West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday, 25 October 2026, called for the introduction of regular debates, quiz competitions, and impromptu speech events centred on 'nationalism' as a theme in state schools, arguing that such programmes are essential to prevent what he described as 'divisive and anti-national forces' from influencing young minds. The Chief Minister made the remarks while addressing media persons in Kolkata, and announced that the state's school syllabus will undergo several changes from the next academic year.

What Adhikari Proposed

Chief Minister Adhikari called for at minimum three days every year to be dedicated to such competitions at the primary school level. 'To combat the anti-national forces from influencing young minds, there is a necessity to imbibe nationalist feelings among the students from a very young age. In order to instill a sense of nationalism among students, opportunities for various cultural practices should be created from the primary levels in schools,' he said.

He also proposed that students be given exposure to traditional Indian musical instruments, including the tabla, harmonium, santoor, mridangam, and tambourine, to help them develop latent cultural talents.

Framing the Threat

Adhikari drew a pointed comparison between divisive forces and the Coronavirus, saying both try to weaken the country's democratic structure by targeting the most vulnerable — in this case, young students. 'That is why I am calling for organising such programs to combat such divisive and anti-national forces,' he said. The language signals a broader political framing of education reform as a counter-radicalisation tool — a theme that has gained traction in Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-aligned discourse nationally.

Attack on Previous Governments

The Chief Minister used the occasion to sharply criticise both the Left Front and the All India Trinamool Congress (TMC) for what he called a deliberate neglect of cultural education over the past five decades. 'The heritage and culture of West Bengal have been destroyed first during 34 years of Left rule and then during the 15 years of Trinamool Congress rule,' Adhikari said. He argued that restoring a nationalist spirit in classrooms is essential to reversing that damage — a remark that drew an implicit contrast with his own administration's stated priorities.

Syllabus Changes and What Comes Next

Beyond the cultural and nationalist programming, Adhikari confirmed that the state government plans broader changes to the school syllabus beginning the next academic year, though specific details of those changes were not disclosed at the time of his remarks. The announcement follows a pattern seen in several BJP-governed states where curriculum reform has been linked to cultural and civic education goals. Education stakeholders and teachers' unions in West Bengal are expected to respond as the policy details emerge. How the TMC opposition frames its counter-narrative will also be closely watched in the run-up to the next state electoral cycle.