There is no better strategist than Amit Shah in the present political milieu. His determined efforts at mobilising the party’s grassroot workers played a critical role in this election. (Express photo by Partha Paul) 5 min read May 8, 2026 05:11 PM IST First published on: May 8, 2026 at 05:10 PM IST Bengal was once the hotbed of nationalism. Its nationalist credentials were established repeatedly during the independence movement. One year that significantly stood out was 1911, which witnessed four major events that highlighted the nationalist fervour of its people. At the Calcutta football ground that year, the barefooted players of the Mohun Bagan football club defeated the East Yorkshire Regiment club to lift the IFA shield. Rabindranath Tagore penned his famous song for Mother India, Jana Gana Mana. On a cold winter day in Delhi in December, the visiting British monarch George V hosted a massive durbar, where he announced the revocation of the Partition of Bengal — a big victory for the nationalists.…