Sorry Ma’am, but I am not a Maoist – Open letter to chief minister

Question Time Didi, organised by CNN-IBN at the Town Hall on Friday evening, was meant to be a platform for Mamata Banerjee to field questions from a cross-section of Calcuttans on the eve of her completing one year as chief minister. But less than 12 minutes and five questions into the event, Mamata stormed off, accusing some students of being “Maoists and CPM cadres”.

Taniya Bhardwaj, a Presidency University student whose question about the conduct of some of her ministers prompted Mamata to take off her lapel microphone and leave, writes a letter to her chief minister via The Telegraph:

Taniya Bhardwaj asking the question. Picture by Pradip Sanyal

Sorry Ma’am, but I am not a Maoist.

That is what you, the most important person in Bengal, labelled me at the CNN-IBN question-answer session on Friday at the Town Hall.

What exactly did I do to deserve this honour? I just asked you a question.

I had gone to the Town Hall on Friday just over a year after attending the CNN-IBN Battle for Bengal panel discussion at the same venue on April 21, 2011, and then a few days later, voting for change.

This is what I had written on April 28, 2011, in The Telegraph: “Changeathon 2011 is the most anticipated in recent history…. What makes it particularly exciting is the prospect of a revamped Calcutta ‘in 200 days’, the large number of fresh faces contesting the elections, the renewed hope for industrialisation…. I will vote with my fingers crossed — hoping for paribartan in the truest sense. And when I head to the polling booth, it won’t merely be a voting room, but more like a ‘changing room’.”

I had also written: “We want change, but are scared that we will move from a frying pan to a burning stove. Call me a sceptic, but I don’t see either political party as a positive alternative for Bengal.”

Sadly, a year later, you have proved — on national television — how right I was.

What did I do to earn the label of a Maoist and a CPM cadre from you?

I merely asked you whether affiliates of your party, specifically minister Madan Mitra and Arabul Islam, who wield power should act/should have acted more responsibly.

I, like many others, was greatly disturbed when Madan Mitra pronounced his own judgement on a rape victim before the police were done investigating. The Arabul Islam case, of course, is still making headlines.

I asked you what had been on the minds of most people around me, people who had voted for paribartan. Is this what we expect of our leaders? The ones who set examples and who people follow. This is all that I wanted to know.

What I got to know, instead, was that in Bengal today, asking a question can be equivalent to a Maoist act.

You also spoke of democracy. The answers you gave to the questions you took before mine were sprinkled with words like “people”, “democracy”, “Bengal”. But one of the most important features of a true democracy, which I have learnt as a student of political science, is the freedom of expression. This freedom means to be able to express oneself, to be able to question, to not have to mince words out of fear of authority, to be able to enjoy a chuckle or two at a cartoon about important public figures.

Sadly, there seems to have been a dramatic failure of this aspect of the democratic machinery in the state. And just like I won’t become a Maoist simply because you called me one, the state too won’t epitomise democracy unless it is truly democratic in all spheres.

All said and done, what you did was in haste, and it made me the centre of attention. And as you stomped off in fury, you automatically assumed the role of the spoilsport. Had you stayed on and heard us out, many of us would have left the Town Hall honestly believing that you are “a Chief Minister with a Difference’’. Instead….

You have spoken of the brain drain from Bengal so many times. I hold offers from the University College London and the School of Oriental and African Studies to study development and administration. I too will probably leave, and now you know the reason why.

From

A simple woman

(TANIYA BHARDWAJ)

(Presidency University, political science)

Courtesy: The Telegraph, Sunday , May 20 , 2012

Jemima Layzell’s compassion helps transform the lives of ten people

A clever and compassionate 13-year-old who died from a brain haemorrhage has saved the lives of eight people and will help another two regain their sight.

Lively and mature Jemima Layzell had already discussed death and said she wished to be an organ donor.

Jemima Layzell, who decided she wanted to be an organ donor before she died. Her wish has given a new lease of life to ten people

And yesterday her parents and Harvey and Sophy and sister Amelia, from Horton, near Ilminster, Somerset, detailed the lives transformed by Jemima’s generosity.

A five-year-old boy received her heart; a 14-year-old got her lungs; her liver was split between a 10-month-old boy and one aged five.

Two people, aged 24 and 19, received her kidneys; a 40-year-old received her pancreas and her small bowel went to change the life of a boy aged three and a half. Eye tissue will restore the sight of two people.

Mr and Mrs Layzell and Jemima’s grandparents told of their “beloved and courageous” daughter and granddaughter’s love of life. They said Jemima loved Taunton School and “regarded learning as an exciting part of life’s challenges and pleasures.”

She collapsed and lost consciousness at home on March 10 while her family prepared to celebrate her mother’s birthday.

Jemima’s family praised paramedics for their “exceptional” response: “swift, efficient and with genuine care.” They added: “We were also amazed by the dedication of all the staff at Musgrove Hospital, Frenchay Hospital, and the Bristol Children’s Hospital.”

They described Jemima, who died on March 14 as: “a brilliant artist” who “planned to be an author and left many poems, songs, stories and also serious thoughts about her life and the world’s problems and delights.

Extracts from her diary were read at her funeral and many people have suggested that her family publish them, something they are considering.

“Jemima was ambitious, but always gentle and modest, and she would be very proud to have her work published,” they said.

A memorial service will be held at Taunton School Chapel at 4pm on May 21.

Her family said: “It is so sad and we all miss her terribly and it seems such a waste of wonderful potential, but Jemima’s short life was so full of joy and achievement and finally such generosity – to be celebrated and always remembered.”

EXTRACT FROM JEMIMA’S DIARY

I’m still lying here. I’ve been thinking about what I want to be when I’m older. I used to want to be a princess or a spy! Then I began to think more realistically and wanted to be an artist. Then an architect now I would quite like to be an author and rather fancy the idea of being a fashion designer. But I guess I just don’t know yet. You see I don’t care for flashy cars, or expensive jewellery. I have no interest in designer clothes or magazines and heavy makeup. I won’t be drinking and gossiping in some bar, hanging out with guys I don’t know, totally obsessed with money and sex. I don’t care what others may say. I won’t be crying in some corner.

Courtesy: http://www.thisissomerset.co.uk

AN APPEAL

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