Bangali Bahini (Bengali Brigade) Draws attention of Bengal

Wreaths were also offered on behalf of the Bengali Women's Brigade (Bangali Narii Bahinii) amid the sounding of conch-shells and other sacred sounds.

Thereafter, passing by Rabindra Sadan and Park Street, the procession reached Netaji Statue at Dharmatala. There also guard of honour was presented, and the statue of Netaji was garlanded as a mark of deep respect for this illustrious son of Bengal. The procession terminated at the historical monument of Kolkata.

As the colourful procession passed through different thoroughfares of Kolkata, it seemed that for those few hours, the city had gone back to its glorious past of exceptional courage, valour and fighting spirit. Thousands of curious onlookers were deeply moved by the sight and were wondering when Bengal would again return to its days of pristine glory of uncompromising struggle and indomitable revolutionary zeal and vigour.

Thereafter memorandums addressed to the President of India were presented to the Governor of West Bengal at Raj Bhavan by Amra Bangali and Bangali Bahini separately.

In the memorandum issued by Amra Bangali (AB), emphasis was given to three points. Amra Bangali demanded that 23rd January, the birthday of the great leader of Indian freedom struggle is declared as a national holiday. Second, AB urged that all central and state government offices keep the portraits of Netaji with due dignity of a national hero. Third, Amra Bangali informed the President of India that, b y the heinous conspiracy of the so-called political leaders of India, and by the non-cooperation of different governmental offices, the facts regarding the disappearance of the great leader Netaji continue to remain a mystery. Hence, Amra Bangali demanded the active investigation of the President of India to uncover the mystery of Netaji's disappearance, so that the national crime of what India as a nation has done in failing to honor this great personality be expiated.

In the memorandum of Bangali Bahini (Bengali Brigade, a volunteer's wing of Amra Bangali), joint secretary Pradip Guha cited the following to draw the attention of the President of India:

"We would like to bring to your kind attention that, even after the First World War, there was the existence of Bengali Regiment. Illuminated personalities such as the great revolutionary poet Kaji Nazrul Islam also served in that regiment. Being afraid of the revolutionary zeal of the Bengalis, the British imperialists dismissed that regiment. In spite of our repeated demands, even after 58 years of independence, the non-formation of the Bengali Regiment in the Indian Army is an injustice.

On the other hand, there are numerous regiments in the name of various small communities. Even the Gorkha Regiment, comprised of Nepalis searching for a way to survive, was formed only to serve British interests, and to suppress the naval rebellion that waged war against the British Raj. The rebel soldiers received their inspiration from the noble examples of bravery and youthfulness of the soldiers of the Indian National Army of Netaji. Yet, 58 years after attaining freedom, the Gorkha Regiment that helped British imperialists against the great Indian revolutionaries, is still kept alive. It is an even greater injustice that the Bengali Regiment is not yet formed.

Therefore, the demand of Bangali Vahini is to form the Bengali Regiment in the Indian Army with the members of Para Military Forces, equivalent to Bengal's Police force, Home Guards, N.V.F., and N.C.C. etc. without any further delay."

Both memorandums were copied to the Prime Minister of India, the Home Minister of India, the Governor of West Bengal and to various electronic and printed media.

The colorful procession to commemorate Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's 110th birth anniversary, jointly organized by Amra Bangali and Bangali Bahini, was covered by all the leading news networks.

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