Humiliated Mahasweta quits from post given by Mamata

The author and Magsaysay Award winner is a prominent member of Mamata's intellectual brigade.

Author and Magsaysay Award winner Mahasweta Devi,a prominent member of Mamata Banerjees intellectual brigade,has decided to quit as chairperson of Bangla Academy after her proposal to give the Vidyasagar Award to a young author was allegedly turned down by the state government.

I have never faced such humiliation. We had unanimously selected the names of Sibaji Bandyopadhyay and Shankar Prasad Chakraborty for Vidyasagar Award this year and sent the proposal to the state government. But the name of Shibaji Bandyopadhyay was dropped. The state governments decision has pained me. I will quit Bangla Academy, Mahasweta Devi told the media today. Later,she faxed her resignation to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.

Mahasweta Devi had openly supported the Trinamool Congress in the run-up to last years Assembly poll. She was appointed chairperson of the Bangla Academy after Mamata came to power.

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Recently,however,relations between the author and the state government have soured,especially after the state government stopped Association for Protection of Democratic Rights from holding a meeting at Metro Channel.

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The action prompted the octogenarian writer to call the Mamata Banerjee government fascist.

In response to her remarks,Mamata had said that the author made such remarks without knowing the actual reason for denying permission to APDR. Since then,Mahasweta Devi has criticised the Mamata government on various issues along with rebel Trinamool MP Kabir Suman.

Mamata did not comment on Mahasweta Devis decision today. Perhaps anticipating questions on this,Mamata,while addressing a press meet on the petrol price hike,said: I will not answer any questions on any issues other than petrol price hike. So dont ask questions on anything else.