Mamata Banerjee is probably the only sitting Chief Minister in India who has made a wish for Valentine’s Day 2026. In her message, the CM of West Bengal quotes Rabindranath Tagore. And there is also a hint of communism.
CM Banerjee begins her message with a couplet from Tagore’s Awnonto Prem (Endless Love): “Tomarei jyano bhalobashiyachhi shawto roope shawto baar, jawnome jawnome juge juge awnibar.”
It can be translated as: “It seems that I have loved only you in a hundred forms, a hundred times, through lifetimes and ages, endlessly and without a break.
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“Valentine’s Day is a celebration of love in all its forms and manifestations, in its broadest and noblest sense; love that transcends caste, creed, class and religion,” Didi (now X) tweeted.
“It is this spirit of love that has guided my journey in public service. Love for people who are strong enough to weather the storms, patient enough to listen, and brave enough to fight for justice and dignity,” she added.
While wishing ‘Happy Valentine’s Day!’, she added, “Bhalobasha deerghojeebi hok (Long live love).
Some curious readers may call this a silent echo of the popular slogan “Inquilab Zindabad”. While the political cry originated in Indian anti-colonial revolutionary movements, it later emerged in socialist and communist spaces.
Social media users reacted.
One user wrote: “This heartfelt message truly touches the soul. The love that exists in service to others unites our society. May this love truly last and light our way!”
Another user took a tone aligned with KKR, “Prem korbo….burai se lorbo….election bhaalo kore jeetbo…(We will love, fight evil and win elections well).”
“This loving sentiment truly touches the heart of public service, just like Didi’s, it means unwavering love – Joy Bangla!” another user wrote.
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“This is the love and message we need in these hateful and communal times…” chimed in another.
Another user wrote: “If love is a crime, then we will commit that crime again and again!”
“Fighting for justice is a radical concept when the system is busy tearing down houses. Love can weather the storm, but it struggles to survive the hate of the ecosystem,” came another reply.
Mamata Banerjee’s ‘Pro-love’
In 2019, Mamata Banerjee offered unexpected support to young couples. The Chief Minister of West Bengal said that in Uttar Pradesh, young boys and girls who spent time together were sometimes harassed or even imprisoned. She described such actions as dangerous.
Her remarks were made during a rally in Diamond Harbour, South 24 Parganas, ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Public displays of affection are common in Kolkata, she said.
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CM Banerjee said that young people have the right to meet freely. Didi, who holds liberal views on relationships, also noted that a boy and a girl can simply be friends, not always romantic partners.
“When my brother had an affair, I encouraged him. I told him he should marry (the woman he loved),” she said.
Banerjee also revealed that her nephew Abhishek Banerjee had an “affair with a Punjabi woman” while he was studying in Delhi.