Ramakrishna Mission authorities have strongly criticised Trinamool MLA Nirmal Majhi, a medical practitioner, for his remarks that Mamata Banerjee is a reincarnation of Maa Sarada Devi who was the wife and spiritual consort of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa.

Majhi triggered the ire of the usually reticent monks of the Ramakrishna Mission with his comment earlier this week (see this video).

Majhi, who had recently earned the ire of his party leadership which ticked him off after receiving complaints of some misdeeds, perhaps thought that flattery would be the best way to get back into Banerjee’s good books.

The MLA, who represents a constituency in Howrah district adjoining Kolkata and is a resident of Bhabanipur (where Mamata Banerjee also resides), claimed that Maa Sarada Devi had told monks of the Mission that she would be reborn in the Kalighat area and would dedicate her life to social work and serve the people as a politician.

Majhi, contending that Mamata Banerjee is the reincarnation of Maa Sarada Devi, went on to say that his party chief is also Florence Nightingale, Sister Nivedita and Devi Durga! The video of Majhi making this preposterous claim went viral.

The Ramakrishna Mission, in an unprecedented step that only reflected its deep distress over Majhi’s remark, condemned the Trinamool MLA.

Mission’s general secretary Swami Suvirananda, in a statement, said: “We are shocked and angry at his remarks… The image of Sarda Devi has been severely hurt… Maa Sarada Devi is not only a majestic woman, she is the spiritual personality at the level of Sita, Radharani, Vishnupriya Devi… She had the same vision for everyone irrespective of race, religion and caste… All the monks of the Ramakrishna Math and Mission, the Brahmachari, feel with great sorrow and anger that the leader has disgraced our absolute adored Sarda Devi by his statement."

"Countless fans are sending us emails and telephone calls expressing their anger and grief. We can’t really find the language to express our grief. Our mother’s disrespect seems to be miserable. Never let such an unprecedented incident be repeated by anyone,” Swami Suvirananda added. (Watch Majhi’s remark and Swami Suvirananda’s reaction here).

A chastened Trinamool, eager to arrest further adverse fallout of the incident, then fell in line and dissociated itself from Majhi’s preposterous remarks. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh termed Majhi’s remarks “an unbridled attempt at hideous flattery”.

Ghosh, who spent more than two years in jail for his involvement in the Saradha ponzi scam, issued a statement that read: “We have gone through the statement (by Swami Suvirananda) with due respect. Majhi’s statement was completely undesirable, unscientific and impractical. It is a hideous attempt at unbridled flattery. Maa Sarada is revered by all as Mother worldwide. Her popularity and acceptability have transcended generations”.

But the criticism of Majhi’s statement by the Trinamool spokesperson was not unambiguous. Ghosh, who had once said that Mamata Banerjee was the biggest beneficiary of the Saradha scam, added: “To all of us who love and respect (Mamata) Banerjee as our leader, we know her struggles, dedication and love for people. Her political stature goes beyond Bengal to India, But such undesirable flattery puts her in an awkward situation”.

And, for effect, he added that Mamata Banerjee “is enlightened by her own aura”. Trinamool vice president Jay Prakash Majumdar, who left the BJP in a huff a few months ago after being issued a show cause notice for ‘anti-party activities’ and joined Banerjee’s party, however tried to defend Majhi. “He (Majhi) may have been very emotive when he made the statement,” said Majumdar.

Trinamool leaders often fall over themselves to praise Mamata Banerjee. Sycophancy is rife in the party and Banerjee, as well as her nephew Abhishek, are virtually worshipped by the Trinamool’s rank and file.

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Maa Sarada Devi

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