A few years ago a senior politician from South India now “employed” in Delhi asked this correspondent as to what Mamata Banerjee’s likings were. When told as to she liked
Muri and Tele Bhaja (Bengali equivalent of puffed rice and fries) the gentleman promptly took it down in his notebook muttering to himself
“who knows what pleases her when.”
Nowadays the Chief Minister has developed more liking for or a new usage in Hindi than her favourite ‘Tele Bhaja’ so to say. With an apparent eye on national politics, post demonetisation which many a Trinamool Congress leader feel has opened new possibilities before her Banerjee has acquired a Bengali-to-Hindi dictionary that often helps her out with words to be used in Hindi-heartland rallies.
Apart from a dictionary she has been keeping an exclusive notebook for Hindi words and usages.
“In her recent trips to Delhi, UP and Bihar she has picked up quite a few new words and jotted them down in her notebook, sources close to her say. Though the Chief Minister has not yet engaged a Hindi teacher like Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, insiders say she would not mind a person who would impart in her the sense of the language in quickest possible time.
For the time being however, her Hindi is being taken care of by party MP and a journalist Vivek Gupta. According to sources Banerjee is likely to publish a book of poetry in Hind and also get translated her autobiographical work in Hindi.
The book named ‘Meri Sangharshpurna Yatra’ was published a few years ago. It is likely to hit the stands once again, sources said adding the Chief Minister was also likely to afford Hindi titles to her paintings and get them exhibited in Hindi belts.
Banerjee’s enthusiasm for Hindi learning has got a fillip particularly after the crowd assemblage at lucknow and Patna where she addressed anti-demonetisation meetings.
“If Modiji can become a Prime Minister after struggling his way up from being a tea seller why not Mamata didi” asks a State Minister hurriedly adding, “however she has already said that she is not interested in taking the leadership. Rather she is more interested in uniting the opposition parties and throwing out the Modi Government.”
Whether her growing “mastery” over Hindi language can do the trick for her, remains to be seen.