Agartala: Seeking to put an end to the controversy over the naming of Tripura’s upgraded government homeopathic medical institution, Health Secretary Kiran Gitte, IAS, has categorically stated that the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose has not been removed and will continue to remain an integral part of the institution’s official identity.
Addressing the issue on Saturday, Gitte announced that the institution’s full official name will be “Agartala Government Homeopathic Medical College and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Homeopathic Hospital.” He explained that the naming follows the same model adopted for the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where the medical college and hospital function as distinct entities while remaining part of a unified institution.
The Health Secretary said that new signboards displaying the official nomenclature would be installed immediately to eliminate any confusion and reaffirm that Netaji’s name continues to be associated with the hospital.
The clarification comes in the wake of strong criticism from opposition parties, particularly the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the All India Forward Bloc, which alleged that the state government had dropped Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s name during the process of upgrading the hospital into a medical college.
CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury termed the alleged omission as “historically unjustified,” while the Forward Bloc submitted a memorandum to Chief Minister Manik Saha, demanding restoration of Netaji’s name. Both parties argued that administrative restructuring should not undermine the legacy of one of India’s foremost freedom fighters.
Responding to the criticism, Gitte emphasized that the government’s decision was guided by respect for Netaji’s immense contribution to India’s freedom struggle. “The naming pattern has been adopted only to provide administrative clarity while preserving the hospital’s historic identity. There is no question of removing Netaji’s name,” he said.
With the government’s clarification now on record and revised signboards set to be installed, the administration hopes to end the controversy. Attention will now turn to whether opposition parties accept the explanation once the official notification and updated signage are fully implemented. The government maintains that the revised nomenclature strikes a balance between institutional modernization and preserving the historical and cultural legacy associated with Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose.
