Tripura Health Secretary Kiran Gitte clarified that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s name has been retained in the upgraded Agartala Government Homeopathic Medical College and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Homeopathic Hospital, dismissing allegations of its removal and reaffirming the government’s respect for the freedom fighter’s legacy.
Tripura Health Secretary Kiran Gitte has clarified that the name of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose continues to remain an integral part of the state’s newly upgraded government homeopathic medical institution, putting to rest the controversy that erupted over allegations that the iconic freedom fighter’s name had been removed during the upgradation process.
Addressing the issue on Saturday, Gitte categorically stated that the institution’s official name will be “Agartala Government Homeopathic Medical College and Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose Homeopathic Hospital.” He explained that the naming convention follows the same structure adopted for the Agartala Government Medical College and Govind Ballabh Pant Hospital, where the medical college and hospital function as separate entities while remaining administratively linked under a unified institutional framework.
The clarification came after opposition parties, including the CPI(M) and the All India Forward Bloc, strongly criticised the state government over reports claiming that Netaji’s name had been omitted following the hospital’s conversion into a government homeopathic medical college.
According to Gitte, there was never any proposal to remove Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose’s name from the institution. Instead, the revised nomenclature was designed to distinguish between the medical college and the hospital while preserving the hospital’s historic identity and legacy.
“The naming pattern ensures clarity while preserving the hospital’s historic identity. There is no question of removing Netaji’s name,” Gitte said, reiterating that the government remains committed to honouring the immense contribution of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose to India’s freedom movement.
To eliminate any public confusion, the Health Secretary further announced that fresh signboards displaying the institution’s complete official name would be installed immediately. The move is expected to reinforce the government’s position and reassure the public that Netaji’s legacy continues to be recognised within the institution.
The controversy had intensified after CPI(M) State Secretary Jitendra Chaudhury termed the alleged removal of Netaji’s name as “historically unjustified.” The All India Forward Bloc also submitted a memorandum to the Chief Minister, demanding that the legendary freedom fighter’s name be restored if it had been omitted.
Both political parties argued that while administrative restructuring and institutional upgradation are welcome, such changes should not undermine the identity and historical significance associated with one of India’s most revered freedom fighters.
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With the Health Secretary’s official clarification, the state government has sought to end the political debate, asserting that the upgraded institution continues to honour Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose while adopting a structured naming format consistent with other government medical institutions in Tripura.
