‘No More Jago Maa, Sing Secular Song’: Bengal Woman Singer Harassed, Muslim Man Arrested in Midnapore.

‘Enough of Jago Maa, sing something secular’: Noted singer Lagnajita Chakraborty abused, physically harassed for performing devotional song in Mamata’s Bengal.

Shantanu Bhattacharya | HENB | Kolkata | Dec 21, 2025 In a disturbing incident that has sent shockwaves across West Bengal, renowned Bengali singer Lagnajita Chakraborty was allegedly harassed, threatened, and nearly assaulted on stage for performing a devotional song celebrating feminine power. The incident, which occurred during a live concert at Bhagwanpur in East Midnapore, has raised serious questions about artistic freedom, women’s safety, and growing religious intolerance in the state perpetrated by the politically backed Islamists.

That such an incident occurred in Midnapore—a land synonymous with enlightenment, reform, and resistance, home to icons like Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar, Khudiram Bose, and Matangini Hazra—has only deepened the sense of outrage. Critics warn that Bengal’s legacy of pluralism and intellectual freedom is under sustained pressure, with many pointing to an Islamist challenge to indigenous culture, drawing parallels with attacks on cultural institutions in Bangladesh, including the destruction of Chhayanaut in Dhaka and assaults on Baul musicians to silence their Ektara. Observers also cite recent developments such as the construction of the Babri Mosque in Beldanga as evidence of a changing cultural landscape. The irony, critics note, is that this erosion is unfolding under the rule of a woman Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee.

According to police, a Muslim man identified as Mehboob Mallik was arrested for allegedly harassing the singer after she refused to comply with his demand to stop singing a devotional song and instead perform a “secular” number. Mallik was not only the main organiser of the programme but also the owner of the private school where the concert was held, Senior Police Officer Mitun Dey confirmed.

Chakraborty stated that she was singing “Jago Maa”, a powerful Bengali devotional song from the film Devi Choudhurani, when Mallik allegedly stormed the stage and attempted to physically assault her. The singer, who rose to fame with the hit track “Basanto Eshe Geche”, said the accused shouted at her, “Onek Jago Maa hoyeche, ebar kichu secular gaa”—“Enough of Jago Maa, now sing some secular song.”

In her police complaint, Chakraborty stated bluntly, “He wanted to beat me up,” describing the ordeal as humiliating, threatening, and deeply traumatic.

The controversy intensified when the singer alleged that the officer-in-charge of the Bhagwanpur police station initially refused to register her complaint, triggering accusations of institutional apathy and bias. The case was registered only later, following which Mallik was arrested.

Responding to the backlash, Mitun Dey, Additional Superintendent of Police (Headquarters), Medinipur, announced a departmental inquiry against the officer-in-charge and another police officer for negligence. “We will take action against them,” he said.

The incident has rapidly acquired a political dimension. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleged that the accused is linked to the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

“West Bengal is in the hands of Jihadis. They are now dictating what a woman singer can or cannot sing. This was a clearly anti-Hindu act,” BJP leader Shankudeb Panda said. He further alleged that when Chakraborty approached the police, “Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s police refused to lodge a complaint.”

The Trinamool Congress has offered no immediate response to these allegations.

Beyond politics, the episode has ignited a wider debate on women empowerment and the worship of the Mother as a symbol of feminine strength. “Jago Maa” is not merely a song; it is a cultural invocation of Shakti, representing courage, resistance, and the awakening of women’s power. Popularised through Devi Choudhurani, the song has long stood for women’s dignity, self-respect, and empowerment in Bengal’s cultural consciousness.

Supporters of the singer argue that the attempt to forcibly stop “Jago Maa” was not about musical preference but a direct challenge to the idea of venerating womanhood itself. They contend that silencing a song glorifying the Mother Goddess reflects an intolerant Islamist mindset, one that is hostile to indigenous traditions, women’s autonomy, and expressions of feminine spiritual power.

Historically, Bengal has revered the Mother—as goddess, nation, and force of resistance. From Shakti worship to the freedom movement, women have been celebrated as embodiments of strength and defiance. Against this backdrop, many view the alleged harassment of a woman artist for performing “Jago Maa” as a brazen assault on cultural freedom, women’s expression, and Bengal’s civilisational ethos.

Critics say that this is nothing but a filthy violation and humiliation of Mamata Banerjee’s iconic slogan, ‘Maa-Mati-Manush’.
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_Video Inputs from NDTV & Zee Music Bangla.