politics

Bengal street renamed: Suhrawardy Avenue becomes Gopal Mukherjee Road amid political controversy

Published on: 12 Jul 2026, 08:57 PM

Kolkata's Suhrawardy Avenue, named after Sir Hassan Suhrawardy, was renamed Gopal Mukherjee Road by the West Bengal government on June 20, 2024. The decision has sparked debate, as the road was originally named after Sir Hassan Suhrawardy, a noted academic and former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Calcutta, not his nephew Huseyn Shaheed Suhrawardy, a former Prime Minister of Pakistan often blamed for the 1946 Calcutta killings.

The blue-and-white signboard now reads 'Gopal Mukherjee Road' in Bengali and English. Gopal Mukherjee, a goat meat shop owner, is celebrated by the ruling BJP for allegedly saving Hindus during the riots. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari called the renaming 'a restoration of historical justice,' while critics argue it is politically motivated ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

Historian P. T. Nair's book confirms the road was named after Sir Hassan Suhrawardy in 1933 for his contributions to education and his bravery in saving Governor Stanley Jackson's life. The renaming has ignited discussions about historical memory and political symbolism in West Bengal.

Source: The Hindu

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