The Mamata Banerjee government on Tuesday proposed to rename West Bengal as "Bengal", dropping "West" from its name.
"For the sake of the people of the state, its heritage and culture as well as to promote and protect its interests at the national level, we have proposed to rename West Bengal as Bengal in English and 'Banga' or Bangla in Bengali," Minister Partha Chatterjee told the media.
In Bengali, the state is currently referred to as "Paschim Banga" or "Paschim Bangla".
Although, it was meant only for Bengalis, Twitterati was quick to react to Bongo.
West Bengal will be either #Bangla or #Bongo. Now who the hell smoked a bong and suggested this name.I hope its Bongo so that all can Bajao!
— Mrityunjay Singh (@indomitablesoul) August 2, 2016
West Bengal - Bongo
— Village Idiot (@ViIlageldiot) August 2, 2016
How it all started https://t.co/BUAqOv5Jls
I am told that some in West Bengal want their state to be renamed as Bongo. Can I please introduce a motion to prefix that with Coco?
— Shubhashish (@shubHASHISH) August 2, 2016
Let the great renaming game begin!
— Jean Spraker (@Magnolia2Mumbai) August 2, 2016
FYI. This is a bongo. IJS. https://t.co/Ej1VG4lTpV
West Bengal likely to be renamed Bongo
— Rasheed Kappan (@kappansky) August 2, 2016
So if you've bin to Bongo, u cud call it Bingo ;)
Bongo? Waiting for Malayali to be officially called Mango... err... Mallu and Kerala as Mallu Pradesh
— Tinu Cherian Abraham (@tinucherian) August 2, 2016
Where are you from? Bongo. Honestly, this is the name that will launch a thousand memes.
— kavitharao (@kavitharao) August 2, 2016
Will driving licenses & birth certificate issued by the Bongo Govt be taken seriously anywhere on the planet?
— IndiaSpeaks (@IndiaSpeaksPR) August 2, 2016
After West Bengal is renamed, can't wait for the Calcutta HC to be renamed Bong High and the Water Resources Dept Tap Some Bong.
— Nigel Britto (@NigelBritto) August 2, 2016
So soon West Bengal will be renamed to Bangla or Bongo in Bengali, and Bengal in English. Hey what's in a name as long you make rosogollas!
— Vinod (@JoyfulVinod) August 2, 2016
@IndianExpress
— Sovik Srimany (@ssrimany) August 2, 2016
Name of WB changed to Bongo. pic.twitter.com/vmYMnK2Ezp
Must say #Bongo sounds the coolest of all the states there can be.. But i just wish better sense prevails..
— Akbar Husain (@TheAkbarNama) August 2, 2016
Imagine having cabinet meetings and they decided to come up with Bongo https://t.co/BZJrvBlPth
— Khaleel (@Beardious) August 2, 2016
The name is likely to be approved by the state assembly at the end of August and then will be forwarded to the centre.
If the change is approved, it would require a constitutional amendment to actually effect the change.
The state’s capital was already changed to Kolkata from Calcutta, which was deemed to be a reflection of the colonial past.