What Singur Teaches Us

[Translated from transcription by Pulak Narayan Dhar, Dainik Statesman, 8 May 2007]

The residents of Purbapara village in the Beraberi area of Singur have made history in our times. Such an instance of public awakening have not been seen in West Bengal in the recent times. What is most remarkable is the role of the women of the village. The way they have come forward to defend their own tight is unprecedented. This scene of women’s awakening has overwhelmed me. They have been attending this discussion for more than five hours at a stretch. This is indicative of an enormous significance. It is the women who have been spearheading this movement. We had seen this during our freedom movement. Singur has shown a new direction, not only to the people of West Bengal, but to the whole country.
I have crossed eighty. I consider this rare luck on my part that I have been bestowed with this fortune of witnessing such a movement at the last leg of my life’s journey. The way the present ruling party has been acting is bound to stir protest; but it is too extremely difficult for any party to evict this ruling party from power by fighting it single-handed. Therefore all must get united; the fight must be fought organizedly on the basis of a partyless unity by rising above party equations. Singur and Nandigram have held up a model for such partyless unity. This is the lesson we have received from the people of Singur and Nandigram. We have to remember this model of movement. We have to sustain it.
Today a debate has started around the issue of industrialization. What is the crux of this controversy? It is being made to appear as if the debate is in favour or against industrialization. Such an approach can be misleading. The real issue is whether it is desirable or otherwise to forcibly dispossess one from his own land against his wish. This is the basic question. And this is not desirable. That this is not desirable is getting evident from the developments in Singur and Nandigram. Democracy involves consensus. A healthy democratic environment is essential for industry. The boundary walls of a factory can be constructed, and materials can be amassed. But then? If the disturbed situation continues, sabotage too can continue month after month. As result industry will not grow. Industry cannot take place by pushing the country to the brink of an undeclared civil war. In a democratic country like ours development cannot be achieved by killing people as was done by Stalin , or in China. Here we must comply with the democratic norms. We must honour the wishes of the people concerned. Singur and Nandigram will show the whole country right way towards the good of society. Human society cannot thrive under the assault of violence and non-violence. The way of Singur and nandigram is not the way of violence and counterviolence.
Singur-Nandigram has shown us the way to freedom. The name will be recorded in history; because the people there, especially the women, have created a new history. Visiting Singur today is like making a pilgrimage. It is out of a longing to touch the soil of that Singur-Nandigram which is going to be inscribed in the history one day , that at this late age of mine I have been to Nandigram; again, I have come to Singur today, being driven by the same heartfelt longing. Singur has taught that a great work can be started in the brief span of a limited life.
[Translation by Rama Kundu]