A remark about language by West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari at a public rally in Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas, has set off a fierce controversy. At the rally he warned openly that ‘ma’ (mother) can no longer be called ‘amma’, and that ‘jal khab’ (I will drink water) will never become ‘pani khab’.
From the same stage he also sharply criticised Trinamool leader Mamata Banerjee. Along with his political attacks, he alleged that in the past the goddess Kali had been put in a prison van on the day of Mahalaya.
His remarks on language have angered language lovers and concerned citizens in both Bengals. Critics say it was not a mere remark, but hides a politics of religious polarisation and communal incitement for the sake of a vote bank.
They pointed out that the Bengali language belongs to no particular religion or community. Over the centuries it has easily blended Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian and native words. From Kazi Nazrul Islam to the ‘rural poet’ Jasimuddin, the words ‘jal’ and ‘pani’ sit naturally side by side in the work of them all. In Hindu religious practice too, ‘Gangapani’ is widely used alongside ‘Gangajal’ in many areas, and in everyday expressions of feeling people commonly say ‘chokher pani’ for tears.
According to some political observers and concerned citizens, language and religion are being merged to reap gains in the coming election while burning social and economic problems such as unemployment and corruption are avoided. They described the attempt to brand the words ‘jal’ and ‘ma’ as Hindu and ‘pani’ and ‘amma’ as Muslim as a distortion of culture that runs against the natural growth of the language.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report