The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, has been facing intense public anger and harsh criticism from everyone, be it common citizens or the courts ever since the horrifying details of the rape and murder of a trainee female doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College surfaced. The gruesome crime has sparked widespread outrage, with citizens demanding justice and accountability from the authorities.
Amidst the ongoing protests, the student organisation ‘Paschim Banga Chhatra Samaj’ and the dissident State government employees’ platform ‘Sangrami Joutha Mancha’ organised a protest march titled ‘Nabanna Abhijan’ on August 27. The protestors marched towards the state secretariat building, Nabanna, calling for the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee for her failure to take strict action against the culprits involved in the case.
A powerful video from the protest has gone viral — featuring a saffron-clad sadhu, standing unyieldingly before water cannons, waving the tricolour, and confronting the police. The sadhu, identified as Balram Basu, a photography professor and a sanyasi, was seen asking the police to “wear bangles” if they could not protect the citizens.
An old man waves national flag, on the iconic Howrah bridge, against the dictatorship of #MamataBanerjee, amidst blazing water cannon#MamataMustResign #MamataMustQuit #RGKarMedicalCollegeHospital pic.twitter.com/kGdoEOjhqB
— Organiser Weekly (@eOrganiser) August 27, 2024
In an exclusive interview with Organiser on August 28, Balram Basu, an electronics engineer by profession who now teaches photography and lives as a sanyasi, spoke at length about the worsening law and order situation in Bengal. He touched upon issues like infiltration, illegal trade across the Bangladesh border, and the declining status of Bengali Hindus.
Basu expressed deep sorrow over the current state of Bengal, particularly the plight of its daughters, in a society that worships Shakti and Maa Kali. “It is very sad that such things are happening with our daughters, especially in the Bengali samaj where we worship Shakti. Maa Durga Puja is coming, but we are engulfed in this… look at the ‘atyachar’ happening here,” he said.
Reflecting on societal values, Basu stressed, “The samaj which will not worship nari will go extinct very soon; it is bound to die. No god resides in a place where women are not treated well.”
Commenting on the fact that Bengal is governed by a woman Chief Minister, who herself is seen as a daughter and sister by many, Balram Basu was critical of the government’s response to crimes against women. He said, “She may be a woman, but if those in power only speak about women and don’t take the right actions to protect their dignity, then there is no point.”
“No matter how they label me, our daughters need…”
While he has been referred to as a hero fighting against injustice in Bengal across Bharat by many, a section of society is making jokes about him and his age, questioning what he was doing at a student’s protest. Basu remarked, “This is not about being a hero or a student. Let them label me however they wish. The larger issue here is that our daughters are no longer safe. Every person should stand by the truth and uphold their dharma. This isn’t about politics or taking sides; it’s about the protection of our daughters, that’s all.”
When asked why he joined the protest, given it was primarily led by students, Basu explained, “It was a students protest, but we were all there to demand justice. In Bengal, girls and women are facing horrific crimes one after the other—their ‘Chirharan’ (humiliation) is happening repeatedly, and there’s no positive action from the administration. People don’t know what the government is doing, and that’s why, alongside students, many like me—teachers, professionals, and others—joined the movement.”
Basu, took guru deeksha at age 12, explained his spiritual journey. Following the principles of Sanatan Dharma, he adheres to the stages of life: Brahmacharya until 25, Grihastha until 50, and now Vanaprastha, where he lives a life dedicated to spiritual pursuits and social duty. “This is my Vanaprastha period, and I am living according to my dharma. It’s a time to reflect on why I was born, what my goals should be, and what needs to be done.”
“Political parties take benefit from what’s going on the border”
Basu, speaking about the complexities of Bengal’s geographical and socio-political landscape, highlighted the challenges of the state. “Bengal is a border state that shares around 2,200 kilometres of border with Bangladesh,” he pointed out, emphasising that this extensive boundary plays a significant role in the region’s dynamics. “So many things are at play. However, while people here live together peacefully, there are underlying tensions that no one can deny.”
He was candid about the blatant misuse of these issues by political parties, stating, “Political parties take benefit from whatever is going on the border, from infiltration to illegal beef trade to daughters being sent here and there… many kinds of work go on.”
Reflecting on the declining pride of Bengali Hindus and the erosion of cultural identity, Basu expressed concern over the lack of representation and acknowledgement of cultural voices. “Those who used to think about Hindu culture—be it poets, columnists, thinkers, or others—they have surely declined but not to that extent. They are still there but lost and hidden. They don’t get representation, their voices are not heard, their issues don’t reach mainstream media, and more—this is the state.”
“Leaders like Lenin, Stalin, or Hitler had to leave..”
Basu outlined his vision for the solution to Bengal’s problems, stressing the importance of understanding and practising dharma, which he clarified goes beyond mere religious connotations.
“In any country or state, its soul lies in its dharma. If that is not taught properly, then the state or the nation is bound to produce such accused as in the case of RG Kar Medical College,” he said, referencing the recent crime that has shaken the state. Elaborating further, Basu added, “By dharma, I don’t mean religion, but what is the dharma of a human, a society, and a nation in general. If a person is not taught about his history, ancestors, culture, traditions, rituals, then he will be ‘nalayak’ (worthless); he will never be a good citizen.”
With growing demands for Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s resignation and calls for President’s rule, Basu was asked about his solution for Bengal’s future governance. He responded thoughtfully, “Look, whether any government runs or not depends on whether it is choosing the right path. If any government does not follow the right path, they will have to go by default—they will be replaced. History has been a reflection of the same, and it speaks for itself. Leaders like Lenin, Stalin, or Hitler—everyone had to leave at some point. So those who are right will rise, and we are asking for the same only.”
