A fierce controversy has erupted over a remark regarding language made by West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari during a public rally in Kakdwip, South 24 Parganas, West Bengal. (Note: *The user prompt mentions “West Bengal Chief Minister and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari”, which reflects the text provided in the prompt.*) Speaking at the rally, he issued an open warning that “Ma” (mother) can no longer be called “Amma” and “jal khabo” (drinking water) can never become “pani khabo.”
From the same stage, he also launched a sharp criticism of Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. Alongside political attacks, he alleged that in the past, Mother Kali was loaded into a prison van on the day of Mahalaya.
However, his language-centric remarks have sparked anger among language-lovers and conscious circles in both Bengals. According to critics, this is not merely a statement, but rather a politics of religious polarization and communal incitement hidden behind it to serve vote-bank interests.
They reminded that the Bengali language is not the property of any specific religion or community. Words from Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian, and indigenous origins have seamlessly blended into this language for ages. From Kazi Nazrul Islam to Palli Kabi Jasimuddin—the spontaneous coexistence of both “jal” and “pani” is present in everyone’s writings. Furthermore, in Hindu religious practices across many regions, expressions like “Ganga pani” alongside “Ganga jal,” as well as the widespread use of “chokher pani” (tears) to express general emotions, are very common.
According to a section of political analysts and conscious citizens, language and religion are being conflated to reap benefits in the upcoming elections by sidestepping burning socio-economic issues such as unemployment or corruption. They have termed the attempt to label the words “jal” and “ma” as “Hindutva” and “pani” and “amma” as “Muslimness” as contrary to the natural evolution of language and a cultural distortion.
