Editing Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan

{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Use Indian English|date=February 2021}}     
{{Infobox organization
|name = Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan
|native name = জাতীয় বাংলা সম্মেলন
|motto = [[Joy Bangla]]
|formation = {{start date and age|2019|12|09}}
|predecessor = [[Bangla Pokkho]]
|founder = Siddhabrata Das, Anirban Banerjee, Tanwi Das
|headquarters = [[Kolkata]], [[India]]
|membership = 900 registered members
|language = [[Bengali language|Bengali]]
|logo = File:Logo of Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan.jpg
|logo_size = 150px
|caption = Flag of the outfit  
|image = Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan flag banner.jpg
|abbreviation = '''JBS'''
|leader_title = [[President (corporate title)|Acting president]]
|leader_name = Anirban Banerjee
}}

'''Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan''' (alternately spelled ''Jaatiyo Bangla Shommelon'', {{trans|National Bengali Conference}}; {{small|abbr.}} '''JBS''') is a [[Bengali nationalism|Bengali subnationalist]] [[Non-governmental organisations in India#Trust|organization]] based in [[Kolkata]], [[India]]. It was created with the aim of securing the economic and social rights of [[Bengalis]] in [[West Bengal]]. Jatiyo Bangla Sommelon was modelled after many similar [[advocacy group|rights groups]] based in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu like the [[Karnataka Rakshana Vedike]] and also draws inspiration from their functioning.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bengal sees rise of subnationalism ahead of assembly elections |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bengal-sees-rise-of-subnationalism-ahead-of-assembly-polls/articleshow/77572893.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=August 17, 2020}}</ref><br />
The organisation has active members in every district of West Bengal except [[Kalimpong district|Kalimpong]]. Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan has often taken a protective stance towards Bengali language and culture both within the state of West Bengal and outside for which the organization has been criticized  at times as being aggressive and borderline chauvinistic.<ref>{{cite news |title=TMC stokes Bengali pride calls BJP ''outsiders'', BJP hits back |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/tmc-stokes-bengali-pride-calls-bjp-outsiders-bjp-hits-back/1979547 |work=www.outlookindia.com/ |date=20 November 2020}}</ref>

== History ==
Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan took shape on the 9th of December, 2019 after a split from a larger Bengali sub-nationalist organisation called [[Bangla Pokkho]]. Most of its members have formerly been part of Bangla Pokkho.<ref>{{cite news |title=বাংলা পক্ষে ভাঙন, হিন্দুত্ববাদী রাজনীতির অভিযোগ এনে তৈরি হল পৃথক সংগঠন |url=https://www.anandabazar.com/west-bengal/huge-blow-to-bangla-pokkho-a-new-organization-comes-out-now-dgtl-1.1080575 |work=Anandabazar Patrika |date=December 10, 2019}}</ref> The formation of Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan along with a few other outfits coincided with the emergence of Bengali subnationalism since the later part of 2019. One of the main planks on which both JBS and Bangla Pokkho came into being was to counter the "imposition of Hindi" and "north Indian culture". These were in line with agendas of various similar organisations and groups operating in the [[south india|southern states]].<ref>{{cite news |title='Bengali Pride' to be TMC's main poll plank to counter BJP's aggressive Hindutva |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/bengali-pride-to-be-tmcs-main-poll-plank-to-counter-bjps-aggressive-hindutva/articleshow/79491069.cms |work=The Economic Times |date=November 30, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=स्थानीय बनाम बाहरी का मुद्दा, बंगाल में विधानसभा चुनाव के पहले बंगाली अस्मिता का उभार |url=https://www.jagran.com/west-bengal/kolkata-the-rise-of-bengali-identity-in-bengal-before-the-assembly-elections-20634534.html |work=Dainik Jagran |date=17 August 2020 |language=hi}}</ref> During the [[COVID-19 pandemic in India|coronavirus pandemic]], the organisation along with the respective state governments provided ration and essential commodities to [[handloom sari]] sellers from Bengal who had been stuck elsewhere in the country.<ref>{{cite news |title=Migrants stuck over rent dues |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/calcutta/coronavirus-lockdown-migrants-stuck-over-rent-dues/cid/1770199 |work=www.telegraphindia.com |date=5 May 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=TMC stokes Bengali pride calls BJP ''outsiders'', BJP hits back |url=http://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/tmc-stokes-bengali-pride-calls-bjp-outsiders-bjp-hits-back/1979547 |work=www.outlookindia.com/ |date=20 November 2020}}</ref>

== Protests ==
[[File:Participants at Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan's Bishesh Alochona Chokro and blanket distribution programme.jpg|Attendees at a blanket distribution program organised by Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan in [[Chapra, Nadia]]|right|thumb]]

=== Protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act ===
{{See also|Citizenship Amendment Act protests}}
Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan has demonstrated against the [[Citizenship Amendment Act]] in different parts of West Bengal. During a demonstration against the Act at the 2020 [[Kolkata Book Fair]], a scuffle broke out among members of different groups. Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan alleged that workers of the [[Vishva Hindu Parishad]] attacked its members when they were apparently distributing leaflets at the fair.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Staff |first1=Scroll |title=CAA: Several detained after scuffle at Calcutta Book Fair, mob beats up police officer |url=https://scroll.in/latest/952595/citizenship-act-group-of-women-beat-up-police-officer-after-scuffle-over-law-at-calcutta-book-fair |work=Scroll.in |date=9 February 2020}}</ref>

=== Protests against Chhath Puja in Kolkata’s lakes ===
In 2020, members of Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan protested against performing [[Chhath|Chhath puja]] at the two ecologically important lakes of [[Rabindra Sarobar]] and ''Subhas Sarobar''. The organisation set up a night-long vigil at the entry points to the lake to prevent anyone from entering the premises. Performing  rituals in these lakes was prohibited by [[National Green Tribunal Act|National Green Tribunal]] (NGT). Although the [[Government of West Bengal|West Bengal government]] had appealed before the NGT to allow Chhath puja in Rabindra Sarobar, the plea was rejected. The state government had subsequently moved the [[Supreme Court of India]] challenging the NGT verdict but the Supreme Court also gave the state government no relief. 
In the preceding year, thousands of devotees had entered the lake and performed puja. The personnel of [[Kolkata Police]] also, were reluctant in enforcing NGT orders and were seen standing idly outside the lake premises.<ref>{{cite news |title=Bengali Ethnic Groups Set Up Vigils, Prevent Chhath Puja In Kolkata’s Lakes |url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-bengali-ethnic-groups-set-up-vigils-prevent-chhath-puja-in-kolkatas-lakes/364943 |work=www.outlookindia.com/ |date=21 November 2020}}</ref>

==== Hindi imposition protest ====
JBS has held and led various protests against "Hindi-imposition" in Kolkata and elsewhere in West Bengal. The aim of these protests were to counter the imposition of [[Hindi]] on Bengalis, the Central Government's [[National Policy on Education|National Education Policy]] and a perceived threat to the [[Culture of West Bengal|culture of west bengal]].<ref>{{cite news |title=बंगाल की विकट जंग, ममता- मोदी में किसका दांव पड़ेगा भारी |url=https://www.outlookhindi.com/politics/analysis/the-fierce-battle-of-west-bengal-54820 |work=www.outlookhindi.com/ |date=13 January 2021 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Desk |first1=Bengali |title=শিক্ষানীতির বিরুদ্ধে মশাল মিছিল জাতীয় বাংলা সম্মেলনের |url=https://www.kolkata24x7.com/protest-rally-against-national-education-policy/ |work=Kolkata24x7 {{!}} Read Latest Bengali News, Breaking News in Bangla from West Bengal's Leading online Newspaper |date=8 September 2020}}</ref>

== Criticism ==
JBS has been criticized for being aggressive and chauvinistic in its working. There have also been allegations of the organisation's political leaning towards a particular Party even though it formally claims itself to be apolitical and maintains that it doesn't have any political affiliation. Some of the organization's members have also been accused of blackening signboards at Railway stations.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Mali |first1=Amit |title=পাল্টা মার খাওয়ার সম্ভাবনা নেই, তাই হিন্দিভাষীরা বিদ্বেষের শিকার |url=https://hinduvoice.in/2020/12/23/hindi-speaking-people-are-soft-target-so-they-are-harrased/ |work=Hindu Voice |date=23 December 2020}}</ref>

== See also ==
* [[Amra Bangali]]
* [[Matua Mahasangha]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links ==
* [https://www.facebook.com/banglasommelon Facebook page]
{{Commons category|Jatiyo Bangla Sammelan}}

{{West Bengal topics}}

[[Category:Organisations based in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Regionalism in India]]
[[Category:2019 establishments in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Organizations established in 2019]]