KOLKATA – West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed delight over the central government’s approval to officially rename Kerala as ‘Keralam,’ calling it a vital step toward preserving the state’s linguistic and cultural identity. However, she didn’t hold back her frustration over the long-pending demand to rename her own state from ‘West Bengal’ to ‘Bangla.’
In a pointed address, Banerjee congratulated the people of Kerala, emphasizing how the change honors their native Malayalam pronunciation. ‘This is a heartwarming decision that strengthens Kerala’s unique heritage,’ she said, her voice laced with genuine appreciation.
But the praise quickly turned to criticism. Banerjee highlighted the glaring inconsistency in the Centre’s approach. ‘Many states get their names changed when their assemblies pass resolutions. Why not West Bengal?’ she questioned. She revived her longstanding grievance: the English name ‘West Bengal’ starts with ‘W,’ relegating Bengali students, professionals, and even herself to the last spot in alphabetical listings during meetings and competitions.
‘Even I face this issue. In meetings, I always speak last because I’m from West Bengal,’ she quipped, drawing chuckles from the audience. The demand for ‘Bangla’ stems from the state’s cultural roots, with the West Bengal Assembly passing resolutions twice—first in Bengali and Hindi, then unanimously approving ‘Bangla’ in all three languages: Hindi, Bengali, and English.
Banerjee revealed she has personally raised the matter multiple times with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, yet no action has been taken. ‘I’m surprised they won’t approve it. It feels like they’re against Bengalis, insulting our icons and visionaries,’ she alleged. She accused the BJP of exploiting the ‘Bangla’ term during elections for votes but ignoring the renaming request.
Drawing a political parallel, Banerjee noted the timing of Kerala’s approval coincided with growing ties between BJP and CPI(M). ‘Now their alliance isn’t unspoken anymore. Why must Bengal always be shortchanged?’ she jabbed sarcastically.
In a defiant tone, the Chief Minister warned, ‘One day, BJP won’t be in power. We’ll get the name changed then.’ She urged the Centre to respect Bengal’s sentiments and act swiftly to bolster the state’s linguistic-cultural identity, closing on a note of resolve amid rising regional pride.