Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed her displeasure over the ongoing controversy regarding the Bengali language, stating that Bengali speakers are being harassed. She indicated the need for another language movement.
West Bengal: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has recently reacted bly to the controversy surrounding the Bengali language. She stated that the situation developing concerning the Bengali language is alarming and that another language movement is needed to raise awareness among people against it. The Chief Minister made this statement while addressing the 'Mahanayak Samman' award ceremony. She said that in many places, people are being harassed simply for speaking Bengali, which is completely unacceptable.
Demand for Respect for Bengali Language
Mamata Banerjee said that Bengali is the fifth most spoken language in the world and the second most spoken in Asia. Approximately 300 million people speak this language. Despite this, circumstances have arisen where Bengali speakers are being detained or tortured. The Chief Minister clearly stated that such incidents will not be tolerated.
Call for Public Awareness
In her address, the Chief Minister appealed to the people of the state to consider this issue not only as political but also as connected to cultural and social existence. She spoke of organizing awareness programs at all levels so that a sense of respect for language and culture awakens in people.
Emphasis on the Importance of Mother Tongue
Emphasizing the importance of the mother tongue, the Chief Minister said that every child first speaks the word 'mother' in their mother tongue. This shows the intimacy and emotional connection of language. She said that sidelining Bengali is not just marginalizing a language but pushing an entire culture backward.
Questions on Tollywood and Cultural Direction
Mamata Banerjee also commented on the film industry of West Bengal, i.e., Tollywood. She said that the influence of the Bengali language is decreasing in today's songs. Most songs have only loud music and inflammatory tunes. She said that Bollywood is already full of such music, and South Indian films are now ahead in popularity. In such a situation, Tollywood should return to its roots and create more music and content in Bengali.
Respect for All Languages but Own Identity Necessary
The Chief Minister clarified that she is not against any other language. She said that India is a country of diversity and all languages should have equal respect. But this does not mean that we forget our own language or marginalize it. She said that we should be proud of Bengali and continue to promote it.