A PERSONAL TRIBUTE TO JYOTI BASU

http://www.pragoti.in/node/3748

 

Mon, 2010-01-18 01:42 — srinir

Jyoti Basu was nearly 96 when he breathed his last yesterday. For someone who was born in 1979 such as myself, it is difficult to say or write anything about this legendary communist who ruled as the uninterrupted chief minister of the longest running elected government, provincial or otherwise in the world, for 23 years (1977-2000) before calling it a day. Jyoti Basu's reign coincided with a time before I reached my "political maturation", so to speak, but there are vignettes that I remember about this leader which are enough to provide a rough image of his legend for me. 

In December 1992, I was a 13 year old school goer in Calcutta studying at the Kendriya Vidyalaya, Ballygunge (me and my parents lived there for 3 years). I vividly remember the day when the Babri Masjid was demolished.We were living in the top floor of a five storied apartment in Prince Anwar Shah road, right between Jadavpur and Tollygunge areas. The apartment adjoined a densely populated basti. On the 7th of December, the watchman for the apartment complex came to my home and informed that he was going on leave for the day and perhaps later. He had heard rumours of an impending attack by some lumpen elements living close by on Hindu families and was in no means to "protect" anyone. 

My frightened family stayed at home for the next 2-3 days shutting ourselves in. Nothing happened. For, in a jiffy, the CPI (M) led government had brought in law and order forces in both Tollygunge and Jadavpur and the chief minister had categorically told on TV that anyone who indulged in miscreant activities would be shot at sight. Within a few days, the party called for a rally against communalism and that was the end of the aftermath of Babri Masjid in Calcutta. Lives were not lost and there was no widespread lumpenism following an event of that magnitude. This was my brush with the efficiency and alertness of the secular Left Front government led by Jyoti Basu.

I remember having a friend named Afzal in school (Afzal ..wherever you are..here is a shout out). Afzal was a Tamilian and his father worked for the army. About a day or so before the demolition and when the so called "Ayodhya movement" was in full swing, we had a conversation at Afzal's home, which was within the school campus. A rueful Afzal was telling me that it was a pity that these kind of demolition drives were happening endangering lives of himself and others of his faith. I felt really sad for a friend who was in such distress over this event unfolding in a distance. Nothing happened to Afzal as well, as within a few days, he was back to his robust self and unafraid. 

No amount of civics and history lessons could match my bond with my friend Afzal as the Babri Masjid tragedy was being played out. At an impressionable age of 13, living in secular Calcutta ruled by the Left Front, I was learning the importance and need for secularism and the need to preserve the comity of faiths.

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In October 1990, a legendary figure visited Calcutta. Nelson Mandela, the hero in the struggle against apartheid had come to Calcutta and was given a tremendous reception in the Eden Gardens where thousands greeted him as if he was their own. This hero of the third world joined hands with the West Bengal chief minister and was greeted with the song, "My Buyaa Africa" (I love my Africa..) sung in a chorus. Soon, he joined the chorus and prodded the crowd to sing along. A tremendous uproar of "My Buyaa Africa" (or thereabouts...my memory fails me) followed as Mandela danced along with the people with Jyoti Basu watching with great glee. 

Why did Nelson Mandela choose to visit a provincial capital, was the question that bugged me as a 11 year old. There must have been something good about this government that made this great man want to pay a visit. The presence of the great struggler against racism and apartheid in Calcutta sowed the seeds of anti-imperialism and anti-racism in myself as well. I thank the legacy of Jyoti Basu and his left front government for that experience. 

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As I read articles such as these - by N.Ram and interviews such as these and more, when I grew older, I could understand the legacy of Jyoti Basu better. It is indeed a sad day for the left, progressive and democratic sections of the Indian society today that Jyoti Basu no longer lives among our midst. 

I wish and will that just as Jyoti Basu framed my impressionable mind with progressive values, so would I along with other left,democratic,progressive sections work toward inculcation of such values into Indian society. That is the minimum that we could do as a tribute to Jyoti Basu's legacy. 

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Pioneer of working class' democratic movement,Com. JB red salute

Very touching reminiscences about the great man and his colossal works that shall be our guide like the beacon of enlightenment in the arduous struggle for the liberation of the Toiling Humanity.

Comrade Jyoti Basu acted as the torch-bearer and played a stellar role in making the province of West Bengal an oasis of Communal Harmony firmly grounded on secular principles and provided the necessary fillip with all his astute leadership to transform the state of West Bengal into a truly heterogeneous society reflecting the real soul of India with all it's magnificent characteristic feature of unity in diversity.

By circumscribing Comrade Jyoti Basu's unparallel and uncomparable contributions only on those premises alone would be grossly undermining the gigantic Marxist Statesmanship of the genius.

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1. Comrade Jyoti Basu's farsighted vision helped the Communist Movement and the overall Left Movement immensely to eradicate the harmful tendencies of falling a prey to sectarian nationalistic jingoism. This he displayed through his monumental works all through-out his life. His firmly uncompromising and principled stand during the Sino-Indian dispute of 1962, Indo-Pak war of 1965, his exemplary role in the liberation of Bangladesh and uniting ties with the neighbouring countries are only to list a few instances of the brilliance of a great man who steadfastly believed in Working Class' Internationalism and implemented those into all his actions unwaveringly.

Comrade Jyoti Basu was the central figure in the post-independence era to vehemently establish the truest Democratic values down to the grass-root level through it's realistic implementation. And these Democratic values in a pluralistic state like that of India can only be safeguarded and preserved by a Strong Working Class Movement guided by a genuine-most Communist Party truly representing the facets of the Indian society. He proved this through his brilliant organizational capabilities of Party building alongwith PDG and other luminous Communist leaders during the semi-fascistic terror of the 70's waged upon by the Congress and naxalite goons in an unprecedented,organized,pre-planned hatred psychosis-campaign to wipe out and eliminate the CPI(Marxist) physically. Shedding off his initial bewilderment in the late 90's when his health was not at all permitting to carry forward the mantle of Chief Ministerial burdens and liabilities, he alongwith his relatively junior Comrade-in-arms like Comrade Anil Biswas and others, again provided the brilliantly uncomparable leadership in safeguarding and defending the Democratic values by organizing the resistance and barricades of the Working Class' Unity when the reactionary forces were running havoc under the slogan of "Panskura Line".

The Immortal Stalwart of the Working Class' People's Democratic Revolution Comrade Jyoti Basu - RED SALUTE FOREVER.

Sincerely ever,

Kuntal Chatterjee

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Jyoti Basu-A Man of far-sightedness and words

Srini, a nice tribute by you for Com. Jyoti Basu in the context of Babri Masjid demolition and the subsequent riots . It was because of Jyoti Basu and the CPI(M) led LF Govt , the post Ayodhya riots did not spread to West Bengal. No wonder, M J Akbar ,the then editor of The Telegraph wrote in his editorial dated 13th December 1992, "India salutes true heroes like Jyoti Basu", for the simple reason that communal riots were not allowed to spread in West Bengal.

I would also like to share the following with Pragoti Readers of my impression about Jyoti way back in 1967 ,when I was the first year student of Thiagarajar College of Engineering in my home town, Madurai. That time, I was a DMK supporter . In 1967, The CPI(M)'s Central Committe was holding its session in Madurai attended by the stalwarts of the CPI(M) including Com Jyoti Basu who was also the Deputy Chief Minister of the first United Front Govt in West Bengal.

The students forum invited Jyoti Basu to inaugurate the Planning Forum , the office bearers of which were duly elected by the students themselves. One can call this forum a sort of student body , though not the main union. I was one among the large crowd of the students eagerly awaiting for the arrival of Jyoti Basu to have a glimpse of him in front of the College Library where he was about to alight from his car .He was accompanied by Com N Sankaraiah who was an MLA having been elected from a Madurai Assembly Constituency and who is the chairman of the Control Commission of the CPI(M) at present. As soon as Com Jyoti Basu entered the auditorium of the college where the inaugural function was held, a standing ovation was given to him. He addressed the students for about 45 minutes in fascinating English and the students were very much impressed with his address. At the end, while fielding the questions from the students, I still remember one question posed by the students and the answer given by Com Basu. Those words are still ringing in my ears . And every time,I recall those words, I cannot but admire this great Communist .

The question posed by the students was : “Mr Jyoti Basu, we hear with pain and anguish the recent chauvinistic attacks by the Shiv Sena in Bombay against the South Indians ,particularly against the Lungi-wearing Tamil speaking people.We understand that in Calcutta too , a significant number of Tamil speaking people are living. Will there be attacks against them too .Will you be able to prevent any attacks on them,since your Govt is in power in West Bengal now ?”

Basu answered: “As long as the Left and democratic forces are there, particularly the CPI(M) is there in west bengal , we will never allow any parochialism and chauvinism to raise its ugly head in West Bengal. You, the students can rest assure yourselves that there will never be any attacks against the Tamil speaking people in Calcutta .We will strictly deal with any such attack, if at all it happens.

The students greeted Basu’s answer with standing ovation. I was deeply impressed with Basu’s answer and that was the turning point for my political preference-from being a DMK supporter to a committed CPI(M) follower in subsequent years.

What a far-sightedness and what a man of words can be seen from the narration by srini of Basu’s handling of the situation that arose after babri masjid demolition and the adulation by MJ Akbar on Basu in 1992.

I join Pragoti team and its readers in paying my humble and emotional tribute to Com Jyoti Basu.

R MARAN

Madurai

 

thanks, Srini. a moving

thanks, Srini. a moving tribute.

its impossible to forget the way Jyotibabu handled 1984, 1991 and 1992..

and i remember attending the rallies with mandela and yasser arafat.

jyotibabu with his characteristic dry and subtle humour gave the

imperialists hell.

suchetana