What Do Bengalis Think of West Bengal Being Renamed ‘Bangla’?

Camera Person: Abhay Sharma
Video Editor: Rahul Sanpui
Producers: Abhishek Ranjan and Chandni Sharma

Will the Rosogulla taste any less sweet if you call West Bengal by any other name?

“Poriborton (change)….” the slogan with which Mamta Banerjee came to power in Bengal has finally been put to use. West Bengal is all set to be renamed ‘Bangla’!     

On Thursday, 26 July, the West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution to rename the state. This is, in fact, the first time the Trinamool Congress and their Left rivals seem to be on the same page – the latter proposed the name changed in 1999 when Jyoti Basu presented this Bill.

Now, Mamata Banerjee wants to change the name of the state as she says it will help bring up the state in the alphabetical order of the states. After all, in the current scheme of things, Didi has to wait for several others to finish before she can speak in the Parliament. On Republic Day too, the West Bengal float is the last one on the parade lineup. Time to change all that!

The Change Bengal Really Needs…

To start with... JOBS! 

Industrial development in Bengal leaves much to be desired. The education sector could use both attention and funds. Didi’s efforts to woo foreign investors has gone in vain, for the most. And in a frightening turn of events, incidents of violence seem to be on the rise in the state – be it communal violence and even violence against women.

If Not Bangla Then?

Didiland. Because there seems to be only one voice in the state now. 

“Poshchim Bongo would have been better, but that doesn’t solve the purpose of moving up the alphabetical order, so ‘Amra Shona Bangla’ would have been more apt,” says a colleague.

But What if the Center Rejects the Demand?

“Cholbe na! Cholbe na!”

Get ready for more protests, rallies, Bengal bandhs and of course more of "Modi Hatao, Desh Bachao”.

Didi says the Center doesn’t give the state enough money. At least give her the name change she wants.