– By Onkareshwar Pandey –
In a high-voltage political and emotional outpouring at the heart of Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee launched a scathing attack on the BJP-led Central government, accusing it of orchestrating an “assault on the Bengali language and identity.” Speaking at the massive Shahid Dibas rally observed annually on July 21 to commemorate the 13 youth Congress workers killed in police firing during a 1993 protest, Mamata declared the beginning of a “Bhasha Andolan” (Language Movement) that she vowed would soon reach Delhi.
“Failing to win the people’s mandate through democratic means, BJP is now weaponising the Central agencies to tilt the scales in their favour. But this is Bengal, where even bullets failed to break our resolve. We will not be cowed into submission,” Mamata roared from the rally stage.
In a sharp and emotionally charged statement, Mamata invoked the pain of Bengalis across the country, alleging that workers from Bengal in BJP-ruled states are being branded as “Bangladeshis” or “Rohingyas,” served NRC notices, detained, and even deported.
“Such attacks on our identity and language will not be tolerated. From July 27, every Saturday and Sunday, joined by people from all walks of life, we will launch Bhasha Andolan against this assault on our dignity. And if these injustices do not cease, we are prepared to take this fight to Delhi,” she warned.
The Chief Minister ended her powerful address with poetic rhetoric and a political war cry:
“Bodol chai, bodla noi (We want change, not revenge). But to those who mistake our humility for weakness, I say—Jobdo hobe, stabdho hobe! (You will be defeated, silenced).”
Language, Identity, and Politics: Bengal’s New Front
The rally, attended by lakhs of TMC supporters, turned into a call to arms against what the party alleges is a systematic targeting of Bengali language, culture, and people across the country under BJP rule.
Prominent public figures and civil society leaders lent voice to this narrative online. Notably, former journalist and now TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sagarika Ghose posted on Facebook:
“Stop attacking the Bangla language and Bengali speakers. Every language has its own heritage and identity. Massive Shahid Dibas rally in Kolkata. All India Trinamool Congress, Mamata Banerjee sounds the bugle: Bengal’s Bhasha Andolan begins.”
Photos shared by Sagarika from the rally showed vast crowds holding placards reading “Bangla Amar Ma” (Bengali is my mother) and “Bhashar Opor Akramon Bondho Koro” (Stop the attack on our language).
Political Undercurrent: From 1993 to 2025
Shahid Dibas, historically significant for West Bengal politics, has evolved into more than a remembrance event. Since 1993, Mamata Banerjee has turned it into a political platform, marking the beginning of major movements — from her break with the Congress to the launch of TMC, and the 2011 Poriborton (Change) campaign that ended 34 years of Left Front rule.
This year’s Shahid Dibas was not only about remembering the martyrs but also about laying a new political roadmap leading up to the 2026 Assembly and 2029 General Elections.
“Bengal witnessed a historic Poriborton in 2011. Now, it is Delhi’s turn. The foundation stone for that change was laid today, and our democratic struggle will continue until those who peddle hate, division, and fear are compelled to step aside,” Mamata declared.
A New Chapter or Political Deflection?
While critics argue that the “Bhasha Andolan” may be a tactical move by the TMC to counter rising BJP influence and deflect attention from corruption charges and investigations, the emotional tone struck a chord among many Bengalis who have felt sidelined in the national discourse.
Political observers say Mamata is trying to recapture her role as a national opposition face by combining regional pride with constitutional values.
Whatever the political outcome, Monday’s rally — with its passion, poetry, and political fire — has undoubtedly added a new chapter to Bengal’s long history of language and identity-based movements. Whether it leads to another “Poriborton” or not, Mamata Banerjee has clearly opened a front that will echo far beyond Kolkata.
AUTHOR
Mr. Onkareshwar Pandey is an Executive Fellow at Woxsen University and a distinguished media professional with over 30 years of multi-sectoral experience spanning Print, Television, Digital Media, and Television News Agencies. He has held senior leadership roles such as Group Editor, Managing Editor, Media Head, and CEO across major Hindi and English media platforms.
He served as Senior Group Editor at Rashtriya Sahara, Managing Editor of The Sunday Indian (published in 14 languages), Editor at ANI—India’s largest TV News Agency—and the Opening Anchor of Sahara TV, among other notable positions. Currently, he is the CEO & Editor-in-Chief of Observer Global Media Group, New Delhi.
A prolific writer and editor, Mr. Pandey has authored and edited 10 books and has travelled to more than 10 countries. He sits on the boards of various institutions, offering strategic 360° solutions in brand positioning, networking, and thought leadership.
As Founder & CEO of Golden Signatures Research & Consulting, he has established eleven cross-national knowledge networks of Thought Leaders, connecting India with Commonwealth nations. He has also instituted several prestigious national and international awards.
His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Award for Journalism, Lok Nayak Jayaprakash International Award, and the Best Journalist of the Year Award, among others.
Mr. Pandey actively engages with several social and professional organizations. He currently serves in leadership roles as:
- Executive President, Broadcasters Club of India
- Executive Director, Dignity India and ADRID (Disaster Management)
- Managing Trustee, Diaspora India
He is also a Google Certified Trainer in combating fake news in media and holds a Diploma in Yoga from Vishwayatan Yogashram, Katra, J&K.
Contact: editoronkar@gmail.com
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Disclaimer: The views expressed by the author in this feature are entirely their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of INVC
