Biography

Ms Mamata Banerjee (Hon’ble Chief Minister of West Bengal and Chairperson, All India Trinamool Congress), daughter of Late Promileswar Banerjee and Mrs Gayatri Banerjee, was born in Kolkata.

Her father was a freedom fighter and her mother who has supported her family through all its ups and downs, had instilled in Ms Banerjee the spirit of fair play, deep feeling for all human beings and the courage to stand for the downtrodden. These values in her have been the guiding force, which has driven her to take on the most difficult challenges and tasks.

Ms Banerjee holds Bachelor degrees in Arts (BA), Education (B.Ed), Law (LLB) and a Masters degree in Arts (MA).

Ms Banerjee was inducted to the West Bengal Chhatra Parishad while as a student of Jogmaya Debi College and worked as a Member of its Working Committee during 1977-83.

She held the post of General Secretary, West Bengal Congress (Indira) between 1979-80 and was Secretary, West Bengal Provincial Trade Union Congress. During the period 1983-88, she was the Secretary of the Women’s Wing of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and was the Secretary, South Calcutta District Congress (Indira) for the period 1980-85.

In 1984, she was elected as a Member of Parliament from the Jadavpur Constituency and held the post of General Secretary of the Youth Congress (Indira) and became a member of the National Council in 1987 and a member of the Executive Committee of the Congress Parliamentary Party in 1988.

She was re-elected as a Member of Parliament in 1991, 1996, 1998, 1999, 2004 and 2009 from the South Kolkata Parliamentary Constituency, making her one of India’s most experienced Parliamentarians.

She has served as a member of several Parliamentary Committees and was appointed as a Minister of State for Youth and Sports, Women and Child Development, Government of India in 1991. She was appointed the Railway Minister of the Government of India in 1999 and Cabinet Minister for Coal and Mines in 2004. In 2009, she was re-appointed the Railway Minister. In 2011, All India Trinamool Congress registered a historic win to put an end to a 34-year-old regime. On May 20, Ms Banerjee took over as the first woman Chief Minister of West Bengal.

In spite of her very busy work schedule, she has authored over twenty books and created over 5000 oil paintings, quite a few of which have been auctioned. She has donated the proceeds of the auctions for various developmental and social causes.

Ms Banerjee is also an accomplished poet. Her writings are in Bengali and English.

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History reveals that election in this country has its special and
significant moments. Like all elections this too had various ups and
downs. Many names which appeared to be at the front runners have
subsequently gone into oblivion. However, the name of Mamata Banerjee
happens to be one of the names that have created a special place in the
hearts of millions.

She has proved that in spite of being in the opposition, it is not
impossible to make or establish a point of view and earn all the
admiration. This is exactly where the difference lies between Mamata
Banerjee and her counter parts, as she always gained an edge over others
with her amicable nature.

After the assassination of Indira Gandhi, the then Prime Minister of
India, Congress gained huge mandate in the 1984 Lok Sabha Elections
which by and large gained the sympathy factor. The electorates had
casted their mandate in favour of Congress. Mamata Banerjee defeated the
heavy weight CPI(M) candidate Barrister Somnath Chatterjee in
Jadavpur constituency which was regarded as the citadel of Left Front.
Many eyes were raised to see a simpleton residing in Kalighat becoming
Lok Sabha MP.

The then
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi was keen on bringing more women into
politics. The name of Mamata Banerjee was sent to Pranab Mukherjee by
senior Congress leader Subrata Mukherjee. Young
Ms Banerjee was at a loss of words after experiencing repeated wins in
elections.

Mamata Banerjee gained immense popularity due to her simple and social
nature. She did not have any self-ego or self-pride, neither she has
today. On the contrary she had self confidence and strong will power.
Her dedication towards work during her tenure as the Lok Sabha MP got
attention. During those days Congress maintained an anti-CPI(M) policy.

Mamata Banerjee was brutally beaten up by the Left Front goons in 1990.
In the due course of time Mamata Banerjee carried her crusade against
the CPI(M) and protested against the atrocities of the Left Front.

The admiration she earned and the confidence she possessed made it
possible for her to break away from the Congress and form her own party,
The Trinamool Congress. It is not easy and not all have survived
politically especially after breaking away from big parties like the
Congress or Left Front as it requires immense courage to take such
steps.

This is the Mamata Banerjee magic.