Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s 6-day visit to the UK from 23 March included three major engagements. As the London weather remained sunny and mild, the Chief Minister was seen brisk walking (and jogging), along with journalists and delegates, across Hyde Park and Victoria Embankment. On Wednesday morning, during her walk to the Tower Bridge from her hotel in St James’, she made a brief stop at the Gandhi statue on the Parliament Square and paid her respects.
While her third visit to the UK mainly revolved around her lecture on Thursday 27 March at the prestigious Kellogg College, Oxford University followed by an ‘in-conversation’ with College President Professor Jonathan Michie and Bynum Tudor Fellow Lord Karan Bilimoria, on Monday 24 March, she attended a high tea reception at India House, accompanied by her delegation, on a special invitation by the Indian High Commissioner to the UK, HE Vikram Doraiswami and wife Sangeeta Doraiswami. They were accompanied by Deputy Indian High Commissioner Sujit Ghosh.
Speaking at Gandhi Hall, CM Banerjee requested the High Commissioner to help in resuming direct flights from Kolkata to London for the diaspora, though the conversation broadly focussed on Bengal’s culture, art and craft that ended with a famous song written by Rabindranath Tagore.
In an interactive session that followed, the delegates accompanying CM shared their stories of running successful businesses in Bengal, while Ms Banerjee herself explained about the swiftness with which work happened, particularly post investment promises were made during the recent Bengal Global Business Summit (BGBS) in Kolkata.
Present in the audience was guest Dr Lakmal Jayasinghe, Chief Scientific Officer of Oxford Nanopore Technologies, who is due to visit India soon. Reciprocating CM’s invitation to visit and invest in Bengal, he said, “We are doing DNA sequencing, we are one of the most successful IPOs in London Stock Exchange. We want to expand our business in India. We are going to India in a few weeks’ time. We are starting an office in Bangalore; we have some work in Delhi too and we will be happy to come to Kolkata and extend our business in West Bengal too.”
Business Meet
On Tuesday 25 March, FICCI, UKIBC and WBIDC organised a successful Business Meet in Edwardian I, Taj 51 Buckingham Gate post a sumptuous lunch. Among 150 attending were mainly business and community leaders as well as think tanks. Before the session started, Lord Siraj Paul paid a visit to CM, to show support.
Along with the Chief Minister, the session was also addressed by HE Vikram Doraiswami, High Commissioner of India to the UK, Richard Heald OBE, Chairman, UKIBC and Harsha Vardhan Agarwal, President, FICCI.
Speaking at the Meet, CM Banerjee reiterated the need for a direct flight between London and Kolkata.
She said she would offer fuel and other discounts to “whichever airline” would set up a direct flight first. Present at the meet was a representative of British Airways. Addressing him, CM added, “London is not far away from Kolkata. We need a direct flight from London. I came to London from Kolkata, spending 18 hours. A direct flight will be a great success for the West Bengal government.”
At the meet, she also mentioned about Bengal’s GDP that has surpassed India’s GDP and highlighted that her government has been able to reduce unemployment by 46% in 2023-24. She also talked about opportunities and ease of work force in Bengal and the State being a gateway to the opportunities available in North-East of India.
The delegation accompanying CM Banerjee told the audience how under her governance, West Bengal has become the “Best Bengal”. At the meet, an MoU was also signed between Techno India Group and City Football Group to launch the first-ever Manchester City Football School in Kolkata, marking a new era in Indian football development.
Oxford University speech
At Oxford, post a guided walk around the Bodleian Library and the Divinity School where Harry Potter was shot, CM Banerjee went for a closed-door meeting with a gathering of leading academics from across the University, researching on various aspects of the Indian society. She was accompanied by former cricketer Sourav Ganguly.
In the evening over 200 people gathered at Kellogg College hub to listen to CM Banerjee speak about leadership, her promotion of women’s rights and social development. Others joined the live stream by University.
Addressing the audience, Chief Minister shared details about her government’s efforts to uplift marginalised communities, having transformative effect on many. She highlighted incentives like ‘Kanyashree Prakalpa’ (cash scheme for school-going girls) and ‘Lakshmir Bhandar’ (cash grants for women). She also urged Oxford University to open branches in Bengal.
Midway through the event, a small group of protesters, apparently from SFI-UK interrupted the speech, heckling her about the recent political events in West Bengal. A calm and composed CM tried to pacify them by offering to send them “chocolates” and wishing them a “good night’s sleep over their agendas”.
But when some of them holding placards started questioning her stance on the recent RG Kar rape and murder case, CM Banerjee added, “The responsibility of investigating this case is now in the hands of the Central government, the case is no longer in our hands.” She further said, “Don’t disrespect your institution by insulting me. I have come here as a representative of the country. Don’t insult your country.”
Ultimately the rest of the audience grew impatient and angry about the disruption and called for the Chief Minister to be allowed to speak uninterrupted. The protesters were eventually escorted outside by security.
Following her speech, the conversation moved to a more personal discussion, as Lord Bilimoria and Professor Michie asked her about her journey that shaped her leadership. When asked how she remained this energetic, CM Banerjee humorously added, “Banerjee means energy!” She also gave a message to women or those interested to join politics to always “think positive”.
At the end of the session, her speech and interview garnered standing ovation from the audience and organiser. Later she obliged the diaspora present with a group selfie.
Audience reaction
Anamika Ghosh, who travelled all the way from Peterborough told Asian Voice, “I was deeply moved by her effortless simplicity and genuine approachability. While her remarks can be delightfully unpredictable, they carry a subtle sweetness that reflects a steadfast determination and inner strength. Her extraordinary journey—from modest beginnings to becoming one of India’s most influential leaders—epitomises the simplicity and humility that have won her the hearts of so many.”
Commenting on the protest and interruption to CM’s speech, Anamika added, “Mamata Banerjee was there to champion women’s empowerment and to invite investment in Bengal—a platform meant to elevate our state’s image. The hecklers not only disrupted a significant dialogue but also cast a shadow over our state’s reputation. Their behaviour was counterproductive and deeply disappointing.”
Her thought was resonated by Anirban Mukhopadhyay who travelled from London to hear CM speak. He said, “It’s unfortunate that such an august platform was misused bringing disrepute for the UK and the institution both. Peaceful protest outside was still ok but not disruption like that!
“Indian politics should be done in India - inside the country not in a global platform. Didi here was India’s representative first and then Bengal’s. Disrespecting her by heckling was equivalent to disrespecting India and Bengal!”
