No Demi-Gods Please

Even Jyoti Basu would have rejected how the CPM is trying to glorify him.

Marxists loudly proclaim their abhorrence of deification of mortals; they tout this as one quality that sets them apart from other political parties. But, all rules change when it comes to Jyoti Basu, who was Bengal’s Chief Minister for 23 long years. 

Indian Marxists may be entitled to their view of Basu as a statesman, a towering politician of national stature, whether others concur with them or not, but their efforts to deify him are something that do not stand the test of their own stated principles.

The West Bengal government has decided to name the swanky Rajarhat New Town near Kolkata as Jyoti Basu Nagar. Marxists also plan to erect a statue of Basu at this township and build a museum in his name. Basu will thus become the only Marxist to be so deified. The CPM argues that if Salt Lake City, built by Bidhan Chandra Ray, can be named Bidhannagar, Rajarhat New Town should also be named after Basu, who had conceived it. The lack of logic in such an argument should be apparent to these Marxists themselves. Next they will be justifying giant statues of Basu on the Mayawati model. 

The move, however, is antithetical to Basu’s own stated ideals. He always considered the deification and state honouring of individuals a ‘bourgeois’ practice.