'Tis the season of change in West Bengal, it seems. After a new ruling party and a new chief minister, the state is now gearing up to change its name. The new name will be decided after consultations with various political parties, intellectuals and a cross-section of society.
The state administration is apparently tired of being the last in line at any all-India conclave, since the state's name starts with 'w' -- the 23rd letter in the alphabet -- and there is no state whose names starts with x, y or z.
Incidentally, the name of capital Calcutta was changed to Kolkata in 2001 thanks to the efforts of then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's arch rival had also suggested that the name of West Bengal be changed to Bangla.
Do you think West Bengal needs a new name? If so, dear readers, please suggest a new name for this state famous for its turbulent political culture and passionate locals. Share your suggestions, opinions and comments with Rediff.com on our message board below.
