Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee counters politics of hate in V-Day post, invokes Rabindranath Tagore’s ‘Ananta Prem’

KOLKATA: CM Mamata Banerjee on Saturday invoked Rabindranath Tagore's ‘Ananta Prem' (Unending Love) to pen a love-for-the-people Happy Valentine's Day message on X, her first since her debut on the social platform in May 2014.

Banerjee's "May love live long" post comes against the backdrop of several right-wing groups publicly opposing — and even threatening — those celebrating the day.

Quoting Tagore's original 1890 Bengali verses, the CM wrote: "I seem to have loved you in numberless forms, numberless times. In life after life, age after age, forever." She added: "Valentine's Day is a celebration of love in all its forms and manifestations, in its widest and noblest sense; love that transcends caste, creed, class and religion. It is this spirit of love that has guided my journey in public service. A love for the people strong enough to withstand storms, patient enough to listen, and bold enough to fight for justice and dignity. Happy Valentine's Day!" She concluded by saying, "May love live long."

The post clocked 3,58,000 views in two hours. TMC seniors linked the message to a counter-narrative against the "politics of hate" that the CM has frequently criticised.

Bengal BJP president Samik Bhattacharya was cautious in his response. "I cannot comment on what others have said. But we will replace swords with pens and bombs with books. Look at the number of Muslims who were killed in West Bengal. Compare that with Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh or Gujarat."

However, CPM state secretary Md Salim said: "We fail to understand whom she was addressing — the people or the country. After so much bloodbath, terror, killings and rapes, someone is thinking of returning to the fold of love and affection. Even if the feeling is belated, it is welcome."

‘Ananta Prem' is not only a Bengali favorite but is cherished worldwide. Several writers have noted that its English translation was among Audrey Hepburn's favorites. It is said that Hepburn loved the poem so much that during her funeral in 1993, her ‘Roman Holiday' co-star Gregory Peck recited these English verses.

The closest reference in the past to Banerjee broaching this issue was during a Lok Sabha rally in Diamond Harbour ahead of the 2019 polls. At that time, the CM lashed out against "anti-Romeo squads" in BJP-governed states, particularly Uttar Pradesh. She dubbed it "dangerous".

TMC, in a one-minute video on X, highlighted Banerjee's affection across all age groups in Bengal and stressed that love was not always about roses but also about standing by people during hard times and in grief, which the CM always did.