By a Resident of West Bengal
From Pride to Alienation
Once lauded for its composite culture and secular unity, Bengal now feels fractured for many ordinary Hindu citizens like me. A decade of Mamata Banerjee’s leadership has brought undeniable changes—new schools, scholarships, welfare schemes—but it has also bred unease. The more our Chief Minister claims to champion equality and justice, the more obvious a gap between rhetoric and reality becomes—especially when viewed from the perspective of those who feel their traditions and voices sidelined by modern-day vote bank politics.
Social Welfare: Promise and Paradox
Let’s give credit where it’s due. Schemes like Kanyashree and Sabuj Sathi have opened doors for countless girls and students. The Swasthya Sathi health cards and support to women’s marriages have helped families like mine. But speak to people in my neighbourhood, and you’ll hear what’s whispered in tea stalls and family gatherings: access to these programs often seems filtered by political connections or community identity. Is it true welfare when a citizen wonders if their beliefs or voting habits will tip the scales for or against them?
The Silent Power of Vote Banks
Many of us notice which festivals get government fanfare, which issues inspire heated assembly speeches, and which faces appear in welfare distribution ceremonies. During Eid, government buildings flash with goodwill. During Durga Puja, regulations and sudden restrictions seem to multiply, often justified by “law and order,” but rarely applied in the opposite direction. When protests erupt after violence or injustice against Hindus, responses from the top often feel delayed or muted, as if raising concerns puts one at risk of being labelled communal.
Social Harmony or Political Calculation?
Growing up, I was proud of Bengal’s secular legacy. But today, “secularism” here feels more like a slogan than a policy. What ordinary Hindus want is fairness: prompt justice when hurt, equal treatment when seeking development, and cultural pride that isn’t overshadowed by the needs of electoral arithmetic. The state seems to bend over backwards for one community’s grievances but expects others to be patient, silent, and “progressive” enough not to protest too loudly. We remember the restrictions on Durga idol immersion for Muharram in 2017 and similar episodes that left many religious Hindus frustrated.
Erosion of Trust and the Path Forward
A government loses credibility when trust is replaced by suspicion. I do not want special privileges—I only want to feel like an equal citizen, secure in my identity and confident that my voice matters just as much as anyone else’s. Each time the state is seen favouring some over others, or using public money for political loyalty, it doesn’t just cost votes—it undermines the very unity Mamata Banerjee claims to uphold.
Conclusion
Until Bengal’s governance stands above appeasement—until it hears every citizen’s concerns without fear or favour—the claims of secularism and justice will sound hollow to many in the Hindu community. True leadership listens to all, not just those most useful on polling day.
References and Further Reading
- “Durga Puja Immersion Row in Bengal,” NDTV, 2017.
- “Basirhat Communal Clashes: A Timeline,” The Indian Express, 2017.
- “How Kanyashree Prakalpa Changed Lives in West Bengal,” The Quint, 2018.
- CSDS-Lokniti Pre-election and Post-election Surveys (2016–2021).
- Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) Reports on Scheme Distribution and Political Patronage, 2022.
