Kolkata: With West Bengal heading toward Assembly elections in the next two months, political tensions are rising between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The CM has repeatedly targeted the PM, accusing him of undermining Bengal’s cultural heritage. Her latest criticism came in response to the PM’s post commemorating the birth anniversary of Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.
Mamata Banerjee Objects to Honorific Usage
In his post, PM Modi wrote: “Respectful tributes to Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Ji on his birth anniversary. His spiritual teachings and dedication as a way of life will continue to benefit humanity across generations. His wisdom and messages will remain a beacon of inspiration.”
Reacting to this, Mamata Banerjee accused the PM of demonstrating cultural insensitivity toward Bengal’s eminent personalities. She objected to the prefix “Swami” used in the PM’s post, calling it unprecedented and inappropriate. Reposting the message, she said:
“I am surprised! Once again, our Prime Minister has aggressively displayed cultural insensitivity toward Bengal’s great figures. Today marks the birth anniversary of Yugavatar Shri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa. In paying tribute to this great saint, the Prime Minister has added the prefix ‘Swami’ to his name, which is unprecedented and inappropriate.”
Clarifying Historical and Cultural Context
The Chief Minister explained that Shri Ramakrishna is widely revered as “Thakur” (literally ‘Lord’), and that the honorific “Swami” was traditionally used for his monastic disciples after his death, including Swami Vivekananda. She emphasized that the saint himself was known as Thakur Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, while his disciples and the Ramakrishna Mission adopted “Swami” as a title.
Mamata Banerjee urged the Prime Minister not to invent new prefixes or suffixes for Bengal’s historical and Renaissance-era figures, noting that doing so could distort cultural and historical traditions.
“I respectfully request the Prime Minister to refrain from creating new honorifics for the great personalities of Bengal who shaped modern India,” she added.