Showing solidarity in a Gandhian Way by the West Bengal Governor

A high profile personality considered himself and behaved like a common man. Hard to believe? Or difficult to understand?

These days are known for power cuts everywhere. The West Bengal Government is not an exception in India. But, what was done by the West Bengal Governor Gopalakrishna Gandhi was unique, inimitable and difficult to understand. Being aware of the fact that the people of Kolkata are suffering from the ordeal of  frequent power cuts, in order to show his concern for the people who suffer from power cuts, the Governor had ordered for voluntary power cuts in the Raj Bhavan, his official residence, between 0130 pm and 0230 pm and 0600 pm to 0700 pm.It was considered as a rare show of solidarity in a Gandhian Way of sharing peoples concern.

However, the Governor’s showdown was not taken in a good spirit by the party people in West Bengal.The CPI(M), the ruling party in West Bengal was not amused but rather embarrassed by the Governor’s show.

Criticising Governor’s well-intentioned gesture, senior CPI(M) leader and state CITU president Shyamal Chakraborty, said that of course the common man is suffering on many counts. Therefore one should skip a meal everyday as a mark of solidarity with those people who did not have enough to eat. Of course he should give up the palatial building and shift to a smaller flat and he should also travel by town busses to share the daily grind of the common man.

 The state transport minister Subash Chakraborty said that he welcomed Mr.Gandhi’s ‘self-sacrifice’ and added that problems are not solved with such moves

The CPI(M) state secretary Mr.Biman Bose said that the Governor’s act is motivated and also questioned the need of  a Governor in a state and the gubernatorial post’s relevance. The post of a Governor is nothing but a ‘ white elephant’ and this British legacy should be removed once for all from all states.

Though the action of the West Bengal Governor might have been taken as a show of solidarity, it is rather unwarranted and will not be taken in a good spirit. As pointed out by the CPI(M) party men, whether a palatial building known as Raj Bhavan  is necessary to a Governor who is known for his Gandhian ideals and style of functioning. Certainly Mahatma would not have cherished the idea of living in a palatial building like RajBhavan, eventhough it may be the official residence of the Governor .