Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Naxalite movement - a layman's perspective
Today I will talk about the naxalite movement in Bengal during late sixties and early seventies. I don’t know the historians’ perception of the whole episode, but I would like to present a view of a young mind who has seen it all as it happened.
Everyone knows that the naxalite movement started around 1967 at Naxalbari, Terai area of North Bengal. But soon it spread all over Bengal and by 1969 – 70 whole Bengal was burning.
Let’s look at the socio economic scenario of Bengal; West Bengal has faced the saddest part of Indian Independence, the partition of Bengal, and subsequent influx of refugees. During my childhood days I have witnessed the life in refugee camps. During mid sixties, the first generation of children of the refugees came to age. There were thousands of these children who had no future to look ahead. There was no scope of any meaningful means of livelihood. So it was of no wonder that the place was fertile for any kind of revolutionary activities. The sentiments of those youths were fuelled by the self-made political leaders of CPI(M), who made them feel that all the ills of the society is due to the apathy of the Govt. They called it class struggle. But soon they realized that the CPIM leadership was not for any revolution. they were only hungry for power. The class struggle in CPIM vanished with the demise of leaders like Harekrishna Konar etc. The central stage was occupied with leaders like Jyoti Basu, who never faced any hardship in his life. It always amuse me to think that when the CPI (M) under his leadership was calling youths to come forward to sacrifice for the nation (?) his son was in comfort studying in London.
It was quite natural for the youth to be attracted to the naxalite movement. where they saw instant justice. It is a historical fact that the hotbed of Naxalism in Calcutta was Presidency College where the most brilliant students were studying. Whether it is Jadavpur Engineering College or Presidency College they were the cream of Bengal society.
But the movement had to die on it's own weight. And it died. Some give credit to the subsequent Congress Govt. of Siddharttha Shankar Ray, some give credit to the police brutality, some give credit to the CPI (M) Leadership, even some credit goes to the liberation of Bangla Desh.
But for me I always ask the question, ‘did anybody realize how much price Bengal played for this futile revolution?’ – A generation of bright youths of Bengal was simply wiped out. Today there is lot of discussion about the reason of the everlasting rule of communists over Bengal. I personally feel one of the biggest reasons is that there were nobody worth his salt who was allowed to live in Bengal? It is a simple scarcity of true leaders, which made these paper tigers to rule.
Everyone knows that the naxalite movement started around 1967 at Naxalbari, Terai area of North Bengal. But soon it spread all over Bengal and by 1969 – 70 whole Bengal was burning.
Let’s look at the socio economic scenario of Bengal; West Bengal has faced the saddest part of Indian Independence, the partition of Bengal, and subsequent influx of refugees. During my childhood days I have witnessed the life in refugee camps. During mid sixties, the first generation of children of the refugees came to age. There were thousands of these children who had no future to look ahead. There was no scope of any meaningful means of livelihood. So it was of no wonder that the place was fertile for any kind of revolutionary activities. The sentiments of those youths were fuelled by the self-made political leaders of CPI(M), who made them feel that all the ills of the society is due to the apathy of the Govt. They called it class struggle. But soon they realized that the CPIM leadership was not for any revolution. they were only hungry for power. The class struggle in CPIM vanished with the demise of leaders like Harekrishna Konar etc. The central stage was occupied with leaders like Jyoti Basu, who never faced any hardship in his life. It always amuse me to think that when the CPI (M) under his leadership was calling youths to come forward to sacrifice for the nation (?) his son was in comfort studying in London.
It was quite natural for the youth to be attracted to the naxalite movement. where they saw instant justice. It is a historical fact that the hotbed of Naxalism in Calcutta was Presidency College where the most brilliant students were studying. Whether it is Jadavpur Engineering College or Presidency College they were the cream of Bengal society.
But the movement had to die on it's own weight. And it died. Some give credit to the subsequent Congress Govt. of Siddharttha Shankar Ray, some give credit to the police brutality, some give credit to the CPI (M) Leadership, even some credit goes to the liberation of Bangla Desh.
But for me I always ask the question, ‘did anybody realize how much price Bengal played for this futile revolution?’ – A generation of bright youths of Bengal was simply wiped out. Today there is lot of discussion about the reason of the everlasting rule of communists over Bengal. I personally feel one of the biggest reasons is that there were nobody worth his salt who was allowed to live in Bengal? It is a simple scarcity of true leaders, which made these paper tigers to rule.
Subscribe to Posts [Atom]