It has been Offstumped policy to not venture into the world of celebrity gossip. But this will be a one time exception.
Long time Offstumped readers of Bengali origin have expressed disappointment that Offstumped indulged in Mamata, CPI-M bashing in yesterday’s post without being sensitive.
Offstumped takes their sentiments seriously to reiterate that Offstumped’s stands by its original stance from 2006 on eminent domain and the mode of land acquisition. It was wrong for the CPI-M to acquire land for the TATAs it was right for Mamata Bannerjee to have opposed that mode of land acquisition.
But yesterday’s lament by Offstumped for Bengal was not about how land acquired in Singur but about the kind of leadership Bengal has been cursed with.
On the one hand is a leadership that believes the State can decide for the people whats good for them at its whim and fancy more specifically at the whim and fancy of one political party even if it means at the expense of democracy and constitutional norms.
On the other hand is the opposition that believes it is ok to make common cause with those who are far more radical in their view of State Control even if it means at the expense of responsible political opposition.
Neither has demonstrated the political leadership Bengal needs to help it look beyond a dead end future in fragment land holdings with diminishing agricultural yields.
Bengal needs new leadership and it caught Offstumped’s attention that Dada needs a post retirement career.
Belonging to the same age group as Dada it is rather ironic that a Rahul Gandhi with zero accomplishment is viewed as young for politics while Saurav Ganguly after a satisfying decade of accomplishment with proven track record of Leadership has to suffer post retirement blues.
Offstumped is not sure where Dada stands on issues, and if he believes in Right of Centre principles. But he definitely seems to have the brand equity in Bengal if this sentiment expressed by The Telegraph is anything to go by.
??Nano gelo, Dada- chole jachchhe,? was a common refrain on the streets of Calcutta this evening
Offstumped closes this piece with an open question for its Bengali readers.
Prakash Karat is right, we need a 3rd front and that would be in West Bengal.
Can Saurav Ganguly build on his brand equity to show Bengal a 3rd way and hopefully the “Right” way ?
?
Filed under: Lok Sabha Polls 2008-2009, betrayal of aam admi
There is a streak of adamancy in Dada’s leadership. This came to the fore in his cricketing career. And this streak let him down. In politics, one requires the ability to take all in the strides, to be firm but not adamant. Politics will be entirely a different ball game for Dada, if ever he chooses to enter it. Look at Imran Khan in Pakistan. A highly successful and talented, dedicated and service-minded player is no where in Politics of Pakistan. He has not cut much ice. It will be a big question mark for Dada. Even now, before he is leaving Cricket at the fag end of his career, he has begun to receive threating calls of kidnapping his daughter. Let’s then wait and watch the unfolding scenario.
If Dada can pull it off, that would be a big relief.
Yossarin,
As an avid Bengali reader of your blog, let me say that you have least offended me by your NaMo and Nano post yesterday. In fact, you had made my day ! Bengal today doesn’t need people who will mollycoddle with their sentiments – it needs someone to tell them the hard truth (whatever it may be).
As for Dada being an alternative, I really doubt it. Reading the Anandabazar & Bartaman newspapers (others are just toilet papers), it seems he’s more on the left than the right. He hobnobs too much with the pinkos and probably the only reason he’s been a stealth commie till now is to keep his ratings high. Now that he’s retiring, I believe he’ll show his true colors. Mark my words !!
B.
Yoss is right. Dada’s leadership skilld are well documented. Plus, if he can bring a disparate all-India team together, how easy would it be for him to lead his fellow bengalis who understand him and worship him.
I think mr ganguly believes in left centre ideology..
We do not need any more flase leader in Bengal. The person has to be right of the center. Period.
“But yesterday’s lament by Offstumped for Bengal was not about how land acquired in Singur but about the kind of leadership Bengal has been cursed with.” Couldn’t agree more
I wrote at the Bengal’s fate while celebrating Gujarati asmita, I do not feel sorry for Mamta, though I agree she is not the only one to blame. Perhaps Bengalis deserve the leaders they reelect elections after elections. Soory, for you folks.(Bengalis I mean).
Saurav, I admire him a lot. This Dada gave a character to Indian team which is 180 degree from what Sunil (another great) led in 80s.
Saurav is and can be a potential leader and if my political instincts are strong enough, he will some day. India cam do better with some leaders like him.
But Yoss, just as much as I know and can confirm – sadly though – he is more left of left inclined. I would love to be proved wrong but then it might as well be true too.
PI.
I thought SCG would be right of center, what with his taking-the-shirt-off antics in England. Seemed to have too much fire for a commie, showed capitalist symptoms. Hmm..well, if he is a confirmed leftist, I hope he stays out of politics and leadership in WB..
BENGAL needs BJP.
He is a great player and transformed Indian etc..
But he is friends with commie vermin.. that is a big disqualification IMO..
Why can’t a person be a nationalist and be socialist and environmentalist at the same time?
The problem with communism is that it is anti-Hindu. If not they would have attracted a lot more people
Ganguly has great grit, determination, proven leadership skills and, yes, an adamant streak that might let him down. But it is not necessary that he hold any position of office.Hence this admant streak need not be a major short coming. If he is not harbouring any commie or sickular thoughts as apprehended by Bhavananda, his entry would definitely catalyse the fission in the commie camp and deliver Bengal back to Bharat.
I don’t think we can read much into who Dada has been friends with till now. As a cricketer and a businessman in Kolkata, he needs to be on the good side of whoever is in power in the State.
Now that he will be out of active playing career (I am sure he will quit IPL also after April 2009 season), he has the following options:
1.Start a media career and also setup a Cricket Academy in Kolkata
2.Start a coaching career and eventually aim to be coach of Indian Cricket team.He could also be a big draw as a leadership speaker on the lecture circuit in all Cricket playing nations
3.Get into Cricket politics and eventually aim to head CAB/BCCI/IPL and the like..
4.Get into State politics to aim for an MP or a CM role.
If he gets into politics, IMO, he is not the kind of person who would just want to be an MLA or an MP.He would want to become CM.And his best chance of becoming CM is in joining Congress or BJP in W.Bengal.It will take him an inordinately long time to be even a contender for CM post in CPM.Forget Trinamool.Sourav is saner than that.
If BJP really wants to make an entry in WB, it is upto them to galvanise support for Sourav’s entry into politics and engage Sourav in such a way that he appreciates fully what he is getting into and why.
Happy Vijaya Dasami to all !
Is this post to please the bongs who seem very dejected at the ouster of Nano?
[I presume bong is not an offensive word. Oh my god, to refer to another Indian too, I have to be conscious of political correctness!]
About the topic, I am not sure how to put this across but this is my thought. A sportsman is almost like a military person and you can compare their competitive spirit, killer instincts and non-democratic behaviour, if I may say so. This is why I wouldn’t want a sportsman to be a democratic leader in a democracy. His rule would resemble a military dictatorship’s and this is purely my subjective opinion. I welcome criticisms.
Record worldwide shows that neither Film Personalities not Sport celebrities have proved to be good leaders, administrators, successful politicians. For Dada, it cannot be otherwise.
“This is why I wouldn’t want a sportsman to be a democratic leader in a democracy. His rule would resemble a military dictatorship’s and this is purely my subjective opinion.”
First off, a stupid analogy. Second, by your statement Eisenhower should have been the worst US president. But he was probably the best, atleast after WW2. Third, Indian Army, definitely the top leadership understands civilian control of military. To deny that and argue otherwise is not only stupid but would also amount to maligning Indian Army’s exemplary record. So even if a retired military person takes power that will be fine. In fact I think it might be a good thing, it has already happened under the BJP in Uttarakhand.
“Long time Offstumped readers of Bengali origin have expressed disappointment that Offstumped indulged in Mamata, CPI-M bashing in yesterday’s post without being sensitive.”
Yoss boos, I would like to see that you would bring the issue of total collapse of democracy in bengal that is why there are no talk between different stake holders in bengal. CPIM’s long rule is responsible for this. So while discussing the issue of Singur, I was expected that you brought this isuue and expose it to all Indian reader (other than people of bengal) to show the hypocracy of CPIM which will open eyes of people of bengal espcially.
Rule of mob is increasing in India because of falling standard of democracy. Its different version played in Bengal is cadre raj, more cruel and brutal.
In that sense Bengal needs new leadership. Is Sourav that man? I have doubt on this. He is more inclined to CPIM and do the thing what average bengali does; associted with CPIM to get the work done. So I do not see any leadership quality in his public life other than in sporting field.
But I feel strongly that we need change and it might be through Mamta, who may not do anything good. However, Bengal will get personal freedom and then new thinking by the people if it is ruled by Mamta, who will not definitely interfare on personal life and choie of people like CPIM does in daily basis.