Kolkata: Prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday shared a Shyamasangeet by 18th-century poet-saint Ramprasad Sen on his social media handle.
Posting on X, Modi wrote, "Adulation of Devi Maa instils a new confidence among the devotees. Her sadhana fills everyone with new energy."
Sen, a Shakta poet from Bengal, composed verses in praise of goddess Kali, popularly known as Ramprasadi. He blended the Bengali folk style Baul with Kirtan, creating a distinct musical tradition. Deeply influenced by Tantra, he spent long hours in meditation and later became the court poet of Raja Krishnachandra of Nadia.
Over the past year, BJP has gradually shifted its slogan in Bengal from "Jai Shree Ram" to invocations of Kali and Durga. Modi's recent addresses to voters, which earlier opened with a namaskar, began with "Joy Ma Kali". The shift was also evident during his campaign speeches last year, starting in Durgapur, where references to Kali and Durga marked a departure from the earlier chant.
After Samik Bhattacharya was appointed state president, he sought to align the party's messaging with Bengal's sociocultural ethos. While "Jai Shree Ram" remains central to the party's national mobilisation, the emphasis on "Joy Maa Kali" appears tailored to the state.
Bhattacharya said on Wednesday, "Ma Kali is the source of life for the people in Bengal. However, we will have to see whose sacrifice Ma Kali is asking for this time. It seems her wishes have changed."