Diamond Years, People First

Kolkata:Marking sixty years of principled struggle and service, the State Bank of India Officers’ Association (Bengal Circle) is set to celebrate its Diamond Jubilee, recalling its birth during a decisive phase of India’s working-class movement when the fight for bank nationalization aimed to transform banking from an elite-driven system into a mass-oriented public service. From the historic takeover of the Imperial Bank of India by the Reserve Bank of India in 1955 to the emergence of SBI as a pillar of nation-building, officers of the bank, under the banner of SBIOA (Bengal Circle), have consistently worked to align banking with the aspirations of citizens while safeguarding the dignity, rights, and privileges of officers. Over six decades, the association has firmly opposed regressive economic policies of successive Union Governments, even as it stood at the forefront of implementing pro-people initiatives of both the Centre and the States, often going beyond regular working hours, a commitment vividly demonstrated during demonetization, the COVID-19 pandemic, the rollout of Jan Dhan accounts, and the delivery of government scheme benefits to the most marginalized communities. Beyond banking, the association has remained deeply engaged with society through blood donation drives, disaster relief efforts, financial assistance to meritorious yet underprivileged students, and the promotion of cultural expression through its in-house cultural wing. Guided by its parent bodies AISBOF and AIBOC, SBIOA (Bengal Circle) continues to defend bank nationalization and resist anti-worker measures including the newly introduced Labour Codes, while pressing for long-pending demands such as a five-day work week, adequate recruitment at all levels, and the protection of priority sector lending, even as it prepares for nationwide agitation, including a possible strike in late January 2026, if compelled. The Diamond Jubilee celebrations will feature a tableau narrating the association’s 60-year journey of service to the nation, and the 60th Annual General Meeting scheduled for January 10, 2026 at Nazrul Manch, Kolkata, where a future roadmap will be unveiled, as the association expresses heartfelt gratitude to its well-wishers, seniors, and extended family and renews its resolve to serve society with greater vigor while remaining an active force in democratic working-class movements.