Mamata demands PM's apology over 'Bankim da' remark in Lok Sabha
Cooch Behar (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Tuesday demanded an apology from Prime Minister Narendra Modi, alleging that he has insulted novelist Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay by calling him "Bankim da".
Addressing a rally in Cooch Behar district, Banerjee said the PM was not even born when the country achieved Independence and yet chose to address one of Bengal's greatest cultural icons casually.
"You did not even show him the minimum respect he deserves. You should apologise for this, to the nation," she said.
The flashpoint was PM's reference to the author during a discussion in Lok Sabha on Monday to commemorate 150 years of the national song, Vande Mataram, written by Chattopadhyay.
TMC MP Saugata Roy objected to the use of the suffix 'da' and urged the PM to say 'Bankim babu' instead.
Modi immediately accepted the sentiment, saying, "I will say Bankim 'babu'. Thank you, I respect your sentiments," and asked in a lighter vein whether he could still address Roy as 'dada'.
Targeting the BJP, Banerjee claimed that it will destroy Bengal's culture, language and heritage if it comes to power in the state.
She also claimed that the assembly elections in the state will be declared soon after publication of the final electoral rolls following the SIR exercise, so that no one can challenge it in court.
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Gulf Medical University ranked in QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026 for Pharmacy
Dubai: Gulf Medical University has been ranked in the 351–400 band globally for Pharmacy & Pharmacology in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2026.
According to the university, this places it among a limited group of institutions worldwide recognized for academic performance in the field. Within the United Arab Emirates, it is one of five institutions offering undergraduate pharmacy programs to be included in the rankings. Regionally, it is among 32 Arab universities listed in this subject category.
The ranking is based on indicators such as academic reputation, employer reputation, research citations, and international collaboration.
Prof. Dr. Muhammad AlShorbagy, Dean of the College of Pharmacy, stated that the ranking reflects the academic structure, faculty contributions, and student performance within the college. He added that the institution aims to continue developing its pharmacy programs and research output.
Chancellor Prof. Manda Venkatramana said the recognition aligns with the university’s objective of strengthening its position in medical education and research. He noted that the institution plans to expand its academic and research initiatives in the coming years.
The College of Pharmacy at the university offers a curriculum focused on clinical training and research-based learning. The institution currently provides 45 accredited programs across disciplines including Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Health Sciences, Nursing, Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare, and Healthcare Management.
The university reports that its student body includes individuals from more than 100 countries.
