ would not be pursued this time.
The proposal revives a name-change debate that has continued for more than two decades. The Left Front government had initiated the process in 1999, while the Mamata Banerjee-led government later proposed different versions, including ‘Paschim Banga’ and, eventually, ‘Bangla’ for Bengali, ‘Bangal’ in Hindi and ‘Bengal’ in English. The proposals did not receive the required approval from the Centre.
Supporters of the latest proposal argue that ‘Paschim Banga’ reflects the history of Bengal’s Partition in 1947 and preserves the historical identity of the western part of undivided Bengal. BJP leaders have also linked the proposed name to the experiences of Partition and the migration that followed.
Bhattacharya also announced plans for a Paschim Banga Bhavan in Varanasi, which is proposed as a cultural centre for Bengali heritage, along with accommodation facilities for tourists and pilgrims from Bengal. The project is expected to involve the State government, the Centre and descendants of the Cooch Behar royal family.
The proposed centre would include facilities such as a conference hall, library and collections of Bengali literature and music, while also serving as a space for Bengali residents of Varanasi and visiting pilgrims.
Varanasi has long-standing cultural links with Bengal. The Cooch Behar royal family is associated with the establishment of the Benaras Kali Bari, while Rani Bhavani of Natore is associated with the Durga Mandir in the city.
