| [Translated from transcription by Pulak Narayan | | | | an approach can be misleading. The real issue is |
| Dhar, Dainik Statesman, 8 May 2007] | | | | whether it is desirable or otherwise to forcibly |
| The residents of Purbapara village in the Beraberi | | | | dispossess one from his own land against his wish. |
| area of Singur have made history in our times. | | | | This is the basic question. And this is not desirable. |
| Such an instance of public awakening have not | | | | That this is not desirable is getting evident from |
| been seen in West Bengal in the recent times. | | | | the developments in Singur and Nandigram. |
| What is most remarkable is the role of the | | | | Democracy involves consensus. A healthy |
| women of the village. The way they have come | | | | democratic environment is essential for industry. |
| forward to defend their own tight is | | | | The boundary walls of a factory can be |
| unprecedented. This scene of women's awakening | | | | constructed, and materials can be amassed. But |
| has overwhelmed me. They have been attending | | | | then? If the disturbed situation continues, |
| this discussion for more than five hours at a | | | | sabotage too can continue month after month. As |
| stretch. This is indicative of an enormous | | | | result industry will not grow. Industry cannot take |
| significance. It is the women who have been | | | | place by pushing the country to the brink of an |
| spearheading this movement. We had seen this | | | | undeclared civil war. In a democratic country like |
| during our freedom movement. Singur has shown | | | | ours development cannot be achieved by killing |
| a new direction, not only to the people of West | | | | people as was done by Stalin , or in China. Here |
| Bengal, but to the whole country. | | | | we must comply with the democratic norms. We |
| I have crossed eighty. I consider this rare luck on | | | | must honour the wishes of the people concerned. |
| my part that I have been bestowed with this | | | | Singur and Nandigram will show the whole country |
| fortune of witnessing such a movement at the | | | | right way towards the good of society. Human |
| last leg of my life's journey. The way the present | | | | society cannot thrive under the assault of |
| ruling party has been acting is bound to stir | | | | violence and non-violence. The way of Singur and |
| protest; but it is too extremely difficult for any | | | | nandigram is not the way of violence and |
| party to evict this ruling party from power by | | | | counterviolence. |
| fighting it single-handed. Therefore all must get | | | | Singur-Nandigram has shown us the way to |
| united; the fight must be fought organizedly on | | | | freedom. The name will be recorded in history; |
| the basis of a partyless unity by rising above | | | | because the people there, especially the women, |
| party equations. Singur and Nandigram have held | | | | have created a new history. Visiting Singur today |
| up a model for such partyless unity. This is the | | | | is like making a pilgrimage. It is out of a longing to |
| lesson we have received from the people of | | | | touch the soil of that Singur-Nandigram which is |
| Singur and Nandigram. We have to remember this | | | | going to be inscribed in the history one day , that |
| model of movement. We have to sustain it. | | | | at this late age of mine I have been to |
| Today a debate has started around the issue of | | | | Nandigram; again, I have come to Singur today, |
| industrialization. What is the crux of this | | | | being driven by the same heartfelt longing. Singur |
| controversy? It is being made to appear as if the | | | | has taught that a great work can be started in |
| debate is in favour or against industrialization. Such | | | | the brief span of a limited life. |