Trinamool rallies behind Abhishek Banerjee's call to restore Rash Behari Bose Memorial in Tokyo
The Trinamool Congress leadership on Saturday (May 24, 2025) extended full support to party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, who called for the restoration of the memorial of freedom fighter Rash Behari Bose at the Tama Cemetery in Tokyo, Japan.
Mr. Banerjee, visiting Japan as part of an all-party parliamentary delegation, had paid tribute at the memorial and urged officials of the Indian High Commission in Tokyo to take steps for its restoration.
'It was disheartening to see his memorial in such a neglected and dilapidated state… I have requested our Ambassador [@AmbSibiGeorge] and [@IndianEmbTokyo] to take up the matter with the concerned authorities and ensure that this remarkable hero receives the honour he truly deserves,' the Trinamool leader wrote on social media.
Day 2 in Tokyo of the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation to Japan was marked by moments of deep personal reflection and purposeful diplomatic engagement.
I began the day by paying homage to two extraordinary sons of Bengal whose legacies transcend borders – Shri Rash Behari… pic.twitter.com/vLY0VPG488 — Abhishek Banerjee (@abhishekaitc) May 23, 2025
Several Trinamool leaders, including West Bengal Ministers and Members of Parliament, endorsed Mr. Banerjee's appeal. Dr. Sashi Panja, State Minister and senior Trinamool leader, addressed a press conference highlighting Mr. Banerjee's visit to the cemetery in Tokyo, where both Rash Behari Bose and Justice Radha Binod Pal are buried.
'This is the way Bengal shows respect to sons of the soil of the great country and great State,' Dr. Panja said, adding that after Mr. Banerjee's visit, other members of the all-party delegation also visited the cemetery.
'Shri @abhishekaitc's tribute at the memorial of Rash Behari Bose in Tokyo was a call to conscience. By highlighting the memorial's alarming state of neglect, he reminded us of the respect we owe our national heroes beyond our borders,' the party said in a post on social media platform X.
Trinamool Rajya Sabha MP Saket Gokhale said that with the Indian Ambassador visiting the memorial the following day, expectations are high that appropriate steps will be taken.
'Rash Behari Bose must be accorded the greatest respect and a proud son of Bengal has raised this issue. The Modi Govt needs to act swiftly on the concerns raised by @abhishekaitc,' Mr. Gokhale said.
MP Ritabrata Banerjee, who had earlier raised concerns in Parliament over the lack of recognition for Bengali freedom fighters at the Andaman Cellular Jail, praised Mr. Banerjee's gesture.
'By paying respects to Shri Rash Behari Bose and Justice Radhabinod Pal, he paid homage to two towering figures who shaped India's legacy at home and abroad,' Mr. Banerjee said.
Observers note that the Trinamool Congress's increasing emphasis on honouring Bengal's freedom fighters may be part of a broader project aimed at asserting 'Bengali nationalism and identity' in response to the BJP's ideological push centred around Hindutva.
The Rajya Sabha MP had raised the question as to whether there were no busts of Ulaskar Dutta and Barin Ghosh at the Andaman Cellular Jail and if the Ministry of Culture had any plans to construct some memorial in the name of the freedom fighters at the prison.
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