With the West Bengal Assembly elections approaching, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for referring to Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa as “Swami” in a social media post. Banerjee accused the PM of cultural insensitivity towards Bengal’s revered figures, highlighting the traditional titles of the mystic and his disciples. She emphasized the importance of maintaining the historical reverence associated with Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his disciples.
In her statement, Banerjee clarified the traditional titles within the Ramakrishna Order, distinguishing between the revered figures like Thakur (Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa), Ma (Sarada Devi), and Swamiji (Swami Vivekananda). She underscored the significance of these titles in the spiritual lineage and legacy of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission. Banerjee urged PM Modi to respect the established titles and not introduce new prefixes or suffixes to the revered figures of Bengal’s Renaissance era.
The Chief Minister’s social media post aimed to highlight the historical and cultural significance of the titles associated with Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa and his disciples. She emphasized the traditional reverence accorded to these spiritual figures and urged for their continued respect and recognition in the public discourse.
