Change or Not to Change?

BY RAJIB KUMAR

Denizens of Kolkata stand at the crossroads of the greatest political decision making of our times

As Kolkata goes to the polls in a couple of days time, Bengal/Kolkata denizens are at the crossroads of a big decision making amidst a promotional cocktail of remixed Rabindrasangeet, SMSes, Social Media appeals etc.etc.: Change or Not to Change?

The promoters and adversaries of the Change Model are close on the operating lines of a business framework; perhaps more so as globally we’re more economics driven than ever before virtually on every facet of our lives. Come to think of it…even the institution of Marriages supposedly made in heavens today encompasses financial considerations in the very first place for possible execution.

What we are doing in business under the ambit of Social Responsibility, we are being repeatedly reminded by operating and executing officers that it ain’t a luxury anymore. Ironically, while we leave no stone unturned to ridicule the politician, what politicians have been practicing traditionally, that is, “integrating society into strategy” is what businesses are trying to do validated by realism! Now whether this is a role reversal (with the profit center conceptualization of politics) is another interesting area of future research.

The last time political change happened in this state (1977), the late 60s/early 70s child’s parents (call it the hippies or Marijuana times if you please) have been deft at keeping our mind and soul away from the tormenting turmoil which necessitated or made it obvious. As an example while this author is afresh with images of his first day at school in 1974, crying and struggling to get out of the “cage” called classroom, there aren’t any of a new configuration taking over Bengal. One could, reasonably argue that the percentile component of these memories is also a reflection of the value system of the family in question at that point of time and their preferences and lifestyle.

While parents at this end were opinionated (just like any other out of Bengal) about their political inclinations but politicized they weren’t. Perhaps it had to do with their background. Though my eldest paternal uncle participated in the freedom movement almost jeopardizing my grandfather’s government job in the process, my father, a first generation businessman who “cycled” his entrepreneurial wealth in the one time Sheffield of the East, Howrah i.e. and my mom was a granddaughter of Kolkata’s leading Rice Baron.

Business realities, rather than political and economic theory inculcated a sense of balance and tact in handling political thinking and its challenging manifestations and the skill acquired at this end in this regard is some ways a genetic gift.

I also have vivid images of my mom’s emphatic involvement with the Young Women’s Christian Association in the 70s and early 80s but I hardly remember much from the disturbed 70s…whether the fallout of the Bangladesh War or for that matter the bloody phase of the Naxalite and Trade Union Movement.

My personal perception on these have been largely built around the work of Satyajit Ray or Mrinal Sen and through available literature. Yet such was the importance of the phase…it went on to establish a political monopoly that was to become an international case study on sustainability of an ideology that too within the “constraints” of parliamentary democracy. More importantly at the micro level it was going to have its impact on my and my contemporaries’ being.

One cannot but be a little nostalgic as we talk of change in this political equation at today’s crossroads. Those born in the late 60s and early 70s have been witness to varied frequencies of oscillatory movements of change.

I am however glad to see that we are challenging conventional wisdom with greater ease today. Political manifestos according to a noted columnist in the Hindustan Times has too been a great work of research and after thought, high on intellectual value and do-ability rather than being mere political slogans.

Unnoticed by many the infiltration of the educated young and diverse people from all walks of life into both the political groupings is a blessing for future Bengal. If the so called “Change” happens or it doesn’t this diversity and mature youthfulness shall take care of post result dynamics. I see many of my students going public with their political preferences on the social media…this reminds me of college days in the United States where students would be freely campaigning for their preferred candidate without being cause of anyone’s eyesore.

To be fair to the young people today and no matter how much we try to find fault in their personalities and executions you got to give it that the GenNext kid supersedes us on the speed of perception. They are way ahead of us when it comes to intuitive anticipation of their circle of influence. If we look at Focus, Flexibility, Speed, Span of Attention and Memory, one could argue that while on Focus and Span of Attention they are suspect (thanks largely to the expansion of the environmental universe), they score highly on the others and that shall be handy in the days ahead.

Whichever combination takes over from here on, the reality is none can hence afford to ride piggyback on its past/historical achievements. Just like the economic conditions today necessitate that earning and spending be inseparable with the scope of piling up of savings to take care of futures (model practiced by our fathers and forefathers) dwindling fast; political permutations and combinations too require continuous achievement to create a sustainable external value service to its client, the citizen.

Peter Drucker was never so relevant in Bengal Politics like he is today.
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The views expressed above are of the author’s and do not necessarily purport to constitute an official position of Offline, Material World or their team members.



(OFFLINE SPECIAL IMPACTS, APRIL 2011, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED)