Rename state as Bangla, we come way down alphabetical order in meetings: CM Banerjee to PM Modi

West Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday seeking recognition of Bengali as a classical (Dhrupadi) language. She also urged the PM Modi to change Bengal's name to 'Bangla'.

"We passed the name "Bangla" in the state assembly twice but the Centre is not listening to us despite writing to them several times. If the names of states like Orissa and Bombay can be changed, then why not Bengal?" Banerjee said.

"When we go to any meeting, West Bengal, due to alphabetical reasons, has to wait till the last. We have sent our request (for change) several times," she added.


Meanwhile, the West Bengal government has created detailed research documents on Classical Bengali and demanded that this language should get national recognition.

"I take this opportunity to present before you a summary of a scholarly work undertaken by us in 4 volumes, which traces the origin of 'Bangla'/Bengali language to the 3rd-4th BCE. The research shows that our language is a classical language, and we seek its recognition," she wrote in the letter.

"Research has shown that the Dhrupadi Bengali language has a rich history of 2,500 years. We are sending four volumes of research documents to the Union Home Ministry. Bengal's Classical (Dhrupadi) Language should get recognition. Despite other classical languages getting recognised, Bengali Dhrupadi language is yet to get national recognition," she said.

"We will set up a Centre of excellence after it is recognised by the Centre," Banerjee mentioned.

Gangasagar Fair
Banerjee also wrote a letter to PM Modi to declare Gangasagar Mela a national fair. "We have spent Rs 250 crore for the Gangasagar fair. One crore pilgrims are likely to visit this year. Why does Bengal not get assistance and national status for Gangasagar like Kumbh mela," Banerjee wanted to know.

The state government is planning to set up a religious circuit for tourism. "We are spending Rs 165 crore for renovation of Kalighat temple and Rs 25 crore is given by Reliance. We intend to complete the temple renovation work by April," she elaborated.

"We are also building Jagannath temple in Digha. We have developed the Tarapith temple in Birbhum. We gave 700 acres of land to ISKCON for its new temple in Nadia district. We are focussing on tourism circuit development," Banerjee said.