Nobel laureate and doyen of Bengali literature Rabindranath Tagore wrote ‘Amar Sonar bangla, aami tomay bhalobashi’ (Oh! my golden Bengal, I love you) almost a century ago. As we celebrate the 150th birth anniversary of the litterateur per excellence, we’re confronted with a pertinent question: has Gurudev’s dream of a golden Bengal is in Utopia? He did not live to see a free India, but he had great hopes and expectations from the people Bengal, who could contribute handsomely to a resurgent India. Has Bengal fulfilled his wish? A trip down memory lane illustrates a job well begun is only half done.
During the period of legendary West Bengal chief minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, the state flourished in many areas of development. However subsequent governments and leaders failed to up the tempo. Bengal, the land of Atish Dipankar, Sri Chaitanya, Bankim Chandra, Sri Ramakrishna, Vivekananda and many legends took to Communism. Though the ruling Marxists took the democratic route to come to power, their inaction for a record 34 years proved to be its undoing. Bengal plummeted as far as progress and development are concerned. Ironically, the believers of ‘rule of the proletariat’ gradually appropriated the role of the bourgeois. The word comrade lost its meaning among the members of the ruling class. Political imbalance and poor governance, strikes and militant trade unionism became a norm.
Though there was some visible economic progress lately, the state has lagged behind its leading counterparts, leading to a poor Human Development Index and abysmal healthcare systems. Chronic power failures and inadequate infrastructure have failed to attract much needed investments in industry, which severely hampered the state’s socio-economic growth.
A political change has, indeed, happened, leading to the installation of new non-Left state government. Naturally, hopes are very high. One can draw a parallel to US president Barrack Obama’s election to office. It remains to be seen whether new West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee would be able to deal with the situation aptly to fast track growth? Yes, we can?
People of Bengal are looking for a change for some very basic needs. Impartial and non-corrupt governance, good healthcare, infrastructure and uninterrupted power supply along with education and industrial growth.
People are sick of party-raj. Because of the paradigm shift in power equations, many opportunists have changed colour and switched loyalty.
Unless there is a mechanism to prevent these fair-weather clocks from meddling with the works of the government, a similar crony capitalism and nepotism – hallmark of a corrupt dispensation – will persist. People of Bengal will again go back to a hopeless and meaningless future. Professionals from all works of life were thwarted by an inept administration, left Bengal in droves. They can be wooed back provided there is good governance and new opportunities are created. And, their presence could help the rebuilding of Bengal. But, the responsibility lies squarely with the leadership, who should able to kick start growth, and create an environment conducive to development. Significantly, progress must not be blocked by bureaucratic interference and party intervention. At the same time the people of Bengal and other Indians living across the globe must shoulder a major share of the responsibility for the development of West Bengal – it is not just the responsibility of the government, it must be a joint venture.
The need of the hour is reawakening of the entrepreneurial spirit coupled with new development models in the neediest sectors. A new image of Bengal is a means to restore investors’ confidence, which promotes an industry-friendly environment and introduction of development-oriented projects that are inclusive in approach. Gujarat is a great role model for most states to emulate.
This issue is dedicated to the state of Bengal, a place where I come from, and whose progress I long to see- a wish expressed by fellow Bengalis, and Indians indeed, all over the world.
But, hope, as the poet said, springs eternal: Banglar maati Banglar jal Banglar bayu Banglar fal, punya hok . Banglar ghar Banglar haat Banglar bon Banglar math purna hok… (May the soil, water, air and vegetation of Bengal be blessed, may the homes, markets, forests and fields of Bengal be full, oh my lord).
