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West Bengal & its Political Peril


[“Truth is not determined by majority vote - Doug Gwyn”]

 

Bengal has always took pride for its political awareness and quite rightly so. Historically, politicians from Bengal were always been cerebral and were driven by ideologies. Even in the pre-independence era, though the perspective of politics was completely different, one can remember the unforgettable remark of Gopal Krishna Gokhale “What Bengal thinks today, India thinks tomorrow”.  Astute politicians from Bengal have stood over time and justified the quote of Gokhale time and again.  But, a long time has elapsed since then and many a tide has subsided from river Hooghly, politics has certainly changed its definition in Bengal. Even after acknowledging the fact that the word “Politics” is vastly meaningful, one must admit that its ultimate objective in a democracy is to make peoples life better in every possible way with ideologies of the party in authority. Easier said than done, as can be seen in other parts of the country; but Bengal should have turned the table around. Politics has become more a profession with least accountability than ideology with responsibility towards fellow citizens.

 

Coming back to present, as I was emphasizing upon, meaning of politics seems to have changed entirely. Politicians becoming professionals (with least degree of professionalism towards their responsibilities though) augmented well for themselves rather than fellow citizens. On the other hand, flagrant politicization of human life is becoming a curse for this state. Even the pettiest issue s of daily life is being taken over by political parties and law enforcers becoming increasingly helpless. There is even more plausible reason to worry, which is communalization of politics in the state.  Even few years back, we couldn’t have envisaged such a milieu in our state. But the fact is, communalism armed with politics, rapidly spreading its fangs into our society.  It is such a serpent, past history corroborates, will only begets suspicion, conspiracy and massacre.  It is really unfortunate enough for people of West Bengal, political parties trying to ignite communalism through their purported political agendas.

    

But, we must also understand that political leaders comes from amongst the people from our society itself and no matter what they try to inculcate, if we collectively refuse to pay heed to them, we can avert any future catastrophe that might be looming over Bengal.


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