Future of West Bengal or is it Waste Bengal?

The photo as it appeared in a popular news portal on the 22nd July, of Ms Mamata Banerjee – “Didi” as she is popularly called, with her arms outstretched almost seemed as if she is flexing her muscles, in her show of strength after her recent electoral victories. The show of strength was camouflaged as a meeting in memory of “Trinamool Congress” martyrs. Reportedly 7 lakh supporters gathered to celebrate her victory or mourn the martyrs – whatever way you want to view it, thereby bringing Kolkata – the capital of Bengal to a virtual standstill. I shudder to think that this lady is poised to “change” Bengal by becoming the chief Minister of “Sonar Bangla” (Golden Bengal) and its Maa, Mati, Manush (Mother, Soil and People). What change is she talking of? Her policies and practices are infact new and improved version of what CPI(M) did all these years to bring Bengal to its present state – a case of old wine in new bottle. Bengal needs a complete image makeover not just change of colour from Red to Green.

Kolkata – The City of Joy is living up to its reputation as a place which can tolerate almost anything… any type of bizarre acts of its political masters, crumbling civic facilities, lack of governance, deplorable work culture with a smile of a mother who is fed up of her naughty child but is unable to dump it. The continuing political culture of ‘Bangla Bandh’, ‘Rail Rokko’, 'Path Aborodh', 'Brigade Chalo' and 'Sahid Smaron' – everything which causes a shut down of normal life and activities force die-hard Bengalis like me to leave our beloved state in search of places where we can at least carry out our normal professional activities without being under the constant threat of Bandhs. It is not at all surprising that the same Bengalis display a totally different work culture when taken out of the ghetto of political opposition and protest that Bengal has turned into.

'Kolkata achhe Kolkatatei' … Kolkata is still there in Kolkata. I would take a cue from the famous Bengali novelist Sanjib Chattopadhyay’s famous quote to add 'Bangla achhe Banglatei', Bengal is still there in Bengal . It’s determined to remain behind everyone, it’s determined not to look at the developing states, it’s determined to remain content with our very own ‘Bengali Pride’. People there seem not at all keen to move beyond Tagore, Rasogolla and Ganguly.

The fact that Didi chose to announce hope, aspiration and change in her signature style of blocking everything does not bring smile to our lips. The people surrounding her also do not inspire confidence in us. Do they have the capacity and intellect to bring a sea change in Bengal! Does anybody amongst them can claim to be a visionary with a clear cut roadmap to progress! We need somebody like Dr Kalam, Mr Narayanmurthy or Mr Nilekani to take Bengal out of its present rut.

What Bengal needs today is to get rid of these old–fashioned politicians and corporatization of governance. We need people who can create jobs for us and not those who shoo out industrial houses just to gain political brownie points. Bengal need a visionary backed by a young and energetic team who while looking skyward will have their feet firmly rooted to the ground.

The existing Left–contoured culture of Bengal need to go if it wants to regain its lost glory and bring back its talented work pool that have fled the state just to survive.