The demand to install a full-length statue of noted social reformer Thakur Panchanan Varma in Salt Lake has resurfaced, with community organizations urging the West Bengal Government to grant long-pending approval.
The The Cooch Behar Kshatriya Society revealed that it had previously approached the Chief Minister of West Bengal twice with a formal proposal to erect the statue in Kolkata. Despite these efforts, the proposal has yet to receive official clearance.
According to the Society, the proposed site is the island near Cooch Behar Bhawan in Salt Lake. Representatives emphasized that the project would be entirely funded by the organization, placing no financial burden on the State Government.
To press their demand, a joint press conference was convened on February 28, 2026, at the Kolkata Press Club by The Cooch Behar Kshatriya Society along with the Calcutta Kshatriya Samiti.
The event was attended by Mrs. Annamayi Adhikari, President of The Cooch Behar Kshatriya Society; Secretary Subhadeep Sarkar; and Shri Dhirendra Nath Barma, Secretary of Calcutta Kshatriya Samiti, among other office bearers and members of both organizations.
Speakers at the press meet highlighted Thakur Panchanan Varma’s historic role in social reform and community upliftment in North-East India. They expressed confidence that installing his statue in the state capital would not only honor his legacy but also introduce future generations to his ideals of unity, social discipline, and reform.
Community leaders concluded by reiterating their appeal to the State Government to grant permission at the earliest, describing the move as a significant step toward recognizing an important chapter in Bengal’s socio-cultural history.
