Fwd: Bengal violence

[Sukla Sen]

Just this morning, was looking up a piece of mine, penned in Bengali back in October 1970, now available in English translation - in a somewhat different context. 

Had made three significant prognostications, in conclusion. Here's the second one:

Naxalite politics has brought in its wake, in West Bengal politics, as yet unprecedented fascist mentality. And, whether consciously or otherwise, other left parties have become seriously affected. “Whoever slanders our party will be just skinned alive!” That clearly implies that, wherever and whenever feasible, the political opponents will just be crushed through resort to brutal force. This slogan today is no longer a monopoly of the Naxalites, it has become a common property of all the political parties.

Together with this fascist mentality and as its pretty logical outcome, we are today confronted with a terrifying situation defined by large scale mutual killings. Even trivial political conflicts are pretty often leading to quashing of human lives. It, however, needs be stated, in no uncertain terms, that in this matter the United Front is also no less responsible. In the wake of the United Front returning back to power [in 1969], its constituent parties - the CPI(M), in particular, in the mad hunt for increasing party strength, are working shoulder to shoulder along with the Naxalites to launch this new trend of large scale killings in the politics of West Bengal. In fact, bloody clashes claiming human lives have already become a routine political activity. Whether the Naxalite organisation survives or not, that this trend of bloody violence will do and, in fact, turn even more horrifying may be taken just as a given. In the days to come, Bengal politics will turn far bloodier than in the past. The spectre of common people killing common people, on an increasing scale, is emerging as the destiny, pretty difficult to avert. [Emphasis added.]

(Ref.: <https://www.frontierweekly.com/views/nov-18/10-11-18-The%20Influence%20and%20Impact%20of%20Naxalism.html>.)

It may be worth recalling, those were the peak glory days of Naxalism in Bengal, which, however, would soon start dipping with only the faintest hints floating in the air.

Here's another, much later, in May 2009:

...(G)oing beyond the immediate, given the culture of brutal violence and retribution that has been nurtured over the decades, one only shudders in terror at imagining the prospects that would follow in the event of the rather likely defeat of the Left in the next assembly election. The track record and lumpen character of the Trinamool hardly provides any reassurance. Perhaps only such nightmarish visions would come to the eventual rescue. One can only hope.

(Ref.: <https://www.alterinter.org/?15th-Lok-Sabha-Election-The-Right-Is-Snubbed-Left-Faces-Debacle>.)

Sukla

On Sun, Mar 27, 2022, 08:28 XXX wrote:

Mamta rules the way the CPM partly ruled for decades in West Bengal, only slightly worse. Terror, fear and violence against the opponents are an integral part of this package even though, of course, the CPM also had an ideology, cadre and some policies for the people. 

But I think the congress rule under S S Ray still remains the benchmark of violence and terror unleashed. 

This is the real tragedy. 

Vrijendra 

On Sat, 26 Mar 2022 at 5:06 AM, YYY wrote:

It can be a personal feud also. The murdered man was the top gangster.

On Fri, Mar 25, 2022 at 7:07 PM ZZZ wrote:

https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/bengal-birbhum-deaths-tmc-pradhan-mamata-banerjee-7835103/

too many sheikhs but the idea is clear: Mamata rules partly by terror at least in the villages.