DOUBLE TALK Nidhu Bhusan Das "What is double talk?" asked my young neighbour the other day.I said,"A redoubtable Marxist Mr. Biman Basu remarked Congress is not a patriotic party."
,"What!"the young man wondered. "Why are you so stunned?"I asked and said this happens in West Bengal politics which is dominated by wise persons like Mr.Basu.They are deft in intellectual exercise,and have the rarest of the rare quality and ability to bend their thought pragmatically.You may mistake their pragmatism as double talk.But I would urge you not to misunderstand these wise and honourable persons of politics.The latest news is that they are waiting eagerly for an electoral alliance with the same Congress party to wrest power from Trinamool Congress in the ensuing Assembly Polls. "Will they not be strange bed fellows in that case?" asked the naive youngster. I could not but laugh at his ignorance of the ways of the ace politicians and their power game. "You are really so innocent,my boy.Don't know politics is the art of possibilities." "But they are Marxist!" he exclaimed. I could not blame him for the ignorance.He is young and tend to live in a make-believe world.He does not understand that Marxism and Gandhism are stock words and gets only lip service for winning support when felt necessary considering the naivete of the mass."Will Congress accept them as partners?"he asked in all his innocence. "Congress leaders are too eager to make
their hitherto bete noire friend because they are leaders who have lost touch with the mass.They cannot win elections without winning pity of other parties.You will see a galaxy of leaders draped in Gandhi attire but few workers at the grassroot level.So, let us talk angling," I tried to divert to diversion.He showed enthusiasm.We caught two mid sized Hilsa from the Fulbari Barrage. Don't you believe?Ask any honourable politician,and he will confirm.You know politics is a kind of angling.
,"What!"the young man wondered. "Why are you so stunned?"I asked and said this happens in West Bengal politics which is dominated by wise persons like Mr.Basu.They are deft in intellectual exercise,and have the rarest of the rare quality and ability to bend their thought pragmatically.You may mistake their pragmatism as double talk.But I would urge you not to misunderstand these wise and honourable persons of politics.The latest news is that they are waiting eagerly for an electoral alliance with the same Congress party to wrest power from Trinamool Congress in the ensuing Assembly Polls. "Will they not be strange bed fellows in that case?" asked the naive youngster. I could not but laugh at his ignorance of the ways of the ace politicians and their power game. "You are really so innocent,my boy.Don't know politics is the art of possibilities." "But they are Marxist!" he exclaimed. I could not blame him for the ignorance.He is young and tend to live in a make-believe world.He does not understand that Marxism and Gandhism are stock words and gets only lip service for winning support when felt necessary considering the naivete of the mass."Will Congress accept them as partners?"he asked in all his innocence. "Congress leaders are too eager to make
their hitherto bete noire friend because they are leaders who have lost touch with the mass.They cannot win elections without winning pity of other parties.You will see a galaxy of leaders draped in Gandhi attire but few workers at the grassroot level.So, let us talk angling," I tried to divert to diversion.He showed enthusiasm.We caught two mid sized Hilsa from the Fulbari Barrage. Don't you believe?Ask any honourable politician,and he will confirm.You know politics is a kind of angling.
