West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Mamata Banerjee has recently proposed a potentially controversial idea—adopting Rabindranath Tagore’s “Banglar Mati Banglar Jol” as the state anthem with modified lyrics. She suggests replacing ‘Bengali’ with ‘Bengal’ in the song. This proposal comes as Banerjee grapples with the dilemma of using Bengali identity-based politics to counter the BJP’s Hindu nationalism.
Banerjee’s predicament regarding Bengali identity politics dates back to 2017 when the Sangh Parivar, a collection of organizations affiliated with the BJP’s ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), began asserting its presence in West Bengal. The Sangh Parivar organized large Ram Navami processions across the state, leading Banerjee to question why the BJP was imposing an external festival on Bengal’s Annapurna Puja. In response, she adopted slogans like “Joy Bangla” (Victory to Bengal), focusing on Bengali identity.
However, by the end of 2019, political strategist Prashant Kishor reportedly advised Banerjee to tone down her Bengali identity pitch, emphasizing the need to include the Hindi-speaking population in the party’s outreach efforts.
In the run-up to the 2021 assembly election, the TMC pivoted towards anti-outsider sentiments with slogans like “Bangla Nijer Meyeke Chay” (Bengal wants her own daughter). The popular Khela Hobe song included lines that indirectly referred to outsiders, particularly Kailash Vijayvargiya, the BJP’s then Bengal in-charge.
Banerjee’s rallying cry became, “Bengal won’t bow before outsiders,” aligning with the sentiment of preserving Bengali identity. Simultaneously, the government and the TMC sought to address the interests of the Hindi-speaking population by announcing a Hindi university and opening a Hindi cell within the party.
However, while Banerjee has been tempted by the prospect of using Bengali ethnic politics to counter Hindu nationalism, she is wary of alienating non-Bengali speakers who constitute nearly 14% of the state’s population.
One leader suggests that it’s not the Hindi-speaking population but rather the Nepali-speaking people of Darjeeling who deter Banerjee from fully embracing ethnic Bengali politics. In 2017, her attempt to make Bengali mandatory in all schools triggered violent protests in the Darjeeling hills. Bimal Gurung, the leader of the Gorkha Janmukti Morcha, capitalized on this decision to reignite the Gorkhaland statehood agitation.
To avoid further unrest, Banerjee exempted Darjeeling from this language policy, opting for Nepali as the mandatory language. However, the wounds from the 2017 violence have yet to fully heal, prompting Banerjee to act cautiously when making decisions affecting the entire state.
The recent debate over selecting a state anthem and foundation day stems from Governor C.V. Ananda Bose’s decision to celebrate June 20 as the state foundation day. On this day in 1947, the undivided Bengal assembly decided to bifurcate the state during India’s partition, with the eastern part becoming part of Pakistan.
The BJP’s Bengal unit had long celebrated June 20 as West Bengal’s foundation day, emphasizing its creation as a ‘homeland for Bengali Hindus.’ The BJP’s agenda in West Bengal has included reviving bitter memories of the partition and pre-partition riots.
Banerjee objected to the governor’s choice, stating that it evoked unpleasant memories. She proposed Poila Boishakh, the first day of the Bengali calendar, as an alternative. The government sought public opinion on this matter.
Bengali ethnic rights group Bangla Pokkho objected to both proposed dates, advocating for November 1, 1956, as the state’s foundation day. On this day, West Bengal officially acquired its present shape and map with the inclusion of Purulia and other areas. This debate adds another layer to Banerjee’s challenge of navigating ethnic politics.
News Mania Desk / Agnibeena Ghosh 3rd September 2023
