If you walk through the streets of Kolkata in the coming weeks, you might notice a change. Shop signs across the city are getting a new look, all thanks to a new rule from the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC).
The KMC has now made it mandatory for all shops, businesses, and offices to display their signboards in the Bengali language. This isn’t just a request anymore—it’s an official order that establishments must follow.
This move comes directly from the top. KMC Municipal Commissioner Dhaval Jain issued a circular over the weekend, instructing everyone to add Bengali to their signage. The circular makes it clear that Bengali shouldn’t just be included; it should be prominently displayed at the top of all signboards.
This push to promote the Bengali language in Kolkata has been building for a while. Late last year, the KMC had politely asked shopkeepers to make the change voluntarily. However, officials noticed that many shops did not act on that initial request.
That’s why the civic body has now made it a strict requirement. The KMC has set a deadline for this month, meaning all businesses need to update their signs quickly to avoid any issues.
The drive to protect Bengali’s identity has become a major focus for the Mamata Banerjee-led government. It connects to a larger political narrative concerning the treatment of Bengali migrant workers in other states.
The importance of using Bengali was highlighted recently within the KMC’s own walls. During a meeting, Mayor Firhad Hakim even joked with a councillor for asking a question in English. KMC Chairman Mala Roy had previously urged councillors to speak in Bengali during official meetings.
Mayor Hakim was firm about the new signboard rule, stating that the corporation would not hesitate to cancel the trade license of any shop that fails to comply. So for Kolkata’s shopkeepers, updating their signs is now a necessary task.
