The West Bengal government on Friday inaugurated its own State symbol. The logo highlights the ‘Biswa Bangla’ theme, and also features the national emblem, the Ashoka Pillar.
Many States like Odisha, Bihar and Telangana have their own seals and logos.
The logo, reportedly designed by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee herself, was vetted by a State government committee headed by eminent artist Jogen Chowdhury and then sent to the Centre for approval in May. The final approval came on Wednesday.
“From now on, we will use this symbol on all official documents and correspondences of the State,” Mamata said during the inauguration.
“For 70 years no one had thought about the State having its own logo or seal. But we changed that. We have also applied for a change in name of the State and it is awaiting approval from the Centre.”
Incidentally, the logo had been embroiled in a controversy after former Trinamool Congress leader Mukul Roy, who has now joined BJP, alleged that it was registered in the name of Mamata’s nephew and party MP Abhishek Banerjee. West Bengal Home Secretary Atri Bhattacharya and MSME Secretary Rajiva Sinha had issued statements denying the allegations.