RAJBANSHI PRIDE

       Ever since I learnt that something important was written in this particular volume of Sardar Patel’s Correspondences which came out in seventies, I kept searching for it but never got hold of it. It was much wanted book “Sardar Patel’s Correspondence – 1945-50 Volume 7 – Integrating Indian States – Police Action in Hyderabad”, edited by Durga Das, published by M/s Navjivan Publishing House, Ahmedabad – 380014. Never ever, I could find it in any library in many places in my great country, India. Although, other volumes were traceable in number of libraries, the Volume 7 was not traceable. More I searched, I got despaired. The search was on for this much wanted text of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel which was sent by telegram on 11th September, 1949 to Nanjappa, Chief Commissioner, Cooch Behar on handing over this princely state to Central Administration of India.           Finally, a copy was found. I got exalted, went up above the sky. I...

Last year, the Government of West Bengal had decided, in principle, to recognize Kamtapuri(Rajbanshi) as a State Official Language of West Bengal vide their Notification No.170-Home(Cons)/CE/N/R1M-20/2017 dated Howrah, the 6 th March, 2017 and constituted an expert 7-Member Committee to examine all aspects relating to it under the chairmanship of Mr. Nrisingha Prasad Bhaduri constituted by the State Govt. to study the issue. The Committee submitted its report to the State Govt.on 31 st Dec. 2017. The West Bengal Assembly passed the West Bengal Official Language (Second Amendment) Bill, 2018 on 28 th February, 2018 recognizing the three languages - Kamtapuri, Rajbanshi and Kurmali which have now joined Bengali, Nepali, Urdu, Hindi, Santhali, Oriya and Punjabi (Gurmukhi) as official languages of the State. State's Parliamentary Affairs and Education Minister Shri Partha Chatterjee moved the bill which was passed by voice vote. According to the Chief Minister of the State,...