Award Wapsi in WB: Bengali writer returns award, says she feels 'insulted' over honour to CM Mamata's poetry
Friday, January 27, 2023
  • Circulation
  • Advertise
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
Organiser
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • My States
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
SUBSCRIBE
No Result
View All Result
  • ‌
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Sports
  • More
    • Defence
    • RSS in News
    • Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav
    • My States
    • Vocal4Local
    • Business
    • Special Report
    • Culture
    • Sci & Tech
    • Entertainment
    • Education
    • Books
    • Interviews
    • Travel
    • Health
    • Obituary
No Result
View All Result
Organiser
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • G20
  • Editorial
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Culture
  • Defence
  • RSS in News
  • My States
  • Vocal4Local
  • Subscribe
Home Bharat

Award Wapsi in WB: Bengali writer returns award, says she feels ‘insulted’ over honour to CM Mamata’s poetry

Anadiranjan Biswas, who was a member of the Bengali advisory board of the Sahitya Academy, has also resigned from his position, expressing dismay over the decision to confer the literary award on Mamata.

WEB DESK by WEB DESK
May 12, 2022, 02:19 pm IST
in Bharat, West Bengal
Ratna Rashid Banerjee

Ratna Rashid Banerjee

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterTelegramEmail

Kolkata: A Bengal-based writer and researcher returned a prestigious award conferred upon her in 2019 by the Paschimbanga Bangla Academy after the academy gave Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee a special literary award.

Ratna Rashid Banerjee, a renowned Bengali author who has written over 30 books, returned the ‘Annada Shankar Smarak Samman’ because she felt “insulted by the move to give a literary award to the CM”.

Mamata Banerjee was given the award at a function organised by the government’s information and culture department on the occasion of Rabindranath Tagore’s birth anniversary.

According to the academy, Mamata was honoured for ‘her contribution to the cause of literature’. The West Bengal chief minister received the award for her collection of poetry titled ‘Kabita Bitan’, released at the International Kolkata Book Fair in 2020. It is a collection of over 900 poems.

In a letter to the academy chairman and the West Bengal education minister Bratya Basu, Ratna Rashid Banerjee said that the award has become a “crown of thorns” for her. “As a writer, I feel insulted by the move to give a literary award to the CM. It will set a bad precedent. The statement of the academy praising the relentless literary pursuit of the honourable chief minister is a travesty of truth,” she said in the letter.

“This is my protest against that decision. I cannot accept that. I do not consider CM’s book ‘Kabita Bitan’ as literature at all. She is our chief minister. We gave her a vote. I am an elderly lady. I know the language of the pen only. I don’t belong to any political party. And not even remain in any lobby. We know she is in a higher post which is not reachable for us. It will set a bad precedent,” she said.

Speaking to PTI, Ratna said, “We admire and respect the chief minister for her political battle, the massive mandate she got from people to rule the state for three terms. We had voted for her. But I cannot equate her contribution to politics with the claim that she worked for the cause of literature. I am not aware of.”

“The chief minister could have shown maturity by not accepting the award,” she added.

Meanwhile, writer and editor Anadiranjan Biswas, who was a member of the Bengali advisory board of the Sahitya Academy, has also resigned from his position, expressing dismay over the decision to confer the literary award on Mamata. He told Bengali daily Anandabazar that poetry had been insulted on Tagore’s birth anniversary thanks to such a move.

Speaking to India Today on the issue, senior BJP leader Sishir Bajoria said that it was a “move by the TMC to please Mamata Banerjee”.

“This is unfortunate. Authors and poets will definitely feel displeased. Mamata Banerjee’s minister is giving her the award, which she is not even accepting. What Ratna has done is her way of protesting. It is natural that literary icons will feel irked,” the BJP leader said. He added, “This is TMC’s way of internal competition to show who can please Mamata Banerjee more,” said the BJP leader.

However, the Trinamool Congress downplayed the Award Wapsi and slammed the author, Ratna Rashid.

“Who is Ratna Rashid? I read that she got an award. That too, from the Bangla Academy. Some people try to take advantage of things. The BJP should not teach us about literature and culture. They vandalised Vidyasagar’s statue, so they should not lecture us on this issue,” said Trinamool MP Sougata Roy to India Today.

Topics: West BengalPaschimbanga Bangla AcademyRatna Rashid BanerjeeTMCMamata Banerjee
Share1TweetSendShareSend
Previous News

Naqvi rules out the religious angle in anti-encroachment drive, slams Mehbooba Mufti’s ‘minorities attacked’ remark

Next News

The importance of local language in the legal system

Related News

Suvendu Adhikari hits out at Bengal Government for using mid-day meal funds for Mamata Banerjee's trips

Mid-Day Meal: Suvendu Adhikari hits out at Bengal Government for using mid-day meal funds for Mamata Banerjee’s trips

Bangladeshi smugglers attack BSF jawan at Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal

Bangladeshi smugglers attack BSF jawan at Indo-Bangladesh border in West Bengal

West Bengal: Class 10 question paper asks students to mark ‘Azad Kashmir’ on map; BJP terms it ‘jihadi conspiracy’

West Bengal: Class 10 question paper asks students to mark ‘Azad Kashmir’ on map; BJP terms it ‘jihadi conspiracy’

Amartya Sen: The Nehruvian Who’s a Common Link between TMC & CPM

Amartya Sen: The Nehruvian Who’s a Common Link between TMC & CPM

PM Modi turns 72, packed schedule with back-to-back events from releasing cheetahs in MP to speeches at four events

“One can witness the extraordinary amalgamation of Indian heritage and its modernity on Ganga Vilas cruise”: PM Modi

ISIS operative Abdul Raqib Quershi arrested by Kolkata STF from Madhya Pradesh, third arrest in 3 days

ISIS operative Abdul Raqib Quershi arrested by Kolkata STF from Madhya Pradesh, third arrest in 3 days

Comments

The comments posted here/below/in the given space are not on behalf of Organiser. The person posting the comment will be in sole ownership of its responsibility. According to the central government's IT rules, obscene or offensive statement made against a person, religion, community or nation is a punishable offense, and legal action would be taken against people who indulge in such activities.

Latest News

BBC Documentary: Kerala Governor Arif Mohd Khan questions timing of the documentary when India assumed G20 presidency

BBC Documentary: Kerala Governor Arif Mohd Khan questions timing of the documentary when India assumed G20 presidency

G20: Republic Day musings and antiquity of Indian civilisation

G20: Republic Day musings and antiquity of Indian civilisation

Jaishankar slams ex-US Secretary Pompeo for ‘disrespectful’ remarks on Sushma Swaraj

Jaishankar slams ex-US Secretary Pompeo for ‘disrespectful’ remarks on Sushma Swaraj

On Republic Day, Bharat Biotech launches first India-made nasal Covid Vaccine

On Republic Day, Bharat Biotech launches first India-made nasal Covid Vaccine

Understanding the ‘Boycott Bollywood’ phenomenon

Understanding the ‘Boycott Bollywood’ phenomenon

Haqiqat Rai: The First victim of Blasphemy killed by Islamists on Basant Panchami for resisting mocking of Hindu Gods

Haqiqat Rai: The First victim of Blasphemy killed by Islamists on Basant Panchami for resisting mocking of Hindu Gods

‘Distortions in history by Left Historians should not be allowed to continue,’ says SL Bhyrappa

‘Distortions in history by Left Historians should not be allowed to continue,’ says SL Bhyrappa

Padma Awards 2023: 13 distinguished personalities of North East to receive the awards for their unmatched service

Padma Awards 2023: 13 distinguished personalities of North East to receive the awards for their unmatched service

Conversion racket active in 3000 Banjara colonies: Babusinghji Maharaj at Banjara Kumbh

Conversion racket active in 3000 Banjara colonies: Babusinghji Maharaj at Banjara Kumbh

Secularism doesn’t mean appeasing a particular community: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Republic Day

Secularism doesn’t mean appeasing a particular community: Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma on Republic Day

  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Cookie Policy
  • Refund and Cancellation
  • Delivery and Shipping

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • Bharat
  • World
  • Editorial
  • Analysis
  • Opinion
  • Defence
  • Culture
  • Sports
  • Business
  • RSS in News
  • My States
  • Vocal4Local
  • Special Report
  • Sci & Tech
  • Entertainment
  • Education
  • Books
  • Interviews
  • Travel
  • Health
  • Obituary
  • Subscribe
  • Advertise
  • Circulation
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Refund and Cancellation

© Bharat Prakashan (Delhi) Limited.
Tech-enabled by Ananthapuri Technologies