Lok Bhavan Essay Contest: Rs 1 Lakh Prize For Students on 1946 Riots

The West Bengal Lok Bhavan has announced its first state-level essay competition for school, college and university students, with the contest focusing on the 1946 communal violence in Kolkata, commonly known as the Great Calcutta Killings, and Direct Action Day. Organised by the Governor’s Secretariat, the competition will accept entries in both English and Bangla. Students from educational institutions located in West Bengal will be eligible to participate, with cash prizes of up to Rs 1 lakh for college and university students.

The competition has been divided into two categories based on the level of education. Students from Classes 10 to 12 have been given the topic “Calcutta Massacre, 1946 – Causes and Consequences” and will have to submit essays between 3,000 and 4,000 words. College and university students will write on “Direct Action Day by All India Muslim League – A Fatal Assault on Civilisational Bharat”, with the essay required to be between 5,000 and 6,000 words. Both topics will be available in English and Bangla.

The prize structure has been kept separate for the two categories as well as the two languages. In the school category, the first, second and third prize winners will receive Rs 50,000, Rs 35,000 and Rs 25,000 respectively. For college and university students, the first prize is Rs 1 lakh, followed by Rs 75,000 for the second prize and Rs 50,000 for the third prize. The prizes will be awarded separately for essays submitted in English and Bangla, giving participants an opportunity to compete within their chosen language.

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Only students studying at educational institutions in West Bengal can participate, and each student can submit one essay in either English or Bangla. Entries may be handwritten or typed, but must be written on only one side of each page. Participants must send a signed hard copy of their essay, along with a separate sheet containing their name, residential address, class or discipline, institution, email address and contact number. School students must also provide a parent or guardian’s contact number, while identifying details must not appear on the essay itself.

The organisers have specifically prohibited the use of artificial intelligence tools and AI-generated material in the submissions. Each entry must include a signed self-declaration confirming that the essay is the participant’s original and independent work and that sources, quotations and references have been properly acknowledged. Plagiarism, copying or reproducing material without acknowledgement, as well as the use of generative AI tools, can lead to disqualification. Entries will be evaluated on research depth, factual accuracy, originality, analytical depth, coherence and quality of expression.

Entries must reach the Secretary to the Governor, Governor’s Secretariat, Lok Bhavan, Kolkata – 700 062, by November 15, 2026. Submissions will be accepted only through post or courier and cannot be delivered in person. The envelope must carry the words “State-Level Essay Competition 2026”, along with the relevant category and language. Winners will be felicitated on January 26, 2027, during the At Home Reception at Lok Bhavan. The initiative is the Governor’s Secretariat’s first state-level essay competition and is intended to encourage students to research and critically examine a significant and contested episode in Bengal’s history.

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