In an apparent bid to counter Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Desh Bhakti slogan, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has decided to bank on Bengali Asmita or Bengali pride so to say.
Apparently the State Government on Sunday declared Poila Boisakh — that usually takes place on April 15 — as the State Day. It is also considered the New Year Day of the Bengali calendar of Bangabda.
The State government also made it mandatory to sing Banglar Maati Banglar Jal (Bengal’s earth and water…) a song by Poet Laureate Rabindranath Tagore at every Government programme.
A government notification in this regard said that “After careful consideration, it is hereby declared that the ‘Poila Boisakh’ (1st day of the month of Boisakh of Bengali calendar year) will be observed as State Day and it will be named ‘Bangla Divas’.”
The song will be regarded as the State Song and its approximate playing time will be 1 minute and 59 seconds,” the notification said adding, “the State Day shall be celebrated by all the people of WestBengal with respect and dignity every year.
The State Song shallcompulsorily be played with due respect in all state government functions at the start of the function and the National Anthem shallbe played compulsorily at the conclusion of it.”
