“Was renaming the Town Hall necessary, at all?”, Netizens asked as the State is witnessing intense discussions and debates alongwith wild speculations.
Agartala (Tripura) July 8: What was intended to be a solemn tribute to Dr. Syama Prasad Mookerjee on his 125th birth anniversary has instead ignited an intense debate in Tripura which is still continuing.
The announcement of renaming Agartala’s iconic Town Hall after the founder of Jana Sangh has triggered a backlash from opposition parties, civil society, cultural groups, and even an ally of the ruling BJP.
The controversy erupted after Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha, while addressing a commemorative event on Sunday (July 6), announced the institution of two new awards in memory of Dr. Mookerjee. However, it was his declaration to rename the historic Town Hall in central Agartala and install a statue of Dr. Mookerjee at the site that drew sharp reactions.
“Was renaming the Town Hall necessary, at all?”, Netizens asked as the State is witnessing intense discussions and debates alongwith wild speculations.
Ironically, the renaming of the Town Hall issue quickly overshadowed announcement of institution of two awards for notable contributions in education and other sectors and drew immediate backlash.
People argued the Town Hall is a historical landmark with deep-rooted cultural and political significance and renaming it will hurt the public sentiment as well as it will not be a proper way to honour a person like Dr SP Mookherjee.
“Since BJP is in power, they can rename it, but once the government changes – never mind decades long Left regime too crumbled – the new Government may rename it again discarding present government’s move. So why the BJP government is keen to show a temporary respect and honour to one of greatest sons of our country “, a noted cultural personality of Agartala said on condition of anonymity.
He and some of his friends lamented, people didn’t expect such a move from Dr Manik Saha – a well mannered and respected dental surgeon.
Main opposition parties in Tripura, the CPIM and the Congress, as well as numerous cultural organisations, voiced strong opposition to the renaming decision. Even BJP’s alliance partner TIPRA Motha Party MLA Ranjit Debbarma too made a sincere request to the Chief Minister urging him to refrain from going ahead with move.
However, Ranjit Debbarma’s another statement in this context created fresh waves as he praised former Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb for hid efforts in preserving Tripura’s indigenous heritage through renaming initiatives.
And this sparked another round of discussions blended with subtle fun and speculations.
Leader of the Opposition and CPIM State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury criticised the decision, saying that most Indian state capitals have their own Town Halls and the Agartala Town Hall has been a part of Tripura’s cultural heritage since its inauguration by then Vice-President R. Venkataraman on April 25, 1985.
“Rather than renaming an existing iconic structure, the government should construct a new auditorium or building in Dr. Mookerjee’s name,” Chaudhury said,
He underscored that the renaming of Town Hall move could be seen as disrespectful to both public sentiment and Dr. Mookerjee’s legacy.
Tripura Congress president Asish Kumar Saha echoed similar concerns, asserting that the Congress is not against honouring Dr. Mookerjee but suggested building a new facility instead of renaming an established one.
“A grand auditorium or public institution named after Dr. Mookerjee would be a more appropriate tribute,” said Saha, a former legislator.
Cultural groups also raised their voices. Samir Dhar, president of the cultural body ‘Aawaj’ and a noted author, stated that Agartala needs additional cultural venues to accommodate the city’s growing number of literary, political, and social events.
He urged the government to consider naming these future establishments after Dr. Mookerjee, rather than altering existing landmarks.
Historians weighed in on the issue, noting that the site of the Town Hall has historical significance dating back to 1913, when a royal guest house stood adjacent to the Ujjayanta Palace.
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This guest house was later demolished in the mid-1980s by the Left Front government to build the current Town Hall, a venue now deeply linked with many important events in Tripura’s history.
Netizens are also curious to know who are the architects of move that drew unnecessary pressure on the party and the government.
