The ‘Red’ and ‘Green’ of West Bengal

Mamata Banerjee has done it. She has ended the 34 year reign of the Communists over the state of West Bengal. The news reports, articles and other write-ups published today are all praise of the charismatic wave created by her that made the public ‘dare to defy’ the Reds.

Honestly, elections in Bengal had become too boring. Each time the polls came around, the colour of Red was splashed all over the state as if there was no other colour available in the Legislative palette. For the first time in 34 years a new colour has emerged, that of Green. The victory of the Trinamool Congress was palpable from the manner in which they took the lead as soon as the counting began. By the afternoon, the victory was imminent. Expectedly, the supporters of Didi and her party were out on the streets singing, dancing and celebrating that in a way emblematic of the City of Joy. This time, however, the ‘City’ had expanded to mean the State itself.

 

The Communists had desperately tried to colour the entire state with Red flags this time again. They had perhaps thought that the people were still thinking of shedding their blood for them even if they didn’t do anything for the people. However, their colour did not fail to leave a mark. Only this time, the mark worked against them. Red was the colour on the people’s faces when they were seething on the failure of the gone government. Red with blood was the colour of the soil of Lalgarh. Red was the colour of the state economy which was signaling its total failure over the last three decades. Red was symbolized the shame on the faces of the CPI (M) members, including Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, when they were shown the exit door by the people.

Not for once did the people stop to think about the fallen comrades. They were too happy to do that. After all, they had been delivered from the ‘tyranny’ of the Leftists and their obscure ideologies. Didi was ‘hope’ clad in a saree and ordinary slippers. She walked her way into their hearts of people and ignited their souls with the dream of seeing development in a state that was unable to pay salaries to them. With the promise in mind, the people have given her the chance she desperately sought. They showed their allegiance towards her by smearing themselves and others with green abir (powder colour).

This colour of Green has the potential to become the new colour of Bengal. Green symbolizes prosperity and environment. Truly, there is now a new environment in and around Kolkata. The wind of change is expected to give back the trees their original colour. Expectations are on a very high pedestal. Rise in employment opportunities, growth in industries, beneficial agrarian sector, decrease in crime rates and elimination of the maoists are a few of the things expected from the new government. In other words, the people are expecting the government to give a green signal to restart the stalled economic machinery of the state.

Trinamool means grassroots which has the colour of green. Green was the agenda at Singur. The time has come for the party to mean its name. Bengal needs a complete makeover and it is now the task of Trinamool and Mamata Banerjee to paint the state Green. If they succeed in their endeavour then the Leftists are sure to turn Green with envy. Colours of politics have therefore a much deeper meaning.