Kolkata: The West Bengal government has mandated the singing of the state anthem, "Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol," in all government and government-aided schools. This directive, issued on Thursday, November 6, 2025, requires that the song, penned by Rabindranath Tagore, be sung during the daily morning assembly, alongside the national anthem.
The decision, which was made with the consent of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, was announced by Education Minister Bratya Basu in a post on X. Basu emphasized that this initiative aims to promote communal unity and social harmony, fostering a sense of responsibility among the younger generation to preserve the state's harmonious environment. He believes that incorporating the state song into the daily routine will serve as a catalyst for these values.
The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) has already sent notifications to all affiliated schools to ensure the order is implemented with immediate effect. The official directive, issued by the Deputy Secretary (Academic) of WBBSE, with the reference number D.S.(Aca)/859/N/11, explicitly states the mandatory nature of singing "Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol" during the morning assembly. This order follows a previous memo from the Department of School Education, dated September 22, 2025.
"Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol" (Bengal's Land, Bengal's Water), written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1905, was a song of protest against the partition of Bengal. The song was officially adopted as the state anthem in 2023 and is considered a powerful symbol of Bengal’s cultural heritage, unity, and identity. Prior to this mandate, there was no specific prayer song prescribed for schools in West Bengal, aside from the national anthem.
WBBSE President Ramanuj Ganguly confirmed that the notifications have been dispatched to all affiliated schools. The directive emphasizes that heads of all recognized institutions must take necessary action to strictly comply with the order, leaving no room for leniency or negligence. The inclusion of the state song aims to uphold the pride and cultural heritage of Bengal. By making its recitation compulsory, the state government and the WBBSE are taking a firm step toward institutionalizing this decision at the school level.
