Appointment at Last !

It’s a long time since I wrote on this platform. The only reason for this inordinate delay was my pending appointment order. As now not only my appointment order is here but also I’m safely posted at Institute of Science, Nagpur, I can again dabble on the blogosphere. And the best thing to write now is the story of my appointment.

All this started way back (yeah it seems such a long time!) in May 2010. It was one year since my masters and I was roaming around the country giving examinations and interviews so that some institute finds me well enough to be a research student when Taresh told me about an advertisement for the post of Assistant Professor in Maharashtra’s government science colleges. I was least interested in the job as I had least confidence in clearing the MPSC interview as I was of the view that only connection played a part in government postings. I had no connections and hence was convinced it was useless to apply. But Taresh and my brother Santu persuaded me into it and I filled the form. They helped in completing the other formalities and the application was done!

I didn’t get into any research institute. Instead I turned up as Lecturer in Physics at MIET, Shahapur, Bhandara. I was soon engrossed in the daily routine of the college and forgot about my application. So, it was a surprise when Taresh called on 19^th April, 2011 to tell me that I can expect a letter from MPSC as he had got his. Mine came on 20^th. I was required to be in Mumbai on 26^th for the interview. I was in two minds but my parents and the helpful lady at the MPSC helpdesk said that what the loss was if I gave the interview. Well they were correct and I went o Mumbai on 24^th. I lodged at my friend Adosh and Sameer’s room at Thane. I was so convinced of my failure that I spent the evening before, i.e. 25^th, chatting with Adosh, Sameer and meeting Chetana and Kaustubh.

I was totally nervous but was certain about one thing. Even if I fail, I had a job in hand and hence it was not going to be the end of the world. Well I had a terrible interview. The interviewers just ripped me apart. I was in a dazed condition after the interview. I walked out of the building and straight way went to an internet café. Apart from the terrible interview I gave, I had to look for what my 4.8/6.0 GPA meant on the percentage scale. I searched the University of Pune but didn’t get any help. I was frustrated to the hilt and hence had my lunch and went to Gateway. I clicked few pictures and then the battery fizzled out (I’d forgotten to charge them!). I walked like a madman to Marine Drive. At 3 o’clock in that blazing sun only couples were there comforting each other. I had just my backpack for company. I sat there wondering about the day’s proceedings and when I was sufficiently hot outside as I was inside; I decided to walk back to CST. I could only walk to Fashion Street when I felt that it would be better if boarded a Double Decker. And I was in CST soon. Had a nice brunch at McD and came back to Nagpur on the next morning and went straight to JMPC, Bhandara where we were conducting a SEEE camp. All was forgotten about the interview. But destiny had other plans.

I was inclined in not sending the document supporting what my GPA meant. But then I decided o give it a try. Chiti, Avdhoot and The Internet helped me in securing the prescribed document and it actually reached MPSC on the very last date.

In the month of May, I stayed at Chikhla with my parents and came to Nagpur only on 11^th June for my IAS prelims. Just for the sake of quelling the query in my mind, I logged to the MPSC website and see if any result had come. And lo it was there and yours truly were first in the merit list of the five selected! I just couldn’t believe. It took some time to sink in. I danced with Santu. I needed to tell this and immediately told my parents and then went to have Ice-Cream with Santu and Prasad. I informed a lot others and in the excitement forgot to tell Taresh without whom this wouldn’t have been a reality. I had to wait for another one month to get the letter from MPSC and the Attestation form. Now, I was officially selected. I duly sent the Attestation form on 9^th July and planned to go to Mumbai as well. But the 13^th July Mumbai blasts stopped me from going and then I thought that it was not wise to go to Mumbai just for the Medical board letter.

I waited and waited and at last a letter came. But while three among the five selected were given postings I was to go to Mumbai for the same Medical board letter which I had thought will come home. Well I went to Mumbai on 12^th November and this time stayed with Avdhoot. On 14^th I went to Mantralaya and got my letter. The people there were really helpful. On 21^st November I did my medical at GMC, Nagpur who made it a 2-day affair. The police verification on 16^th December went smoothly and I was sure to get my appointment letter in a month or so. I was happy as by that time I would have been able to finish the syllabus at MIET smoothly.

But suddenly on the night of 28^th December, I received a call from my friend Dalesh that I’ve been appointed at Institute of Science, Nagpur. He told me that his uncle had seen on the internet and asked him to inform me. I immediately rushed to Prasad’s room. It took quite a time to search the file and the downloading was painfully slow. To add to my woes the 8.2 MB file’s downloading stopped at 7.3 MB! We downloaded again and this time it was successfully done. And finally I’d my long waited and cherished appointment letter in my hand!

Dr. Harde told me after my selection that even though my interview went bad, the others were even worse. I will remember this for life and never stop in taking a chance whenever it will beckon!

And now I must return to my work desk at my new college.

XOXO, Subhasish Chandra.

Majority Rules. Rethink!

About a month ago Tejashree, my student, remarked that if something wrong is endorsed by a majority it cannot be termed correct. Everybody present there acknowledged the fact but it escaped my mind and I forgot it. So I thought. Last Monday, while jumping a red signal I found majority of my fellow passengers doing the same and bang came the remark from Tejashree straight into my mind!

And along came certain incidents in the mind which are done by the majority but cannot be justified. Let’s have a look.

Ø  Majority of motorists jump red light. It facilitates if the policewallah is not there (I’m a habitual offender as well). It is illegal but since majority does it, should it be legalized?

Ø  Majority of us spit and throw garbage in public places. This is not only unhygienic but also uncultured. But since majority does it, should it be considered an act of hygiene and culture?

Ø  Majority of us give bribes to get our jobs done quickly. Again it is illegal but since majority does it, should it be legalized?

Ø  Majority of us love to take tobacco in some form or the other. Tobacco is a major reason for various ailments. But since majority does it, should it be considered that consumption of tobacco leads to better health?

Ø  Majority of us are jealous of success of others, known and unknown alike. Jealousy is not one of the virtues one expects to be present in one’s moral fabric. But since majority does it, should a rethink be done on the moral virtues one need to possess?

Ø  Majority of the students get marks in and around 50%. That means they don’t know almost half of what was taught or at least half of what was asked in the examination. But since majority does it, should 50 be considered the new 80?

If we were to answer these questions, majority will say NO. But then why are these repeatedly done by the same majority which does find them immoral & illegal?

So, what we find is that majority does not rule always!!! On a serious note since even a slim majority (not absolute (66.66) or even simple (50)) can get a wrong person or thing to be in the right place, we must chose correctly!

The Fate of Education in India

Last few weeks have been controversial for the Indian education sector. Narayan Murthi stated that most of the IITians are not industry worthy and the reason for this, according to him, is the mindless mugging and innumerable tricks learnt at the coaching centres. IITD director came with a thought that there was a need to rethink over the entrance tests. Concerned to this an article of Chetan Bhagat appeared. He says that it’s so difficult to run education without profit. And when profit takes the upper hand, education downslides. He hence concluded that there was need of private players like Infosys to launch themselves into the education sector. And lastly, Maharashtra government launched a state wide search and fact finding mission in the schools and junior colleges to find out how many students had been inflated by schools to siphon out government money. The analysis is still awaited.

I being a teacher am a part of this sector as well. And every day after each lecture, a thought always crosses my mind that whether I’m helping my students to become engineers or just graduates with degrees which would fail to serve them in their life.

Ours being a new college, we certainly have not received the cream of the students but reading Mr. Murthy’s comments about majority of IITians being in the same league gives me little solace and a lot to wonder. I wonder what exactly has gone wrong with our education system. I’m no expert but I’d like to make some observations of my own.

What I’ve observed in my students that they have lost inquisitiveness. They accept everything on face value and never question nor argue over anything I teach! Experts are talking about lack of quality research in India. How will that be possible if the questions have dried in the school days? Kids who are not interested in anything from Akbar to Atom cannot be expected to research on Strings when they grow up! It’s not that they are dumbos or fools but they are really not interested in knowing how anything happens. They are happy with what is going on. They neither want to be part of something new nor want to effect a start themselves. And it’s sadly everywhere! Observation + inference gives knowledge. When the first two are fast depreciating how can the third exist?

I strongly admire the government’s wish to get all kids to have compulsory education upto middle school (class 8^th). But can anybody explain how that can be achieved and justified by never failing them upto class 8^th and that also by assisting them with having no examinations at all. As far as I know, if I’m told at the beginning of any race that I won’t lose and I would get a bag of goodies if I just participate, I would cease to take enough efforts to win. So will be the story of maximum students. How can this goodie bag not bring complacency and help to lose concentration and eventually the interest to know. Education is no privilege which can be enjoyed. It’s a right which has to be earned. Yes, help may be provided in earning the right but to serve it on the platter and spoon feeding will spoil the menu!

Next is the idea of free higher education. Free education in government schools can be understood as it aims at students from under-privileged families to get a foothold in the disparaging society. But providing technical education at a sum as paltry as Rs 1000 is not digestible. Even if the government wants to help the students from underprivileged social and economic background, they shouldn’t give it for a sum like this. When the money factor is detached from education, students stop valuing it. A commodity (education) which is available for the price of a pair of jeans is certainly going to be valued in the same manner    . Charge them Rs. 10000 and see how many more students start valuing their education!

In India across the rural and urban framework what stands as a symbol of unity in the education sector are the coaching or tuition classes. Yes, the same which Mr. Murthy so dislikes. The whole town of Kota is dedicated to this cause as are few whole nagars in Delhi and Chennai. It is very hard to say that apathy of teachers towards teaching brought the success of tuitions or the tuitions brought the lack of interest in the teachers. Whatever be the cause it’s the ultimate truth that students cannot dare to think about succeeding in any exam without tuitions! And tuitions being a business where survival depends on the success rate of the students, the tuitionwallahs are forced to resort to methods which will teach shortcuts to answer quickly and efficiently. And this really takes a toll on the overall knowledge of the student. Personal attention should be showed to weaker students. But all that should be done by the teachers of their respective schools and colleges in the institution’s premises free of cost.

Whosoever has given any exam knows that it is more a memory test than a test of one’s knowledge. When I was in X^th, there used to be questions where we had to apply our analytical reasoning to at least 30% of the questions. But it’s all gone now. Everyone is hell bent to find more and more ways to shower marks on the students for what they haven’t exactly done. These freebies weaken the entire moral fabric of the students and the zeal to work hard to achieve success is decreasing rapidly. I’ll again say make them think. Life is not as easy as the examinations nor will the career they would undertake. As Aamir Khan said in 3 Idiots that one would be able to scrap through the examinations and get a degree but will be raped for his entire life.

Another problem with the students is that they are becoming aimless. Their lack of thinking has made them like a flock of sheep. They are following just the trend. Engineering has almost done away with basic sciences, arts and commerce as educational options. Who are unfortunate not to get into engineering (40% in PCM being the criteria it’s not that hard), take BBA, BCA or some other professional course. Medicine is the only course which still has a large pool of quality students who love their studies. In most other courses, majority of the students are just pushing through. They neither understand nor enjoy their studies. In the name of providing higher and technical education we are not creating intelligent horses but drab and unworthy white-collar mules. This reminds me of one encounter I had with a boy from Bihar at IUCAA, Pune.

The guy was a brilliant physicist. We just got into talking and I asked him in passing that even though Bihar produces a large number of IAS and IPS officers and has a major share in the applicants clearing various competitive entrance examinations from Banking to Railways, how it has such a miserable literacy rate. He replied that the Biharis are indeed an intelligent set of people. They find out right in the school that whether they have the potential to be an IAS or a cowherd. He also added that whatever profession they choose, they excel in it and try to be right at the top. He also lamented at the condition of other states’ students who because of lucrative educational facilities, fall prey to them and become the white collar mules I mentioned before. They are too proud to do a job below their belt and ill-equipped to perform the tasks which their degrees mention they will be able to perform!

I’m right now a novice and may not be able to rectify the system as a whole but would surely try to instill my views and thoughts into my students. Even if one in 300 wakes from their deep slumber, it will render a change. I learnt it quite late but I hope my students understand it early (Alas! They are fast losing this faculty)!

Chair Fever

Aspiration for a chair, both literally and symbolically, has been a human trait from time infinitum. And everyone is entitled to harbour such an aspiration and take steps to achieve it. The chair is surely a seat of supremacy. It separates one from the rest. It provides one with a platform where one can be on his own. The chair provides security and great power. And with great power comes great responsibilities.

George Bernard Shaw said,

Power doesn't corrupt man. Man corrupts power.

The chair, a seat of power, also tends to be corrupted by individuals who take the success straight to their cranium. When a man cannot cope with his new found success, he starts feeling all others around him to be inferiors and treats them as his slaves. This absolute abuse of power not only degrades him in the eyes of his subordinates but also in his own eyes, if he choses to introspect even once.

The succession of a colleague to the post of one's superior is not always met with exhiliration and jubilation. There is always a tinge of sadness and jealousy when that happens. But there is always a satisfaction and belief that as one amongst them has been raised he will try to solve the hardships, which he had suffered when he was a junior himself.

But more often that not it has been seen that the new "chairholder" forgets all about his past and tends to abuse his power. This trait of human nature is really beyond any comprehension!

It must be remembered that a given chair provides one with a certain set of powers in a certain organisational setup. Outside the setup everyone is a nobody. There one has equal opportunities as the other bystander. The dynamics are completely different there. There would be a chair supreme in that setup which may or may not approve of the supremacy of the other chair!

Remember life is a vicious circle and at the end of a day one is surely going to be paid back in the same coin that one has spent.

A chair provides one with a certain set of powers but its the "respect" which one craves for dearly. But this craving cannot be satisfied with vicious actions. It's not something which  can be begged or asked for. It can neither be snatched nor be looted. A person gets only that much respect as much he spends on others. The one and only way to get respect is to give respect. In any other case one is surely going to be doomed.

So, one must use the set powers attached to his/her chair wisely and respectfully because,

हम ही हम हैं तो क्या हम हैं

तुम ही तुम हो तो क्या तुम हो !

A Letter to the Prime Minister of India

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

           

            Your recent actions have gained you enough brickbats and there is a huge hue and cry terming you as a 'weak PM', which I believe is a serious allegation against the topmost political chair of this country.

            When you became the prime minister in 2004, I remember my father saying that the country will prosper now as this man was instrumental in bringing liberalization and  globalization in the Indian economy during his tenure as the then Finance Minister.

            You came to this august seat with enormous respect and belief. People believed that you as PM will bring the same strength to the administrative set-up as you had brought to the economic set-up in your tenure as then Finance Minister.

            And your first tenure as PM actually evoked faith in you. Sixth Pay commission strengthened the hopes of the people especially the Indian middle class. It's true that you spoke less and had a laidback attitude, not expected from a PM, but your actions seemed pure.

            But what you've done in the last 2 years or so has earned you the unfortunate tag I mentioned above. You've always said that PM is like 'Caesar’s Wife' and hence above suspicion. I don't buy this theory. You have been more 'Brutus' if not 'Cassius'. Words speak a lot of the actions that are going in one's mind. They reflect the nature of the human being. You dear sir have not been able to utilize it to the full. You have given enough lame statements and defended your colleagues with a defense which nobody will neither believe nor accept. And even after 2G, CWG & Antrix, you've not mended ways and repeated blunders after blunders in the Ramdeobaba and now Anna Hazare situations.

            You come and make statements, only when coerced, and never answer the queries. Most of the time you've shifted the blame on somebody else and remained adrift. Why it is always that we find someone from your GOM giving the answers? Please learn from Mr. Obama. He replies most of the queries to his government himself. Answering is a sign of authority on one's part. It is the trait of a person who is in complete charge of his doings but it is not apparent from your actions.

            You seldom take corrective actions. And even when they are taken, they are too late and too little. Sometimes I feel was my trust and respect misplaced! Nobody questions your dedication. Your economic and foreign policies are better than others but as a leader you've certainly not succeeded. Shri. Arun Jaitley pleaded the support of the opposition if you develop the political will to fight. I also believe that as a human being you might not have lost it completely and if you develop the will to fight and not fall prey to 'Coalition Dharma' & 'Cunning Colleagues', you can indeed be one of the best premiers of this country.

            It's a time when all the members of the parliament are being labeled as corrupt and are being called as thieves and dacoits. People are losing their faith on you and your brethren. Isn't it your sacred duty as the PM of this country to take such measures so that your strength and integrity is preserved? And if you can do so not only the opposition but you will find the whole country rallying behind.

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           Yours truly,
A grieved Indian.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                

Nameless Friends

There are so many persons we meet while travelling. We get acquainted and share our time with them. When we reach our respective destinations, we alight and disperse in different directions never to meet again! But the moments we spend with them remain etched in our memory for long. In the 25 years I’ve live on mother earth, I’ve undertaken so many journeys and met so many different types of people. Some have been pleasure to meet; some have been just co-passengers and some just pain in the ass. The second category people get erased from your mind as soon as you alight. The third category is deliberately erased while the first category remains in the memory forever. I’m chronicling a few of such meetings. In most of them, I don’t remember the names and in others we didn’t bother to ask each other’s name.

Howrah-Mumbai Mail, June 2000

I was coming back to Chikhla with my parents and my brother after a month long vacation. We had four berths reserved to us. In the 8-seat coup, the other 4 berths were reserved to 3 Mizo girls and their guardian. I was a boy all of 15 and they were older by about 5-7 years. Almost everyone is fascinated when they meet people from North-East and we were no exception. The girls were on an India tour and were now going to Nagpur. When they came to know that we were from a place near Nagpur, they started chatting with us. For the records, at that time, I’d not seen Nagpur at all. So, my knowledge was very limited. Another hindrance was language. They had very less knowledge of Hindi and I couldn’t speak fluent English. But still we spent a quality 16 hours together. When we alighted at Tumsar Road, they came to the windows to bid us goodbyes. I felt a lump in my throat as I was leaving a family behind. After that I’d many Mizo friends and it was because of them my English speaking improved.

Azad Hind Express, June 2004

I was travelling alone for the first time and hence this journey has a big importance in my life. My parents had given me a load of instructions of what to do and what not to do on the train. My co-passengers were a family of three including a 5-year boy named Girish and an affable Bengali guy from Chandrapur. Girish was a sprightly boy who kept his parents on toe with his antics. The Bengali guy, whose name I forgot, soon befriended all of us and we started chatting. He even bought Girish an ice-cream. Girish’s mother offered us food which I neglected, as instructed. But soon the other guy forced me to eat and I conceded. Girish and his family alighted at Tatanagar. I went on to Howrah. It was because of this nameless friend that I was able to travel without fear and since then I’ve travelled alone all around the country fearlessly.

Khurana Travels, August 2007

This was one of the most troublesome times of my life. I’d failed to gain admission in Pune for my masters and had thoroughly rejected Nagpur as an option. I’d no idea what to do whatsoever. I’d a job offer with Infosys Progeon (now Infosys BPO) and I decided to go to Pune to join it. When I started from Nagpur at 9 in the night it was cloudy but by the time I’d reached Chikhli in Marathwada next morning, I was amidst a flood. We were stuck and had nowhere to go. But then the villagers of Dahigaon came to rescue and we had one meal at their village. They showed us the way to reach Mehkar Fata which was at an altitude and had food. The two days that I stayed there is one of the most trying days of my life. All the co-passengers became one family and supported each other. Only Airtel coverage was there and my phone became the contact for all present there. I don’t remember anybody’s name now but will always remember the kindness and love they showered on me.

Azad Hind Express, August 2007

I came back to Nagpur and went back to Pune after a week. I went to Infosys for the first two days of orientation but somehow didn’t find myself suitable for the job and left on the second day itself. I came to Pune station at about 3 PM bought a wait-listed ticket for Nagpur and waited in the station wondering if I’d made the right decision. I was unsure of my future and even about my next course of action. I boarded the train hoping to find someone who would allow me to sleep in the alley between the berths. I was lucky to find one uncle who not only helped me but on hearing my story soothed me as well. I was tired, afraid and confused but because of that uncle, I was able to reach Nagpur in sound mind.

Prerna Express, May 2010

 I was going to Ahmedabad for a PhD entrance at PRL. My ticket was RAC and I was happy because I was to share it with a girl. But the TTE played spoilsport and confirmed my ticket. My co-passengers over there were going on a trip to Udaipur. They were playing cards and were all in their banians and shorts. At first I thoroughly disliked them. But seeing my discomfort, they stopped playing. We soon became friends and they shared their tasty food with me. They were really nice guys whom I’d mistakenly thought otherwise.

ST Bus, December 2010

I travel everyday from Nagpur to college in ST buses. I read my newspaper all along the way and if not reading I sleep. I seldom take interest in the scenery outside or in my fellow passengers. But this particular day was different. A beautiful girl had nowhere to seat as all seats were full. The auntie beside me offered her to seat in between me and her. The girl was a chatterbox and she started chattering. Soon she took out her laptop and gave me a thorough demonstration of how to use it. But the battery decayed and she resorted back to chattering again. Suddenly she said that she needed to vomit and I readily gave my window seat (I never do that). She was feeling nausea and readily informed her mother and then her boyfriend. She kept on informing small details to both of them every 5 minutes. In the passing, I inquired her about her college. She laughingly answered that she will give her 10^th in the coming March. I was stunned and disappointed. But it still remains one of the most cheerful journeys I’ve undertaken.

ST Bus, 26^th January 2011

After the Republic day function, me and my colleagues had gone to Paoni to see Gosikhurd dam. After coming back from there, I started for Nagpur. About 5 Kms from Mauda, the bus came to a halt. There were vehicles all in front of us. It was the longest traffic jam I’d seen. Soon the reasons were known. A religious organization called Parmatama Ek was having its annual gathering near Mauda and that had caused this trouble. I was tired and was looking forward to rest in my room at Nagpur. Everyone in the bus was getting restless and angry. A beautiful girl was sitting just in front of me. She was also getting restless and she started asking questions. She was from Delhi was mostly speaking in English. I jumped onto the chance and started talking with her reassuring that soon the blockade will be removed and we will reach Nagpur soon. She was a nice girl and started talking to the old man beside her. He was first afraid to talk to her but soon became friends with her as well. We kept chatting and I never realized when the 3 hour journey (originally 1 hour) came to an end.

Hope to find such people again in my life.

Change of Guard but Will Bengal Change?

34 long years later Bengal is set to get a new party at the Writers’ (Mahakaran). Mamata Banerjee has done what leaders from Siddharth Shankar Ray to Pranab Mukherjee have been trying to do so for long. They were up against a party which was just impossible to dislodge. The man from Indira Bhavan, Jyoti Basu, was the shrewdest adversary they had ever faced. Even after his retirement, he was a prominent force behind the CPI(M)’s gains in Bengal. At that time it seemed impossible to remove them from the Writers’. But the deaths of Jyoti Basu, Anil Biswas and Subhas Chakraborty have really affected the party and ultimately have led to such a downfall.

My uncle’s family has been staunch anti-CPI(M). My grandfather seldom used to eat without cursing the incumbent government. I found it amusing and used to ask him what the reason of his anger was. He explained to me that people of Bengal love intelligence, education and prosperity. While the CPI(M) leaders were highly educated themselves, they were hindering the paths of the educated youth who were not toeing their line. Adding insult to injury, they were also closing down industries, mostly small-scale, which could have taken Bengal to new heights of prosperity. This led to mass exodus of educated and uneducated, skilled and unskilled persons out of the state. Thus, Sonar Bangla (Golden Bengal) was turning into a garbage dump. And it was not only him but was the voice of many Bengalis who were living inside and outside Bengal. I reasoned with them if they were unhappy with the regime, why they don’t throw it out. They explained that CPI(M) was known to employ strong arm tactics and resorted to rigging during the elections. And hence it was impossible to remove them. And there rested the case.

In the last assembly elections, I was in Bengal. I am an ardent fan of Barun Sengupta, the late editor of Bartaman. He used to write elaborately about the misgivings of the government and how the public resented it and what they wanted was a change. Bengal was a case of trouble and even the Election commission accepted it as the last election was also a multi-round affair. Mr. Sengupta as well as all the Bengalis who wanted a change were sure that CPI(M) was to make an exit after 29 years. But the result stupefied us all. Not only the Left front won but it won with such a majority that the opposition was all but eliminated. Conventional rigging could not have taken place as the security arrangements were elaborate. Anti-CPI(M) people came with theories that “Scientific rigging” was the reason for the win. They said that the EVMs were tampered and whatever button you pressed the vote went to CPI(M)! Nothing could be proved but the joke about the tampered EVMs are doing this time as well. On Facebook you will find people commenting, “EVM gulo kharap chhilo” (EVMs were faulty)!

So, the result of 2006 proved one thing that CPI(M) were irreplaceable for whatever reasons that existed. But then Mamata came with her “Maa, Maati, Maanush” (Mother, Land and People) slogan and a successful Singur agitation helped her dent the prospects of CPI(M) in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections. From that time, it was becoming apparent that a change was inevitable. Her stint as railway minister where she doled out sops to her home state helped her as well. But still there was a chance that CPI(M) could have stopped it’s derailment. Nobody knows Bengal better than them and nobody knows better than them how to rule Bengal! Also the Rajas and the Kalmadis provided enough opportunities to exploit (AIADMK has removed DMK on that factor) but it seems the death of the aforesaid leaders have crippled them beyond recovery. Mr. Karat would now need to answer a lot of questions as they have lost Kerala by a whisker as well.

“Badla noi Badal chai” (We want change and not revenge) were doing the rounds and they have got what they wanted. For the next 5 years they are officially going to be there. But now the million-taka question is that whether the new fellows will be able to rotate the wheels of prosperity which have been stationery and stuck for so long. Will the mass exodus of Bengali intelligentsia stop? Will the common man get better living conditions? Will the industries reopen? Will Bengal be back among the top states of India? Will Bengal change? Will Bengal again become “Sonar Bangla “?

13 has proved to be a unlucky number for CPI(M). Hope it doesn’t prove to be unlucky for the Bengalis. Let’s hope that they have not replaced one daemon with other.

Jai Bangla!!!