Vladimir Lenin, Where will you go now?

"लेनीन, आता तू कोठे रे जाशील?" [borrowing from the title of S M Mate's (श्री. म. माटे) “Banseedhara, Where will you go now?” (बन्सीधरा, आता तू कोठे रे जाशील?) short-story/ book.]

The Asian Age, May 14 2011:

"A virtual tsunami unleashed by Trinamul Congress chieftain Mamata Banerjee made history here on Friday — dethroning the longest-serving democratically-elected Communist government in the world. The star of Vladimir Lenin — to whom the state’s CPI(M)’s rulers routinely paid public tribute and whose photograph had pride of place in their offices — had well and truly dimmed after 34 long years..."

Following picture may guide Ms. Banerjee what to do with Lenin's photographs.

(You may want to see a previous post on Mr. Lenin here.)


Artist: Eldon Dedini, The New Yorker, 27 Nov 1989

Last night I was touched when Ms. Banerjee remembered the late Mr. Rajeev Gandhi fondly. I think expressing gratitude when you are sitting on the mountain of what you think is a success, especially to someone who is long gone and can't give you anything now, is a hallmark of a sensitive human. She also quoted a beautiful Tagore's Bengali couplet. And above all she looks so Indian.


"Are we looking at India's future Prime Minister?"

(Photo courtesy: PTI and The Asian Age)