Occasional Paper - 3 from the Library Raj Bhavan, Kolkata Governor Anthony Lancelot Dias
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Occasional Paper - 3 from The Library Raj Bhavan, Kolkata Governor Anthony Lancelot Dias Anthony Lancelot Dias was the Governor of West Bengal from 1971 Peter Sinai, Mrs. Maya Ray, wife of to 1977. After Professor Nurul the then Chief Minister Siddhartha Hasan’s collections of books in the Shankar Ray, the eminent columnist Raj Bhavan Library, Governor Dias' Shri Hiranmoy Karlekar and a collection is the largest. But it is definitive overview of Governor modest. A list of the books gifted by Dias' tenure by Shri P.K. Sarkar who him and Mrs. Dias is carried at the was Governor Dias' Secretary during end of this Occasional Paper. almost the whole of Governor Dias' We are privileged to present tenure. Smt. Mira Gupta, wife of in this issue selected speeches by Shri Ranjit Gupta (ICS, 1927) who him and articles by his son-in-law, was Chief Secretary in the sixties the distinguished Indian Diplomat and Professor Ramaranjan Mukherji have also contributed separate reminiscences. Librarian 1 2 Contents 1. Introduction. 2. Remembering Mr. Dias — P. K. Sarkar 3. Governor Dias' Tenure In West Bengal : Some Highlights—Peter Sinai. 4. Mrs. Joan Dias — Maya Ray. 5. Anthony Lancelot Dias : The Firm But Invisible Hand — Hiranmay Karlekar. 6. Memories of Bygone Days — Mira Gupta. 7. A Wonderful Chancellor : A Reminiscence — Professor Ramaranjan Mukherji. 8. A communication from Archbishop Henry D' Souza. 9. List of Governor Dias’ Public Interactions. 10. Inaugural Broadcast by Governor A.L. Dias 11. Selected speeches by Governor A.L. Dias 12. A Minute by the Governor of West Bengal on the Shrubbery Grounds, Darjeeling. 13. Farewell Broadcast by Governor A.L. Dias. 14. List of Governor A.L. Dias’ books in the Raj Bhavan Library. 3 Remembering Mr. Dias By P.K. Sarkar The catalogue of the A.L. Dias When A.L. Dias was named collection of books - though small in Governor of West Bengal the state number - in the Raj Bhavan Library was already under President's rule. and the select list of his public The liberation struggle across the interactions, both of which form part border had led to an influx of 7.5 of the contents of this Occasional million refugees into the state. The Paper, reflect his catholic outlook, politics of violence in Calcutta and his openness to the cosmopolitan in certain areas of the state seemed culture of the state and its capital to be having a spiraling effect. The city, as well as the circle of his planned killing of policemen had its friendships transcending inevitable effect on the law and conventional lines. order machinery. A large number of Anthony Lancelot Dias was districts were affected by natural Governor of West Bengal for more disasters. Investment and growth than six years. This period can be were stymied by a number of viewed in three distinct segments. intertwined factors. First, President's Rule 1971-1972 The challenge was met with (and again briefly in 1977). Second, determination and courage. The rich 1972 to 1977 when the Congress and varied experience in district and Ministry under Siddhartha Shankar secretariat positions in the state of Ray was in office. And, third, about Maharashtra (and the undivided five months from the State elections Bombay Presidency earlier) and at in June 1977 which ushered in the the Centre as well as in special Left Front Ministry under Jyoti Basu positions like the Chairmanship of to the beginning of November 1977. the Bombay Port Trust was of The distinct styles of governance immense value and no time was lost appropriate to each of the three in assuming the role of active segments are clearly discernible. leadership. The combination of roles - head of state and head of 4 government - seemed to come Dias popular with a section of naturally. government employees but he did not flinch from dealing The highest priority was of firmly with "breaches of the course law and order. The public "morning meetings" in Writers' servants' code of conduct or Buildings with the Chief lapses in fulfilling the twofold tasks Secretary, Home Secretary and of any administration - firstly police chiefs began the day's prompt response to the people's proceedings. The minutes were needs and redress of their grievances prepared and circulated within and speedy implementation of an hour and the follow-up of development schemes. Secondly, decisions was relentless. There fearless discharge of the functions of was intense pressure on the law and order without committing senior officials to exert excesses and by making a special themselves and matters pending effort to secure the confidence and for decision for a long time were cooperation of the people in quickly settled. Confrontation restoring peace and stability."* with politically motivated associations did not make A.L. Mr. Dias was keenly aware that the Room collection. Associating non problems of law and order couldn't official organizations like the Bharat be tackled in isolation. Initiatives Sevasram Sangha, Ramakrishna were taken on a wide front : Mission, Missionaries of Charity in agriculture, minor irrigation, food the extensive relief works and the administration, education, trust reposed in them yielded rich redetermination of plan priorities, dividends. The positive response of and investments in infrastructure, to the press generally to initiatives mention some of the major areas of taken by the Governor was of great thrust. The 1971 and 1972 Speeches help. and Broadcasts in the Raj Bhavan The State elections of Library provide a glimpse of the March 1972 brought in Siddhartha concerns and initiatives during this Shankar Ray as Chief Minister with period though his correspondence the Congress and its allies in an and minutes in the Departmental overwhelming majority in the files that came to him for decision Assembly. The shift to low gear and do not form part of the Record * Speeches and Broadcasts 1971 , Page 5, in the Raj Bhavan Library. The full text of this broadcast is reproduced in this Occasional Paper. 5 concentrate on matters close to policy, namely, the equitable his heart. There was of course the distribution of food at informal advisory role: Ministers reasonable prices to the would come calling for vulnerable sections of the consultations with him on intricate community, cannot be secured matters concerning policy or through the unrestricted administration. There was a operation of the free market relationship of cordiality and trust economy but only by planned, with the Chief Minister and the prudent and deliberate members of the Council of management of available food Ministers. supplies. This objective Food policy and the public necessarily implies State distribution system were of course intervention in a substantive his forte. Hands-on experience at way and on a continuing different levels and in difficult times basis."** It is indeed a matter of led him to "the inescapable regret that the book he was conclusion that the basis objective of writing on food policy and food to the conventional role of the which was almost governor provided A.L. Dias with the time and opportunity to ** Speech at the Rotary Club of Calcutta 10th August, 1973 from Speeches and Broadcast 1973. See also speech at the workshop of the Protein ompleted never saw the light of Foods Association of India on the 20th November, 1972. day. During the period 1972- 1977 the CPI.M and its allies had boycotted the Assembly and were therefore not part of the legislative process. Their grievance about the "rigged" State Assembly elections of 1972 remained a sore point. Aware of the importance of keeping open the channels of communication with these parties, A.L. Dias repeatedly instructed his staff to be extremely cautious in this regard. Yet, on a particular occasion, there was a slip up when an M.P. with a trade union 6 delegation had been sent away Chancellor of the Universities - from the North Gate of Raj Bhavan remained in very close touch with without following the procedures the Vice-Chancellors who and courtesies laid down. The confided in him and often Governor was not happy, to say unburdened their woes on him. He the least, and expressed his valued greatly the counsel of displeasure in no uncertain terms! eminent Vice-Chancellors like the There is an interesting late Dr. Satyen Sen. A.L. Dias sidelight to this episode. Jyoti also took the lead in organizing the Basu and a heavyweight group of first ever Conference of Vice- representatives from all the Chancellors with the Chief constituent LF parties had come to Minister and the Ministers in meet the Governor at Raj Bhavan charge of Education and Finance with prior appointment. This time participating. This was a two day the security and other staff - Conference with a heavy agenda, anxious to avoid any faux pas - held in Raj Bhavan, and conducted ushered the entire delegation into with remarkable aplomb. The his room in the quickest possible themes recurring in his time. The Governor welcomed Convocation speeches as also in them all and as they sat down and the speech* that he delivered at the were about to begin their Conference with Vice-Chancellors discussion after the customary reflect his concerns over the course pleasantries, it was Jyoti Basu who of higher education in the state. sharply asked one of the persons Mr. Dias was genuinely who had come in with his group to fond of touring the districts. leave as he had no business to be Perhaps it was the archetypal there. An ingenious reporter had District Officer in him, but he managed to go in unidentified, always welcomed an opportunity mingling with everyone in the to visit relief works, development large group and generally projects, educational and other conveying the impression that he institutions, or to attend special was a member of the delegation.