20100117

Thus spake Jyoti Basu

KOLKATA, 17 January, 2010(IANS): Communist patriarch Jyoti Basu, who died Sunday, was a man of strong views and never hesitated to speak his mind. Here are his comments on his life and politics:
On childhood:

“My mother came form an upper middle-class family, they were well-to-do landowners. My father, Nishikanta Basu, came from a relatively lower middle-class background.”
“I was 10 years old. Talk of revolutionaries and the fight for independence was in the air. Father was treating a revolutionary who had been shot and wounded. Those were part of my childhood thrills.”

In London:

“I was initiated to international politics in London. Entire Europe was restive. Fascist Mussolini had wrested power in Italy.”

“We formed the `London Majlis’ and I was its first secretary. The idea was to generate public opinion for the cause of Indian independence and collect subscriptions.”

On return to India:

“Marriage was being discussed. I did not attach importance to this. I knew there was a long and difficult political agenda ahead. Anyway, I got married.”

Political life:

“It never occurred to me that I would one day become an MLA, but the party thought otherwise. I had to abide by its directives.”

“My very first election as a candidate gave me a taste of what bourgeoisie elections were all about. It was baptism by fire. But all’s well that ends well.”

On life in undivided CPI:

“Raids and arrests were routine. Between September 1948 and January 1949, I worked openly in trade unions, maintaining the communication links with our leadership in hiding.”
On becoming a father:

“I became the father of a son in September 1952. We named him Chandan; he is my only son. My wife, Kamal, used to stay at her parents’ place during most of the time when I was either in jail or underground.”

Emergency rule:

“(Indira) Gandhi was scared. Her authoritarianism knew no limits. Thus she chose the option which all dictators faced with a critical situation coupled with the fear of losing power usually do: she opted to usurp all the rights of the people.”

Left Front government:

“It was exactly at 10.30 a.m. on June 21, 1977 that the first Left Front ministry was sworn in… Land reforms were our topmost priority.”

On Mandela:

“Nelson Mandela was given a reception at the Eden Gardens in Calcutta. He represented all that fortitude stood for, having spent 27 years in jail. Calcutta was paying its tributes to a man who did not know the meaning of compromise.”

On Babri Masjid razing:

“On December 6, barbarians demolished Babri Masjid. We stood dishonoured in front of the entire world.”

(Excerpts from “Memoirs-A Political Autobiography: Jyoti Basu”, National Book Agency Pvt Ltd, Kolkata)

2 comments:

Unknown said...

Condolence Message at the Demise of
The Great Leader Comrade Joty Basu

Our Party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD expresses heartfelt sorrow and condolence at the demise of Comrade Joty Basu, the Great Communist Leader of Our Era, Legendary Mass Leader and Respectable National Leader of India, Ex. Chief Minister of Indian State West Bengal and Member of the Political Bureau of CPI (M) Central Committee. We express our sympathy to the shocked fellow Comrades and the People of West Bengal as well as whole India. At his demise not only Indian People lost a Great Leader, it is also a great loss for the communist, left, democratic and progressive movements of the fighting masses of the whole World. He showed the path-how to use the limited state and administrative power in a capitalist state for realising, protecting and advancing the rights of the workers and peasants and the toiling masses towards Socialism. It is a unique development of Marxism done by Comrade Joty Basu.
At his demise Bangladesh lost a great and true friend and a guardian. People of Bangladesh will remember him forever for his historical support in the National struggle and National war for Independence in 1971. The people of South Asia also will remember him for his bold and pragmatic role like a guardian in building relations of peace and co-operation.
Our Party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD pays its highest homage to the Great Leader Comrade Joty Basu. Our Party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD will remember him forever by upholding his works and teachings.


Hasanul Haq Inu MP
President
Central Executive Committee and
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD
35-36, Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Email: jsd@dhaka.net, Web: www.jsdbd.org
Tel & Fax:+88029559972

Unknown said...

Condolence Message at the Demise of
The Great Leader Comrade Joty Basu

Our Party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD expresses heartfelt sorrow and condolence at the demise of Comrade Joty Basu, the Great Communist Leader of Our Era, Legendary Mass Leader and Respectable National Leader of India, Ex. Chief Minister of Indian State West Bengal and Member of the Political Bureau of CPI (M) Central Committee. We express our sympathy to the shocked fellow Comrades and the People of West Bengal as well as whole India. At his demise not only Indian People lost a Great Leader, it is also a great loss for the communist, left, democratic and progressive movements of the fighting masses of the whole World. He showed the path-how to use the limited state and administrative power in a capitalist state for realising, protecting and advancing the rights of the workers and peasants and the toiling masses towards Socialism. It is a unique development of Marxism done by Comrade Joty Basu.
At his demise Bangladesh lost a great and true friend and a guardian. People of Bangladesh will remember him forever for his historical support in the National struggle and National war for Independence in 1971. The people of South Asia also will remember him for his bold and pragmatic role like a guardian in building relations of peace and co-operation.
Our Party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD pays its highest homage to the Great Leader Comrade Joty Basu. Our Party Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD will remember him forever by upholding his works and teachings.


Hasanul Haq Inu MP
President
Central Executive Committee and
Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal-JASOD
35-36, Bangabandhu Avenue, Dhaka-1000, Bangladesh
Email: jsd@dhaka.net, Web: www.jsdbd.org
Tel & Fax:+88029559972