West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has voiced her discontent regarding Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s reference to Ramakrishna Paramahamsadeva during a tribute on the saint’s birth anniversary. In a statement on X, she condemned the use of the prefix “Swami,” suggesting it lacked cultural sensitivity toward the traditional reverence associated with this prominent figure in Bengal. Banerjee remarked, “Shocked again! Yet again, our Prime Minister aggressively displays his cultural insensitivity to great figures of Bengal.”
In her remarks, she highlighted that today marks the birth anniversary of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsadeva, an esteemed spiritual leader. The Chief Minister emphasized that he has historically been known as “Thakur,” a title that translates to God. Banerjee elaborated that the title “Swami” is typically reserved for the monastic disciples who followed Ramakrishna, particularly after the establishment of the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission.
Banerjee specifically pointed out, “As is well known, Sri Ramakrishna was widely revered as Thakur. While his ascetic disciples constituted the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission after their Master’s demise, those monks were then referred to as ‘Swami’ as per Indian traditions. The prefix ‘Swami’ was meant for his disciples in the Ramakrishna Order; but the holy trinity of the Order remained Thakur-Ma-Swamiji.” She further clarified that “Thakur” refers to Sri Ramakrishna, “Ma” is Ma Sarada, and “Swamiji” is Swami Vivekananda.
Banerjee’s comments followed PM Modi’s earlier message on X, where he paid tribute to Sri Ramakrishna in Hindi, stating, “Respectful tributes to Swami Ramakrishna Paramahamsa on his birth anniversary. The way he established spirituality and spirituality as life-force will continue to benefit humanity in every age. His good thoughts and messages will always remain a source of inspiration.”
Born as Gadadhar Chattopadhyay in 1836 in Kamarpukur, Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was an influential mystic and spiritual leader in 19th-century Bengal. He spent a significant portion of his life as a priest at the Dakshineswar Kali Temple. Renowned for his teachings on the “harmony of all religions,” he famously illustrated that all faiths represent distinct paths to the same ultimate truth. His legacy continues to resonate in modern spiritual discourse.
The exchange between the West Bengal Chief Minister and the Prime Minister underscores the differing interpretations of religious titles and cultural respect for significant historical figures in India. Banerjee’s call for PM Modi to avoid newly coined prefixes for Bengal’s revered personalities reflects a broader concern regarding cultural sensitivity in public discourse.