Painter of political angst

Mamata Banerjee, TNC MP, Kolkata

When Marxist grandmaster Jyoti Basu called her a ‘420’ (cheat, as per Indian criminal law), she shouted back at him: “840!” None would dare do that excepting the political tornado from West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee. And she dared because she knew where she came from, for despite her strange and often obnoxious ways of handling political situations, her honesty has not been jeered at even by her worst critic.

Take 30 B Harish Chatterjee Street, which is practically a lane that reflects the picture of (d)rain-washed Kolkata during every monsoon. At a turn inside the lane stands a humble cottage. The only hint of pride about the cottage is three Trinamool Congress flags. Despite having risen from here to hold many ministries at the Centre, Mamata Banerjee still lives there, still the same humble sari costing a maximum of Rs 300, still the youthful waving of hands, and still the lone voice of protest against a reign of Red terror in the state. And even now she delights eating muri (puffed rice, not really a rich man’s delicacy).

Be it Nandigram or Brigade Parade Ground in Kolkata – her pictures are everywhere. Banerjee has always enjoyed an extra ounce of popularity, which is the lethal weapon she deployed to defeat Marxist Goliath Somnath Chatterjee to win the Jadavpur Lok Sabha seat in 1984. In 1996, she confirmed that those who praised her as Banglar Agnikanya (spitfire lady from Bengal), were not exaggerating. Despite being a minister herself, she lashed out at her own government on the petroleum price hike issue. Party leader Partha Chatterjee says, “I’ve never seen Didi wearing a sari that costs more than Rs 200. I’ve seen her taking muri with her even when she has to fly to the US! Isn’t that incredible!”....Continue

What should be the retirement age of Politician of India?

This is due to several factors – a major one being that there is no effort by the entrenched political class to engage them. After the late Rajiv Gandhi, it is only his son Rahul who has brought back the issue of youths' involvement in active politics into the public domain. Like his father, he too believes in the power of the youth and is convinced that only the involvement of the young in politics will usher in real change. Rahul has repeated this in almost every speech: "I am here to open the door for the youth." And he blames his own party for not allowing them to come forward, thus effectively arresting its growth. During his recent visit to Punjab, he wanted to see new faces. But when he arrived most of the state leaders who had lined up were oldies. This so disgusted Rahul that he reportedly announced the names of youth leaders all by himself. Let the older politicos work as think-tanks and guides for the young: no more!

It is sometimes argued that even old politicians can deliver and have vision and courage like Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. The frail "naked fakir" – as the British called him – had the vision and guts to undertake something that is today a globally revered model: Satyagraha. In 1942, at age 73, he sent out the Quit India movement call, braving, along with his unarmed countrymen, the batons and bullets of the British Police. That was also when Sir Winston Churchill, then 65, was leading Britain through the Second World War. And both Gandhi and Churchill won their wars.

But those were exceptions. For every Gandhi and Churchill, there are hundreds whose old age simply does not let them function efficiently. But this has not prevented a large number of them to carve out powerful political fiefdoms that have room for them only – and certainly for no youngster. Politicians need to take a leaf from our super senior cricketers – two of whom have retired for the good of the game. They need to do the same for the good of the country. They must ensure that India is never found on a weak wicket....Continue

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“A content people made us win”

What are the challenges you face in your second innings in power?
We have to justify the faith that people have reposed in us. We have to implement the promises in our election manifesto. Efficient governance, which is honest and responsible to the people is our goal. Corruption is a major issue and the people have to be relieved of that burden. I believe mere paper programmes and promises will not change anything. If we can justify this trust of the people we shall come back for a third inning too.

What lies behind the success in the polls?
We were confident we would win… for the past six months, I have extensively toured the towns and villages of my state. I found people contented with our government. I found no discontent either during the “Gram Suraj” (Good Village Governance) or Vikas Yatra (“Development Campaign”). The kind of reception from women that I was privileged to be accorded was amazing. The entire lot converted into ballots for us. Our efforts at development were serious even during the previous tenure.

The entire poll campaign was focussed on rice and Raman, but many of your candidates lost.
The BJP always enters the poll battle led by the captain of the team. I am happy that I justified the trust of the party in me. If you are a people’s representative, you have to deliver the goods. During voting, people mark how you come through to them, whether their needs have been fulfilled over the last five years, and whoever fails to meet these criteria face defeat. It is simple! And this is why the party had denied tickets to those candidates who had not worked for the people.

Why do you think the Congress lost?
(Laughs) You ought to ask the Congress leaders. They suffered from leadership and trust deficit. Which is why people in other states too rejected them.....Continue

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A filmmaker offers a totally new musical experience

During filming, the backdrop, lightings and even the singers’ costumes were changed as per the requirements of the song. The film is made digitally for viewing in theatres with surround sound. Sounds of percussion instruments like the Mirudangam and Ganjira will get a new lease of life, promises the director.

The film was shot simultaneously with seven 4K RED Digital cameras – a world's first – by award winning cinematographer PC Sriram. H Sridhar, famous Tamil film sound engineer did the audio. The film will be first screened at multiplexes, and then gradually screened overseas. DVDs and audio CDs will be released around April 2009.

Describing the experience of singing for a ‘film’, TM Krishna said: “There were around a hundred crew members, yet there was complete silence. I was in complete peace of mind while singing.”

The rupees one-crore film targets music lovers who find it impossible to attend concerts. “The new concept of multiplex cinema has made such experiments possible. Since most theatres are digitally equipped now, films like "Margazhi Raagam" are becoming increasingly possible,” says Jayendra. Good ideas have always brought about changes. Perhaps this one too will do so.....Continue

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"international opinion is on our side"

Former Indian high commissioner to Islamabad, G Parthasarthy, tells TSI this is the best chance for India to mobilise international opinion against Pakistan Is Pakistan involved in the Mumbai attacks?

All evidences point to the ISI and Pakistan's role, even perhaps a larger organisation could be behind it.

What should India do?

Get more international pressure on Pakistan. Get more international opinion on its side. Tell the world that while aggression is not what we want, India should reserve the right to strike across the international border if terrorists, from let's say the Lashkar-e-Taiyaba, strike in any part of the country again. That should be conveyed to the world. There should be no ambiguity about it.

Is Pakistan likely to take international opinion seriously? Traditionally they have tended to believe that there are limits to international opinion.

This time they do not have many options. Too many nationals from various countries have been killed in the terror attack. There are many countries involved. This is the right time to mobilise international opinion in India’s favour. Interests of many countries coincide on this issue.

Some say Pakistan has played its cards well. It has told the US that it would have no option but to deploy its 100,000 troops on its western border with Afghanistan and redeploy them on its eastern frontier with India, should New Delhi decide to get belligerent. In other words, they are telling the US that their war on terror in Afghanistan will be compromised in a military conflagration with India.

It all depends upon how we play our cards. International opinion is on our side. In my view, India should get the US to move the UN Security Council under section 1373. Pakistan’s hands would be forced....Continue

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