Bengali on Signboards: In a decisive move reflecting both cultural pride and administrative enforcement, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has announced that all business establishments must display Bengali prominently on signboards and hoardings by September 30, 2025. The directive makes it mandatory for Bengali script to be placed at the top of every signboard, written in a clear and legible font, ahead of other languages.
While the order is not entirely new—similar guidelines existed in the past—this time the KMC leadership has vowed strict enforcement, tying the rule to trade license renewal and warning of penalties for non-compliance.
Debasish Kumar and TMC’s Vocal Support
Trinamool Congress leader and KMC Member-in-Council, Debasish Kumar, extended strong support for the initiative. He reiterated that this was not about restricting other languages but about asserting the rightful space of Bengali in public life.
Kumar noted that globalization and the rise of English-dominated branding in Kolkata had, over the years, pushed Bengali script into the background—even in neighbourhoods where residents overwhelmingly speak Bengali. “We are not against English or Hindi, but Bengali must be the first and foremost language of this city. This is a cultural responsibility, not just an administrative order,” he said.
Mayor’s Reinforcement: Bengali as the Civic Medium
Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim has also taken steps to highlight the issue symbolically. In July, he conducted a KMC session entirely in Bengali, instructing councillors to ask and answer questions in the mother tongue. Hakim’s insistence that “official work in a Bengali-majority city must reflect Bengali” has become the rallying cry for the ongoing campaign.
The KMC has begun issuing fresh notices to traders, hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and large retail chains, reminding them of the new compliance deadline. Enforcement officers have been tasked with preparing lists of establishments that continue to display only English or Hindi signage.
Bengali on Signboards: Why Language in Public Spaces Matters
1. Safeguarding Identity
Bengali is more than a means of communication—it is the repository of Bengal’s cultural, literary, and historical consciousness. From Rabindranath Tagore and Kazi Nazrul Islam to Satyajit Ray, Bengali has carried ideas that shaped both Indian and global thought. The visual absence of the language in Kolkata’s commercial hubs is often seen by cultural activists as a form of erasure.
2. Inclusivity for Citizens
For ordinary residents, especially the elderly or those with limited exposure to English, seeing Bengali signage ensures ease of navigation and inclusivity. For a vegetable vendor in Garia or an elderly shopper in Shyambazar, a Bengali signboard is not just cultural pride—it is practical necessity.
3. Political Signaling
The move resonates politically. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government has long positioned itself as a defender of Bengali identity, often framing its policies as protection against “linguistic domination” from outside. The signboard directive aligns with this broader narrative of asserting regional pride while resisting cultural homogenization.
Challenges Ahead: Compliance vs. Commerce
Despite strong rhetoric, challenges remain:
- Corporate Brands: Large multinationals and retail chains often prefer standardized English branding for uniformity across cities. Reworking designs to comply with the directive requires additional cost.
- Small Traders: For many shop owners, repainting or replacing boards within the deadline is financially burdensome. While KMC has promised a “grace period,” smaller businesses remain anxious.
- Tourism Concerns: Some voices in the hospitality industry argue that too much emphasis on Bengali-only signage might confuse non-Bengali-speaking tourists. The civic body, however, clarified that multilingual signs are permitted—but Bengali must appear first.
The Larger Language Debate in Bengal
Language has always been politically charged in Bengal. The Bangla Bhasha Andolon (Language Movement) of the 20th century in undivided Bengal symbolized not just linguistic pride but also resistance to imposed homogenization.
Even today, language debates stir deep emotions—from demands for Bengali signage on trains and government buildings, to protests against the dilution of Bengali-medium education in schools. The KMC directive is seen as part of this continuum of cultural assertion.
What Citizens Are Saying
Public reactions have been mixed but passionate:
- Cultural activists welcomed the move, saying it will “restore dignity to the city’s mother tongue.”
- Middle-class parents supported the directive but also demanded better quality of Bengali instruction in schools, arguing that civic signage alone is not enough.
- Small business owners expressed concern about costs but acknowledged the cultural value. “If the government helps us with subsidies for signage changes, we will gladly comply,” said a trader in New Market.
Future Outlook: From Policy to Practice
For now, the directive has set in motion a city-wide transformation of visual identity. Walking down Park Street, Gariahat, or Salt Lake in the coming months may look different, as English-dominated boards give way to Bengali-fronted signage.
The move also has ripple effects:
- It may inspire other states to consider similar policies for their regional languages.
- It raises questions about the balance between linguistic assertion and business flexibility.
- It underscores the role of civic bodies as cultural custodians, not merely service providers.
External References for Context
- Government of West Bengal – Official Website
- Sahitya Akademi – Bengali Literature Section
- UNESCO on Endangered Languages
- National Mission for Manuscripts – Indian Language Heritage
Conclusion
The KMC’s Bengali signage directive, backed by leaders like Debasish Kumar, is far more than an administrative order—it is a cultural intervention. It seeks to ensure that Kolkata’s public spaces reflect the language of its people, while also challenging businesses and institutions to respect local identity.
As the September 30 deadline looms, Kolkata finds itself at a crossroads: between commerce and culture, between globalization and regional assertion, and between visual uniformity and linguistic pride.
In the coming weeks, as shopfronts and billboards across the city adopt Bengali at the top, the streets of Kolkata will not just change their look—they will reclaim a voice.
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