Bengal has been "unshackled": CM Adhikari says Bengali culture will be at "forefront" globally
Kolkata, May 18
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday said Bengali culture would once again be at the forefront globally, asserting that the people of the state had "unshackled" West Bengal from a regime that had allegedly suppressed its cultural identity.
In a post on social media platform X, Adhikari wrote, "The Glorious Bengali Culture admired Worldwide, thanks to the contributions of Revered personalities like Vishwa Kabi Rabindranath Tagore and other Great Sons of the Soil during the Bengal Renaissance, would again be at the forefront, because the People of West Bengal have unshackled the State from the Regime that had consciously suffocated the Bengali Culture and tried to forcefully impose foreign & regressive culture and tradition."
He was reacting to a post shared by Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his five-nation tour that highlighted the Bengali culture's presence in Sweden.
In West Bengal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) registered a significant surge, winning 206 seats in the 294-member Assembly, a major shift in a state where it had secured 77 seats in the previous election. The Trinamool Congress (TMC), which had won 212 seats in the last Assembly polls, finished a distant second with 80 seats.
On May 8, Union Home Minister Amit Shah officially announced Adhikari as the leader of the BJP Legislative Party in West Bengal. Shortly afterwards, Adhikari met Governor RN Ravi to stake a claim to form the government.
On May 9, Suvendu Adhikari took oath as the ninth Chief Minister of West Bengal. Adhikari had contested from Nandigram and Bhabanipur, defeating outgoing Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee from Bhabanipur by a margin of over 15,000 votes, marking a major political development in the state.
The oath of office was administered by Governor RN Ravi at a grand swearing-in ceremony in Kolkata attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Ministers and senior BJP leaders.
Calling it the beginning of a new chapter for the state, Adhikari said the "Sonar Bangla" era had officially begun after the BJP's sweeping victory in the 2026 West Bengal Assembly elections.
"Today marks the end of decades of misrule and the beginning of a 'Double Engine' era of development, peace, and prosperity. The era of 'Sonar Bangla' officially begins," he wrote on X.
— ANI
Reader Comments
I'm not convinced this is about culture at all. Suvendu Adhikari was with TMC until 2020 and now he's talking about "unshackling"? Feels like political drama more than real change. Let's wait and see if they actually promote Bengali language and arts or if it's just another election gimmick
As someone who grew up reading Tagore and Bankim Chandra, this message resonates deeply. The previous regime did stifle our intellectual heritage. But let's be honest - BJP needs to prove they respect Bengali culture beyond just speeches. Actions matter more than X posts! 🇮🇳
Interesting to see this from outside Bengal. I'm from the US but I follow Indian politics closely. The Bengal polls were historic. But "Sonar Bangla"? That's a big promise. After decades of Left and TMC rule, people want tangible change - jobs, infrastructure, and yes, cultural revival too.
What exactly does "unshackling" mean? Can I finally get a job without being in the TMC network? 😒 Let's talk about practical issues first - education, healthcare, industry. Culture is important but don't use it to cover up the real problems. At least the TMC did some good things for women and rural areas
Watching from Delhi, this is a massive shift. The Bengali Renaissance was indeed glorious - from Tagore to Satyajit Ray. But culture can't be revived by political decrees. It needs organic efforts. Hope the new CM focuses on preserving Kolkata's intellectual tradition without turning it
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.