A new chapter begins for West Bengal as Ravindra Narayan Ravi arrives in the City of Joy to assume his role as the Constitutional head of the state. Following a prolific 54-month tenure in Tamil Nadu, Mr. Ravi is slated to be sworn in as the Governor of West Bengal on Thursday, bringing with him a reputation for transforming the Governor’s office into a proactive “Lok Bhavan.”
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FROM CHENNAI TO KOLKATA: THE LEGACY OF ‘PEOPLE’S GOVERNOR’
RN Ravi’s time in Tamil Nadu was marked by an unprecedented level of public engagement. Shifting away from the traditional, distant nature of the office, he focused on making the Raj Bhavan accessible to civil society from all walks of life. RN Ravi personally addressed more than 1,00,000 students, emphasising the role of the younger generation in nation-building. In a departure from the practice of handing out a few symbolic degrees, he personally distributed more than 50,000 certificates at various university convocations. He pioneered this signature initiative, hosting 24 sessions at the Raj Bhavan.
These forums brought together diverse groups, including startup entrepreneurs and young achievers, transgender individuals and ex-servicemen, traditional artists and women’s forums. Under the “Meet and Greet” initiative, he invited various organisations and media houses into his chamber to understand their grassroots challenges. He fostered national unity by celebrating the foundation days of other states most notably West Bengal within the Tamil Nadu Raj Bhavan.
Beyond dialogue, RN Ravi institutionalised recognition for grassroots heroes by announcing awards for social workers and environmentalists, and encouraging patriotism through essay competitions on state freedom fighters.
CV ANANDA BOSE BIDS EMOTIONAL ADIEU
As RN Ravi prepares to take the oath, the outgoing Governor, CV Ananda Bose, shared a poignant open letter to the people of West Bengal. Reflecting on his three-year journey, Ananda Bose expressed a deep, spiritual connection to the state he now calls his “second home.”
“As my innings in Lok Bhavan, Kolkata, draws to a close, may I once again express my heartfelt gratitude to you for the support and consideration extended to me,” Bose wrote. “I cherish the moments spent in the embrace of a loving and caring people… I remember my sister’s embrace, that little boy’s pat on my back, that youngster’s firm handshake.”
Invoking the spirit of Mahatma Gandhi and the poetry of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore, Bose emphasised that his departure from the office does not mean a departure from the state. He recalled Tagore’s verses, noting that he found “God in the lanes and by lanes of Kolkata” and in the “thatched huts” where he shared meals with the common man. Bose concluded his message with a prayer for the state’s prosperity: “May Bengal reach glorious heights in the days to come… May Ma Durga protect my people.”
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Published By:
Zafar Zaidi
Published On:
Mar 12, 2026 07:32 IST
