Birth is something that is more associated with a mother than a father. Thus it is not surprising when one's native place or country is compared to a mother. The saying attributed to Rama - jananee janmabhoomischa swargaadapi gareeyasee (mother and motherland are greater than heaven - this is the national motto of Nepal) - is apparently apocryphal. Valimiki's Ramayana is considered to be the authoritative version and this does not have that line. There is however a difference between justified adoration and simple sycophancy.
There was a former politician Dev Kant Baruah who once said, "Indira is India and India is Indira". I do not know whether Indira Gandhi actually believed him. However she is known as one of India's most authoritarian figures ever. Mamata seems to be en route to becoming like her day by day. She does not seem to be financially benefiting out of politics. The next aim seems to be power. She seems to be identifying herself too literally with the mother part in her slogan maa, maaTee, maanush. She is brooking no kind of challenge to her authority. There was a rape incident some time back. In spite of being a woman she simply claimed it was a ploy to defame her government. Then her government sent a list of approved papers to various libraries in West Bengal or Paschim Bongo to be politically correct. Now a professor who forwarded a political cartoon has been arrested. First he was assaulted by her supporters. The police instead of first dealing with the assaulters slapped cases against him on what charges? Eve teasing, assaulting the modesty of a woman etc. Agreed, didi is not married, but eve teasing? Seriously? For a cartoon?
The professor is rightly receiving support from students who are forwarding various cartoons on her. Mamata having wrested power from the CPM is seeing them in every shadow. She should come out of her paranoia. In fact by her actions she is probably increasing the popularity of the CPM in a way CPM members could not probably have done.
She can probably take a leaf out of Modi's book. He is another politician who has claimed complete identification with Gujarat publicly. Any attack on him is made out to be one on the dignity of Gujarat. However I don't think he has resorted to Mamata's means. He has taken the path of promoting development and that has reaped rich political dividends. Will Mamata learn from him?
