Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended birthday greetings to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday, January 5, as per her official records. The public wish, posted on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), quickly went viral, amassing over 4 million views and sparking numerous comments from users.
The Viral Birthday Wish and a Hidden Truth
In his post, PM Modi wrote, "On her birthday, I convey my greetings to West Bengal CM Mamata Didi. Praying for her long and healthy life." He tagged the Chief Minister in his message. However, this annual ritual of wishes on January 5 overlooks a fascinating personal revelation made by Banerjee herself. The Trinamool Congress supremo has previously stated that she does not like this date, as it is not her actual birthday.
The confusion stems from a common practice from her childhood. During a Students' Week event at Dhano Dhanye Stadium last year, a few days after her official birthday, Mamata Banerjee explained the discrepancy. She revealed that her father, at the time of her school admission, asked the headmaster to write down any age. This was a typical occurrence in an era when many births happened at home without immediate formal registration.
Unraveling the Age Mystery: Five Years Younger
Because of this, her certificate age was accepted while her real age remained unknown. "Many people wish me a happy birthday on 5 January. But, I do not like that day at all. It's just what my parents put on the certificate," she candidly shared. The Chief Minister learned about this error during her college years from her brother.
She attempted to correct the record later and even documented the story in her 1995 memoir, 'Ekante'. "So, the real age remains hidden, and the fake age on the certificate is what people assume to be true... My age is five years off," Banerjee stated. This implies that she believes she was born in 1960, not 1955 as per official documents.
So, When Was Mamata Banerjee Actually Born?
In her book 'Ekante', Mamata Banerjee provides a vivid description of her true birth. She writes that according to her mother, she was born during the Sandhi Puja on Maha Ashtami of Durga Puja. "It was raining continuously for three days before I was born. And, it stopped soon after I opened my eyes," she recounted.
Based on her account, researchers have calculated that in the year 1960 (which aligns with her claim of being five years younger), Durga Puja Mahashtami fell on 28 September. This date places her actual birthday in the same league as notable figures like Bhagat Singh, Sheikh Hasina, Lata Mangeshkar, and Ranbir Kapoor, who also share September 28 as their birth date.
The story adds a deeply personal layer to the public persona of one of India's most prominent political leaders. It highlights the informal systems of the past and how they continue to echo in the present, even on the birthday greetings from the Prime Minister. While official records and public celebrations may continue on January 5, the Chief Minister's own heart and memory mark a different, more auspicious day in late September.
