From West Bengal to Bongo

The proposal to change name will be sent to centre after it gets a go-ahead by the West Bengal assembly

GN Bureau | August 3, 2016


#Bengal name change   #Mamata Banerjee   #Bongo   #West Bengal   #Babul Supriyo  
Mamata Banerjee, CM, West Bengal
Mamata Banerjee, CM, West Bengal

What’s in a name? Well it can make you speak last in a meeting if one goes in the alphabetical order. This has irked West Bengal’s chief minister Mamata Banerjee too. Tired of speaking at the very end of meetings, the CM has proposed to change the state’s name to ‘Bengal’ in English and ‘Banga’ or ‘Bangla’ in Bengali. 

 
The move will help the state move up the alphabetical order. At present, West Bengal is at the bottom of the table. Doing away with ‘West’ would help it reach number 4 position in the list of India's 29 states arranged alphabetically.
 
Some consider it as a welcome step, terming the name ‘West Bengal’ as colonial hangover. During India’s partition the British province of Bengal was divided into West Bengal, which stayed with India, and East Bengal, which went to Pakistan. In 1971, East Bengal became Bangladesh, but the Indian counterpart continued to be called West Bengal.
 
Some also hail the proposal as now children will not get confused as to why an eastern state is called ‘West Bengal’. But many fear the name change would wipe out the painful history of partition of Bengal.
 
Meanwhile, Twitter witnessed a laugh riot after the decision was announced. In Bengali ‘Banga’ is pronounced as Bongo, which is a musical instrument. This became a butt of jokes.
 
But for now, the name change proposal will be first discussed in the West Bengal Assembly, on August 26, and then it will be sent to the centre. 
 
 

Comments

 

Other News

`Justice, liberty, equality and fraternity are the soul of our Constitution`

The President of India, Droupadi Murmu, addressed Members of both Houses of Parliament in the Central Hall of Samvidhan Sadan on Wednesday, as the nation celebrated the 11th Samvidhan Divas with great fervour and enthusiasm. Vice-President of India and Chairman, Rajya Sabha, C. P. Radhakrishnan also addres

`Our Ram connects not through differences, but through emotions`

Marking a momentous occasion in the nation’s socio-cultural and spiritual landscape, PM Narendra Modi ceremonially hoisted a saffron flag on the Shikhar of the sacred Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Temple in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh on Tuesday. The  Dhwajarohan Utsav symbolises the completion

Rethinking policy framework to address animal-human conflict and animal welfare

Animal welfare requires as much a structured policy approach as do other sectors in India. Conflict that exists today is due to lack of an integrated policy approach which in turn exacerbates the conflict and instigates public health crises. The Indian Constitution already recognises the importance of anim

Mobile phones in classroom: redirect, not eliminate

In this era of AI and classrooms filled with students glued to their cellphones, there is a need to focus on redirecting, but not eliminating, the distraction. While there is no doubt that we need to go back to the older ways of teaching such as taking oral viva exams, practicing ‘sthithprajana&rsquo

Four Labour Codes come into effect to simplify, streamline labour laws

Four Labour Codes - the Code on Wages, 2019, the Industrial Relations Code, 2020, the Code on Social Security, 2020 and the Occupational Safety, Health and Working Conditions Code, 2020 have come into effect , rationalising 29 existing labour laws. By modernising labour regulations, enhancing workers` welf

Governance as ‘cyborg’: Rethinking AI rules through philosophical lens

In the world of science fiction, the cyborg, a hybrid of human and machine, often evokes fascination and fear. However, American scholar Donna Haraway conceptualises cyborg as more than a futuristic body; it is a philosophical lens, a way of thinking about identity, agency, and responsibility in a world wh

Visionary Talk: Amitabh Gupta, Pune Police Commissioner with Kailashnath Adhikari, MD, Governance Now





Archives

Current Issue

Opinion

Facebook Twitter Google Plus Linkedin Subscribe Newsletter

Twitter