When Job Charnock made his way towards the unknown world, no one could predict that he would go native in the then Bengal. He started to eat, drink and make merry like a Bengali, and even smoked from a hokum pipe like a pucca Bengali. The villages which formed Kolkata of Charnock’s times may not be there, but thousands of such hamlets can still be found throughout Bengal and India. Thanks to the East India Company, urbanization was initiated amid the lush green landscape dotted with rivers that ran like veins and arteries. Mango, berries, jackfruit along with flowers like shiuli, palash and lotus and fertile land around the Ganges saw the birth and bountiful growth and development of one of the most populated cities in the world, Kolkata.
However, in this day and age, the difference between the living standards between then and now would be an impossible task. If there is a comparison of the percentage of people who were below poverty level before, during and after the British left, one can say we are much more ‘civilized’ and ‘developed’ – but really?
Indians have taken over from the foreigners 65 years ago. Yes, the foreigners looted the land, caused famines, and tortured the kala aadmi. But what is the condition of masses today? Governments came and went, including socialist and communist regimes. Decades passed by blaming the Centre for all evils. No other major city or urban center has been developed — all pressure is on Kolkata and Howrah causing all the ill-effects of an over populated society, almost living in the middle ages.
Two parts of the old Bengal is beset with its own set of problems. For instance, the east is suffering from major problems like population growth and religious fundamentalism. And, the west lacks direction, vision and action on the ground. Hope was high during the removal of the Left Front government, a tremendous achievement by the present regime. But many are saying hope is fading away gradually. Tata’s departure from Bengal was a big blow, even big scar on the state’s image. Besides, not many Tatas have been wooed to Bengal either. Bengal has huge potential in many areas like small scale industry, agro-based industries and even technology. Big investment is necessary on various fronts like finance, know-how.
Bengal’s water, air and soil is not as sacred or clean as Tagore would have loved to see, Bengal’s industry is no more a leading force as it used to be, Bengal’s education is not necessarily world-class anymore and health of the health industry is not that sound, especially for the poor. Why is this pessimism? Well, we live on hopes. We must be realistic to see our face in the mirror. Only if we can accept the reality, we can plan to change. And this opportunity lies today before the people around the world to see what they can do in Bengal, for Bengal and India and for themselves.
Let us hope that for a sustainable growth of West Bengal happens at a rapid clip. Bengal needs to grow with a good balance of protection of environment, culture and values. Also the delicate relationship between the rural and urban economical development is respected and empowered. Many thought Bengal was waiting for a revolution to transform the lives of people in a significant way. Well, the silent revolutions are more impacting and long lasting. Are political, intellectual and thought leaders of Bengal today ready to lead that revolution? That depends on what each Bengali think of h/his state; irrespective of their place of stay.
The port through which the indentured labourers left India to settle in the Caribbean and other countries is almost like a temple today. Can the reverse happen? Indian origin people living across the globe definitely can come back there and do something significant to give a new glory to Bengal – and that would be a unique contribution of the Global Indians.
