The Burdwan Jn. railway station is soon going to complete 165 glorious years of functioning on August 15th, 2019. And in its term of active service to the public, this place has served to be the spot of millions of tears before departure, and millions of enthusiastic waits before the arrival of loved ones. To the people of Burdwan, this is way more than just a station. It would be an understatement if I say that my fellow city mates are exceedingly emotional about, and have deep personal links to this place.

Batukeshwar Dutt was born in Oari village, Khandaghosh, which is a Community Development block under Burdwan Sadar, South Section. He is one of the many revolutionaries that Burdwan has produced over the years.

Fact would state that renaming the junction would rob it of its prized identity, and will serve to be a sudden and major disconnect, one that has the potential to severe the deep bond the city shares with the station.

Honoring freedom fighter Batukeshwar Dutt can be done in a much better way. There are multiple new and upcoming things to be freshly named, and renaming a very old station that serves as the primary identity of an important city is an unnecessary move. Let us think of naming the Largest Rail Bridge, soon to be inaugurated in Burdwan after Dutt? Sounds logical, right? If one visits the station at night, he will find dozens of homeless sleeping on the pavements and the area outside the station. Let the government allot a small budget for creating a basic settlement for them so that they can get a roof over their head during night time, and save themselves from the perils of rain and cold? Let us name that shelter after Batukeshwar Dutt?

If you need a better solution, let us move a bit away from the city, towards Oari in Khandaghosh, where he was born. Let me request you to allot some funds for an optimum up-gradation of Khandaghosh. Let the primary healthcare center be upgraded, and be named after Dutt? In his village Oari, let the problems be addressed and a memorial be installed? I am sure he will be happier if his birthplace were to get a makeover in his honor. I am sure he will feel more honored by that than he would be by renaming a station which holds an immense amount of emotional and aesthetic weight in its identity.

It is an earnest request to Mr. Nityanand Rai from the residents of Bardhaman to reconsider this decision and revoke the same before it reaches official tables and is passed as an official decree.

Read the letter of appeal to Mr. Rai here.