An Analysis on The Decline of Leftist Movement

 

Left movement has its chequered history for a pretty long time. Now we find that the movement has lost its pristine glory. There might be various reasons behind it. But this writer is not at all delving into intricate details pertaining to it. Otherwise the character of my analysis will lose its lustre. Basically the motto of the movement was to upgrade the oppressed and downward level sections of our societies. Now we find further decaying of our social, political, economic and cultural aspects. This is very shocking for us. But sorrowfully speaking our hands are fully tied. All around the globe left movement is in dire states. The same thing we are facing all over South Asian Sub-Continent. In this regard I wish focus upon my column on two closer and cordial nations of South Asian Sub-Continent, India and Bangladesh.

In order to be deeply involved into my subject. I find that there is a sharp decline of dedicated leaders of the movement. But let’s find out why there is lack of dedicated leaders in the Left movement. Basically we must know that what actually the term, ‘leader’ is referred to in common man’s parlance.
Thus the said term has been referred to as such. That the person who leads and commands any types of group for betterment of the nation or corporate or social growth. In this regard, the term leader clearly indicates leader of a political party. As per the subject matter concerned the issue is regarding the decline of left movement.

All around the globe we evince from close quarters that the left movement is on declining trend. It is true to our heart and mind that there is no real leader in the left movement. From available historical data we find in countries under East Europe, there was mass convergence of communist movement. Off late we find everything has been perished and thus been covered under the debris.

There was a time in the history of India’s freedom struggle. When the Left leaders sacrificed their life for the welfare of the people and liberate the countries from the throes of colonial woes. Later on during the days of liberation struggle of Bangladesh (erstwhile East Pakistan), the role of left movement was truly a productive one as per the way modern Bangladesh was liberated from the aggression of erstwhile West Pakistani rulers.

Now touching upon let movement in India and Bangladesh, it seems to our mind utterly dismaying and remorse. During the past ten to fifteen years’ time, we find that in India the left movement is on the verge of getting fragmented. Those who were trying to salvage the halcyon glory of left movement in India have nearly given up all hopes. In various assembly elections we find that people like Sujan Chakravarty, Asim Dasgupta, etc various others have lost their electoral battle. Even person like Somenath Chatterjee, Ashok Mitra etc lost all hopes in their endeavour to salvage the prestige of left parties. Even former chief minister of West Bengal Buddhadeb Bhattacharyya has completely withdrawn himself from the legacies of left bandwagon. The last named is literally struggling between life and death. It was two to three years back during the last assembly elections’ of West Bengal Left parties tried to rope in Meenakshi Mukherjee but she was given nomination in such a complicated constituency like Nandigram (East Midnapur district), which was absolutely wrong anticipation on the part of Alimuddin Street. Instead Meenakshi would have been in a sound position she was given nomination in Purulia or Bankura districts of WB. This kind of wrong interpretation has cost the party dearly. The same problem was faced in another North Eastern state of Tripura.

From another angle it can be analysed that the financial strength of Left Front has grossly diminished. On account of this reason there were many hard-core Left activists who flocked to TMC and BJP and NDA alliance at the Centre. All around this vast nation there is not a single instance by which we may assume that left movement in India will rejuvenate again. The common people have lost all hopes upon left parties.

There is a sharp danger looming on in India inperspective to erosion of left culture. Now we find that there are lot of social parasites have lunged upon the mind and heart of left minded citizens of India. On account of decline of left movement in India, we find that following failures have cropped up among us. Among all the above, some of the common ones are stated as such, erosion of moral and social values, communal harmony, delineation with the  masses, lack of cohesion and unity among different groups, failure to comprehend properly Indian ground reality and finally lacking in group activities.

On account of the above failures, there might arise the possibility of cropping of perennial problems. Such as, development works will get badly hampered, organisational capability has become badly weakened, there has been dearth of hard-core grassroots level workers, left parties top level personnel does not have the capability to search prospective candidates to lead the parties in the forefront and finally  the trust of the common citizens are totally lost.

It is a danger signal for the rational minded Indians. In the just gathering of opposition groups ‘INDIA’ the involvement of Left parties among some virulent leaders badly cut a sorry figure among Indians. Indian nationals despite being penchant towards Left ideology but seems to lost all hopes and aspirations towards.

In the upcoming days of our life, I find that absence of Left movement in India, have badly dismantled our socio-cultural fabric, development work will be vitiated, communal harmony will be badly hampered and finally human mental makeup will come to a grinding halt.

Now the impact of globalisation has been dearly felt in India. The younger generations have moulded their temperaments towards materialistic mental makeup. Instead of looking out for a sophisticated views of life, rather we observe deleterious views of life. This is highly distressing. Those who were hard-core leftist during our liberation struggles and later on post-independence phase for two to three decades, were deeply erudite on common issues. Now we find that politicians hardly read books. Rather they are running after materialism.

Lastly I would infer a hypothesis that as entire globe is changing fast. I feel that ideologies of Left parties should retrace back once again. Even the younger generations who willing to be a leftist thought oriented now gradually moving towards ultra-right forces. Even in Indian capital city, New Delhi, Jawaharlal Nehru University which was once upon a time left bastion. Now become an archetypal ultra-rightist venue of Indian academia. Very shocking and dismaying phenomenon no doubt.

Coming to Bangladesh phenomenon, I find left parties have badly squandered their pristine ideology. There are no common goals found in them. Always on the mood to focus personal goals in life. Their attitude seems to be very much like India. In this regard, if my online readers find it despicable then I remain ever apologetic to them. I feel actual truth should be expressed to the readers. In the just concluded national elections of Bangladesh, the way they reacted during each television talk show was very shocking and dismaying. 

They side-lined with communal and opportunistic forces. As AL government under the dynamic leadership of Sheikh Hasina Wazed performed remarkably from the year 2018-2023. Despite some flaws in them which is always treated as common ones. Like India, there should be proper team work, development of young leaders, focusing upon common goals and aim for development and techno economic development along with employment like India, should be regarded as the vital yardstick for the development of this rising South Asian nation.

Summing up the above discourse, one point will always strike our mind. That left movement in India and Bangladesh should be rejuvenated once again. Though both nations are developed, but more is expected for the younger generations in the upcoming days of our life.


Sujayendra Das is a columnist
based in Kolkata, India.