The debate over changing West Bengal’s official name has returned to the spotlight after state BJP president Samik Bhattacharya said the state could be renamed “Paschim Banga”. According to Bhattacharya, a bill dealing with the name change is expected to be introduced in the Assembly, with the proposed name intended to reflect the state’s historical identity.
Bhattacharya reiterated that “Paschim Banga” would be the preferred name instead of alternatives such as “Bangla”, “Banga” or the existing English name, West Bengal. His comments have revived a political and administrative issue that has remained unresolved for more than two decades.
Paschim Banga name change proposal revives old debate
The proposal to rename West Bengal is far from new. In 1999, the Left Front government proposed “Paschim Banga” as a replacement for West Bengal. The idea later went through several changes, with different governments suggesting alternatives in an effort to find a name acceptable at both the state and central levels.
After the Trinamool Congress came to power in 2011, another proposal for “Paschim Banga” was pursued, but it did not receive approval from the Centre. In 2016, the state proposed different names in different languages, including “Bangla” in Bengali, “Bengal” in English and “Bangal” in Hindi.
The government later settled on “Bangla” for all three languages. In July 2018, the West Bengal Assembly passed a resolution supporting the change and sent it to the Centre. However, the proposal was not cleared. The Centre had raised procedural concerns, while reports at the time also pointed to possible confusion between “Bangla” and Bangladesh at international forums.
West Bengal BJP renaming bill puts Paschim Banga back in focus
Bhattacharya’s latest remarks have now brought “Paschim Banga” back into the political conversation. He said the proposed name would help preserve a direct connection between the state and its history and cultural identity.
The BJP leader also referred to plans for a Paschim Banga Bhavan in Varanasi. According to him, the proposed facility would serve as a cultural centre while also providing accommodation for tourists and pilgrims from Bengal. He said the project involves cooperation between cultural and tourism authorities, the Centre and descendants of the Cooch Behar royal family.
Despite the renewed push, any official change to a state’s name must go through the required legislative and constitutional process. Until those steps are completed and formally approved, West Bengal will continue to remain the state’s official name.
The latest proposal nevertheless adds fresh momentum to a debate that has continued under multiple governments. Whether “Paschim Banga” finally becomes the official name will depend on how the proposed bill moves forward and whether it receives the necessary approvals.
