Left Front Rule in West Bengal : Genesis, Growth and Decay

This monograph is based on the report of a study team, which undertook an on-the-spot study of the state of good governance and democratic functioning in West Bengal in 1997. This monograph documents the first-ever objective enquiry into the genesis, growth and decay of the Left Front rule in West Bengal.The state of West Bengal has its own basket of gains and losses. Many observers feel that it has been lacking in all the key areas of development. An outdated ideology and ruthless implementation are all that weighs on the mind of its ruling classes. Rambhau Mhalgi Prabodhini’s study team led by Dr. Ashok Modak, and his seven colleagues drawn from various disciplines, intensively toured the state for a four-month period spread over the years 1996 and 1997. Their findings, summarizing the political history of West Bengal, the rise and growth of the Left, its unprincipled ascendancy to political power and the nature and extent of the terrorism it unleashed to hang on to power, to say the least, are shocking. Indian intelligentsia and the media, being largely sympathetic to the Left Front, has refused even take cognizance of the suffering of the people in West Bengal owing to their, rather habitual, support to the Front. This timely publication is an eye opener to all those who still hope that Marxism is a panacea for the suffering & humanity.