Jyoti Basu: a towering people's leader
Tuesday, 19 January 2010
Maswood Alam Khan
If one is asked who was one of towering Indian politicians who truly loved Bangladesh the first answer would be 'Jyoti Basu'. Basu used to treat Bangladesh like his own land and Bangladeshis his own people. His patronage before, during and after our liberation cannot be compared with anybody else's support. He was in fact a Bangladeshi Indian.
Jyoti Basu was a communist who always fought against communalism. He was a colossus in the political space of India. His departure from this world has not only orphaned the Communist Party of India (Marxist) but also left a void in the Indian political landscape; not many Indian politicians are available from whom one can be chosen to fill.
Basu all through his life cherished a dream to see India completely free from all kinds of oppression and exploitation Indians had to suffer for ages under feudal, capitalist and imperial governances. In fact, Basu was a leader for the poor and a visionary of modern West Bengal.
He was a coalition builder. He had extraordinary vision and a deep understanding of the political, social, cultural and economic forces that has shaped India. He was a rare leader, tolerant and generous. He was compassionate but never sentimental; he gave his body, soul and mind to Marxism; he did so from a hardhearted conviction of its correctness.
The passing away of Jyoti Basu at 95 is not just an end of a long and illustrious life -- it is truly an end of an epoch. Basu, who was born in 1914, was not only a towering figure of the Communist movement but also became over the years a very matured Indian political leader. He was charismatic. He was the chief minister of West Bengal from 1977 to 2000 which makes him India's longest serving chief minister. He stepped down in 2000 but remained a guardian of the communist party.
It was during his student life in London School of Economics (LSE) that he, along with some of his friends, took a decision that once back in India they would devote themselves to the Communist Party.
During his tenure as the Chief Minister, the Left Front government made a number of headways. Its landmark achievements included the implementation of land reforms and the establishment of a democratic three-tier 'Panchayati Raj' structure, and, later, new policies to encourage investment in industrial sector in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Basu worked for the masses all his life. He decided to donate his eyes and body. A communist to the core, he wished to be of service to the people even after his death.
Unlike many leaders in the subcontinent, Basu was a self-made politician turned into a towering leader not having been buttressed by any dynastic favour or force.
He was groomed under a strict family environment. His father Nishikanta Basu, who was a physician, did not allow Basu to watch films or taste tea. Basu tasted his first cup of tea and watched a Hitchcock movie at the age of 21 when he was in London.
We pray for Basu's departed soul. May God rest him in eternal peace!
We wish our leaders would try to take lessons from Basu's career and leave their footprints for our next generations to follow.
(Maswood Alam Khan is Editorial Consultant of The Financial Express. maswood@hotmail.com)
If one is asked who was one of towering Indian politicians who truly loved Bangladesh the first answer would be 'Jyoti Basu'. Basu used to treat Bangladesh like his own land and Bangladeshis his own people. His patronage before, during and after our liberation cannot be compared with anybody else's support. He was in fact a Bangladeshi Indian.
Jyoti Basu was a communist who always fought against communalism. He was a colossus in the political space of India. His departure from this world has not only orphaned the Communist Party of India (Marxist) but also left a void in the Indian political landscape; not many Indian politicians are available from whom one can be chosen to fill.
Basu all through his life cherished a dream to see India completely free from all kinds of oppression and exploitation Indians had to suffer for ages under feudal, capitalist and imperial governances. In fact, Basu was a leader for the poor and a visionary of modern West Bengal.
He was a coalition builder. He had extraordinary vision and a deep understanding of the political, social, cultural and economic forces that has shaped India. He was a rare leader, tolerant and generous. He was compassionate but never sentimental; he gave his body, soul and mind to Marxism; he did so from a hardhearted conviction of its correctness.
The passing away of Jyoti Basu at 95 is not just an end of a long and illustrious life -- it is truly an end of an epoch. Basu, who was born in 1914, was not only a towering figure of the Communist movement but also became over the years a very matured Indian political leader. He was charismatic. He was the chief minister of West Bengal from 1977 to 2000 which makes him India's longest serving chief minister. He stepped down in 2000 but remained a guardian of the communist party.
It was during his student life in London School of Economics (LSE) that he, along with some of his friends, took a decision that once back in India they would devote themselves to the Communist Party.
During his tenure as the Chief Minister, the Left Front government made a number of headways. Its landmark achievements included the implementation of land reforms and the establishment of a democratic three-tier 'Panchayati Raj' structure, and, later, new policies to encourage investment in industrial sector in the Indian state of West Bengal.
Basu worked for the masses all his life. He decided to donate his eyes and body. A communist to the core, he wished to be of service to the people even after his death.
Unlike many leaders in the subcontinent, Basu was a self-made politician turned into a towering leader not having been buttressed by any dynastic favour or force.
He was groomed under a strict family environment. His father Nishikanta Basu, who was a physician, did not allow Basu to watch films or taste tea. Basu tasted his first cup of tea and watched a Hitchcock movie at the age of 21 when he was in London.
We pray for Basu's departed soul. May God rest him in eternal peace!
We wish our leaders would try to take lessons from Basu's career and leave their footprints for our next generations to follow.
(Maswood Alam Khan is Editorial Consultant of The Financial Express. maswood@hotmail.com)