Yesterday, the last attempt to reach an affable solution between the CPM and the Tatas' failed. Why? The opposition parties.
It saddens me to think that in a country of immense talent and resources, politics holds redoubtable power to an extent that it hinders economic growth. That too more pronounced in states like West Bengal and Kerala.
I am a Bengali who has never really stayed in Kolkata. I had never been a part of the real Kolkata like its bandhs or Durga puja to even comment on it. Hence, I’ve never felt for my motherland. Coming to think of it, I do feel uncomfortable. But there is nothing i can do about it.
But today I’m surprised to discover an emotion that I’ve been completely unfamiliar with. This Singur episode with its final blow of the Tatas waving good bye to WB and resolving to move away to a more prosperous location has somehow distressed me. I somehow, out of the blue, feel bonded to Kolkata. I somehow feel at a huge loss by the turn of events. It must not really affect ME, a person who lives far far away to even feel its aftermath. And more so because i always thought that i don’t really fit in the picture of this state. I am obviously happy about the fact that the innovative project of the Nano car isn’t abandoned. I’m glad about the fact that it will be implemented in my very own country but in a more peaceful and cooperative location. What pains me is that it is NOT West Bengal anymore.
I don’t really understand what the opposition achieves by doing this... is it a show of power or is it really aimed at relieving the farmers? Whatever this game of politics is aimed at, what really matters is that in the end of the day only common man is affected.
The development of Singur comes tumbling down, dreams of myriads of educated unemployed get shattered, the dream of moving an agricultural economy towards industrialisation remains incomplete and the worst of all, this one episode serves as an indication of stagnation of economy due to repulsion of investors from entering the state. And needless to say, political unrest will see new heights now!
Ratan Tata said, Bengal will see many such Nano projects taking shape in Bengal. But with such a display of turbulence and disorder will anyone even spare a look at Bengal?
3 comments:
good to see you back...
Being in a metropolitan city and being a urban animal we probably do not understand the woes of a farmer. What we write and what we see is just our 'point-of-view'. Industrialization has killed more farmers than any other factor in history. When you are going to take away their land permanently is it not right for you to give them the compensation that they demand? Though the way in which the nano project has been dumped in bengal is a bit irksome, and clearly is a political and selfish move by one politician, still it had to happen. After all the CPI and the CPM are the people who propounded the culture of protests and now they have tasted their own medicine. We cannot ignore farmers and drive a nano....
A good retrospection of the singur issue. Keep up the good work. God bless you!
Its a good thing TATA moved out. Despite the Singur issue the number of Bhands and strikes the various unions in West Bengal organize....it would have been very difficult.
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