Kolkata Shops Given Deadline for Bengali Signboards by September 30

### Quick Summary
– The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has made it mandatory for all business establishments, commercial institutions, and shops in the city to prominently display signboards in Bengali by September 30.
– The notification specifies that the State’s official language should appear at the top of all hoardings, signboards, and signage.
– The directive builds on an earlier request issued on December 30, 2024.
– Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have linked this initiative to preserving bengali Asmita (language and cultural identity),especially amidst political debates on attacks against Bengali migrants nationwide.
– Mayor Firhad Hakim emphasized the cultural importance of the decision and warned that shop licenses might be canceled for non-compliance.
– KMC chairperson Mala Roy has instructed councillors to conduct municipal proceedings exclusively in Bengali.

### Indian Opinion Analysis
The move by Kolkata Municipal Corporation aligns wiht broader efforts by TMC to emphasize cultural identity through Bengali Asmita. Instituting mandatory use of Bengali in public spaces reinforces regional linguistic pride but also intersects with political narratives surrounding BJP-TMC rivalry within West Bengal. While it seeks to solidify community bonds amidst concerns over migrant safety elsewhere in india, this stringent regulation could pose challenges for businesses accustomed to multilingual operations or those catering primarily to non-Bengali speaking clientele.

As linguistic policies become tools for political symbolism, balancing inclusivity alongside cultural preservation may emerge as an ongoing debate-one requiring careful attention from policymakers moving forward.

Read more: [The Hindu – TMC leader pushes for signages in Bengali](https://www.thehindu.com/theme/images/th-online/1x1_spacer.png)