Mamata was born in Calcutta and she grew up in a lower middle class family. Her father Promileswar Banerjee died when she was young and Mamata got into politics while she was at school. She started her political career with the Congress party and working in various ranks she became the general secretary of the state Mahila Congress between 1976-1980.
 
Mamata did her graduation in history from the Jogamaya Devi College and went on to do her Master’s in Islamic History from University of Calcutta. Then she did a degree in Shri Shikshayatan College. This was followed by a law degree from Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College in Kolkata. The unique thing about Mamata is, throughout her career, she has worn the traditional Bengali cotton sarees known as Tant.
 
It was in the year 1997 Mamata left the congress party and then she formed her own party All India Trinamool Congress. The party rose to become the strongest opposition party to the communist regime in Bengal. Eventually she became an ally of the National Democratic Alliance and held her first portfolio as Railway Minister in the year 2000. Her budget brought significant changes.
 
The year 2011 became very important for Mamata’s career as she broke the stronghold of the communists in Bengal and became the chief minister of the state. Though many interesting incidents have been taking place in her regime such as the sacking of the railway minister, the cartoon incident and walking away abruptly from an interview, Mamata fondly called as ‘Didi’ is still making her mark.