Tata and Singur: A saga closed but is a lesson learnt?

Who would have expected that the most respected business house in the country and amongst the select few globally, would have faced such opposition to a project that India’s ‘dream’ to re-define the global auto industry. But as the saying goes – SHIT HAPPENS! I’ll be honest enough to admit that I might not be completely educated on the entire Singur saga but the question I want to ask is does it really matter who said what?

As a citizen of this country and as a human being with some commonsense, the only thing I have to say is I’m extremely disappointed. There are several reasons for that:

1. Someone didn’t want this to work since the beginning: No disrespect meant to anyone but from where I stand, it’s simple. I find it hard to believe that a group of highly educated, intellectual and powerful people deemed to have a way with words (to give credit where its due - most politicians do) with a lot at their disposable to make decisions, could not sit across a table and thrash out a winning compromise for all involved. The first lesson taught in the art of negotiation is to have a win-win though process when getting into one. So at some level, I do suspect that one of three parties involved didn’t want this to work out at all at the same time didn’t want to come across as the party pooper either.

2. The Left is losing its teeth: I don’t know much about politics and I haven’t ever been a fan of the Left ideology, but I do believe they have a role to play in keeping India’s democratic though process intact. However, they seem to be losing the plot. Instead of being seeing as naysayers mostly, Singur was a good chance for them to show to the people and the industry that they have the gumption to resolve issues when in power. Clearly, the Left is struggling because of its inability to resolve situations it believes in and to rise above smaller issues to support larger beneficial country level initiatives (the nuclear deal) being driven by political parties that can. As far as I’m concerned, this is 3rd hit on the Left’s credentials – first two being their effort to bring down the UPA Government and form the third front with Mayawati (excuse my ignorance but besides the obvious need to pump up their egos, the only logical connection I see between these two groups is their common man rhetoric) and all over India’s attempt to create nuclear energy for itself? As I will admit again I might not know the semantics of the Indo US agreement that the left and the opposition parties seem to be crying incessantly over and what the UPA Government might have conceded to secure a deal, but what I do know is that the power (a fundamental building block for development) crisis in India has only worsened in years and no Government (and I mean no Government) worth its salt has been able to correct that. I also know that the internal security situation (bomb blasts, attacks on churches etc) within the country has been deteriorating. From my perspective, I don’t get this brouhaha about the UPA Government compromising India’s right to test nuclear arms. Are nuclear arms more important than generating power, which inturn is likely to create economic opportunities for people, improve the overall standard of living and create a general environment of contentment within the country; all of which will bring macro-economic stability? Why do we need nuclear arms to protect a country when it can be destabilized by anti social elements giving as much as a few hundred rupees to plant hand made bombs? So for me personally the nuclear deal is great news as it gives the country hope. Who cares if American companies make money as long as the common man in India also gets something from it, which unfortunately hasn’t been the case in the past!

So from where I stand, the Left has blown two great opportunities to resurrect its appeal amongst the urban/semi urban Indian.

3. West Bengal blew a great chance to correct larger perceptions around itself: For me, the State seems to be living in denial since it lost its status as the capital of India. I know I’m being a bit harsh but a State with all that intellect and opportunity has done nothing but live with its problems all these years is frustrating for me accept. Singur, for some outsiders like me, was possibly the first sign in years that Bengal was ready to embrace change finally and participate in this country’s economic movement. But I was wrong.

While the rest of the country speculates on what the Singur saga means for me the three reasons mentioned weigh. While the Tatas might have lost in the short term, the larger country and the world have learnt again of the challenge of being a true democracy!!