When a government is sunk in corruption, how can it abide by democratic rule of law?

By Harasankar Adhikari*
In a television interview, Sunil Gangopadhyay, an Indian poet, historian, and novelist in the Bengali language, was once asked about the poetic quality of Atal Bihari Vajpayee, former Prime Minister of India. He denied Vajpayee's poetic ability. He opined that if Vajpayee is a poet, then why is he the prime minister? It means saying that a political leader has no such quality. It may be a passion for an individual. A political leader’s thinking is within the realm of politics. That very special quality does not match with the daily activities of a political leader, whether he/she is a Prime Minister or a Chief Minister.
Mamata Banerjee, Chief Minister of West Bengal, was awarded by the Bangla Academy for ‘relentless literary pursuit." The award, introduced this year (2022) by Sahitya Academy, was presented to Banerjee for her book "Kabita Bitan". It is a political tactic imposed by her to recognise and rename her as a poet, writer, painter, lyricist, and so forth. She is spreading the idea that "he who knows how to cook knows how to tie his hair." But in psychology, it is not yet established. It may be only a proverb. She is now being trolled about her quality in various media. Some of the extant poets and writers are also protesting because it is an injustice and unfair. It has been noticed that TMC is used to imitate various activities of the Left. But the Left has its own principles and agenda because it has a long history and literature that is praiseworthy to think tanks worldwide. It is covered by the contributions of Karl Marx, F Engels, and other thinkers. It has been derived after continued social and economic research, and this trend is still on the way. It is prominently relevant even today. It influences the social, cultural, and economic transformation of almost every society.
It is obvious that the left has an agenda to make the general public aware of these and what roles they have for a free and equal society. It has no contradiction in daily life. The left publicises this in different ways.
But TMC has no history and no literature. There is even doubt about the principles and agenda of this political party. It’s upliftment was very much a different issue. Actually, the failure of the left to rectify its weakness facilitated the uplift of TMC. Sometimes, it works as left. It never respects and values the left. As a result, TMC supreme tries to compete left after writing some literary books which are exhibited and sold on different occasions. Her writings' qualities are not judged because she has trapped the majority of Bengal's exponent writers. So, all of them are involved in praising her blindly. No criticism is allowed.
Bengal has a long history of heritage in the culture of literary works, which are now submerged because of improper patronage. Political illiteracy harms this. No criticism of the government is respected. There are two distinct classes that originated. One class is grovelling to the government for whatever it does because of the fulfilment of some personal greed, and another class is afraid to criticise because of harassment. When they will be awaken, that is the latest question.
When a government is sunk in corruption in every sphere, how does it bind us to the democratic rule of law? Today, Bengal is in a great crisis. We need a path to come out of this.

Comments

Land under siege: A silent crisis, desertification is threatening India’s future

By Raj Kumar Sinha* Desertification is emerging as one of the gravest environmental challenges of our time. Marked annually on June 17, the World Day to Combat Desertification and Drought reminds us that the fate of our planet’s land—and the billions who depend on it—is hanging in the balance.

Hyderabad protest demands end to Operation Kagar as senior Maoist leaders killed in encounter

By Harsh Thakor* A protest was held on June 17 at Indira Park in Hyderabad by the Shanti Charchala Committee, calling for an end to Operation Kagar and the start of peace talks with Maoist groups. The event brought together representatives from several political parties and civil society organizations. Among those who addressed the gathering were CPI (ML) New Democracy Central Committee member Vemulapalli Venkatramayya, along with leaders from the Congress, BRS, CPI, CPM, Telangana Janasamithi, MCPI, SUCI, CPI ML, RSP, and VCK. The programme also featured performances by cultural groups such as CLC, HRF, TVV, Arunodaya, Praja Kala Mandali, and Praja Natya Mandali. Public figures including actors Narayana Murthy and Tudundebba Upendar and academics like Professor Anver Khan and Professor Vinayaka Reddy participated as speakers.

Madhya Pradesh village's inspiring example of how small budget effort conserves water amidst heat wave

By Bharat Dogra Heat waves have been intensifying over vast areas of India in recent days and there are also many reports of water scarcity making the conditions worse for people. However the situation can differ significantly in various villages depending on whether or not significant water conservation efforts have been made. In recent years I have visited several villages of good water conservation efforts where I noticed that even at the time of adverse weather conditions, people of these villages as well as farm and other animals feel important relief in terms of access to adequate water. Due to water and moisture conservation, conditions of farms and pastures is also much better. What is more, with the participation and involvement of people, even quite low budgets have been utilized well to achieve very useful and durable results.

Central London discussion to spotlight LGBTQ+ ex-Muslim rights and persecution

By A Representative On June 13, 2025, the Dissident Club in Central London will host a public discussion to mark the 18th anniversary of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain (CEMB) and to commemorate World Refugee Day. The event, scheduled from 7:00 to 9:00 pm, will feature speakers Ali Malik, Maryam Namazie, and Taha Siddiqui, who are expected to address the intersecting challenges faced by LGBTQ+ ex-Muslims globally.

Population explosion: India needs a clear-headed policy, data-driven governance, long-term planning

By N.S. Venkataraman* At the upcoming G7 summit in Canada, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been invited as a special guest, with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau citing two main reasons: India’s rise as the world’s fifth-largest economy and its status as the most populous nation. While economic growth is undoubtedly a point of pride, the latter distinction—India’s population—raises an important question: should this be seen as a strength or a source of growing concern? India has not conducted a national census since 2011, leaving the current population figures largely speculative. Estimates place the population at around 1.4 billion, with projections reaching 1.8 billion by 2050. Despite modest declines in fertility and death rates, the annual population growth remains between 1.5% and 2%. The next census, scheduled for 2026, will provide a more accurate demographic picture, but until then, policymaking remains uninformed by crucial data. Over the past eleven years, the gov...

Victim to cricketing politics, Alvin Kalicharan was a most organized left handed batsman

By Harsh Thakor* On March 21st Alvin Kalicharan celebrates his 75th birthday. Sadly, his exploits have been forgotten or overlooked. Arguably no left handed batsman was technically sounder or more organized than this little man. Kalicharan was classed as a left-handed version of Rohan Kanhai. Possibly no left-handed batsmen to such a degree blend technical perfection with artistry and power.

Exploring 'Volokolamsk Highway': A tale of Soviet heroism and resilience

By Harsh Thakor* "Volokolamsk Highway" is a classical war novel by Alexander Bek, first published in Russian in 1944 and translated into English in 1958. Set during WWII on the Eastern Front, it describes critical battles fought by the Soviet Red Army against Nazi forces advancing toward Moscow in October 1941. Republished by Foreign Languages Press in 2023, the novel offers a vivid portrayal of Soviet soldiers' struggles to defeat fascism. It is recommended for those seeking insight into Soviet heroism during World War II.

Better halves lead the way as organic farmers, entrepreneurs and social reformers

By Bharat Dogra Two major challenges continue to limit the full participation of rural women in development. First, their crucial roles, potential, and capabilities often remain underrecognized. Second, even when women are encouraged to take on broader responsibilities, the overarching development models may not align with their needs or perspectives and may even appear counterproductive. Under such conditions, it is unrealistic to expect women to engage as enthusiastic and creative participants.

Citizens demand judicial probe into Ahmedabad plane crash, cite neglect of intern doctors, victims' families

By A Representative A wide coalition of concerned citizens, academics, medical professionals, social activists, and public intellectuals has submitted a petition to the Prime Minister of India demanding an urgent judicial inquiry into the recent tragic airplane crash in Ahmedabad that claimed over 240 lives. The petition, coordinated by the Movement for Secular Democracy (MSD), calls for a high-level judicial committee, headed by a retired High Court justice and comprising eminent citizens, to investigate the incident beyond the scope of the existing technical committee.

Search This Blog