The last journey: Buddha’s parting gift of light to two
Times of India | 10 August 2024
123 Kolkata: On a somber Friday, thousands of people filled the streets of Kolkata to honor former chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee. His final journey began from Peace World, where his body, pledged to Ganadarpan, was prepared for its last rites. His corneas had already been retrieved and successfully implanted in two patients.
Since the early hours of the morning, people gathered outside Peace World, with red flowers and lining the road to pay their last respects.As the body, draped in red flag, was carried out, the city united in a heartfelt tribute to a beloved leader.
Bhattacharjee’s cortege reached the assembly house where Trinamool and BJP MLAs paid their last respects to him. Ministers Aroop Biswas, Malay Ghatak, Chandrima Bhattacharya, Firhad Hakim, Trinamool’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee and leader of the opposition Suvendu Adhikari offered floral tributes. Police commissioner Vineet Goyal and DGP Rajiv Kumar also paid their tributes.
A large crowd, including the former assembly staff, gathered outside. As the hearse moved out slowly, it paused briefly at their request amid slogan “Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee Lal Salam” humming through the road. It reached the Muzaffar Ahmed Bhavan on Alimuddin Street where minister Babul Supriyo and senior Congress leader Pradip Bhattacharya paid their respects.
Chief minister Mamata Banerjee had earlier announced that a gun salute would be given in honor of the former CM. However, it could not be done due to procedural issues. State officials said after a gun salute in the assembly, no further actions could be taken. Since the body had to be taken to multiple locations, the proposal was dropped.
Silent, long queues of people, with almost everyone wearing a black badge with a photograph of Bhattacharya, waited outside Muzaffar Ahmed Bhavan. Meanwhile, a condolence message from Rahul Gandhi, leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, reached Meera Bhattacharjee. Gandhi mentioned his contributions in the development of Bengal.
Rabilal Maitra (75) who worked at Writers’ Buildings when Bhattacharjee was the CM, said: “He always maintained the difference between administration and the party. That was a rare quality.”
The cortege, after leaving Alimuddin Street, started moving towards the DYFI state office, Dinesh Majumdar Bhavan. Bhattacharjee was the founding secretary of the DYFI state branch.
It took quite some time to cross the stretch between Alimuddin Street and Dinesh Majumdar Bhavan, as party workers, supporters and common people swarmed the AJC Bose Road.Outside Dinesh Majumdar Bhavan a massive crowd swelled with every passing minute. The cortege moved slowly through the crowd towards the NRS Hospital where his body was donated for medical research.