This observance will honor the legislative process that resulted in the formation of the state and will foster awareness of Bengal’s history, including the events surrounding the Partition, according to an order from the information and cultural affairs department issued on Wednesday.
The directive, following a state Cabinet decision made on June 3, indicated that events would take place at district headquarters and across schools, colleges, universities, polytechnics, and industrial training institutes.
District-level festivities will feature cultural celebrations, exhibitions, seminars, and outreach activities through libraries, museums, and cultural institutions, as specified in the order.
A West Bengal Day Celebration Committee will be established in each district, chaired by the district magistrate, to coordinate the events.
This committee will consist of senior officials from administration, police, education, health, and municipal services, along with MPs and MLAs appointed by the district administration.
Ministers, state ministers, and local legislators have been invited to participate in the events.
A senior state bureaucrat noted that the initiative aims to enhance public understanding of the state’s historical journey and foster a sense of shared identity among citizens.
“Our goal is not just ceremonial. We want to instill a lasting awareness of Bengal’s history, including the circumstances surrounding the Partition and the state’s development. Our aim is for younger generations, especially students, to engage with these topics meaningfully,” the official told PTI.
Educational institutions have been directed to hold special assemblies and activities on that day. These will include lectures at universities and colleges, essay, debate, and quiz competitions in schools and higher education institutions, the publication of educational materials in Bengali and English, and annual memorial lectures at state universities.
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“The government envisions educational institutions as the central hub for this observance. The aim is to promote informed discussions about Bengal’s cultural heritage, social history, and contributions to nation-building,” the bureaucrat added.
The BJP government had previously designated June 20 as ‘Paschimbanga Divas’, commemorating the date in 1947 when the Bengal Legislative Assembly voted to establish a separate province that later became West Bengal following the Partition.
