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