Bengal...A New Era?

What is with the Trinamool Congress Government in West Bengal? Is it what we thought it would be, it is worse than it is portrayed to be? Is the new Government doing a U-turn on it's promises and issuing diktats to everyone in the administration and the aam aadmi too? So would I as a citizen on the State have to choose my expression of thought to the extent that I am in fear of being penalized?

That is the impression that I got from the meeting by the Association for the Protection of Democratic Rights or APDR with TMC MP Kabir Suman and theatre artist Koushik Sen as part of this meeting. Do I have reason to believe them? These are people who stood for change from the mindset of the 34 year old communist rule, these are the people who supported Mamata Banerjee to come to power. These are the people who believed like many of us in the State, that a white saree clad lady wearing a pair of hawai slippers would be the mascot of positive change.

There is change, but is that change all positive? When there are biases towards people, towards media, towards issues, towards thoughts and ideals...Would it be perceived as positive change? If you think about what the State needs and what the people want before what only one person wants, there is alot to research and understand. The history of Bengal, the culture and the dream that people want to see West Bengal transform into.

Where is the industry or the will to make that dream come true? It goes beyond words, there is more practicality involved in the form of action. The intent cannot be without focus, the way forward without knowing what it entails in reality. You can have agriculture and industry side by side. But industry cannot be built in the air. Land has to be acquired and unwilling farmers given a chance to understand what the future holds. This doesn't mean that farmers' land can be taken away by assuming they will understand what the future holds for them. Nor does this mean that all multicrop land makes way for industry.

This I say not as an expert, but from what I am given to understand. If Gujarat as a prosperous State can find ways to progress without dictatorship, what stops West Bengal? Politics! In every sphere, be it education, employment or anything that can do without politics. Is everything the erstwhile Left Government's fault? Even if it, how long can it remain the reason for stalling progress when the intent and implementation is there? How can every unpleasant event be the conspiracy of the Left Front?

It is not about any political party, it is about what is being done for the welfare of the State. There is so much to say, even if I don't want to. All I am interested in is to see the outcome of the 'Poribortan' or change in a positive way. When I can proudly say, I belong to a new era Bengal!