Amidst ongoing debates about the use of the Marathi language, a fresh controversy has erupted in Kolkata, centered on the Bengali language. The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decreed that Bengali will be mandatory on all signboards across the city. This includes commercial complexes, office buildings, retail spaces, and other establishments. The rule is scheduled to be enforced by the end of September.
The KMC’s instructions specify that the name on any signboard must be displayed in Bengali at the top. Other languages can be used subsequently, but Bengali must be prioritized. The KMC clarified that this decision was made following legal consultations.
This move follows an earlier mandate requiring Bengali on official signage and notices within government offices. The corporation had previously emphasized the importance of using Bengali in official communications during monthly meetings. Now, this policy has been formalized with the issuance of an administrative circular.
Kolkata’s Mayor, Firhad Hakim, has urged residents to view the decision as an issue of cultural identity, not just language. He emphasized the need to ensure that Bengali speakers in Kolkata and Bengal can see and experience their language prominently. The Mayor has further instructed that all KMC documents must promote the increased use of Bengali.
The KMC has appealed to businesses and organizations to comply with the new regulations. Authorities have warned of potential consequences for non-compliance within the given deadline.
This initiative has received support from many. Experts suggest it is a crucial step to protect the language’s significance and benefit the public. Concurrent with this, a special session of the West Bengal Assembly addressed the use of Bengali and alleged discrimination against Bengali speakers in BJP-governed states. However, the session concluded with a display of political tensions, marked by opposing party members engaging in sloganeering and creating disturbances.