The Parliament on Monday held a special discussion to mark the 150th anniversary of the national song, Vande Mataram, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi opening the remarks in the Lok Sabha. The proceedings took a light-hearted turn when Modi referred to Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, the composer of Vande Mataram and celebrated Bengali poet, as “Bankim Da.”

Trinamool Congress MP Saugata Roy immediately objected, saying the term “Da”, a Bengali suffix meaning brother, was not respectful in reference to the cultural icon. “You are saying Bankim Da? You should say Bankim Babu,” Roy said.

PM Modi at once acknowledged the point. “I will say Bankim Babu. Thank you, I respect your sentiments,” he replied. In a lighter vein, he added, “I can call you dada, right? Or do you have an objection to th

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