The Centre’s nod to rename Kerala as ‘Keralam’ has sparked joy in West Bengal’s top office, but Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee used the moment to reignite her battle for rechristening her state ‘Bangla.’ This juxtaposition underscores deepening tensions over state identities and central indifference.
Banerjee wasted no time in extending warm wishes to Kerala. ‘I heartily congratulate Kerala’s brothers and sisters. This move fortifies their language and culture,’ she declared, framing it as a model for federal respect.
Shifting gears, she lambasted the prolonged stall on West Bengal’s proposal. Despite assembly endorsements and multilingual approvals, the demand languishes. The core issue? ‘West Bengal’ begins with ‘W’ in English, a alphabetical curse that dooms locals to last place in global and national queues—from job fairs to summits.
Picture this: the Chief Minister herself, sidelined to the end of speaking slots. ‘It happens to me too,’ she shared candidly, humanizing the bureaucratic snag. The cultural imperative is clear—’Bangla’ reflects Bengal’s soul, a call echoed in repeated legislative pushes and direct appeals to Modi and Shah.
Accusations flew thick. ‘They’re Bengali-phobic, dishonoring our legends. They chant ‘Bangla’ for votes but block the change,’ Banerjee charged, hinting at political malice. Kerala’s swift approval, she implied, rewards BJP’s budding alliance with CPI(M), leaving Bengal in the cold.
‘Sure, their pact is now out in the open. But why perpetual neglect for us?’ she mocked. Ending with steely optimism, Banerjee vowed persistence: ‘BJP’s reign won’t last forever. We’ll rename it ourselves.’ This saga spotlights the clash between regional aspirations and central priorities, with Bengal’s pride hanging in the balance.