Federation Hall, Kolkata

Federation Hall, an iconic landmark of Kolkata, West Bengal, stands as a witness to the momentous agitations that took place against the partition of Bengal in 1905. The scheme to partition Bengal broadly along communal lines, which was formulated as part of the British ‘divide and rule’ policy, shook the conscience of all Bengalis. To combat this destructive plan, prominent intellectuals such as Rabindranath Tagore and SurendranathBannerjea proposed the establishment of an “Akhanda Banga Bhavan” (United Bengal Building), which would serve as the meeting point for the protestors and agitators. Sister Nivedita, Jagdish Chandra Basu and other major thinkers and politicians enthusiastically supported this proposal, and Sister Nivedita suggested the name “Milan Bhavan” for the complex, which was accepted. On 16 October 1905, thousands of people assembled for the foundation ceremony of the building and commemorated the day by observing hartals to show their protest to the government, and Rakhi ceremonies to demonstrate the unity of all Bengalis. Today, the Federation Hall serves as a library and cultural centrefor the people of Kolkata. On 8 October 2022, a plaque was installed at the building by the Heritage Commission of Bengal to commemorate its historic significance.