Mamata Banerjee Pledges to Safeguard Amartya Sen’s Ancestral Home Against Patriarchy

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has promised to hold a sit-in at Bolpur if the Visva Bharati University authorities attempt to “bulldoze” Nobel laureate Amartya Sen’s ancestral house ‘Pratichi’ on the campus. The university has issued an eviction notice, asking Sen to vacate 0.13 acres of land that it claims he is occupying “unauthorisedly” out of the 1.38 acres of land that were leased to him. The notice directs him to vacate by May 6 or within 15 days of the last order’s publication.

Mamata Banerjee handed over documents from the state land and revenue department to Sen on January 30, indicating that the entire 1.38 acres of land belonged to the Sens. The university authorities have disputed the documents.

Amid growing political controversy, Banerjee stated, “Amartya Sen is being attacked every day. I have seen their (VB’s) audacity. I will be the first person to go there (Bolpur) if they (try to) bulldoze his house. I will hold a sit-in there.”

The eviction notice has been criticized by other political parties, including the Congress, which accused the Modi government of “targeting” Sen for being a stern critic of the Hindutva forces. Visva Bharati was founded in 1921 by Rabindranath Tagore and became a central university in 1951 by an act of Parliament. It is the only central university in Bengal, and the prime minister is its chancellor.

Banerjee’s strong statement of solidarity with Amartya Sen highlights the continuing struggle women face in protecting their rights and property, particularly in patriarchal societies where women’s voices are often silenced. Her firm commitment to preserving Sen’s ancestral home sends a powerful message that women will not stand idly by while powerful institutions attempt to bulldoze their way through the patriarchal power structures that have historically marginalized them.

Re-reported from the story originally published in Republic