PM Modi Accepts ‘Bankim Babu’ Correction in Parliament, Wins Applause with Witty Reply
PM Modi’s affectionate “Da” for Bankim Chandra triggers Trinamool protest in Lok Sabha.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while initiating the special Lok Sabha discussion to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, referred to its legendary composer Bankim Chandra Chatterjee as “Bankim Da”. In Bengali culture, the suffix “Da” is a widely accepted term of endearment and respect, routinely used for revered figures like Rabindranath Tagore (“Gurudev” or “Rabindra Da”) and Swami Vivekananda. The Prime Minister’s usage reflected his familiarity with Bengali linguistic warmth rather than any intended informality.
The remark, however, immediately invited objection from senior Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy. Interrupting the Prime Minister, Roy argued that addressing a national literary icon and architect of India’s cultural resurgence as “Bankim Da” was inappropriate in the formal setting of Parliament. He insisted that the dignified honorific “Bankim Babu” alone was befitting for a personality of Bankim Chandra’s stature, reflecting a deeper sensitivity among certain sections toward hierarchical usage of honorifics when invoking historical giants.
Displaying swift grace, Modi accepted the correction without hesitation: “I will say Bankim Babu. Thank you, I respect your sentiments.” Yet, in the same breath, he delivered a perfectly timed counter: “I can call you dada, right? Or you have an objection to that too?” The light-hearted yet pointed rejoinder drew widespread laughter and applause across the House, instantly transforming a potential confrontation into an amusing exchange that underscored the Prime Minister’s quick wit.
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Resuming his address, Modi highlighted the extraordinary power of Vande Mataram during the freedom struggle, describing it as a “sacred war cry” that shook British colonial authority to its core. He recounted how the Raj was forced to impose a complete legal ban on the song, with severe punishments for anyone found singing, reciting, or even printing it—an unprecedented measure that revealed the song’s revolutionary impact.
The special discussion, allocated ten hours in the Lok Sabha and set to continue in the Rajya Sabha, seeks to reaffirm Vande Mataram’s unmatched role in India’s independence movement. Senior Congress leaders, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, are also scheduled to participate, ensuring a broad political spectrum engages with the song’s enduring legacy.
Also Read: PM Modi To Lead Vande Mataram Debate in Lok Sabha Tomorrow
