THE ECONOMIC WEEKLY August 27, 1955

From the Calcutta End Seven Eminent Bengalis SINCE August 15, Calcutta has in the chapter on football. It was West Bengal still reflect some of the been paying homage to seven in the fitness of things that Goshtha undesirable characteristics and inci­ eminent living Bengalis, Tribute is Pal presided on the day Tensing was dental consequences of British Rule. due to the West Bengal Pradesh honoured. There are reasons why local autho­ Congress Committee for taking the All the Bengalis mentioned so far rities are less developed in West initiative in this matter. There has are not only famous living Bengalis, Bengal than in Madras or Uttar been criticism of the Pradesh Con­ but can claim to be emminent living Pradesh. Similarly, there are rea­ gress Committee's selection of the Indians in their respective spheres sons why in Bombay there are J.Ps eminent Bengalis. Anyone who of life and activity. Suniti Chat­ among members of the public, but knows Bengal and Bengalis will not ter jee, President of the State Coun­ there are no Justices of the Peace be surprised that there has been cil, is certainly an eminent living among members of the public in criticism of the choice of the seven Bengali. His knowledge of linguis­ divided Bengal. British Raj was illustrious Bengalis. But the West tics is profound. He is not a poli­ unwilling to associate Bengalis with Bengal Pradesh Congress Com­ tician. But West Bengal's claim to the system of administration. Ben­ mittee's initiative is widely appre­ some of the areas in the neighbour­ galis reciprocated this feeling by ciated. ing States of Bihar, Orissa and non-co-operating with British Rule. That was the state of affairs in It started with the presentation of Assam are based on Suniti Bengal during British Raj. To-day, his biography to Dr. B. C. Roy. West Chatterjee's linguistic studies. Ben­ Dr. B. C. Roy's Government does not Bengal's Chief Minister has many gali is the most developed of the seem to be unwilling to associate critics. But even his critics will not Indian languages. But it is not the people with the administration. deny that he is an eminent living Suniti Chatterjee's fault that, in his But the Opposition in the State As­ Bengali. Dr. B. C. Roy is an eminent sphere of knowledge, no one can sembly, and. to some extent, the Bengali who has an all-India repu­ claim to be an eminent Indian un­ people, do not seem to like these tation as a physician and an admi­ less he is an authority on Sanskrit. experiments. It is doubtful whether nistrator. Jamini Roy is known Alauddin Khan is from Tripura. in any other State, the Government's not only throughout the country as Calcutta now holds every year more efforts to have the co-operation and a great artist, but among Indian concerts of classical music than any collaboration of members of the artists, he is probably the best known other city in this country. Calcutta public in the administration of law outside India. There are other living is cultivating a taste for classical and order would be so resented by Bengalis whose paintings are no Indian music. But Bengal has not the Opposition as in West Bengal. less famous. But Jamini Roy can yet produced a great singer. It is In the last few days, the State claim to be honoured for his distin­ rather strange that Bengal has not Assembly had heated discussions on ctive style. Alauddin Khan is equal­ yet produced either a famous classi­ two Bills introduced by the Govern­ ly honoured throughout India by the cal singer or a classical Indian ment. One of the Bills sought to connoisseurs of Indian music. dancer, though Uday Shankar, who amend the Code of Criminal Proce­ presided on the occasion when The theatre is an art-form which dure. 1898, so that Justices of the Alauddin Khan was felicitat­ is highly developed in Calcutta. There Peace could be appointed from ed, put Indian dancing on the world have been, there are, many illus­ among members of the public map. trious Bengali actors. In technique, On Monday last, the Government in presentation, in interpretation, Bengal may not have produced introduced another Bill which sought some of the modern theatre groups any illustrious classical singer or to empower the Calcutta Police are more advanced. But there has dancer, but Bengal and Bengalis are Commissioner to raise and maintain been no other Bengali actor who has proud of their contribution to Indian a permanent force of unpaid special dominated and influenced the Ben­ literature. Even as Bengali is one police officers and special constables gali stage as much, or as long, as of the richest Indian languages, in the city and the suburbs. Bengal has produced famous litera- Sislr Bhadhuri. He is the idol of the Both these Bills, the Government teurs, poets and novelists. Kumud theatre world in Calcutta. No other emphasises, will benefit the people, Ranjan Malliek, the last of the old­ Bengali actor is so widely appreciat­ will lead to increased association of er generation of poets, was honoured ed. All Indians who love the thea­ the people with the administration as an eminent living Bengali poet. tre have heard of him. In honour­ and will foster a sense of civic duty It is not this writer's intention to ing Sisir Bhaduri, Bengalis have paid amongst members of the public. belittle the poetic genius of Kumud him homage which he richly deser­ Both these Bills were vehemently Ranjan. But all sensitive Bengalis ves. opposed. But the reasons for which must share this writer's deflated the Bills have been criticised are Tensing now lives in Darjeeling. feeling that Bengal has not yet pro­ revealing. These proposed measures, He may or may not be a Bengali. duced a famous classical singer or the Opposition argument is, will only But Bengal and Bengalis may be dancer, and is fast losing her cul­ help the State Congress Party in the excused in honouring him as one of tural reputation established by emin­ coming elections. In the West Ben­ the seven eminent living Bengalis. ent Bengalis like Vidyasagar. Ban- gal State Assembly. Congress has a Tensing is now known throughout kim Chandra and Rabindranath. the world as the Man of Everest. comfortable majority. So, the Oppo­ If ever the history of sport in If Dalhousie Square and its imme­ sition was notsuccessful in its oppo­ modern India is written, Goshtha diate surroundings still retain some sition. But the suspicions and fears Pal, the veteran Mohan Bagan of the make-up of the East India expressed by Opposition members right-back, is sure to find his name Company, social and political life in are widely shared by the people. 1027