In every district of the state, the government plans to organise an exhibition on historical documents from the state archives, an interactive session, a play and a programme on folk songs, said the officials of the Information and Cultural Affairs Department.

The programme has already been introduced in Malda on December 30, they added.

The department has divided the state into four zones. From December 30 to January 5, the programmes will be organised in North Bengal districts. In South Bengal, these will be held from January 18 to 24 and from February 6 to 11, in Purulia, Midnapore, Howrah, Hooghly and Kolkata districts.

A national conference on “Colonialism and Neo Colonialism” will also be organised in the city in February, the officials said.

The government has also invited noted academicians and historians to participate in the events organsied in various parts of the state.

According to noted historian Barun De, there had been instances when the British had to face stiff resistance from the landlords and the people of Bengal in the 1857 war.

Giving examples like the King of Cossipore Nilmani Singh Deo attacking the British in Purulia and the Santhal Revolt, he said: “We will try to analyse history with all its contradictions.” He added: “A new university (the Calcutta University) imbibed nationalism in the people and there were revolts in this part of the country.”