Mita Mukherjee

Literary theorist Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak, winner of the 2025 Holberg Prize, wrote to Bengal chief minister on Wednesday expressing her support for Mamata Banerjee’s secularism ” in the current context” and thanking her for the congratulatory message she posted on X following announcement that the scholar had won the 2025 Holberg Prize of Norway, often called the ‘humanities Nobel’. The scholar appreciated Banerjee’s efforts to “alleviate poverty”.

“I was particularly touched by your reference to my long-standing activities in rural West Bengal, because I am most appreciative of your own efforts to alleviate poverty,” Chakravorty Spivak wrote in the letter dated March 19. “…I hold an Indian passport and care deeply about the future of India and Bengal. In the current context, I support your secularism,” she wrote.

Spivak, an alumna of prestigious Presidency College, Kolkata (now Presidency University) and considered one of the most influential postcolonial intellectuals, is University Professor at Columbia University.

In her letter to the chief minister Spivak mentioned on her obsession with her commitment to democratic education of the very poor in the backward districts of Bengal for 40 years.   

“…Indeed, I have been obsessed with my commitment to democratic education of the very poor in various backward districts of Bengal for the last forty years. I spend a good deal of time with them and try to learn how to interact with cognitive damage of long-standing….….. I hope you will keep a kind eye on our efforts to expand the horizons of intellectual labor in our beloved Bengal.”

The chief minister in a post on X on Monday had said congratulating Spivak: “ …. Professor Spivak is widely known for her contributions to literary theory and philosophy. But I have been also charmed by her long and sustained association with pro-poor voluntary services in some remote villages of West Bengal. Her endeavours to get translated the all-time classics of Bengali literature into English constitute a project that inspires us…”

I congratulate our Professor Gayatri Chakravorty Spivak on her attaining yet another top international recognition. She has been chosen this year for the Holberg Prize of Norway, which is considered to be a top prize in humanities and social sciences. She makes us proud by this…

— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) March 17, 2025

Spivak in her letter aid she was glad that the chief minister mentioned their project of a ‘bilingual edition of 1000 years of Bengali writings. “ She wrote: “ Some of the best writers of the world are translating the Bengali classics for the global audience of these texts. We have received funds from South-Asian artists, from a fund-raising dinner and from various public-spirited donors. Your approval  will undoubtedly be of great help to us in our fund-raising.”

Later, at a press conference, Mamata said : “ I am humbled. I have seen her letter. I convey my humble regards to her. We are proud of her… She mentioned in her letter that you are working for the weaker section… I was touched by this line,” the chief minister said.

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