Unwanted controversy on Indira and Najrul - Much ado about nothing

Unwanted controversy on Indira and Najrul - Much ado about nothing

By Sukhendu Sekhar Roy, Dy. Leader of Trinamool Congress in Rajya Sabha During the past couple of weeks, a section of the Congress leaders in West Bengal have organized demonstration in the form of road-blockades, rail-rokos etc. alleging that the State Government led by Trinamool-Congress alliance is forcibly trying to “rename Indira Bhawan” at Saltlake (Bidhannagar) after the poet, Kaji Najrul Islam. However, according to Government sources, the building in question was never named as Indira Bhawan. The fact remains that in December 1972, a conference of AICC was held at Saltlake and to accommodate the then Prime Minister of India Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the then Government of West Bengal led by Congress, constructed a ‘modernized hut’ where Mrs. Gandhi stayed for three nights. Thereafter, the said building continued to be used as a State Government Guest House. It is well-known that for naming or renaming a Government Building or property, a resolution is to be adopted to that effect and after publication of that resolution in the Government Gazette, the building or the property shall be notified accordingly. So far, as the so called Indira Bhawan is concerned, neither any such resolution was adopted nor any Gazette notification was published at any point of time. However, since the State Government Guest House was inaugurated by the then Prime minister, a marble plaque was placed on the wall of that ‘modernized hut’ built at the cost of the Government of West Bengal in 1972. The said marble plaque is still in existing and the present Chief Minister Ms. Mamata Banerjee has clarified time and again that it would never be removed from that building and that only a research centre or an academy shall be set up there after the name of the great poet, patriot and freedom fighter Kaji Najrul Islam, which will not only help the researchers from India and Bangladesh to do research works on Kaji Najrul Islam, but also will help strengthen the cultural ties between the people of the two neighbouring countries. Ironically, after assuming the office of the Chief Minister, Mr. Jyoti Basu, in February 1978 ordered for demolition of that ‘modernized hut’ where Prime Minister Indira Gandhi stayed and accordingly the so called Indira Bhawan was bulldozed and razed to the ground. Thereafter, a two-storied building was constructed and Mr Jyoti Basu, although he had his ancestral house in the Hindusthan Park area in South Kolkata, shifted to that State Government Guest House and remained there till his death. It is interesting to note that there was not a murmur of protest by the Congress leaders or workers when that ‘modernized hut’ was demolished forever under the order of Mr. Jyoti Basu in 1978. The attached photograph is of the ‘modernized hut’ built for the three-night stay of the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi, which is not in existence now.

Erstwhile picture of the modernized hut built in 1972 by Government of West Bengal for the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The plaque at the same building stating it as a State Government Guest House inaugurated by Mrs. Indira Gandhi. The current state of the same Sate Government Guest House after the original building was demolished.

Incidentally, Mr. Rajiv Gandhi stayed in Nizam Palace in Kolkata during the AICC session in 1983. Is it the logic of the Congress leaders that Nizam Palace should be Rajiv Palace or for that matter whenever the Congress President or a Prime Minister from Congress stays anywhere in India, it should be named after them? It is unfortunate that Congress leaders are bringing the names of two great leaders of the country in an unwanted controversy for their petty political interests, which should have been avoided.

Ananda Bazar Patrika picture showing the then Prime Minister Mrs. Indira Gandhi inaugurating the same Sate Government Guest House. Ananda Bazar Patrika reportage on the demolition of the  same State Government Guest House in 1978 on the orders of the then Chief Minister Mr. Jyoti Basu.