India, Aug. 14 -- West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that India would not have gained Independence if Bengal were not there, noting that legends like Rabindranath Tagore and Subhas Chandra Bose, who made significant contributions to shaping the nation's destiny, were born in the state.

Banerjee said that Bengal is the beacon of hope, which stands for unity amid diversity.

"If Bengal was not there, India would not have got Independence. Bengal's soil has produced eminent people like Rabindranath Tagore, Nazrul Islam and Subhas Chandra Bose. The national anthem, the national song and the 'Jai Hind' slogan are all creations of Bengalis," she said while speaking at a function marking the 'Kanyashree' scheme's 12th a...