Kunal Roy
It is an easy proposition to enter into politics and grow your wings and desires under the political clout. But to carve a niche is a knotty one. The reason is you have to be strong enough to turn the waves on your favour. The seniors will not allow you to create an image before the public domain. Your steely personality accompanied by a firm conviction can help you land up with some remarkable achievements during the entire career span!
Mamata Banerjee, the present chief minister of Bengal is an iron lady in the accepted sense of term. Born to a poor brahmin family, she always nurtured the latent wish to serve the deprived segment of the social structure. The wish came true during her graduation days. However, her education was not hampered. She completed her education , received the honourable degrees and set her vision for tomorrow. Days flew away and in the 80s when she was completely a new face vanquished Somnath Chatterji in the Jadavpur Constituency. A landslide victory which still displays the truth that she is a ‘dark horse’. The three decade rule of the opposition intensified her strength and finally helped her to win her battle! It was not an easy task. She was insulted, chastised, humiliated and even beaten to feet. Yet she did not give up. She bought like a queen till her last drop of blood fell on the ground ! Her toil was answered. She is the present chief minister of Bengal. Though she held different offices during her tenure, she was always accused of being a whimsical personality! Such ill remarks couldn’t deter her indomitable courage. Subsequently she earned the name of ‘অগ্নি কন্যা’ ( The Fire born) by the intellectuals of our social milieu. Often questions are still raised over her competency. She is invariably compared with the prime minister Narendra Modi. In fact The founder of the national Trinamul Congress Party is never considered to be a suitable descendant for the throne of Delhi! Such contents and comparisons are futile right now. Her focus is on Bengal and its true growth and development amid every crisis that adroitly manages to cross her path! The other side of the ‘mid night’ is , she is creative. Her fantasy has found an expression in all her writings. Be it poems, political turmoil, personal experience or thoughtful reads, the touch of camaraderie is very much there! Her paintings too have earned her both fame and money!
Today is her birthday. She is the face of Bengal. Has invested her heart and soul for the state. It seems as if she is the harbinger of woman empowerment. In the biography “Didi: The Untold Mamata Banerjee” by Shutapa Pal, we discover the smallest of the small things that eventually helped her reach the target. The subtle nuances which literally helped to shape her political destiny, fulfil her dreams, aspirations and doing good for the people at large!!
-Kunal Roy