Bengal CM Adhikari seeks 1,000 new Vidya Bharati schools, proposes education overhaul

West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has announced an ambitious plan to establish at least 1,000 new schools run by Vidya Bharati, the education wing of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), across the state within a year. The announcement was made during an event marking the 74th anniversary of Vidya Bharati at the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture.

Adhikari, who became the state's first BJP chief minister after the 2026 assembly elections, stated that these schools would be set up in every district, municipality, and panchayat. He urged the organisation to take on the responsibility of imparting what he termed "nationalistic learning" and invited its leadership to the state secretariat to discuss the initiative.

Vidya Bharati currently operates over 12,000 schools and 10,000 Bal Sanskar Kendras nationwide, with West Bengal hosting 313 of these institutions. The organisation's stated vision is to develop a national education system that builds a younger generation "committed to Hindutva and infused with patriotic fervour."

In a separate proposal, Adhikari suggested merging the state's four education departments into a single administration. He specifically opposed the current arrangement where Aliah University is managed by the minority affairs department rather than the higher education department. He questioned why the minority affairs department had sent him a separate file with names of Muslim students for felicitation after he had already honoured board toppers from various communities.

Adhikari also urged Vidya Bharati to expand its presence in Murshidabad and South 24 Parganas, alleging that "more anti-national activities take place" in those districts. He criticised the previous Trinamool Congress government for "polluting" educational institutions, citing examples such as referring to mother as 'amma' instead of 'ma' and neglecting lessons on Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar and Swami Vivekananda.

The chief minister invoked Bharatiya Jana Sangh founder Syama Prasad Mookerjee's slogan of "One Nation, One Constitution, One Flag, One Leader," suggesting it should apply to the education department as well.