Kolkata road naming policy under spotlight after CM’s statement The renaming of Surawardy Avenue in Kolkata’s Park Circus area has triggered a political storm, with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari declaring that roads and public places in the city should no longer carry the names of “Mughals or Pathans.”
The controversy surfaced during a discussion on the Governor’s address in the West Bengal Assembly on Tuesday, where opposition leaders questioned the decision to rename Surawardy Avenue as Gopal Mukherjee Road.
Opposition questions Surawardy Avenue renaming
Leader of the Opposition Rittabrata Banerjee argued that if the government wanted to honour Gopal Mukherjee, a road in Kolkata’s Bowbazar area would have been a more appropriate choice because of his historical association with the locality.
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Rebel Trinamool Congress MLA Sabina Yasmin also objected to the renaming. She pointed out that former University of Calcutta Vice-Chancellor, physician and educationist Hassan Suhrawardy was not the same person as Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, the last Premier of undivided Bengal and a prominent Muslim League leader.
According to Yasmin, the distinction between the two personalities should have been considered before changing the road’s name.
‘Surawardy’s name cannot remain’: Suvendu Adhikari
Responding to the criticism, Suvendu Adhikari said he was not involved in initiating the name change but welcomed the decision publicly.
“I do not know who changed the name. I thanked them through a post on X. Whenever I travelled through Seven Point Crossing, I saw the signboard reading Surawardy Avenue. The name Surawardy cannot remain. If anyone believes a true patriot and nationalist like former President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam deserves recognition, provide the information and we will honour him. But why should Surawardy’s name remain?” he said.
‘No Mughal or Pathan names in Kolkata’
The Chief Minister expanded the debate by calling for a review of roads named after historical foreign personalities.
“There will be no names of Mughals or Pathans in Kolkata. Considering events like the Great Calcutta Killing, the Noakhali riots, oppressive British rule, and related historical chapters, we must think five times before naming roads after foreigners, except Sister Nivedita,” he said.
His remarks have reignited political debate over the future of roads named after international leaders and historical figures across Kolkata.
Former Kolkata Mayor questions renaming process
Former Kolkata Mayor and senior CPM leader Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya questioned whether the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) followed the established procedure before renaming the road.
“Earlier, any proposal to rename a road in Kolkata required consultation with experts. A naming committee would assess the necessity of the change and recommend it to the municipal board. Only then would the proposal receive final approval. None of that is happening now; a commissioner is acting unilaterally,” he said.
According to Bhattacharya, proposals for renaming roads were traditionally examined by a dedicated committee before receiving approval from the civic body.
KMC confirms Surawardy Avenue renamed as Gopal Mukherjee Road
Kolkata Municipal Corporation Commissioner Smita Pandey confirmed that the renaming has already been completed.
“We have already changed the name of Surawardy Avenue. The road is now called Gopal Mukherjee Road,” she said.
The confirmation has intensified the political debate surrounding the decision.
New committee to review road names in Kolkata
Amid the controversy, Suvendu Adhikari announced the formation of a new committee to evaluate proposals for naming and renaming roads and public places.
“I am announcing a committee for naming and evaluation under the leadership of Swami Pradiptananda Maharaj. He will lead the committee. Anyone with suggestions may submit them there,” he said.
The committee will be headed by Padma Shri awardee Swami Pradiptananda (Kartik) Maharaj.
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CPM sees wider implications for Kolkata road names
During his speech, Suvendu Adhikari also targeted Rittabrata Banerjee over his remarks in the Assembly.
“Your speech sounded like that of a Communist leader. Karl Marx is in your mind, and Lenin or Mao Zedong in your heart. We will not take lessons from those who once called Netaji ‘Tojo’s dog’ and Rabindranath a ‘bourgeois poet,'” he said.
The CPM believes the controversy could extend beyond Surawardy Avenue. With roads such as Lenin Sarani and Ho Chi Minh Sarani continuing to exist in Kolkata, Left leaders say the Chief Minister’s remarks may lead to a broader debate over the naming and renaming of roads linked to foreign personalities.
The Surawardy Avenue renaming controversy has now evolved into a larger political discussion over Kolkata road names, historical legacy, civic procedures and the criteria for honouring public figures in West Bengal.
