Babul Supriyo, a former central minister and the newest member of Mamata Banerjee’s cabinet, has sparked a new debate with his remarks regarding Nobel laureate Amartya Sen. Weeks after ‘declining’ an award from the Mamata Banerjee administration, Sen on Friday accepted the Muzaffar Ahmad Memorial Prize for his book “Home in the World: A Memoir,” and Babul Supriyo claimed that despite being such a renowned economist, Sen was unable to escape his political ideologies.
Babul Supriyo’s comment has ignited a scuffle within the party as Kunal Ghosh, the party spokesperson countered the remark saying it’s Sen’s discretion to accept the award he wishes to.
Taking to Twitter, Supriyo explained himself saying, “ Isimply said that whenever Shri Amartya Sen ‘visit’s India, we would rather have him impart his valuable advices, analysis and suggestions to any govt, than see him being extraordinarily critical abt everything & everyone making him seem biased. Politically.”
According to Babul Supriyo, who added, “Unfortunately, it rarely occurs and it is our loss, Indians hold Amartya Sen in high regard and would like to see him take on a more positive role by putting aside his political philosophy. I stand by what I said.”
The minister also held CPM respomsible for the controversy CPM, “distorting the essence” of what he said because of their (CPM leaders’) political compulsion.
In a written statement, Amartya Sen, who was not present in person to take the award on Friday, described how his family had a close relationship with CPM leader Muzaffar Ahmad. Sen stated in a statement given out by Manabi Majumdar, the director of Sen’s Pratichi Trust, “I am extremely glad that my work has been linked with the legacy of Ahmad, one of the torchbearers of the Communist revolution in India with whom I have family relations, aside from having my heartfelt sympathies.”
The highest civilian honour bestowed by the West Bengal government, the “Bangabibhusan,” was not given to Amartya Sen in July. According to his family, he told the government that he wouldn’t be in India for the event. Amarya Sen wanted the Bangabibhusan to be bestowed upon others as he has had the good fortune to receive it, according to his daughter Antara Dev Sena.