Mamata Banerjee Condemns PM Modi's 'Swami' Prefix for Ramakrishna as Culturally Insensitive
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday strongly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to refrain from inventing new prefixes and suffixes for the iconic figures of the Bengal Renaissance, who played a pivotal role in shaping modern India. This appeal came hours after the Prime Minister paid homage to "Swami Ramakrishna" on his birth anniversary, a reference that Banerjee labeled as unprecedented and improper.
Banerjee's Social Media Post Highlights Cultural Disrespect
In a detailed post on X, Banerjee expressed her frustration, stating, "Yet again, our PM aggressively displays his cultural insensitivity towards the great figures of Bengal. Today is the janmatithi (birth anniversary) of Yugavatara, Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva. Our PM added an unprecedented and improper prefix to the great saint’s name!" She emphasized that Ramakrishna is traditionally revered as Thakur (God), and the prefix "Swami" is reserved for monks of the Ramakrishna Mission, founded by his disciple Swami Vivekananda.
Banerjee elaborated on the hierarchical structure within the Ramakrishna order, explaining, "The holy trinity of the order remains Thakur, Ma, Swamiji: Thakur is Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa Deva, Ma is Ma Sarada, and Swamiji is Swami Vivekananda." She underscored Ramakrishna's teachings of religious harmony, quoting the principle "Jato mat, Tato path (As many faiths, so many paths)" as a core mantra that guides her public service.
BJP Leaders Defend PM Modi's Terminology
In response, BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya countered Banerjee's criticism, asserting that the use of "swami" is not merely a title but a reference to the broader spiritual concept of Advaita Vedanta, which Ramakrishna embodied. Malviya stated, "We are also shocked at your ignorance! The use of the prefix swami is not a reference to the title used by monks of the RKM Order... It forms the core of Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s experiential, mystical, and universalist vision." He clarified that in this context, "swami" signifies the "Great Master."
Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya offered a different perspective, suggesting that the choice of words is a personal matter. He highlighted Modi's deep connection with the Ramakrishna Mission, noting that the Prime Minister had once sought to become a monk there in his youth. Bhattacharya remarked, "He is well-versed in the ways of the mission and his devotion to Ramakrishna Dev is unquestionable. His bond with RKM is lifelong."
Political Context and Development Initiatives
This incident is part of a broader pattern where the Trinamool Congress has accused the BJP of lacking understanding of Bengal's cultural heritage. Previously, Banerjee criticized Modi's use of "Bankim da" for Bankimchandra Chattopadhyay in Parliament. Beyond the controversy, Banerjee detailed the Bengal government's efforts to develop Ramakrishna-related sites, including the Dakshineswar Mandir, into international-standard destinations.
She outlined significant investments, such as Rs 80 crore for infrastructure improvements at pilgrimage sites, Rs 25 crore for road connectivity upgrades, and Rs 5.9 crore for tourism development. Additionally, a five-storey guest house and a prasad distribution centre are being constructed at the request of the Ramakrishna Mission. Banerjee also mentioned her earlier work as railway minister in renovating the Dakshineswar railway station and establishing the Jayrambati-Kamarpukur Development Board with Rs 10 crore in funding.
This exchange underscores the ongoing political tensions in West Bengal, where cultural symbolism and historical reverence are frequently leveraged in electoral discourse, reflecting deeper ideological divides between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP.
