Mamata Banerjee Unleashes Poetic Critique Against SIR in New Collection
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has taken her political opposition to a creative realm, launching a collection of 26 poems that directly target the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) policy. The book, titled SIR: 26 in '26, features verses originally penned in Bangla between January 4 and January 9, 2026, and has been translated into English by Kolkata-based BEE Books.
A Spirit of Resistance in Verse
During a media interaction in New Delhi, Banerjee presented the collection to journalists, describing it as born from a "spirit of resistance". In the introduction, she writes that West Bengal has been enduring what feels like an "unrelenting storm" in recent months. She makes an apparent reference to the central government, stating: "Orders have been issued by Delhi's overlords to compress two years of work into merely two months — without regard for consequences, without compassion and without accountability."
Banerjee adds, "I could not remain silent witnessing all this. It is from this spirit of resistance that these poems are born." She claims the poems reflect the harassment and suffering faced by common people due to SIR, composed during her travels to official engagements by helicopter.
Notable Poems and Their Themes
The collection includes sharply worded poems with titles such as:
- Panic: Opens with lines about trembling and a shaking country, questioning if people will only be left to stare at ruins, ending with "Humanity — you weep, weep, weep..."
- Hatred: Questions the identity and motives of those enforcing policies, asking if they are "the ruler's weighing scale, or a garland of human skulls" and warning that today's 'you' will be finished tomorrow.
- Mockery: Critiques the treatment of citizens as foreigners in their own country, challenging how some become "true citizens" while others are marginalized.
- Democracy: The final poem concludes with powerful lines: "Do you hear the roar of the sea — or is it the roar of the people?" and "In the name of the 'SIR', the NRC goes on — a funeral prayer for democracy."
Other poems in the collection include Who Are They, Justice, Morgue, Doom, Mind, Fight, and Crocodile Tears, each delving into themes of oppression, justice, and societal critique.
Banerjee's Artistic Persona and Political Strategy
Mamata Banerjee, who claims authorship of over 160 books, is no stranger to artistic expression. Known for her songwriting, she released daily songs on X during last year's Durga Puja and composed a theme song for a prominent north Kolkata puja, sung by minister Indranil Sen. One of her popular earlier compositions, Maa Go Tumi Sarbojanin, was performed by Shreya Ghoshal.
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders highlight that her income is derived solely from book royalties and bank interest, as per her 2021 West Bengal Assembly election affidavit. Her continued projection as an artist—through poetry, paintings, and music—is often interpreted as an attempt to assert cultural authenticity. This move is seen as countering perceptions by the elite bhadralok class, who may view her as not measuring up to traditional ideals in Bengali public life.
By blending politics with poetry, Banerjee not only voices her dissent but also reinforces her image as a multifaceted leader deeply connected to Bengal's cultural roots. This collection serves as both a political statement and a testament to her enduring creative spirit in the face of governance challenges.
