Spring Revolution in Bengal

Bhallo. Bhallo....

It is the re-awakening of the Bengali Spirit after four decades in the darkness.  The Bengali's have shown that they can not be held down under false premises of growth with equality.  So much for the Maoist-Communist promise of bringing prosperity to the masses.  All they succeeded in bringing to the fore was new words in the vocabulary...Gherao, Bandh and lock-out.

Calcutta, or Kolkatta, was the pre-eminent city in the sub-continent for hundred years till the 40's.  It was a city thriving with cultural, social, musical, culinary and commercial activities.  The city was a premier destination for getting a higher education in the Western mode.  The infamous Macaulay had started the first University there.  Even the original ICS were trained there before moving to England.  The East India Company had moved its Head Quarters from Madras to Calcutta.

Then the partition came with the loss of trade for the port.  And, jute business lost it's importance.  This one-two punch left the city with a pessimistic outlook.  It was a wide opening for the Communist to jump in.  I don't know how their political philosophy was formed.  Maybe the pipe smoking and Scotch drinking helped!!

I remember, in the 60's, if a car hit a pedestrian, a mob would collect soon and lynch the owner.  Yes, this is true.  There developed such a hatred for the bourgeois that the industrialist packed up their bags and moved out of the state or, at the least, stopped any further investment there.

In the recent past, The state threw out Tata Motors.  How does that play with creating good paying jobs.  To do that to Tata, after its record in Jamshedpur, is a travesty.     

Well Bengal, now you have your work cut out for you.  You have to make up for the lost time.  In your absence, the playing field has changed.  Now you will have to compete with the likes of Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Andhra and Maharashtra.  It will be an arduous task but with the Bengali intellect, surely achievable.  Go creat jobs, build factories, schools and provide water, electricity and sewer services to the masses.  Caveat, the electorate has awakened, you don't have too much time.

This revolution came with out blood or bullets.  Shows the strength of democracy.  Arab world can learn a few lessons.

Hey, Kerala, we are waiting for you to show your mettle.