Mamata accuses Centre of insult to Khudiram Bose; slams ‘Kesari Chapter-2’ for distorting revolutionary’s identity

On the death anniversary of India’s young martyr Khudiram Bose, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee paid homage and voiced strong criticism against what she described as repeated insults to Bengali icons. Khudiram, executed on 11 August 1908 at just 18 years old, is remembered across the country for his courage and sacrifice in the freedom struggle. Mamata said the day was one of pride and reverence for the entire nation, not just Bengal.

In a post on social media platform X, the Chief Minister recalled Khudiram’s famous song and targeted the recently released Hindi film *Kesari Chapter-2*. She alleged that the film wrongly depicted the revolutionary as ‘Singh’ and as a resident of Punjab, a distortion that she said undermines historical truth and disrespects Bengal’s heritage.

Mamata directly questioned why such factual errors were being allowed in mainstream cinema and accused the Centre of failing to protect the legacy of great Bengali-speaking personalities. She warned that attempts to alter the identity of those who sacrificed their lives for the nation would not be tolerated.

The Chief Minister’s remarks have sparked renewed attention to the portrayal of historical figures in films and the importance of accurate representation, especially when dealing with freedom fighters whose stories are deeply tied to regional and national pride.