Guwahati: The Koch Rajbanshi Citizens Forum has opposed the Assam government’s decision to rename a prominent bazaar road in Golakganj after Shyama Prasad Mukherjee, alleging that the move disregards the history, culture and identity of the Koch-Rajbongshi community.
The protest was held in Golakganj, which falls under the Assembly constituency represented by Cabinet Minister Ashwini Roy. Forum members and local residents demanded that the government withdraw the decision, arguing that public infrastructure in the area should instead commemorate local personalities and families who contributed to the region’s development.
The forum alleged that while the Koch-Rajbongshi community plays a significant role during elections, its cultural and historical concerns are overlooked after the polls. It also criticised Roy for remaining silent on the issue.
Protesters said much of the land on which the Golakganj bazaar and its connecting roads stand was donated by the historic Prodhani Zamindar family and argued that the contribution of the family should be recognised in the naming of public infrastructure.
Jyotirmoy Prodhani, professor of English at North Eastern Hill University (NEHU) and a descendant of the Prodhani Zamindar family, also opposed the renaming and questioned the choice of Shyama Prasad Mukherjee as the namesake. Referring to historical correspondence from the post-Independence period, he alleged that Mukherjee had favoured the merger of Cooch Behar with West Bengal rather than preserving its separate status. He further claimed that the position differed from those of leaders such as Gopinath Bordoloi and Ambikagiri Raichoudhury, who had supported protecting the region’s distinct identity.
The forum also alleged that historical records portray Mukherjee as having viewed sections of the Koch-Rajbongshi community unfavourably during debates over the future of Cooch Behar. The claims reflect the position of the protesters and remain matters of historical interpretation.
Demanding that the renaming decision be revoked, the forum said the naming of public infrastructure should reflect local history, indigenous identity and the contribution of the Prodhani Zamindar family.