Tennis player Leandar Paes's mother, Jennifer, is the great-granddaughter of Michael Madhusudan Dutta, who is credited with ushering in a renaissance in Bengali literature.
"Aaj hamara zindagi ka bara din hae," Paes said after joining the BJP.
Born Hindu - Sri Madhusudan Dutta, was a Bengali poet and a playwright.
Born on 25 January 1824; Madhusudhan Dutta expired on 29 June 1873.
For Leander Paes, the BJP is not the first party.
He joined BJP's arch rival in West Bengal, the Trinamool Congress in 2021, but did not hold a formal political role with the regional outfit.
Leander had only joined the party as a prominent member to bolster TMC's campaign.
On March 31, 2026, he joined the BJP in the presence of Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju. "I want to thank PM Narendra Modi, Amit Shah ji and Nitin Nabin. The way BJP family has nurtured me and given me the opportunity. Kiren Rijiju is someone whom I consider my hero and look up to," he said.
"We have a big opportunity to serve the youth. This party membership slip is not just a slip but a responsibility to serve the nation."
The Family Link and how it matters in the battle of 2026 in Bengal
During his time at Hindu College in Calcutta (Kolkata), Madhusudhan developed an aversion to Indian culture and a deep yearning to be accepted into European culture.
Dutta was influenced by teacher at Hindu College, David Lester Richardson.
He was also inspired by Richardson to love and even write English poems particularly by Byron.
Dutt had began writing English poetry aged around 17 years, started sending his works to publications in England, including Blackwood's Magazine and Bentley's Miscellany. They were, however, never accepted.
"Growing up middle-class in Calcutta is what gave me my passion for longevity... I think the Maidan life of Calcutta also gave me that passion," Leandar said in an interview.
While the tennis legend is often associated with Goa, Leander was actually born and raised in Kolkata.
His mother, Jennifer Paes, a Bengali Christian, captained the national basketball team in the 1980 Asian Championship.
What many don't know is that Leandar is a direct descendant of the renowned 19th-century Bengali maestro Michael Madhusudan Dutta. For 2026 assembly elections, 'Bangali asmita' is in debate as Mamata has pushed a line that the BJP is mostly pro-Gujarati and pro-north Indian (Hindi) party and may even ban fish eating in West Bengal.
The BJP is working hard in more ways than one to counter the Trinamool narrative by positioning its leaders as authentic participants in local culture and relishing local cuisine especifically 'maccher jhol' (fish curry).
The BJP strategy also include a focused effort to neutralize allegations that the party is "anti-Bengali" and may impose strictly vegetarian food habits.
State leaders Samik Bhattacharya, Suvendu Adhikari and Sukanta Majumdar have been prominently featured relishing fish curries.
Sharadwat Mukherjee have even campaigned holding a fish to demonstrate cultural alignment.
In Bengali Hindu wedding ceremonies fish is more often a symbol of good luck and prosperity. In fact, the groom's family takes a big fish (raw) and hands it to the bride's family members before the wedlock.
The fact of the matter is in Mamata Banerjee-ruled Bengal, the Lotus party knows the contest transcends routine electoral arithmetic around Hindutva or even Sabka Saath slogans.
Here the battle to protect cultural and civilisational values.
Over the last decade, the BJP has steadily worked to make its ideological triad—Hindu-Hindi-Hindustan—socially acceptable across India. But as the battlefield is different; the BJP has even undermined the use of “Jai Shri Ram” slogan.
Here it is 'Ma Durga' and even PM Narendra Modi wrote a letter starting with that salutation.
Thus it remains to be seen how Leander Paes as a campaigner or party leader can influence the outcome in West Bengal election where there is also a contest between BJP’s Hindi–Hindu push and emphasis on native Bengali culture of TMC.
ends
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