Bengal to observe Paschimbanga Divas on June 20

Suvendu Adhikari-led West Bengal government has announced the observance of Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) on June 20 across the state.

The BJP government stated that the occasion will be marked across all district headquarters and educational institutions in a befitting manner to commemorate the rich cultural heritage, history and tradtions of West Bengal.

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“The principal objective is to create and sustain public awareness regarding the history of Bengal and the partition of Bengal within India. It also aims to foster greater interest, a sense of responsibility, spirit of fraternity, brotherhood and unity thereby strengthening social cohesion and collective identity towards heritage culture and legacy of West Bengal,” read the official order, dated June 10.

The order from the Information & Cultural Affairs Department states that at the district level, cultural festivals, exhibitions and seminars will be held. Also, public outreach programme will be held through libraries, museums and cultural intuitions.

For the same, District Level West Bengal Day celebration Committee has been established across all districts. It will have District Magistrates as the Chairperson, besides featuring senior police officials and others.

Meanwhile, all government schools, colleges, universities, polytechnics, ITTs and educational institutions have been ordered to organise special assemblies to observe Paschimbanga Divas on June 20 in a befitting matter.

The programmes needs to include special lectures in universities and colleges, essay, debate and quiz competitions in schools and higher educational institutions, publication of educational material in Bengali and English and establishment of annual memorial lectures in State universities.

West Bengal Govt announces observance of Paschimbanga Divas (West Bengal Day) on 20 June 2026 in the state pic.twitter.com/nW7CSGGacN

— ANI (@ANI) June 11, 2026

Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP’s national IT cell, said that the state government’s decision to officially observe Paschimbanga Divas on June 20 is a “welcome acknowledgement of a defining moment in the state’s history.”

“The Left and then Mamata Banerjee’s long-standing objection to commemorating 20th June as West Bengal’s Foundation Day has been a denial of historical fact. The truth is that on 20th June 1947, legislators from the non-Muslim majority districts of undivided Bengal voted decisively for partition and for these regions to remain with India. Had that historic decision not been taken, the entirety of Bengal would have gone to Pakistan,” he wrote on X.

The BJP leader stated that this outcome was made possible by the determined efforts of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee and countless others who fought to secure a homeland for Bengali Hindus in the aftermath of the horrors of Direct Action Day and the Noakhali riots.

The West Bengal Government’s decision to officially observe Paschimbanga Divas on 20th June is a welcome acknowledgement of a defining moment in the state’s history.

The Left and then Mamata Banerjee’s long-standing objection to commemorating 20th June as West Bengal’s… https://t.co/3cAnRSVwn3

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 11, 2026

“The creation of West Bengal was not an accident of history; it was the result of a conscious democratic choice. History cannot be erased for political convenience. Recognising 20th June is not about partisanship, it is about acknowledging the sacrifices, struggles and decisions that shaped modern West Bengal,” he wrote.

“Marking 20th June as the Foundation Day of West Bengal is an epochal civilisational and ideological moment for the BJP. It is a reaffirmation of the vision and struggle led by Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee to secure West Bengal’s place within India and protect the cultural, civilisational and democratic aspirations of its people. By recognising this historic day, BJP honours the forces that shaped Bengal’s destiny and preserves a truth that cannot be erased or rewritten,” he added.