I was about to be labelled as a “one blog wonder”.My wife was after my life to start writing again and so were many friends. I too didn’t quite like the idea to be labelled that way and there was a genuine urge within to start speaking my mind, once again. Hence, I’m back.
I thought to pick up the thread where I had left it last time. My recent conversations with Raj, a friend in Australia and Mr Gupta, the co-passenger of my recent return flight to Kolkata forced me to introspect.
Raj, an Oz immigrant from Kolkata and I spend hours discussing the recent socio-political developments in West Bengal. We end-up discussing clichéd issues and nothing new.
Mr Gupta who happens to be the owner of an enterprise of about 500 people shared his concerns and challenges of doing business in West Bengal. He explained why does he want to move his factory to a different state. Again, it wasn’t anything new that we discussed for 1 hr 50 mins of our flying.
I’m writing my amateurish blog to get ideas that it could lead to something new, fresh and actionable.
Enough have been spoken and discussed about the doomed state of Waste errr West Bengal. Universally it’s been established that the Left Front governance is a complete failure other than its land reforms and in certain other negligible areas. It’s almost certain that Bengal’s new age green leftist Didi is going to be our next chief minister. She in all likelihood would come to power with thumping majority. But what’s next? People would gladly teach the official Left Front of West Bengal a lesson and of course they deserve it. But still, what’s next? A section of people would shout that it’s too early to comment on Didi-governance. I agree but her track record as minister in various capacity is nothing to be thrilled about. I really get shaken up when I think about the leaders of her team who are going to be our future ministers. All these disturbing elements force me to ask the following questions.
Is West Bengal dying a slow death?
Where are we going wrong?
Are we too complacent with our lost glory to think differently?
Are we not willing to accept that we are way behind many states in India?
Are we not willing to think smart?
Is there attitude problem of Bengalis living in West Bengal?
Have West Bengalis lost their appetite to grow?
Does West Bengal lack good leaders to work for the state?
I think the answer of my first question lies in the last question. West Bengal has serious drought of smart leaders. West Bengalis were too much in love with the so called intellectual thinking Dada leaders. This breed of ‘netas’ couldn’t think beyond Nandan. The moment someone started to think about Sector V and Shingur, rest took charge to pull him down. Now we have Sari clad Didi leader. The jhola is common for both the species. She too is putting her best effort to sound like Dadas with her quintessential Mirchi tadka in it. The first few months of her brigade governed by 100 advisers could do little to elevate Kolkata to London. People would shower her with countless blessings if in the remaining tenure her team could present us a slightly better Kolkata. I don’t really see any possibility of Didi changing her avatar to address the real concerns that would determine the future of West Bengalis. Millions of bright West Bengalis have already left the state to make their careers outside and rest too would have to follow the suit if this decaying trend continues for another 5 years. Mr Gupta, my co-passenger rightly pointed out that Dadas have pushed Bengal 50 years behind other developing states and Didi is all set with her set of nails to give finishing touch to the coffin and West Bengal would be part of history with glorious chapters to begin with and nothing there after.
The English speaking thinking class has made their points about the concern in various forums. Thanks to various shapes and sizes of blogs, be it Macro or Micro. Have we really ever tried to do anything substantial that could move the wheel of change for a better tomorrow? How could we make Dadas and Didis rise up to the occasion and start thinking differently? Make them think differently the way new-age progressive leaders think. Or is it West Bengal should do away with the official and unofficial leftists, CPI(M) with it’s allies and TMC respectively? Or, is it that young Bengalis should device a strong mass movement that Dadas and Didis retire as vintage jokers of the 'Bongo Rongo' Circus. This would force the established parties start inducting bright young scholars who have the passion to think beyond 'Brigade Cholo', 'Rail Rokko', 'Bangla Bandh', 'Tata ke Hata'. West Bengal needs leaders who could think like CEOs of fortune 500 companies.
Have I asked too many questions!!! I think I have. But I have just spoken my mind. I invite you to join me finding the answers. Not any more questions for an answer; rather an answer that has solution for a better tomorrow and days after.
