West Bengal has been in the news lately several times – not always for good reasons. And that is the nature of news that are `catered’ to by and large these days all across the media platforms.
‘If it is not negative it is not ‘news’! Yes, there are cases of rapes, some unreported communal violence, missing people in Uttarakhand Nature’s fury, Left Wing Extremists threatening the lives of Chief Ministers and also mundane stuff like growing joblessness, legalities of panchayat polls etc.
Yet, one must see beyond these to understand the state’s current affairs. Compared to many other states, West Bengal is still doing better, given that during the end of the Left Front era, Bengal’s coffer did not have much to spend for development.
Though there are reports of political clashes, which was much worse in the past regime, the state is relatively performing better.
Bengal, especially Kolkata, was synonymous to mindless bandhs. Naxal violence was also daily occurrence only months ago. It appears that this twin curses on the state are greatly abated.
There are several separatist movements like the ones spearheaded by the Maoists and Gorkhaland lobby, yet, it seems that political solution through dialogue is still at works.
After over a decade of decline in creative arts in Bengal – it has seen a great comeback of literature and films. Directors, led by Rituparno Ghosh, brought a change in the way films are made in Bengal after auteurs like Satyajit Roy, Mrinal Sen etc. exited the scene.
Bengal recently got another boost of having the current Indian President Pranab Mukherjee, whose roots are in the state.
Bengalis worldwide takes pride in this achievement of their son from an obscure village in Birbhum, Bengal.
On the surface, the promises of the current administration do not show much. People have plenty of expectations and reasons for disappointment. Development is not an easy task. Leaders like Mamata Banerjee is capable of bringing a political change. Leadership for change movements is not always same as leadership for development. What is expected now that the leader is supported by all and sundry, who can turn the development dreams into reality. People who wish well for Bengal hopes that the Chief Minister puts her trust in truly able people.
We hope and wish that the state is going to show visible growth in the coming years. Global Indians can and should be part of this development. One only dreams that both the Bengali intellectualism and emotionalism brings another revolution in the state– prosperity and peace for every citizen.
