Bengal CM in Time magazine’s list of world’s most influential people
The “face of fierceness in Indian politics” is the only chief minister from India and one of just two politicians from the country to make it to the list of ‘The 100 Most Influential People’
“On May 2, she stood like a fortress against the expansionist ambition of Narendra Modi, a seemingly invincible Prime Minister, when she retained her role of chief minister of West Bengal in the state’s assembly elections, despite the money and men of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party.”
This description of Mamata Banerjee is what makes her the icon that so many in India look up to. It embellishes the write-up on her in the Time magazine’s 2021 global list of ‘The 100 Most Influential People’.
Mamata Banerjee is the only chief minister from India to make it to the list, and one of only two politicians, the other being none other than Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Time magazine unveiled its global list of influencers on Wednesday. The list is divided into six categories—‘Icons’, ‘Pioneers’, ‘Titans’, ‘Artists’, ‘Leaders’ and ‘Innovators’.
Mamata Banerjee has found a place in the ‘Leaders’ category, alongside the likes of WTO chief Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, US President Joe Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping, former US President Donald Trump and 15 others.
Her profile write-up, by journalist Barkha Dutt, further says that “Unlike many other women in Indian politics, Mamata has never been framed as someone’s wife, mother, daughter or partner”.
Dutt is unrestrained in her deep admiration for the “street-fighter spirit and self-made life in a patriarchal culture”, something that sets her apart.
She ends with the prophetic “If any coalition of forces were to come together to counter Modi nationally, Mamata is almost certain to be the pivot”.
Narendra Modi has been described, in his profile by US journalist Fareed Zakaria, as one of the three pivotal leaders India has had since Independence, the other two being Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.
However, the profile is largely critical of the policies of the government. Zakaria states: “Despite mishandling COVID-19—the death toll has been estimated to be much higher than the official count—his approval rating has slipped to a still sky-high 71%.”
The third Indian to make to the list for this year is Adar Poonawalla, the chief executive officer of the world’s largest vaccine maker, Serum Institute of India, which has played a big role, through its vaccines against COVID-19, in bringing hope to millions of people across the world. He features in the ‘Pioneers’ category.
