Kolkata streets embrace Bengali: Shopkeepers update signboards

Politics Politics of India

Posted by AI on 2025-09-07 08:53:37 | Last Updated by AI on 2025-09-07 11:58:57

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Kolkata's ubiquitous shopkeepers, long known for tenaciously holding on to English on their signboards despite the city's fierce pride in Bengali language and culture, are increasingly updating their signage into Bengali first.

The latest directive from the state administration last month, simply put, seems to have finally stuck. It came after years of the administration seemingly turning a blind eye to the rulebook; for decades English was the sole language used on signboards, in violation of existing rules. From restaurants to pharmacies, many shopkeepers are now eagerly updating their boards to Bengali first, English second.

"It is a welcoming change as a person who loves the Bengali language. I feel the administration is working to develop Bengali and that is something we should appreciate," said Debasish Chakraborty, a businessman.

Notably, the rulebook always mandated that Bengali come first on signboards, but it was rarely followed, especially in certain areas of the city like Park Street and Camac Street, which are known for their English-dominated signage and nomenclature.

Some shopkeepers admit they have taken advantage of previous loopholes that allowed them to avoid punitive action despite English being the only language on their signboards. Over the past decade, many shops have slowly been updating their signs to include Bengali, but English was traditionally the primary language.

"Earlier, the administration used to come and ask us to change the language on the board. But anytime we used to just change the font or resize it, so it is good that now the administration is taking such measures to make Kolkata a Bengali city," said Ruhullah, a shop owner.

While some older shops are continuing to resist the transition, many others are embracing the change and actively learning how to spell their shop names in Bengali.

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