As a youth leader, in those days (as a founder secretary of the DYFI) he had undertaken the responsibility of building up the youth movement in all blocks of West Bengal. That took him to the commoners, to the peasants, to the workers during the turbulent times of the late 1960s and early 70s.
Besides strong anti-imperialist flavour and a constructive approach rooted in Bengal’s ethos, culture, literature, education, paintings and films, he put the democratic movement of Bengal on a time-bound struggle for jobs and education.
He was aggressively secular, incorruptible and was firm on his beliefs and socialism. Politics apart, he was a writer, poet, translator and dramatist. He could recite any poem and all of Rabindranath Tagore’s songs, which was always in his memory.
He had a scientific temperament and shunned against blind faith and superstitions, he was firm in his beliefs but soft in his behaviour. He always encouraged young minds and creative ideas.
Although he was a student of literature, he showed keen interest in modern science and discoveries. As a young minister in the first Left Front government, he had shown that the information and culture department of the government is not for propaganda alone. But for the promotion of films, culture, literature, publication and encouraging young talents, creativity induced cultural developments.
He took the Calcutta Book Fair to an international level, almost single-handedly. Simultaneously, he also established the Calcutta Film Festival in the international arena. In 1997, when the book fair was ravaged by fire, he promised to resume it within 48 hours and he kept his promise.
He always encouraged producers of alternative films, upgradation of processing units, theatre halls, etc. He built Nandan and also made Nandan, Rabindra Sadan and Bangla academy a cultural hub where, independently, Bengali culture can flourish. He always tried to spread the cultural movement even in rural Bengal.
He always believed in peace, amity, friendship, communal harmony and national integration.
He started music festival, youth festival, children festival, Kobita Utsav, Jatra Utsav and not only started but also patronised the preservation of almost lost fo9lk arts of Bengal which may be Gambhira (north Bengal) or Chhaw Dance of Purulia.
He gave his heart and soul for industrialisation in Bengal so that young people could get jobs and prevent brain drain from the state. Simultaneously, he worked to build infrastructure for skill development and vocational training, so that youth could prepare themselves for jobs in the industry sector. In the beginning of this century, he did it and Bengal stood second in industrialisation and processing of new industry.
He was not only a great dreamer, he tried relentlessly to make his dreams come true. He introduced many to Latin American literature, through Bengali translations. He was an admirer of Deng Xiaoping (former China president) and wanted Bengal to take a lead but alas!
Personally for me, it is hard to accept that he is no more. When I was a young activist, I got great affection, love and patronage from him. When he took over as chief minister, it was he who convinced me to come to Kolkata and join the cabinet. He was like my elder brother and the level of trust I enjoyed was quite enviable.
I remember whenever there was a great challenge he always summoned me and encouraged me to undertake it. It was in 1996 when a tragic avalanche took place towards Amarnath route. I was in Delhi. He told me to reach the spot as soon as possible. During the 1992 riots He advised me to go to the people and talk with the people to maintain peace and harmony. He had confidence in me, which helped me gain not only courage but experience as well.
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