West Bengal Lok Bhavan announces essay competition on 1946 Calcutta riots

West Bengal Lok Bhavan has announced a state-level essay competition on the 1946 Calcutta riots and Direct Action Day for school, college and university students. The contest offers separate English and Bangla prizes up to Rs 1 lakh and bars AI-generated submissions.

In Short

• School and higher education entrants can write in English or Bangla
• School essays need 3,000-4,000 words on causes and consequences of 1946
• College submissions examine Direct Action Day with a 5,000-6,000 word limit

The West Bengal Lok Bhavan has announced its first state-level essay competition for school, college and university students across the state. Organised by the Governor’s Secretariat, the competition will invite entries in English and Bangla.

The competition will have two categories, one for students from Classes 10 to 12 and another for college and university students. Both categories will focus on the 1946 communal violence in Kolkata, known as the Great Calcutta Killings.

TWO TOPICS ANNOUNCED FOR STUDENTS

For school students, the topic is “Calcutta Massacre, 1946 – Causes and Consequences”, with a word limit of 3,000 to 4,000 words.

For college and university students, the topic is “Direct Action Day by All India Muslim League – A Fatal Assault on Civilisational Bharat”, with a word limit of 5,000 to 6,000 words.

The topics are available in both English and Bangla. Students can submit their essays in either of the two languages.

PRIZES OF UP TO RS 1 LAKH

The competition carries cash prizes in both categories. School students will receive Rs 50,000 for the first prize, Rs 35,000 for the second prize and Rs 25,000 for the third prize.
For college and university students, the first prize is Rs 1 lakh, followed by Rs 75,000 for the second prize and Rs 50,000 for the third prize.

The prizes will be awarded separately for essays submitted in English and Bangla.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE?

Only students studying in educational institutions located in West Bengal are eligible to participate. Each participant can submit only one essay, either in English or Bangla.
Essays can be handwritten or typed and must use only one side of each page. Participants are required to submit a signed hard copy of their essay.

A separate sheet must include the participant's name, residential address, class or discipline, name of educational institution, email address and contact number. School students must also provide a parent or guardian's contact number.

The participant's name, institution or any other identifying information must not appear on the essay itself.

AI-GENERATED CONTENT STRICTLY PROHIBITED

Each entry must be accompanied by a signed Self-Declaration Form confirming that the essay is the participant's original and independent work.

Participants must also declare that all sources, quotations and references have been properly acknowledged and that no AI-generated content or generative AI tools have been used to write the essay.

The organisers have said that plagiarism, copying or reproducing material without proper acknowledgement, and the use of AI-generated content or generative AI tools, will be treated as violations and may lead to disqualification.

Entries will be assessed on parameters including depth of research, factual accuracy, originality of thought, analytical depth, coherence and quality of expression.

DEADLINE FOR SUBMISSION

Entries must reach the Secretary to the Governor, Governor's Secretariat, Lok Bhavan, Kolkata – 700 062 on or before November 15, 2026. Entries will be accepted only through post or courier and cannot be submitted in person. The envelope must be superscribed “State-Level Essay Competition 2026”, along with the relevant category and language.

Further, the winners will be felicitated on January 26, 2027, during the At Home Reception at Lok Bhavan.

The competition marks Lok Bhavan's first state-level essay initiative and seeks to encourage students to undertake research and critical analysis of a significant and contested episode in Bengal's history. With substantial cash prizes and separate categories for school and higher education students, the competition is expected to attract entries from across West Bengal.

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