Mamata criticises Modi for using ‘Swami’ prefix in message on Sri Ramakrishna’s birth anniversary

Kolkata: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for utilizing the phrase ‘Swami’ as prefix in a social media submit on Ramakrishna Paramahamsa’s beginning anniversary, alleging that the PM displayed “cultural insensitivity to nice figures” of the state.

Banerjee stated the Prime Minister used the prefix ‘Swami’ within the message whereas Ramakrishna Paramahamsa is extensively often known as ‘Thakur’.

“Shocked once more! But once more, our Prime Minister aggressively shows his cultural insensitivity to nice figures of Bengal. At present is the janmatithi of Yugavatara (God’s incarnation in our age) Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsadeva.

“Whereas making an attempt to hail the nice saint on this event, our PM added an unprecedented and improper prefix to the nice saint’s title, “Swami”!” Banerjee posted on X.

Modi on Thursday paid tributes to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa on his beginning anniversary, and stated his noble ideas will without end stay a supply of inspiration.

Ramakrishna Paramahamsa was born in 1836.

“Humble tributes to Swami Ramakrishna Paramahansa on his beginning anniversary.The best way he established spirituality and meditation as a significant life drive will proceed to learn humanity in each period. His noble ideas and messages will without end stay a supply of inspiration,” Modi stated in a submit on X in Hindi.Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, who served as a priest in Kolkata’s Dakshineswar Kali Temple, is understood for his teachings on the concord of religions.

“As is well-known, Sri Ramakrishna was extensively revered as Thakur (actually, God). Whereas his ascetic disciples constituted the Ramakrishna Math and the Ramakrishna Mission after their Grasp’s demise, and people monks had been then known as “Swami” as per Indian traditions, the Grasp, the Acharya, himself continued to be known as Thakur,” Banerjee stated.

She stated the prefix “Swami” was meant for “his disciples within the Ramakrishna Order; however the holy trinity of the Order remained Thakur-Ma-Swamiji. Thakur is Sri Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsadeva, Ma is Ma Sarada, and Swamiji is Swami Vivekananda”.

Banerjee urged the Prime Minister “kindly to not uncover new prefixes and suffixes for the nice Renaissance figures of Bengal who formed trendy India”.

She had earlier criticised the PM over his reference to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay as “Bankim da” throughout a dialogue in Lok Sabha in December final 12 months to commemorate 150 years of the nationwide tune, Vande Mataram, written by the writer.

TMC MP Saugata Roy had objected to the usage of the suffix ‘da’ and urged the PM to say ‘Bankim babu’ as an alternative.

Modi had instantly accepted, saying, “I’ll say Bankim ‘babu’. Thanks, I respect your sentiments.”