Mamata reveals she doesn't like her name; says she doesn't enjoy birthday celebration

During a lively Student Week event at Dhandhanya Stadium, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee shared a personal and philosophical moment with the crowd, explaining her feelings about age, birthdays, and the politics of retirement. She began by mentioning how, despite often receiving birthday wishes, she does not find joy in the celebration, suggesting that a little happiness and cheerfulness are far more important for a person’s soul than harsh words.

The moment took an interesting turn when Mamata spoke about the confusion surrounding her age. With a sense of humor, she said, "Everyone is celebrating my birthday. I feel as if I am not born yet. I will be born on the day I leave this world." The Chief Minister went on to explain that her true age had been a matter of confusion, especially because she was born at home and not in a hospital, a detail that had caused discrepancies in her official records.

Mamata recalled her childhood, saying she never disclosed her age or even her name for quite some time. "I did not give my title or age. My parents never told me these details. I first learned about it from my brother when I was in college. He pointed out that there was a six-month difference between my age and his as per the certificate," she reminisced.

She explained that, in her younger days, birth certificates were often handled by the headmaster at school, and for those born at home, the exact age could be difficult to confirm. Referring to her own case, Mamata noted that, according to the records, she was born in 1955, which would make her over 70. However, she firmly stated that she considers herself to be 65 years old, taking the word of her grandfather Ajit Banerjee as testimony.

The topic of age also led to a conversation about retirement in politics. Mamata shared her view that her nephew, Trinamool General Secretary Abhishek Banerjee, believes there should be a retirement age in politics, just as in any other profession. Abhishek suggests that this age should not exceed 65, a point Mamata humorously acknowledged. She said, "I have just crossed the upper limit of that age," though Abhishek quickly clarified that there are always exceptions to every rule.