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Left Politics in Bengal
Gupta traces the story of Communism in Bengal before and after it came to power post-Emergency. She says that Marxists’ long, uninterrupted tenure in Kolkata for about three decades has resulted in its metamorphosis from a zealous advocate of the proletariat to a flaccid instrument of the bhadralok – a euphemism for the Bengali middleclass. When they came to power Jyoti Basu & Co. had assumed that they would not have a long tenure. Therefore, they decided to design and actuate various people-friendly land reforms as also other policies and programmes that would not only undo the wrongs committed under various preceding Congress regimes but also ensure a loyal voter base that would come in handy during subsequent elections. However, with the passage of time, finding their position almost invincible, the Marxists turned into neo-bourgeoisie; Nandigram being but one of the several manifestations. Gradually the CPM became a mainstream democratic party pitting it against such extreme left set-ups as CPI-ML/Naxalites. Worse, the inner-party democracy and discipline have given way to fascist tendencies with propensity for intrigue; witness how Prakash Karat managed to thwart Jyoti Basu’s chances of becoming India’s Prime Minister. Monobina Gupta has written about all these in such a lucid style that one remains absorbed in the narrative – peppered by conversations with renegade communists, peeved activists and disappointed sympathisers. Her critique of the Marxists’ fall from ideals, especially the women spokespersons condoning – even justifying – rape of women, is trenchant, though objective. Her denunciation of the apparatchiks’ arrogance is well argued. However, this book is much more than an elaborate critique; it is invaluable for its wealth of well-researched information on the communist movement in Bengal – especially the delineation of reasons behind its present state of affairs.
Interestingly, this book too focuses on Communism, or rather naxalism. But, in a different manner. This novel skillfully portrays a faceoff between the decadent urban India and Naxalite "revolutionaries" who have become protectors-by-default of the forest-dwelling Gond tribals. This is a story of godmen and faux philanthropists, exploitation and fightback, of incest, adultery and chastity, mindless violence and quest for spiritual bliss, of idealism and hardheaded calculations. Menaka and Aroon are rich but childless. They dote on Ritika’s son Aseem. Ritika, Menaka’s sister, is married to a reticent idealist, Avinash. Avinash has had a brief romantic but bloody brush with leftist extremists and gets badly mauled physically and emotionally in the bargain. Aseem, who aspires to a successful management career, ends up in the camp of Gopal Subbarao led Naxalites, under Swati’s influence. The interplay of conflicts between ideology and pragmatism, the mainstream and the marginalised, leads to a dramatic denouement.
Ever since Robin Sharma came up with the bestselling The Monk Who Sold his Ferrari, we have had a plethora of me-too books on self-improvement, presenting variations on the delicious mix of spiritualism and utilitarianism – with bits of sage advice thrown in. Vijay Walia, too, presents his version of the formula for becoming a successful sales honcho, a spiritually evolved person and a great team leader. Peppered with anecdotes, case studies and parables this slim volume might appeal to wannabe "good guy" business magnates.
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THERE
was a time when Bengal used to be one of the most prosperous provinces
in the subcontinent, but it deteriorated rapidly for several political
and economic reasons. Add to this the fact that Bengal, especially
Kolkata, had been the foremost in facilitating unbridled intellectual
development during the 19th and early 20th
centuries and, no wonder, that Communism proliferated here.
Through
the Forest Darkly
The
Idiot Who Sold his Ship