West Bengal government directs schools to sing ‘Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol’ in morning assembly

The West Bengal government has announced that all state-run and state-aided schools will now include the song "Banglar Mati Banglar Jol" by Rabindranath Tagore in their morning assemblies. The prayer song, which is the state anthem, will be sung along with the national anthem.

The song ‘Banglar Mati Banglar Jol’ (Bengal’s Land, Bengal’s Water), written by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore in 1905 as a protest against the partition of Bengal, will now serve as the state’s designated prayer song.

Previously, apart from the National Anthem, no specific prayer song had been prescribed for schools in West Bengal.

"As consented by chief minister Mamata Banerjee, every state-run and state-aided schools will have 'Banglar Mati Banglar Jol' as the prayer song before commencement of the classes from now on every day,” education minister Bratya Basu posted on the official X account.

Also read TS Inter Exams 2026: TGBIE revises fee; removes 5-year rule allowing failed students to appear

He clarified that the prayer song will be sung along with the National Anthem. Basu said the move would serve as “a catalyst for communal unity and social harmony,” helping the younger generation become more aware of the importance of preserving harmony in society.

In his post on X the minister attached a notice by the deputy secretary (Academic) "for regular singing of the state song “Banglar Mati, Banglar Jol” in the morning assembly mandatorily with immediate effect.

The West Bengal Board of Secondary Education (WBBSE) president Ramanuj Ganguy said that notifications have been sent to affiliated schools to this effect. As per the official WBBSE directive, schools have to mandatorily sing the state song "Banglar Mati, Banglar Jal" during the morning assembly.