'Maoists moving away from rural masses'
14 June 2011
shyam sundar roy
MIDNAPORE, 14 JUNE: The Maoist movement in West Bengal, which thrives on the ideology of "class war" and "class annihilation", seems to have fallen far short of the ground realities being encountered by the underprivileged classes of rural Bengal, says Dr Abhijit Guha, senior reader in the department of anthropology, Vidyasagar University, in his forthcoming paper to be published by the Tribhuban University, Nepal.
The paper was presented by Dr Guha in an internal research seminar, organised jointly by the Tribhuban University and Japan's Hiroshima University, in Nepal recently as part of a partnership project for peace building and capacity development in South Asia.
In his paper, Dr Guha observed that the Maoist movement in Bengal arose riding the crest of peasant resistance against large-scale land acquisition in Singur and Nandigram in the forest-covered region of the state. But, neither the movement was spearheaded against the acquisition of fertile land by the Left Front government nor did the Maoist ever propose any alternative pro-peasant rehabilitation package for the displaced small farmers, share-croppers, agricultural labourers and other under-privileged classes of the rural society who were encountering the onslaught of globalisation and the new economic order. The Maoists are, however, vocal against globalisation. They are also silent on the role of the panchayats in land acquisition.
It is interesting to note that all the political parties in West Bengal and in India are in favour of land acquisition by the willing-buyer-willing-seller principle championed by the capitalist economy and they are pushing their agenda in Parliament. It is surprising that a political party (CPI-Maoist) which propagates revolutionary ideology has no say on the ground realities of colonial land acquisition and the post-colonial legislation empowering local self-government, Dr Guha added.
The other guest speaker in the seminar Prof. Abhijit Dasgupta of Delhi School of Economics narrated the history of Naxalite and Maoist movement in West Bengal by pointing out the failures of the Naxalites in assessing the changes that have taken place in the rural caste and class composition under the influence of market economy and improved transport and communication system.
Another participant, Miss Manjeshwari Singh of Nepal and a research consultant of Hiroshima University's Peace Building Project, presented case studies of Nepal which showed that a large section of Maoist supporters are now moving away from the violent path pursed by the outfit a few years ago.
The seminar was convened by Dr Masahiko Togawa, a noted scholar on sociology and religion of rural Bengal and a Professor of Hiroshima University.Committee to probe Saibari killing
14 June 2011
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: The chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee, announced formation of two separate committees ~ to conduct a judicial probe into the Saibari killing and unnatural death of Daspur's BDO Kallol Sur in Ghatal, West Midnapore this evening at Writers' Buildings. The BDO was found dead at his official residence in April, 2010. Kallol's father Mr Dilip Sur had said his son had been murdered though there was an attempt to portray it as suicide. Sometime before his death, Kallol had told his father about his knowledge of corruption in the block. When Miss Banerjee was asked about the possibility of any such probe into the Baranagar-Cossipore mass killings, she said that the government is studying the documents. snsSaibari family hails commission, CPM says political revenge
15 June 2011
Press Trust of India
BURDWAN (WB), 15 JUNE: Surviving kin of the victims of the barbaric Saibari killings of 1970 here today welcomed the judicial commission announced by West Bengal chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee to go into the carnage while the CPi(M) called it an act of political vendetta.
Senior CPI(M) leader Mr Nirupam Sen, who was industry minister in the former Left Front regime and is one of the 83 accused in the case, on the other hand, termed the present government's move as 'political revenge'.
"The Congress was in power in the state between 1972 and 1977. The Siddharta Shankar Ray government set up theMukherjee Commission and its report was submitted to the government. The report still exists. The issue being raked after 40 years smacks of political revenge," Mr Sen said.
Swarnalata Josh, the daughter-in-law of Mriganayana Devi, whose two sons and their private tutor were hacked to death in the killings, said "Mamata's government has announced a judicial commission. I can now hope to see the killers punished in my lifetime."
She said that on 17 March, 1970 a day after the United Front government in the state fell, the CPI(M) had taken out a victory rally in the town. Some members of the procession suddenly attacked the house of the Sais, who were traditional Congress supporters, when the first rice and naming ceremony of her son, Amrita, was taking place, Josh, said.
Mamata unhappy over facilities at Khadya Bhavan
15 June 2011
Press Trust of India
KOLKATA, 15 JUNE: West Bengal chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee today expressed dismay at the piled up files and papers strewn in the Food department headquarters and asked officials to prepare a computer database of all papers, documents and files.
During her sudden visit to the "Khadya Bhavan" (Food department headquarters) on Mirza Ghalib street, the chief minister met officers and employees and sought to know the system by which the applications for ration cards were sorted out. She also sought to know problems of the employees.
"Show me the system," Ms Banerjee asked an officer during her quick round of the food department headquarters.
After spending nearly 40 minutes, the chief minister visited the headquarters of the state fire services before leaving for the Writers' Buildings.
Singur Bill passed
14 June 2011
noisy scenes, walk-out as house gives noD to landmark legislation
statesman news service
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: The Singur movement that largely contributed to the collapse of the Red regime and brought the Trinamul Congress to power was carried to its logical conclusion today when the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 was passed in the state Assembly amidst noisy scenes, criticism from Opposition members, jabs from the Treasury benches laced with gentle humour from chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee and a walk-out by the Opposition.
Several "unwilling" farmers, including the father of Tapasi Malik, raped and killed at the height of the agitation, were in the visitors' gallery in the Assembly.
The Bill seeks to scrap the previous Left Front government's deal with Tata Motors and enable the government to return land to farmers who had unwillingly parted with their land and not accepted compensation. The chief minister clarified the farmers would not be given land on lease but they would enjoy land-holding right.
The Bill vests with the state government the entire 997.17 acre of acquired land for the "abandoned" Nano project along with the existing structure. The government would return equivalent quantum of land to the "unwilling" farmers who had together owned about 400 acres, while the remaining portion of the land would be used for development purposes.
The Bill, piloted by state industries minister Mr Partha Chatterjee, was passed by voice vote in the absence of the LF legislators after Speaker Mr Biman Bandhopadhyay declined to admit a point of order raised by Leader of the Opposition Dr Surjya Kanta Mishra.
After a two hour debate that witnessed heated exchanges, good-humoured repartees and shadow boxing between the ruling party and Opposition MLAs, the chief minister said: "We are passing the Bill expeditiously as our priority is to alleviate the misery of the farmers of Singur and not to be obstructed by technicalities".
The Opposition had accused the state government of rushing through the Bill unnecessarily.
"It doesn't matter for us whether the state industries department or land and land reforms department moves the Bill. All we seek to do is to dispense justice," Miss Banerjee said.
Quoting Tagore the chief minister said "justice is sought to be done to those who were denied human rights and their rightful place and kept standing in front. You would have to bear the same opprobrium with them."
In an obvious jab at the Opposition's criticism Miss Banerjee said decisions had not been taken for the past 34 years. "We need to utilise every day, nay every minute to steer our state to the path of progress" the chief minister told the Assembly.
She said every government had a commitment and hers was to give justice to the people. "The previous government's objective was to give dole to its cadres", she sarcastically added.
"We have just assumed office and it is too early for you to criticise us and be on the lookout for mistakes. You have been given a leave by the people, enjoy it. You need to accustom yourself in the Opposition bench for the next five years," Miss Banerjee said.
Announcing that her government would never acquire land by force, she said the Land Acquisition Act, 1894 was"draconian" and that the Trinamul had told the UPA government to amend it.
The Leader of the Opposition said some provisions of the Bill were inconsistent with the Transfer of Property Act. "When the Bill becomes an Act, it would be ultra vires" he said.
Earlier, opening the debate, Mr Mollah cautioned the chief minister not to trust some of the bureaucrats of the land and land reforms department. "They are in cahoots with some of the industrialists and join their firms after retirement" he said.Tata Motors begs to differ
KOLKATA/MUMBAI, 14 JUNE: Claiming that it had moved out of Singur because of an escalation of hostilities and the absence of any guarantee of safety, Tata Motors said that they were studying the Bill that was tabled in the state Assembly today and would take appropriate steps. In a statement issued by the company, noting that the Bill mentions "non-commissioning and abandoning of the project by Tata Motors and goes on to state that no employment generation and socio-economic development has taken place and people in and around the area have not benefited in any manner", Tata Motors clarified that the setting up and commissioning of the plant was conducted amidst violence, damage to property and threats to personnel. It said that even though they made an appeal on 22 August, 2008, for a congenial environment, escalation of hostilities continued through a blockade on the highway and more incidents of physical assault and intimidation of personnel. "Therefore, Tata Motors did not find the situation congenial and there being no guarantee of a safe and peaceful environment, had to reluctantly close operations on 3 October, 2008, and eventually moved out." The release claimed that the Company had invested nearly Rs 1800 crores in establishing the plant and it still has buildings, sheds and infrastructure on the plot on which about Rs 440 crores was invested. Tata Motors also undertook community development programmes at Singur. About 767 individuals were trained, 102 health clinics were run treating over 17,000 patients and adjacent schools were supported with necessary infrastructure, the statement noted. sns
State weighing options over Singur land
14 June 2011
statesman news service
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: With the passing of the Singur Land Rehabilitation and Development Bill, 2011 allowing vesting and transferring land from Tata Motors and the ancillary units, the state government is now weighing its options on how to return the land to the unwilling farmers.
Usually when the government distributes vested land it is done by giving pattas but the patta-holders do not have right to sell the land. Hence, the state government is looking at only those options which will allow the unwilling farmers to sell their land if required.
One of the options would be to go for another legislation, that is to amend section 48 of the Land Acquisition Act, (1894), following in the foot steps of the Tamil Nadu government. This section prevents the government from returning the land once acquired back to landlosers.
However, since any amendment to the Central Act will require the assent of the President, it may turn out to be a long drawn process and it is more likely to be rejected by the state government which is looking for a quick solution.
Another option would be to give the land under long term lease like that of 999 years but there might be problems in transferring the land as the state Land Reforms Act, does not allow any sub-lease of the plots. Next comes the option of outright transfer of the plots to the unwilling farmers under the Government Grants Act, 1895.
The Singur Bill allows for "equivalent quantum of land" to unwilling owners who have not accepted the compensation from the state government when their plots were acquired in 2006.
The bill had cited that due to the non commissioning of the plant people, realizing there is no scope of employment generation are also engaged in agitation. This may lead to law and order problem.
In view of the exigency of the situation the chief minister's office and the concerned departments of commerce and industry, land and law are looking at the options so that the matter may be placed in the next Cabinet meeting.
Presidency range
SIR, ~ As an alumni of Presidency College, I have been following with interest the steps taken by the new government of West Bengal to restore this institution to its former status as a leading centre of learning in India. Its distinctiveness was rooted in its under-graduate training, not post-graduate studies or research. That set Presidency apart from such institutions as the Indian Statistical Institute or the Delhi School of Economics.
In my own discipline of Economics, for example, Presidency had in Dipak Banerjee, Mihir Rakshit, Amiya Bagchi and Tapas Majumder some of the best under-graduate teachers anywhere.
I hope this distinctive feature of Presidency College is not lost sight of in the latest exercise. By renaming Presidency as a University, there is always the risk of losing its earlier role and a challenging one at that ~ of imparting excellent under-graduate training across a broad range of disciplines.
yours, etc., ranjan ray (professor of economics, monash university, australia), 14 june.Rural colleges
SIR, ~ The efforts of the new government of West Bengal to improve higher education are welcome. While the primary focus is apparently on Presidency University, the standard of colleges in the districts must also be a matter of concern. In the rural areas, the problem begins at the administrative level.
There is a perception in both academic and non-academic circles that some principals got appointed not on the strength of their merit but owing to their proximity to the former ruling party. The state of affairs in the rural colleges will bear this out. The mismanagement that prevails has to be seen to be believed.
There are principals who tend to discourage teachers who want to engage in research. The institutional heads misuse their power as the "forwarding authority". The principals must realise that the UGC is encouraging research among academics; it benefits both the teachers and the taught.
Some teachers are more interested in administrative duties rather than classroom lectures. They enjoy the patronage of the principals and try to discourage those who wish to perform as teachers.
If the government wants to improve the quality of education, the under-privileged students in Bankura, Purulia and West Midnapore must be taken care of.
yours, etc., deboprokash bhattacharjee, durgapur, 13 june.Pritam's hard work defeats poverty
14 June 2011
BEHRAMPORE, 14 JUNE: For Pritam Ghosh, a student of Behrampore JN Academy, it's a tale of exemplary struggle against poverty. Pritam ranked 8th in the merit list of Joint Entrance Examination (Medical) attributed his success to his daily-wager parents and his teachers who imparted free tuition to him.
His father, Mr Pintu Ghosh, sells milk and his mother, Mrs Parbati Ghosh makes cow-dung cakes, carries them on her head and sells them to road-side hotels and tea-stalls. A cow-shed with two milch cows is the only source of income of the Ghosh family.
For preparation of JEE exams, guidance came mainly from his school teachers who gave Pritam free coaching. "Pritam was also a topper in our school. When we came to know that his parents were living in distress, we made arrangements of free coaching. All sorts of academic support given to him by my assistant teachers made his success possible," said Mr Suhash Chattoraj, headmaster of JN Academy. Despite sharing success with his parents at their home in the Kunjaghata area of Behrampore, Pritam could hardly hide his anxiety. He said: "Without financial support from the government, I wouldn't be able to complete my medical degree. I hope, chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee would help me to fulfil my dream of serving the poor by becoming a doctor."
Meanwhile, the District Information and Cultural Office today informed that Pritam would be felicitated tomorrow with the message of goodwill already sent by the chief minister, Miss Mamata Banerjee. Another student, Dwaipayan Biswas of JN Academy, got the sixth rank in the merit list of JEE (Medical), would also be felicitated tomorrow at Behrampore Rabindra Sadan. Dwaipayan, son of a school teacher, comes from the Karimpur area of Nadia.
KMC to launch special drive to collect registration fees for sinking tube-wells
14 June 2011
statesman news service
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) will launch a special drive to collect the registration fees for sinking tube-wells from the owners of buildings, member, mayor-in-council (small and deep tubewell), Mr Tarak Singh, said today.
He said around 5,000 small and deep tubewells are located in the city but only 2,500 people have paid registration fees. The KMC also take an annual fees for sinking tube-wells but most of the owners evade paying the fees.
He said even many people did not take permission from the KMC before sinking tube-wells. The officials of the KMC will visit several localities to make a list of the people who did not obtain any permission from the civic authorities for sinking tubewells. Mr Singh said the KMC will also send water samples of new tube-wells which will be sunk by the civic body to the laboratories to find out iron and arsenic content in water.
He said the KMC had also sunk many tube-wells in many areas where water pressure is very low but people of these areas complaint of high iron content in water. People of the Behala and Jadavpur have also complaint of foul smell in the drinking water collected from KMC's tubewells.
Mr Singh said the agency, which is supplying the tubewells' pipes was asked to improve the quality of their products as the thickness of the pipes both are not up to the mark.
State-run ID hospital in Howrah now a garbage dump
14 June 2011
pritesh basu
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: Believe it or not the premises of one of the two state-run ID hospitals ~ Satyabala ID hospital in Howrah ~ has turned into a garbage dump owing to the sheer apathy of the administration during the 34-year Left Front rule.
Though chief minister Miss Mamata Banerjee's surprise visit to some of the state-run hospitals in Kolkata and its neighbourhood has resulted in a state of urgency to restore health infrastructure in these hospitals, the administration of the Satyabala ID Hospital is yet to take any lesson.
Besides common problems like poor infrastructure and manpower shortage, the main crisis in the 52-bed hospital is its identity. Local people have almost lost faith in the administration of the hospital and started believing that condition of a patient will only deteriorate if admitted to the hospital. Such a belief has grown among common people as the district administration remained silent and allowed local goons to turn the hospital premises into a parking lot of mini-buses,most of which ply on the Satyabala-Esplanade route.
Local builders and shop owners also took the opportunity to dump solid wastes on the hospital premises. The district administration never took the initiative to clear the heaps of solid waste that has piled up, said a local resident, Mr Rajesh Tiwari.
Shrubs have grown all around the single-storeyed hospital building and the pond is filled with water hyacinth leading to breeding of mosquitoes. The situation turns worse during the rains with the entire premises going under knee-deep water. The hospital has an ambulance, but in the absence of a driver, it is not utilised. The diet facility for the patients is no longer available. The hospital authorities have to provide dry food like puffed rice and batasa to the handful of patients who risk their lives to get admitted in the hospital. An official of the hospital said that the turnout of patients in the hospital has dropped drastically over the years. The superintendent, Dr Sujoy Roy, who is holding the same post for more than a decade, refused to give the figure of the number of patients who get admitted in the hospital in a month.
Dr Roy, however, said that despite poor infrastructure and manpower shortage they could provide "up to the mark healthcare service."
Sources said two out of five posts of medical officers and around 13 out of 26 posts of Group D staff are lying vacant here. The district authority is yet to depute any one in the sanctioned post of upper division clerk.
Dist administration sits on development funds
14 June 2011
kanchan siddiqui
BARJORA, 14 JUNE: The Bankura district administration is yet to disburse funds in favour of the pollution-hit Barjora block villages to help development work though a year has elapsed. The fund was raised last year after imposing fine on polluting sponge iron units following public complaints.
The state government had last year declared that the amount of fine collected from the polluting units would be utilised for development of the villages which have been the victim of pollution by the secondary steel units in the area. The villages falling under Hat Asuria panchayat in Barjora block are the worst affected due to severe air pollution by such units. The units, according to the villagers, "have cared less for the West Bengal Pollution Control Board strictures and continue releasing hazardous emissions round the clock which have turned lives of common people hell." Three sponge iron units are operating in Hat Asuria panchayat areas and according to Mr Nil Madhab Gupta, district Congress leader and state Intuc member: "Three new Ferro-Alloy units have been sanctioned which we apprehend would cause further hazard in the near future."
The WBPCB, while serving closure orders on three units on 24 December, 2009 had mentioned: "There is strong public resentment against the operation of the sponge iron and Ferro Alloy units in the Barjora area of Bankura alleging high-level of air pollution from the operation of such units. Public resentment has been recorded while conducting public hearing for setting up of new sponge iron and Ferro Alloy units in the area in recent times." It stated: "During a recent monitoring of the industry on 09/10/2009, high-level of particulate emission (PM=4745.54 mg/Nm3) from the stack of the rotary kiln-1 was recorded by the inspecting officials. Besides, high fugitive emission was also observed from coal injection platform area and product house zone. Leakages were observed from slip seals ring. Large quantity coal char and coal fines were found to be dumped in open space which causes re-suspension of dust in high wind condition."
The Intuc and district Congress together has planned to sit on a continuous dharna against such units. Mr Gupta alleged:"The factories don't use pollution control devices like Electro Static Precipitators round-the-clock. A section ofWBPCB officials and the factory owners is hand in glove. They get prior information about raids." Mr Sudip Bhattacharjee, environmental engineer, WBPCB's regional office, said: "Action against polluting Barjora units has been a continuous process and we are keeping a watch."
The WBPCB had handed over a sum of Rs 25 lakh raised out of imposition of fine on such units and the amount was handed over to the DM's office immediately. The villagers complained that the proposed development work out of the funds couldn't be initiated as the funds have not reached the block as yet. Mrs Antara Acharya, ADM (general) Bankura, said: "The funds would be released within a month. The delay in preparing detailed job outlines by the BDO's office in Barjora caused the inconvenience."
Games athlete seeks govt aid for sponsorship
14 June 2011
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: State sports minister Mr Madan Mitra (see photo) today announced that the state government would felicitate athlete Sk Murtaza for his outstanding performance in Commonwealth Games and National Games.
The athlete today met Mr Mitra at Writers' Buildings seeking government assistance for sponsorship. The sports department would give Rs 50,000 to him as monetary reward on 19 June during the felicitation ceremony that will be held at Netaji Indoor Stadium. Some well-known personalities and footballers, who won the Santosh Trophy for Bengal this year would also be felicitated on that day.
"I would not leave West Bengal if I get sponsors. Otherwise, I would be left with no other option but to go to some other state," Murtaza, who won gold medal in Commonwealth Games and National Games, told reporters at Writers' Buildings. "I am happy to get a call from the sports minister. He assured me of assistance," he added.
Mr Mitra said the previous government had no interest in sports. "Neither sports nor sportsmen were given importance. This is why sportsmen are willing to go out of West Bengal," he said. sns
Corporation tames mosquito menace
14 June 2011
statesman news service
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: Regular spraying of mosquito repellent in and around the canals in the city has resulted in sharp fall in the population of the insect in March.
As a result, no case of dengu and malaria has been reported March onward.
The mosquito population in the city witnesses a sharp rise at the beginning of summer every year followed by outbreak of dengu and malaria in the city.
Dr Debashis Biswas, chief entomological officer of KMC, said four speed boats have been deployed to spray repellent in two canals, part of Circular Canal and Tolly's Nullah from March. Lakhs of people staying in 16 wards spread over east and south Kolkata have been benefited. These wards are 5, 6, 7, 13 (part), 12, 15, 71, 75, 76, 74, 63, 82, 83, 81 and 88.
Mosquito repellent has been sprayed in some other canals with the help of rowing boats. The water level in these canals is low and so speed boat cannot function there. These canals are CPT canal, extension of Chorial khal, Lead canal, part of Tolly's nullah, storm water outlet, Beliaghata canal benefiting residents of 39 wards that include wards 13, 14, 15, 28, 29, 34, 36, 57, 58, 81, 89, 113, 114,115, 116, 117, 97, 98, 110, 111, 112, 123, 127, 124, 74, 89, 80, 81, 82, 103, 109, 92, 104, 105 and 106. Civic officials said rowing boats with health department personnel spray mosquito repellent in areas situated 1 km on either side of the canal. Mosquito larvae are found in clear stagnant water. Moreover, four task forces have been set up to visit residential buildings and apartments to examine overhead tanks and underground reservoirs. Also, a research and development wing has been set up in the vector control department of KMC. It may be recalled that the member, mayor in council (health) Mr Atin Ghosh, mooted the idea to deploy to spray mosquito repellent in the canal. The KMC has taken upintense awareness campaign and distribution of pamphlets containing dos and don'ts to check spread of the disease.Malaria clinics have been opened in every ward where blood samples are tested and medicines given free of cost.
Schools failing to start mid-day meal to be derecognised
14 June 2011
SURI, 14 JUNE: The schools that will fail to start mid-day meal scheme from tomorrow may be de-recognised by the district administration. The funds may be stopped for those schools as per decision of the district administration today.
Birbhum is probably the first district where the step to start mid-day-meal scheme was taken, said a district administrative official.
Following an order of the state education department, the district administration called a meeting with the BDOs and public representatives yesterday. In the day-long meeting, the administration first took down a list of the schools where mid-day meal scheme could not be started yet.
After the BDOs of 19 different blocks of the district submitted the details of the schools, it was found that 24 primary schools and 119 upper primary schools have not started mid-day meals so far. The district administration ordered the BDOs to identify the schools where mid-day meals will not be started after 15 June. The BDOs will submit the list to the district administration.
"If any school does not agree to start mid-day meal within 15 June, the head of the schools will have to provide reasons to disobey the order in writing on a non-judicial stamp paper. Then the paper will be sent to the state government for further steps," said, a senior district administrative official, Birbhum.
The district administration has alerted the school authorities that the salaries of teachers including grants will be stopped for failing to start mid-day meal scheme within 15 June. "The schools that will fail to start mid-day meal scheme may lose government funds," said Mr Soumitra Mohan, district magistrate, Birbhum. sns
Red forts crumble, but Karat stays unblemished
14 June 2011
dipankar bose
HYDERABAD, 14 JUNE: The two-day long Central Committee (CC) meeting of the CPI-M, convened primarily to discuss the party's performance in West Bengal and Kerala in the recently-concluded Assembly polls, ended on Sunday with one clear message to party satraps who had congregated in Hyderabad for the meet ~ party general secretary MrPrakash Karat continues to enjoy the support of most of the CC members and there was no escape from his writ when state committees chalk out their future plans.
According to the CPI-M party norms, CC is the highest decision taking body in the party and the politburo reports to the CC before any major decisions.
Soon after the polls, where the party suffered its worst ever defeat in West Bengal and was routed from power after 34-years and was narrowly defeated in Kerala by the Congress-led UDF, there were talks within party circles about a change in guard ~ from right at the top.
One of the serious contenders emerging against Mr Karat for the post of general secretary was his politburo colleague, Mr Sitaram Yechury. A section of senior party members, especially from West Bengal, had been adding fuel to the intra-party clandestine parleys about projecting Mr Yechury as the next general secretary of the party.
Speculations turned rife when Mr Yechury, himself raised the issue about holding the party congress sometime in the end of this year. The three-year alternate party conclave was scheduled for April this year, but was postponed due to the polls. Party congress is the forum wherein the general secretary of the CPI-M can be changed. But, after the Hyderabad CC meeting, Mr Karat was emphatic as always about his control over the party.
"The question of quitting does not arise as electoral results do not determine our leadership's holding of office in the party. Nobody in our party at any levels has offered to quit after these poll results. There were no discussions on fixation of tenures for party general secretary in this CC meeting," a determined Mr Karat said after conclusion of the Hyderabad meet and also stressing that the party congress will be held in Kerala and not in West Bengal as some of his party colleagues would have wanted.
Apart from dissecting the party's performance in the polls and formulating corrective measures for the party, Mr Karat was back with what he likes best ~ sticking to academic discussions.
The future plans of the party decided by the CC, like demanding an effective Lokpal legislation which brings the Prime Minister under its purview, setting up of a national judicial commission to oversee judiciary, electoral reforms to curb the use of money power and firm measures to break the nexus of big business-ruling politicians-bureaucracy ~ all have Mr Karat's signatures written over.
By not criticising the party's West Bengal unit unilaterally, calling for collective responsibility for the poll debacle and praising the Kerala unit for its fight against UDF, Mr Karat has yet again silenced his critics in Alimuddin Street and further cemented his position among the AKG Centre mandarins in Thiruvananthapuram.
All eyes will now be waiting till April, 2012 to see what Mr Karat has under his sleeves for the two former chief ministers of Kerala and West Bengal ~ Mr VS Achuthanandhan and Mr Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee.
Garden given to society close to LF taken back
14 June 2011
rajib chatterjee
KOLKATA, 14 JUNE: A garden inside the Salt Lake stadium, which was given to a society, allegedly close to the CPI-M, by the previous Left Front government for maintenance, was taken back by the state government after it was found that the organisation had been using the plot commercially.
A senior state sports department official said the society allowed many organisations and individuals to hold parties and programmes including marriage ceremony against payment of hefty amount of money though it did not have the permission to do so.
The government's decision was conveyed to the society through a letter last week, the official. The garden would now be maintained by the sports department, the official maintained.
The members of the society, according to an official, had sent a letter to the sports department about 10 years back requesting it to allow them to maintain the garden located inside the stadium's boundary wall. Controversial CPI-M leader Subhas Chakraborty was the state sports minister when the society had shown interest to maintain the property.
The matter had then raised eyebrows within the sports department and questions were raised about the way a government property was handed over to a private party for maintenance.
Though no complaint of nepotism was lodged officially, everybody in the department knew that the society was given the approval to maintain the garden for its members' proximity to some CPI-M leaders of Kolkata and North 24-Parganas.
"The society had started using the garden commercially soon after getting charge of its maintenance. A portion of the garden was used as car parking zone," the official said.
The 'illegal act' continued for many years and no objection against it was raised by anyone. "It was known to all that no action would be taken against the society," the official maintained.
Following the change of guard at Writers' Buildings, the sports department officials decided to remove the society from the charge of maintaining the garden.
"We have carefully analysed the terms and conditions given in the approval letter issued to the society by the previous government. Also the agreement between the society and the state government was examined before taking the decision," an official said. When asked if the department will take any legal step against the society, he said this issue has not been discussed so far.
Telegram shows Tagore's close relationship with Tripura kings
14 June 2011
Agartala, 14 June: Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore had a close relationship with successive Tripura kings and one of them had paid Rs 3,000 to the bard for accompanying a famous sculptor from the state on a trip to Bali and Java in 1927, a document, hitherto unpublished, reveals.
Tripura's last king Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur paid Rs 3,000 to Tagore for accompanying sculptor Dhirendra Krishna Debbarman, on a trip to Bali and Java, Vice-Chancellor of Tripura University, Prof Arunoday Saha, said recently while releasing a copy of an unpublished telegram.
Saha, who is an authority on the special relationship that kings of Tripura had with Tagore and Visva-Bharati University, received the telegram from Prajna Devi, a member of Tripura's royal family.
The telegram, which was sent by Tagore on 28 June, 1927, read, "His Highness, Maharaja Tripura, Agartala, May I seek your help about Dhiren's expenses approximately three thousand rupees accompanying me to Java, giving him unique opportunity for his artistic career ~ Rabindra Nath Tagore."
Dhirendra Krishna Debbarman, who is a close relative of the Tripura king, later became a renowned painter, sculptor and principal of Kala Bhavan, Visva-Bharati, Prof. Saha said.
Holding up the copy of the telegram, Prof. Saha said: "It bore the signature of King Bir Bikram, dated 5 July, 1927 and an order from the king for payment of the amount."
Dhirendra Krishna, later in his article ~ Ashram School and reminiscences of Rabindra Nath ~ wrote that Tagore's entourage to Java and Bali included stalwarts like Suniti Kumar Chatterjee and Surendra Nath Kar.
Struck by sea fever, Dhirendra Krishna had fallen sick on the tour and informed Tagore about his problem. Pretending to examine him, Dhirendra Krishna wrote, Tagore teasingly said the sea wind had nothing to do with Dhirendra Krishna's fever because he had something to do with his separation from his newly-wedded wife.
"Finally, Tagore gave him some medicine from his personal stock and this was enough to cure me, Dhirendra Krishna wrote in his article. For about 60 years Tagore had very intimate relationship with four successive Tripura kings. When Tagore was in his 20s, Maharaja Birchandra Manikya Bahadur (1862-96), also a painter, and photographer, and composer of music, identified Tagore as a genius as early as 1882.
Tagore was taken by surprise when a minister of the Tripura king visited the ancestral house of Tagore at Jorasanko in Kolkata in 1882 as an emissary of the king and conveyed the message that the king was moved by reading his Bhagna Hriday (Broken Heart).
Tagore visited Tripura seven times and he had relation with four successive kings Birchandra, Radhakishore, Birendra Kishore and last king Bir Bikram Kishore Manikya Bahadur, said Panna Lal Roy, a writer, who wrote a number of books on relation of Tagore with Tripura kings.
Tagore was like friend philosopher and guide of Manikya kings which started with Birchandra who not only complemented the poet for composing Bhagna Hriday also invited him to accompany him during his trip to Kurseong in 1894, Roy said.
"Association of Tagore with Radhakishore had lasting impact on Tripura's ties with greater Bengal. The benevolent Maharaja contributed liberally in various literary, cultural and scientific endeavors of Bengal," Mr Bikach Chowdhury, a scholar on Rabindranath, wrote in an article, 'Tagore's immortal ties with Tripura'. "Tagore once approached Radhakishore for financial grant for the scientific research work of Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose who was in dire financial state at that time in England. Radhakishore himself was in a very tight financial condition as the palace at Agartala had been struck by a severe earthquake," he said.
Radhakishore wrote to Tagore that he was prepared to deprive his would be daughter-in-law from a piece or two of jewelleries for he was sure that in return Jagadish Bose would decorate mother India in a much befitting manner, he said, adding Radhakishore kept his promise and granted Rs 50,000, a huge sum in those days, with the only condition that his name should not be made public.
"Radhakishore also sanctioned an annual grant of Rs 1,000 for Tagore's Visva-Bharati which was continued for nearly 50 years till the death of the last ruler, Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore," Mr Chowdhury said.
Tagore last visited Agartala in 1926 during the reign of Tripura's last king Maharaja Bir Bikram Kishore. "In 1939, Birchandra's great-grandson, Maharaj Bir Bikram Kishore, visited Santiniketan. He deputed Rajkumar Buddhimanta Singh from Tripura as a Manipuri dance teacher at Santiniketan.
"The last king also conferred the title 'Bharat Bhaskar' just three months before the death of the poet. Tagore's 80th birth anniversary was celebrated at the royal Durbar of Tripura with all solemnity," he said. pti
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