The brutal rape and murder of a Kolkata lady doctor continues to rage across the country. It is one of the most brutal crimes which have shaken the inner conscience of not only West Bengal but whole India if not part of the world including the UN. But the State government seems to be unmoved.
Bengal was once upon a time the epicenter of the social renaissance. Raja Rammohan Roy (1772–1833), Ishvar Chandra Vidyasagar (1820-1891) and the radical Young Bengal were at the forefront. That was the time when a number of reform movements toward the emancipation of women were undertaken. Some of those were stopping widow immolation (Sati system), widow remarriage, women education etc.
Rammohan and Vidyasagar opted for changing the society from within through activist politics. Brahmo Samaj was formed for social reformation, encouraging modern education, fight against caste oppression, removal of unnecessary rituals and other social evils like Sati, polygamy, purdah system, child marriage etc. It was founded in 1828 in Calcutta (now Kolkata) by pioneer social reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy.
Ramakrishna Mission, founded by Swami Vivekananda in 1897 in Belur near Calcutta was to promote the teachings of Vivekananda’s Guru Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, opposed the caste system and untouchability. Swami Vivekananda was of the firm opinion that women should be put in positions of power to solve their own problems in their own way.
Unfortunately, today, West Bengal has a higher crime rate against women than the national average, and domestic violence is a common issue.
West Bengal has the highest number of lawmakers facing cases, according to a recent report by a poll rights body. West Bengal tops the list with 25 sitting MPs and MLAs facing charges related to crimes against women.
Ironically, Bengal celebrates the five-day festival of Durga Puja, the 10-armed warrior goddess, known for killing a demon named Mahishasura.
One of the main reasons for the rise in violence against women in Bengal could be the silence of its famed “Bhadralok” (the intelligentsia, drawn mostly from the educated upper castes), who were synonymous with Bengal’s social reforms, and progressive politics. They commanded respect and ordinary people. Using art and culture as a medium; writers, filmmakers, artists all had the ability to take up social issues and spoke up against any wrong. But today, they have been slowly pushed into irrelevance.
Present criminal-politician nexus has finished Bengal. Kolkata, which was the fountainhead of various socio-cultural movements, even after Independence, has lost its relevance. The politicisation of the society has left Bengal directionless. Let’s try to analyse the reasons for steep decline of Bengals’ cultural, social and economic status and its revival if possible.
Indian, after getting her independence enacted certain provisions in the Constitution, which were not in keeping with the time.
Those are Universal Franchise, i.e one can be part of government by fighting elections without minimum educational qualifications, persons with criminal allegations, but yet to be convicted in a court law, can fight elections. Another grave undoing of those days was no limit was imposed on the number of political parties that can be formed.
After 1947, the situation changed. From being under British Rule for about 200 years, suddenly we became free under a political system which was completely new to us. Groups of politicians, who neither had required education nor experience nor honesty overnight became our political leaders and formed the government to run the country. They became all powerful with no scruples. At the same time, the common citizens were not educated enough to keep the politicians on their track. That continues till date.
Partition of Bengal largely weakened the intellectual and economic prowess of Bengal. Before partition, East Bengal was a source of raw material and West Bengal was an industrial hub. Both combined made Bengal a socially, educationally and economically powerful State. We had a large number of luminaries in all fields of literature, science and innovation, and many other fields.
The socio-economic decline of Bengal was caused by poor quality of political leadership started mainly after the death of second Chief Minister Dr Bidhan Chandra Roy, a great medical practitioner and political personality, who could deal with Nehru on equal footing. He was the only CM who could take the pressure of partition and bring industrial, educational and cultural growth.
Post his death, the downfall of Bangladesh started due to subsequent weak leadership. Major downfall started under Jyoti Basu-led Left Front rule of West Bengal. Last nail in the coffin is being driven by present CM Mamata Banerjee.
West Bengal is reaching the point of no return. Centre is both deaf and mute, playing Manipur game, without perhaps realising the possible backlash. Today entire West Bengal is angry. Only option left is sack the existing government, impose President’s rule and hold free and fair elections.
The State needs renaissance to revive its lost honour. For that to happen, we need sincere and dedicated political leadership, which will shun petty politics and work for people’s welfare. The voters also have to rise and shun such candidates who embrace crime for survival.