Silchar: The long-standing demand to rename the Silchar railway station as “Bhasha Shahid Railway Station” — commemorating the 11 language martyrs of May 19, 1961 — has run into fresh uncertainty, with the railway ministry stating that no formal proposal is currently under consideration.An RTI reply accessed recently has revealed that no request regarding the renaming of the station is pending before the ministry, contradicting periodic claims that the process was underway. The disclosure has disappointed several Barak Valley organisations and civil society groups that have been pushing for the change for decades.The demand is rooted in the 1961 language movement, when 11 protesters were killed on the Silchar railway station premises while agitating for recognition of Bengali as an official language in the region. The martyrs, revered as “Bhasha Shahids”, are remembered every year on May 19 across the Barak Valley.Officials said the absence of a formal proposal has stalled any movement on the issue. “Without a structured proposal from the state govt, the Centre cannot initiate the renaming process,” a source familiar with the procedure said.Railway authorities reiterated that renaming a station involves multiple layers of approval, including a recommendation from the state govt, scrutiny by the ministry, and compliance with established naming norms.The RTI response has also highlighted a disconnect between political assurances and administrative progress. Though there have been public statements in the past indicating that both the Assam govt and the Centre were not opposed to the proposal, these have not translated into concrete action.Local activists say the renaming would serve as a symbolic recognition of the region’s linguistic history. “It is not just about changing a name; it is about honouring a sacrifice that is intrinsically linked to this station,” a Silchar-based social worker said.Over the years, alternative suggestions have also surfaced, including naming the station after the last Kachari king, Raja Govinda Chandra. However, none of the proposals have advanced to the stage of formal approval.Legal experts maintain that the process must be initiated by the state. “A clear and unified proposal, backed by documentation, needs to be sent to the Centre. Only then can the matter be examined,” a senior advocate said.With the issue resurfacing through the RTI disclosure, renewed pressure is expected on both the state and central authorities to take a definitive position. For many in the Barak Valley, the renaming remains an unresolved legacy issue tied to the region’s post-independence identity.
