What is so special about Bengal? Is it the lush green countryside or the rich cultural heritage, the echoes of Rabindra sangeet, soft lilting and enchanting or is the earthy nature of its people. I can’t possibly figure out, but all the same there is something magical about this land. Maybe it is the spirituality of Ramkrishna and Vivekanand or our childhood fascination with the freedom fighters associated with Bengal led by the enigmatic Netaji Subhash and the likes of Khudiram Bose. It may even be Hooghly and the fish which is the staple not just diet but even the topic for conversation. Can we imagine the history of Indian Cinema without Satyajit Ray, or the scientific temper without Jagdish Bose or Satyendra Bose, or Classical dance and music of Uday Shankar-Ravi Shankar duo, literature of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore?
The people here are very passionate about the causes they espouse whether it is Missionaries of Charity, Communism or even Soccer clubs, Mohan Bagan or East Bengal. Bengalis are fanatics for soccer, the rivalry of Mohan Bagan and East Bengal and their fans is legendary and even a Saurav Ganguly at his peak could not make a dent on this soccer craze. Pujo is sacrosanct, a time reserved not for any ordinary festivities, it goes on for a week, preparations commence may be even a month or so earlier. The whole of Kolkata comes to a virtual standstill, as though in a a trance, meditative, immersed in the Bhakti of Ma Kali.
Bengal was the pioneer when India awoke from its millennia of slumber. The reforms under Raja Ram Mohan Roy ushered in a new era when the age old social evils were addressed for the first time. It received support from the British, which was a surprise as they were not here on a reform agenda nor for any philanthropic mission.They could have simply trained their babus who were their acolytes, without interfering with the contentious issues such as Sati or widow remarriage. May be they felt highlighting these evils would lead to en masse conversion to Christianity thus fulfilling their proselytising mission as well the proverbial white man’s burden. Whatever may have been the reason Bengal led the way for rest of India to follow .
So, was it their superior intellect which ultimately led them into the morass of today or over the years the bhadralok simply faded away leaving the field open to the scoundrels. Was the onset of communism in a way responsible or was it the natural course of events, what goes up must come down, almost sinusoidal life cycle. I have often wondered, what if the communists had not wrested power from the Congress in the 70s. Would Bengal have been where Maharashtra or Gujarat is today ..may be ..may not be! The entrepreneurship of Gujaratis, Marwaris is legendary and in contrast Bengalis were considered more academic, delving into literature, spirituality etc. So may be we would have had the scientists and poets who could have led from the front and guided this nation through the tumultuous years of confusion of the 70s.
It is not a coincidence that two of the most literate and politically aware states ushered in ‘democratic communism’ a paradox in itself. So Communism became the opium for these masses, with due apologies to Karl Marx.What if Netaji had survived the air crash and returned to India to provide the nation an alternative to Nehru right in the 50s. In the death of Netaji and prior to that, Gandhiji’s disapproval of his philosophy left Bengal rudderless, without any leader of national stature.
But we are digressing, Bengali middle class by and large continues to pursue art and literature; so is their silent acquiescence responsible for the state of affairs today, a la the Moslem middle class all over the world. No by no means am I comparing Islamic fundamentalism to communism. Although communists have not been in power for more than a decade now here, but their goons are very much there, majority having simply switched sides.
May be the time has come for its resurrection… the dark period is over. A sort of Rip Van Winkle, who has just woken up from his stupor, after nearly half a century. Some flicker of hope, light at the end of the tunnel…May the glory of Bengal be rekindled! Amar Sonar Bangla!
26 thoughts on “AMAR SONAR BANGLA”
Great read Sir. The essence of Bengal has been well chronicled. Hope is the antonym of despair and every five years it has been Hope. So let’s hope for the best
Brilliant piece Suyash. Bengal had fallen to the ‘whims’ of the Commies and then the fancies of Didi. A hugely gifted and talented people waiting for opportunities. 👍
I will be discussing on similar lines on हिन्दी YouTube channel live may be tomorrow, your article is through provocing and has address the issue well.
You have very nicely and beautifully summarised the history, culture , politics and the contibution of great Bengalis in Nation making. A wonderful piece of writing. Keep it up.
wonderful piece. Takes me back 50 years when I felt the energy of Bengal first hand. I would travel to Kolkata every month from Kharagpur where I did my BTech. The sounds and smells of Bengal are still fresh and vivid.
I sincerely hope and pray that Bengal turns around and bengali folk enjoy their freedom once again.
I think they themselves are at fault.If you surrender to scoundrels you will be punished for it.Geeta updesh is very clear “annaye karena aur aanye sahena dono paap
Excellent piece of writing! Loved the flawless potryal of Bengal’s accomplishments in various unconventional fields. Indeed their intellect remains unmatched and unconquered!
very nicely narrated and presented.
A very well written article, Suyash. Bengalis were on the forefront of a fledgling Indian Air Force which came into being in 1932. Amongst the reputed pioneers were Air Chief Marshal Subroto Mukherjee, OBE and Wing Commander KK Majumdar (Jumbo), DFC **, inter alia. Both were trained at Cranwell, England in the 1930s, and their exploits during World War 2 were legendary. Subroto Mukherjee is called the father of Indian Air Force. Jumbo was an exceptional pilot who won a Bar to his DFC in the European theatre during World War 2, wherein he flew over German territory to bring back crucial photos of the Falaise Gap, which enabled the Allied Commanders to plan their offensive.
Very nice account of Sonar Bangla. Excellent and comprehensive narration, as always. May Bengal regain its lost glory.
Keep churning – waiting for your next one
Well said!
Sonar Bangla was indeed sonar once upon a time. However, the rot set in over half a century ago, around the time we were born. Since then it has been a down hill slalom all the way. Todays Bangali can only remember the past glory and despair.
However, this new mandate will hopefully turn things around and set it back on the path of Sonar Bangla again. This mandate is just not a political mandate. It is a yearning for reseting the disaster that is Bengal for over half a century. The road is going to be hard, very hard and through many a political and religious minefield that is Bengal. The new Govt has an uphill battle on its hands.
Excellent writeup, and a topic of great relevance. Bengalis or Bong Bondhus are one of the best behaved components of mixed, cosmopolitan societies; literally leading by example. Literate, cultured, co-operative always assisting & contributing….that it becomes difficult to put fingure on exactly what lead to the downfall of West Bengal! would like to believe that change in political readership will also usher in positive changes into the ways public at large in West Bengal conducts itself. ‘Shonaarr Bangla’ is what India awaits within it’s folds…..Joy Maa Kaali….. Aayo Bhadro Bengali
Great write up Sir. The newly liberated common people in Bengal are saying that they have only now achieved true independence after having been subjugated to continued misrule and unimaginable communal terror by successive Congress, Communists and Trinamool Govts, for the last eight decades since the British left ; spine chilling / gory stories of which are fast tumbling out in the news each day. I am sure Bengal will become Sonar Bangla once again with the renewed spirit and zest of the people.
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You have very nicely presented the past glory of Bengal. This glory was tarnished by previous rulers,. As you have rightly said Time keeps on changing.The present govt will definitely try to bring it’s past glory.
Great reading Suyash 👍🙏
Perhaps the real issue is not that Bengal has become weak, but that post-independence India never fully resolved her internal dilemma and tension between cultural sophistication and economic competitiveness alongside intellectualism and execution.
Compliments for one more outstanding articulation.
Only state to have Himalayas and the seas at both ends . Similarly it is the state to have gone from lofty heights in literature , education. and industrialization to the present zilch in every dept .
Two of our states are similar in the steep dip . Punjab and of course WB . No marks for guessing why …
Brilliant as always sir . Any Bengali will be proud of this blog.
Suyesh, well brought out. Sonar Bangla is what we are missing. It’s one thing to come to power, but to get the state back on track will require Herculean effort. The real task starts now. Change of attitude is what is reqd. Strategically, the state also has a major role to play. Hope the situation changes for better.
Wonderfully composed. The essence of Bengal and its culture has been very accurately portrayed. A nicely written article.
In politics more things change, more they remain the same. Bengal had Congress, Communists, Trinamul and now BJP. If Communists had goons then so did Trinamul and what’s the guarantee that the BJP won’t have them. Change can hardly ever be brought by political leadership. They have their own political constraints. It’s the society. If people want to change they will change.
Bengalis are known for their fish fetish. No wonder they are so brainy evident from their versatile language.
Hope prevails!
well written article suyash. Being born and brought up in Calcutta, I could feel more connected