Kolkata: Communist Patriarch Jyoti Basu Dead


IANS

Kolkata, Jan 17: Jyoti Basu, veteran Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) leader who was West Bengal chief minister for 23 years and straddled Indian politics for over six decades, died here at 11.47 am Sunday after a prolonged illness. He was 95.



"Jyoti Basu is no more," said party state secretary Biman Bose.

On January 1, 2010, Basu was admitted to AMRI hospital, Salt Lake after feeling unwell. As of 16 January 2010, his health condition was 'extremely' critical and was suffering from multiple organ failure. Latest by 17th, January, 2010, he was put on all possible life support system. 'The cardiovascular and the heamodynamic system, the lungs and the kidneys-all are almost failing' as said by the Doctors of AMRI.

He was a Marxist to the core who was equally at home with bourgeois democracy and capitalist ideas. If destiny had been on his side, Jyoti Basu would have become India's prime minister in 1996.

But that was not to be, thanks to his dogmatic Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) which ruled that no one from its ranks could head a multi-party regime that would not be able to implement Marxist programmes.

Basu swallowed the diktat silently. But within months he questioned the wisdom of fellow Stalinists and described the party's decision not to form the centre-Left United Front government as a "historic blunder".

That perhaps was the only time the very 'bhadralok', or gentleman, Basu broke the CPI-M's strict rules of discipline. He got away with it because he was the prima donna of Indian Communism, a product of aristocracy who embraced Marx in London and became the longest serving chief minister in the country.

By the time he gave up the reins of West Bengal in 2000 citing health grounds, Basu had been the chief minister for an incredible 23 uninterrupted years. He was widely respected across the political spectrum. Many a prime minister consulted him on matters of national importance.

Of course he had his critics. But for someone married to an ideology that has had few takers in India, he was one of the most successful politicians in the world's largest democracy.

Born July 8, 1914, in Kolkata, the son of a doctor was schooled in Loreto and St. Xavier's. He graduated from the Presidency College of Kolkata with an honours in English in 1935.

He then studied law in London where he came in contact with the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB), the alma mater of many an Indian Communist. Basu's first track in politics was his efforts to organize the Indian students studying in United Kingdom, mostly for the cause of Indian Independence.

Basu's early associates included the veteran British Communists Harry Pollitt, Rajani Palme Dutt and Ben Bradley. In London, he joined the India League and the Federation of Indian Students in Great Britain.

On returning to India, Basu joined the then undivided Communist Party of India (CPI) and in 1944, three years before the British Raj ended, started working among railway workers.

He got into electoral politics in 1946, getting elected to the Bengal Legislative Assembly.

Winning elections then became a habit for Basu. After independence, he was repeatedly elected to the West Bengal legislature, starting in 1952.

When the CPI split in 1964 parallel to the Sino-Soviet break-up, Basu became one of the nine founding politburo members of the more radical CPI-M.

West Bengal was in turmoil in the late 1960s, with a section of the CPI-M revolting in a small West Bengal village known as Naxalbari and igniting a bloody Maoist movement.

Two shaky and shortlived governments took office in West Bengal in 1967 and 1969, and Basu was the deputy chief minister -- his first stint as an administrator.

It was in June 1977 that Basu became the West Bengal chief minister heading a multi-party Left Front government, a post he himself decided to give up almost a quarter century later.

Under Basu's leadership, the CPI-M expanded its social base in villages. His government brought about sweeping agrarian reforms, devolved power to rural bodies or panchayats and undertook rapid agricultural development.

The Marxists soon developed a well-oiled election machinery that ensured victory in one election after another, stunning friends and foes alike and becoming a rarity of sorts in democratic politics around the world.

Basu led the Marxists to power five times in a row in West Bengal.

Along with his scholarly finance minister Ashok Mitra, he vigorously sought more powers for the states. He also played a key role in bringing together non-Congress state governments and parties in the 1980s.

He took an active part in the confabulations in the run up to the formation of non-Congress governments in 1989, 1996, 1997 and 2004, in the process becoming a national figure.

His tenure as chief minister was not without allegations of corruption, especially against his industrialist son. But these remained just allegations.

While the agrarian reforms in West Bengal were hailed as a model across the country, Basu was widely faulted for his poor showing in various other sectors including industry, education and health.

Even after relinquishing office as chief minister in 2000, Basu continued to play a big role in the CPI-M and Indian politics till repeated bouts of illness finally took their toll.

On the down side, in January 2006 the Supreme Court of India issued notices to Basu and others in connection with land allotments in Salt Lake.

Basu not to be cremated; body to be given to Kolkata hospital 


Kolkata, Jan 17 (IANS) Marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu will not be cremated but his body will be handed over Tuesday to a state-run hospital as he had donated his body, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) announced Sunday.

Basu's body, now preserved in a funeral parlour, Peace Heaven, will be taken in a procession Tuesday to state secretariat Writers' Building and then to the West Bengal assembly, where it will be kept for the public to pay homage.

Finally, the body will be handed over to the SSKM Hospital, said CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose.

Basu died in Kolkata Sunday.

  

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Comment on this article

  • alwine, shirva/ksa

    Wed, Jan 20 2010

    what is great about joythi basu. he destroyed west bengal.shame on him & his party.

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  • Deven Sequeira, Pune - Doha

    Mon, Jan 18 2010

    I respect his political leadership because unlike other politicians who ate and drank money and saw to their own selves, he had the best ideals and never pocketed public funds like the rest. In this respect, we lost a great leader and God rewarded him with a very long life. Very few people live to the age of 96. May your sould rest in peace.

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  • Donfrank, Mangalore, Abu Dhabi

    Mon, Jan 18 2010

    India lost a great leader. We all admire Mr. Jyoti Basu and he was a role model for millions of Indians. We salute you Comrade Basu.

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  • Hashim Puttur, Puttur

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    Yes, a great loss for India....

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  • Abu Juber, Dammam KSA

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    RED SALUTE DEAR COMRADE

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  • Shahab, Mangalore

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    A great statesman and a politician who was never afraid of telling the truth . Sadly his death has left a loss in Indian politics which cannot be filled . May his soul rest in peace .

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  • Salian, Mukka/Mangalore/MCT

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    The Great Mr Basu was the one of best Indian politician ever, Sikhs will never forget the security what you provided for them in 1984. May his soul rest in peace.

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  • Manoj, Mangalore

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    Basu was a saviour of democracy and kept communalists under control. Pray Bharath Matha gives birth to many 'Basu's.

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  • ISMAIL K PERINJE, PERINJE/YANBU-KSA

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    India lost a true respected politician and staemen,.May his rest in peace.

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  • HABEEB, DUBAI

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    Great loss for India,

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  • MOHAMMED RIZWAN MANCHIL, MANGALORE

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    BHARATH MATHA LOST HER GREAT SON. MR. BASU WAS AN ASSET TO THE NATION AND ABOVE ALL A WONDERFUL PERSONALITY.MR. BASU WHO HAD SERVED THE PEOPLE WITH DEDICATION AND COMMITMENT, WAS A MASS LEADER AND HIS SERVICE FOR WEST BENGAL AND THE COUNTRY CAN NEVER BE FORGOTTEN. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN ETERNAL PEACE.

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  • JOY CASTELINO, MOODUBELLE/DUBAI

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    It is a great loss not only for Communists but for our country. Jyothi Basu is undoubtedly a great leader this country has produced. He was a man of ideology and never carved for dirty politics. May his soul rest in peace.

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  • Jaimini P.B., Manipal,Sharjah

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    My knowledge about Jyoti Basu is limited. I know that he ruled Bengal for a very long period.Thats it. But I am shocked to read readers comment in Times of India. Many people expressed in TOI that villain died finally who was a Chinese agent & Good for Bengal and India.

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  • Barbara Bayer, Muscat, Oman

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    INDEED A GREAT SON OF INDIA, A PERSONALITY OF INDIAN POLITICS WHO CANNOT BE REPLACED. THROUGH HIS DEATH INDIA HAS LOST A TREASURE REAREST TO FIND. MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE. MAY GOD BLESS HIS FAMILY MEMBERS & GIVE THEM STRENGTH TO BEAR THE LOSS OF THE DEARLY DEPARTED SOUL. THANKS TO DAIJI WORLD FOR THE NEWS AT LIGHTENING SPEED!!!

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  • Prem Moras, mangalore

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    A great politician, who ruled W Bengal for more than 40 years. May his soul rest in peace.

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  • AMAR NATHAL, MANGALORE

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    Indeed one of the greatest leaders of India. We need to pray that some of our half-baked political goondas learn decency from him. It is a great loss to India but hope his living example would inspire many to work sincerely and genuinely for the masses.

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  • Louis , Udupi

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    A great Human Being and a Fine Political gentleman who held together a party for decades. Wish the communists learn to follow the lead he gave them in his life time. May Jyothi Da`s Soul Rest in Peace. Amen.

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  • Bulsam, Mangalore

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    May his soul rest in eternal peace and let us be proud that we had a selfless leader like him among other opportunistic politicians in those days. Whether his ideology was acceptable to all is still debatable but definitely he was a leader of the downtrodden.

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  • Stalin Misquith, M'Lore/Bahrain

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    BASU, WILL BE REMEMBERED FOR HIS PERSONALITY. MR. BASU..MAY YOU LIVE LONG......

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  • Shareef Moideen, Mangalore/Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    May his soul rest in eternal peace. We grieve the demise of Jyoti Basu. Condolences to the family and party.

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  • Saleem GH,Amchinadka, Abu Dhabi/ Puttur

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    Ideal Poltical Leader of India.. May his soul rest in peace..

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  • shaik abdulla, Suwon south korea /Bangalore

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    Great losq to India.He might be a villain for fascist but he is hero for all true Indians.

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  • HENRY MISQUITH, MANGALORE/BAHRAIN

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    Really it's a heart breaking news. let his memory be an inspiration to politicians of India in future.

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  • bhavna, manglore/muscat

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    A perfect leader and a gentleman.... may his soul rest in peace

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  • Alex, mangalore

    Sun, Jan 17 2010

    ADIEU TO A GRAT SON OF INDIA, A TOWERING PERSONALITY OF INDIAN POLITICS.MAY HIS SOULREST IN PEACE.KUDOS TO U DAIJI WORLD FOR BEING QUICK IN GIVING THE NEWS.

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Title: Kolkata: Communist Patriarch Jyoti Basu Dead



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