I met Mamata Banerjee for the first time in 2010 when she was minister of railways. The bishop of Asansol had requested me to take him to her to get some advice on an issue related to a church in Asansol.
I made the appointment and we were there at her residence in Kalighat.
One of her officers told me that she had gone out for some urgent work and that she would be back soon. He laid out two chairs on the veranda and made us sit.
She returned after 15 minutes and seeing us on the veranda, scolded the officers for making us sit at the entrance. Then she took us to her office and enquired about the issue. The bishop narrated the problem and Mamata immediately called up the local officer in Asansol and asked him to look into the matter and resolve the problem at the earliest. While we returned from her house, the Bishop remarked, “Mamata is really a go-getter, vibrant and a leader of the people.”
St Xavier’s College has constructed twin hostels at Beck Bagan, central Kolkata — one for girls and the other for boys — with the generous support of the alumni in 2014. I was the principal of the college at that time.
One Sunday morning, the director of the hostels called me up to inform me that the Mother Dairy workers were digging up a place right in front of the girls’ hostel gate to open a booth.
When contacted, the supervisor said the work had been sanctioned by the Calcutta Municipal Corporation under the order of the mayor. I contacted the mayor, only to be told that the work had been approved by the ministry concerned and that it could not be stopped.
Finally, I contacted Mamata Banerjee, who was the chief minister of West Bengal.
She understood the issue and resolved it in 10 minutes.
The mayor later called up to inform me that the work had been suspended.
In January 2012, Mamata Banerjee was the chief guest for the SXC Convocation. While we were sitting on the stage, she asked me whether we could upgrade SXC to a university or start a St Xavier’s University.
I told her that a new university could be possible if her government could give us up to 25 acres of land. She immediately agreed and promised to look into it.
At the same convocation, on her humble request, and on behalf of the College Alumni Association, I conferred on her the Honourary Membership of SXCKAA. With the blessings of Mamata Banerjee, SXC was allotted 16.64 acres of land at Rajarhat for the establishment of SXUK. Mamata Banerjee is truly a Xaverian in spirit who has the rare quality of helping with utmost care.
Mamata Banerjee has been attending the Christmas gatherings organised by the Alumni at SXC since 2010 without fail to deliver her Christmas message.
The 2012 Christmas gathering was a special one for all Xaverians. Mamata came as a Santa, pulled out a document from her bag, handed it over to me and said with a broad smile to all who were assembled, “I have given a letter to Father and he will inform you what it contains.” It was the document for 16.64 acres of land in Rajarhat.
“We want St Xavier’s College to become a university. Your alumni are spread across the globe. We want it to grow bigger and bigger and become globally known,” she said.
I said: “There could be no better gift than this for our Vision 2020. Her wish will always go with us in our efforts to start the Jesuit University.”
Mamata did not go back empty-handed. I was honoured to hand over to her the Honorary Membership card of the Alumni Association.
“I am obliged, grateful and overwhelmed to have been granted Honorary Membership of the Alumni Association.
St Xavier’s remembered my request made almost one year ago in January. I will always remember this gesture and be a true Xaverian,” Mamata said with deep emotions.
Mamata is known to be a charismatic and prolific leader who has a “dashing and robust personality” and has been described as “astounding”, “decisive”, "vibrant”, “vivacious”, “practical”, and a “keen, ambitious” leader in India.
She would be described as a “people person”. She was instrumental in bringing about a change in Bengal. Despite being an influential and powerful leader, she lives and exhibits a humble and simple lifestyle. She is deeply caring for a peaceful and harmonious environment for the good of all.
Fr. J. Felix Raj, SJ, is vice-chancellor of St Xavier’s University, Calcutta