States » EastPosted at: Nov 2 2026 5:52PM


Rajbanshi organisations join hands to form apolitical umbrella body in North Bengal

Siliguri, Nov 2 (UNI) In a significant development, more than 23 organisations representing the Rajbanshi community in North Bengal have come together to form an apolitical umbrella organisation to promote unity and work for the community's language, culture and constitutional rights.
The initiative, which is being described as the first of its kind in North Bengal, was taken at a meeting held at Lansdowne Hall in Cooch Behar on Sunday.
North Bengal Development Minister Nisith Pramanik presided over the meeting, which was attended by prominent leaders of different Rajbanshi organisations and Cooch Behar District Magistrate Jitin Yadav.
The proposed organisation, tentatively named the Rajbanshi Mahasangha, will bring different organisations under one platform while allowing them to continue their individual activities independently.
The minister said the community had several issues and problems which could not be resolved through a single meeting.
“There are many issues and problems, involving both small and large organisations. They cannot be resolved in a single day's meeting. There will be another meeting, and we will hold such meetings every month,” Pramanik said.
He said the Mahasangha would function as an apolitical organisation and work on common issues concerning the Rajbanshi community.
“Different organisations are working on different subjects. Some are working on language, while others are working on culture. The Mahasangha will work on the common issues,” he said.
The minister said the views and suggestions of eminent people from the community would be discussed and documented through the organisation.
He said research and development would be among the main areas of work, with particular emphasis on the community's ethnic culture, language, traditions and legacy.
“The main objective is to preserve and carry forward the legacy of the Rajbanshi community,” he said.
Pramanik said the organisation would also discuss issues mentioned in the government's commitment document before taking decisions through collective deliberations.
He said the initiative would not be limited to Cooch Behar but would cover the Rajbanshi community across North Bengal.
Banshi Badan Barman, general secretary of the Greater Cooch Behar People's Association (GCPA), said the community had several organisations working separately, but language, culture and constitutional rights remained the common concerns.
He said the initiative had become important at a time when discussions on recognition of the Rajbanshi language had led to differences among sections of the community.
“When the Central government is considering the inclusion of the language in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution, differences have emerged over whether it should be recognised as Rajbanshi or Kamtapuri. This has created confusion. The initiative is aimed at maintaining unity among the organisations,” Barman said.
He said the state government had already taken steps to promote the Rajbanshi language, including setting up a language academy and initiating efforts to introduce the language in 200 primary schools.
He said the emergence of differences over the language had created confusion and that the proposed Mahasangha would work to bring the organisations together.
Barman said a committee would be formed and a constitution prepared for the proposed organisation. The name Rajbanshi Mahasangha was under consideration, but the final name had not yet been decided.
He said more organisations were expected to join the platform.
“The main issues will be language, culture and constitutional rights. The Mahasangha will work on a common programme, while the organisations will continue their independent activities,” he said.
He added that the umbrella organisation would not interfere in the functioning or organisational structure of its constituent bodies.
Nikhilesh Roy, head of the Bengali department at North Bengal University, welcomed the initiative.
“I have heard that an apolitical umbrella organisation is being formed to work on the issues of the Rajbanshi community. I do not know how or why the initiative was taken, but it is a good step,” he said.
Roy said the initiative would be beneficial if it worked with a positive objective on the community's language, culture and constitutional rights.
He expressed hope that the organisations would work together under one platform to address the common issues of the community. UNI MBN NST
Tags: #Rajbanshi organisations join hands to form apolitical umbrella body in North Bengal
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