West Bengal to Bangla: Some say good riddance, others call it exercise in futility

The West Bengal government's decision to change the state's name to Bangla drew mixed reactions from experts, with majority calling the axing of 'west' as a "good riddance" while some thought that the use of localised nomenclature may lead to "linguistic confusion".

Historians, architects, authors and art aficionados, all concurred that the word 'west' in the state's name had been "superfluous" and an "alphabetical liability" for the past 70 years.

"In all public meetings, and government conferences, the 'W' set us down in the pecking order. By the time the state's turn came, it would be either lunch time or fag end of the event. So, it is good if we lose that 'W' from our name," said Jawhar Sircar, former chief of Prasar Bharati, who was born and raised in Kolkata.

He termed the move as a "very good step", saying Bengal and Calcutta were "Europhile" names.

The West Bengal Assembly today passed a resolution to rename the state to Bangla. The state will now have to wait for a nod from the Union Home Ministry for the resolution's final approval.

Noted historian Irfan Habib, said, "The 'West' in West Bengal had really become irrelevant as there is no 'East Bengal' now. But I feel Bengal would have made much more sense, and have had historical relevance. But politicians try to appeal to local sentiments."
A Mumbai-based conservation architect, who did not wish to be named, said, "I am a Bengali, and yet I feel a sense of loss of identity when I think of losing Bengal from our state's name."