Assam, Oct.30,2025:The Amar Sonar Bangla row erupted when, during a meeting of the Congress party’s unit in Assam’s Karimganj district, the song Amar Sonar Bangla — which is the national anthem of Bangladesh — was sung, triggering a fierce political backlash-
According to news reports, the ruling BJP in Assam described the incident as a “blatant disrespect” to Indian sovereignty and accused the Congress of promoting “Greater Bangladesh” vote-bank aims.
In response, Mahua Moitra, MP from the Trinamool Congress, defended the use of the song and argued that it represents Bengali culture and history.
Let’s unpack how the Amar Sonar Bangla row escalated into one of the sharpest cultural-political standoffs in recent times.
The core dispute behind the Amar Sonar Bangla row
The song, its history and significance
The song Amar Sonar Bangla was written by Rabindranath Tagore in 1905, as a poetic protest against the partition of Bengal under British rule.
In Bangladesh, the first ten lines of the song were adopted as the national anthem in 1971.
Its deep cultural resonance means that when the song is performed outside Bangladesh, especially in regions with sensitive demographics such as Assam, it may carry layered meanings around identity, migration and culture.
How the song entered the Assam meeting
At a meeting in Karimganj (Sribhumi district), Assam, a video circulated showing the Congress party unit singing Amar Sonar Bangla, prompting swift reactions from BJP leaders.
Governor and Chief Minister levels take note: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma described the incident as a “blatant disrespect of the people of India” and ordered police action.
The BJP alleged a broader agenda: that the Congress was using cultural symbolism to appeal to Bangla-speaking voters, especially given Assam’s border with Bangladesh and migration debates.
Thus the Amar Sonar Bangla row isn’t just about a song—it touches on politics, border sensitivities and cultural identity.
Key actors in the Amar Sonar Bangla row
Role of the BJP
The BJP swiftly accused the Congress of engaging in “competitive appeasement politics.”
Party spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla asserted that the Congress’s support for the song implied backing for Bangladeshi infiltration and the creation of a “Greater Bangladesh”.
The BJP’s narrative frames the Amar Sonar Bangla row as a national-security issue, through the lens of migration, identity and state sovereignty.
Role of the Congress & regional allies
The Congress unit in Assam defended its cultural rationale, arguing the song reflects Bengali identity rather than any political agenda.
Gaurav Gogoi, a Congress MP, stated that the BJP has historically insulted Bengali language and culture, adding that the Amar Sonar Bangla event exposed BJP’s politics of “using” Bengalis for votes.
Response from Mahua Moitra
Mahua Moitra weighed in with a strong cultural defence: “The song’s first ten lines were adopted as Bangladesh’s national anthem in 1971… Amar Sonar Bangla is emotion for all of us Bengalis.”
Her intervention amplifies the Amar Sonar Bangla row from a local Assam dispute to a pan-Bengali cultural conflict.
Political implications of the Amar Sonar Bangla row
Vote-bank politics and demographic fears
At its heart, the Amar Sonar Bangla row is linked to fears over demographic change in Assam: migration, border infiltration and cultural dilution. The BJP’s accusations hinge on the idea that singing the Bangladeshi anthem within Assam signals largescale cross-border cultural and political alignment.
For the Congress and its regional partners, defending the song becomes a matter of protecting Bengali identity and resisting claims of betrayal or foreign allegiance.
Cultural identity and regional sensitivities
Assam has long been a space of linguistic, ethnic and cultural tensions. The Amar Sonar Bangla row adds a new dimension by tying Bengali culture to cross-border symbolism.
To many Bengalis in India, Amar Sonar Bangla is a nostalgic anthem of resistance and identity, while to others, especially in the Assam-Bangladesh border context, it becomes contested territory.
This fusion of culture and politics means the Amar Sonar Bangla row will be replayed in debates on federalism, identity and the politics of belonging.
What happens next after the Amar Sonar Bangla row
The immediate next steps in the Amar Sonar Bangla row include potential legal action—the Assam government has ordered a case against the district Congress committee for “disrespect” to the national sentiment.
Politically, this controversy may shape campaign narratives ahead of elections: parties will frame the Amar Sonar Bangla row as either cultural vindication or betrayal.
Media coverage will continue to probe whether singing the song was a spontaneous act of cultural celebration or a calculated move. Independent verification of videos and intent will matter.
For voters in Assam — especially Bengali-speaking ones — the Amar Sonar Bangla row becomes a litmus test: does one align with cultural pride or national-security caution?
Final thoughts on the Amar Sonar Bangla row
The Amar Sonar Bangla row is a potent blend of sentimentality, politics and identity. What appears on the surface as a song being sung at a meeting quickly escalated into a flashpoint of national importance.
Culture is never apolitical in such contexts, and the emotional weight of Amar Sonar Bangla means that its invocation in Assam was always going to ripple far beyond the meeting room.
