West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Saturday declared that the state government has officially observed 'Paschimbanga Divas' (West Bengal Day) for the first time, signaling a major shift in acknowledging the historical timeline that led to the state's creation. June 20 marks the pivotal day in 1947 when the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted in favor of partitioning the province, ensuring West Bengal remained an integral part of India.
Celebrations in Tarakeswar with PM Modi
Addressing the celebrations at Tarakeswar in Hooghly — held in the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Governor RN Ravi — Adhikari urged citizens to unite in building a 'new, secure and prosperous West Bengal'. Welcoming the PM via a post on X, Adhikari described Bengal as 'Dr Shyama Prasad Mukhopadhyay’s West Bengal'. To honor Mukhopadhyay’s legacy, the CM announced that the state government will acquire his ancestral home at Jirat in Hooghly to develop it into a memorial and a library. Additionally, a 125-foot-tall statue of the Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder will be installed in Kolkata.
PM Modi's Letter and Praise
Modi, in a letter to Adhikari, congratulated him and the people of West Bengal for celebrating 'Paschimbanga Divas' and said he was greatly elated to be at Tarakeswar on this auspicious day. He also praised the CM and his team for working relentlessly during the past one month and making visible changes in the state. He appreciated Adhikari’s efforts to make bus rides free for women and for implementing the Annapurna Yojana. The PM also recalled how Vande Mataram had originated from Bengal and how the state led during the Renaissance.
CM's Critique of Previous Governments
Adhikari stressed that his government is fully committed to restoring the 'true historical narrative' of the state’s formation. He heavily criticized previous administrations, accusing them of suppressing the importance of June 20 to protect their 'vote-bank politics and appeasement'. The CM noted that without Mukhopadhyay’s unwavering leadership against a blueprint to annex an undivided Bengal into Pakistan, the culture, language and existence of Bengalis would have faced a grave crisis. He also paid tribute to Bharat Sevashram Sangha founder Swami Pranabananda Maharaj and other contemporary legislators for their historical contributions.
Assembly Session and Ministerial Demands
The historic day was concurrently celebrated at the state assembly, led by speaker Rathindra Bose. During the session, several ministers advocated for comprehensive structural changes to the state’s educational and memorial landscape. State industries minister Tapas Roy recalled the Great Calcutta Killings of August 1946, highlighting police inactivity under then-Bengal PM H Suhrawardy. He demanded that Mukhopadhyay’s definitive role be formally introduced into the school syllabus.
Shankar Ghosh, parliamentary affairs and tourism minister, pointed out how landmark tragedies like the Calcutta and Noakhali killings were missing from textbooks. He lamented that it took nearly 80 years for the day to receive government patronage, noting that the BJP had previously opposed the TMC government’s attempt to pass Poila Baisakh as the state’s foundation day.
Health minister Sharadwat Mukherjee cited the disillusionment of Jogendra Nath Mandal, Pakistan’s first law minister who eventually returned to Bongaon, as a classic historical lesson on the necessity of a protected Bengali homeland. Education minister Dipak Barman accused successive Congress, Left Front and TMC governments of intentionally misleading the public by suppressing these historical facts.
Call for Memorial to 58 Legislators
Prominent author Mohit Roy also urged the assembly to construct a permanent memorial dedicated to the 58 legislators who originally voted in favor of creating West Bengal in 1947.
