Patch-up: Mamata Banerjee fetes Kabir Suman, he praises her

Mamata confers the award on Kabir Suman.(Express Photo by: Subham Dutta)

Mamata Banerjee and Kabir Suman, the singer she made an MP before they fell out, have shown signs of having patched up. Mamata Wednesday awarded him the Banga Bibhushan, Bengal’s equivalent of the Padma Vibhushan, among 20 who included industrialists Sanjiv Goenka and S B Ganguly.

“I remember, for about 20 years, the kind of songs he has sung, those have breathed a new life to adhunik songs. We love his songs and their lyrics compelled us to think,” Mamata said on stage. Suman, in turn, credited Mamata’s government with a “lot of work”. Excerpts from an interview:

What do you think about the performance of the West Bengal government?

The TMC government is doing a lot of work now. Look at the road, water supply and streetlights.

But as an MP you had criticised the government.

I have always been an activist, not a politician. Mamata Banerjee wanted me to contest the polls, which I did. I was critical about the policies of the government but never hit below the belt. After putting in my papers as an MP, I am now just a musician and have no issues with the chief minister.

Are you planning a return to politics?

No. I will not return to politics. I am not cut out for it. I would rather be a camel driver in the Sahara desert.

Will we no longer see Kabir Suman protesting against anti-people policies?

Everytime there is something amiss, people think that Kabir Suman should raise his voice. Why should I? At this age, I don’t think I should be poking my nose into every political issue. I will restrict myself to composing music. I have realised there are many people who can protest against government policies but not many can match me in music. I may still put my foot down on certain issues. But I will not take to the streets anymore.

Source:: Indian Express