MAMTA MOURNS DEMISE OF BASU
The strength of one’s reputation can best be ascertained from the opinion of one’s critics/rivals. And if your rival happens to be as bitter and brash as Mamta Bannerjee then no laurels or respite be expected. But the contribution and charisma of Jyotida compelled even Mamta to exercise caution. Her remarks therefore were respectful and restrained, diplomatic too.
She said “ Jyoti Basu was the first and last of the left leaders “.
Knowing the volatile relationship between her party and Left she could not have even hinted any appreciation of Left and therefore in her praise of Jyoti Basu she has conveyed that hereinafter no one else is of that stature. There is a definite taunt toward the other Left leaders in her tribute to the departed leader. I consider her homage to be sincere even though she may have said it as if addressing to the vast rural population of Bengal whom Basu did liberate with his consistent policy of Land reforms, though partially. Despite the failure of left in recent times she could not have afforded to annoy the masses who still revere Jyoti Basu.
Death indeed is a leveller and we forget our conflicts and antagonisms for sometime at least. It humanises us. Mamta was brutally assaulted in the writers building in 1996 whilst protesting against the Left regime of Jyoti Basu, that injury is deeply imbedded in her. It will only be redeemed when she is crowned the Queen of Bengal after the Assembly elections, which is a possibility. Ideological differences notwithstanding the left activated its nemesis the day it assaulted Mamta. Thereafter this lady with single minded determination defeated them in many battles – Nandigram, Singur and finally the recent Lok Sabha polls. The War is yet to be faught.
In her statement is hidden her anger for left and all left leaders who for her do not exist. Therefore Jyoti Basu was the first and last leader, and rest do not matter to her. The left and its leaders including Jyoti Basu always disregarded her, considered her as an irritant . So she conveys through her statement that only Jyotida was ideology, party and in his demise the left with its leaders and ideology too is dead . An incorrect statement as Left lives on and so will its leaders and we will await for some ‘Jyoti’ to lead us which Jyoti Basu could not.
Perhaps the greatest contribution of Jyoti Basu is that he made left leades acceptable to many sceptics who were constantly suspicious of Marxists by his wise administration of 23 years. It is also true that in his journey of more than two decades many flaws mushroomed which lead to the decline of his party; his protégé too lacked his charisma. His commitment to panchayati Raj and land reforms and substantial success too remains a challenge to all budding politicians.
I wonder how will Mamta feel when she will finally trounce the tottering regime of left and takes oath as the Chief Minister , for there will not be Jyoti Basu who inspired her resolve.
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