Bhasha Andolan: Reviving Bengali Identity and Pride

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee initiated the 'Bhasha Andolan' from Bolpur in Birbhum district on Monday, aiming to protest against reported attacks on Bengali-speaking migrants nationwide.

Banerjee has previously described these alleged attacks as erasures of Bengali identity from the Indian fabric. The emotive and symbolic protest march commenced at the Tourist Lodge crossing and concluded at Jamboni bus stand, a significant area deeply connected to Nobel Laureate Rabindranath Tagore.

Holding a portrait of Tagore, Banerjee led the march, accompanied by senior TMC leaders. Echoing cultural pride, the procession included the singing of Pratul Mukhopadhyay's protest anthem and traditional demonstrations by women in traditional attire. This marked the first of many planned agitations state-wide, set against a backdrop of political tension regarding migrant harassment reports.

(With inputs from agencies.)