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Voice of the youth, embracing identity & a ‘do or die’ poll battle in Bengal

iWitness — the story behind the story of ThePrint journalists’ experiences on assignment.

Kolkata: From one hot and humid land to another — I reached West Bengal’s Kolkata Tuesday afternoon, after spending six days in Kerala.

Reporting on the upcoming assembly elections from the two states, I realised how both of them are equally fascinating and riddled with regional challenges and complexities.

Landing in another state, after you finally somewhat dug your heels into the political nuances of the first one, isn’t an easy ask. So, of course, the first day of my Bengal darshan wasn’t going to be easy.

Straight from the airport, I hit the ground running, knowing that I have only limited time to speak to as many people as I can.

I tried to cover as many varying pockets as I could: From central Kolkata’s Urdu/Hindi speaking population, to the Bengali Muslims in Sheikh Para, to the young students of various universities in Kolkata, who had rather a fresh take on the politics of the state.

Question of identity

The thing with covering elections, I am beginning to realise, is that you cannot, even for a second, go in thinking you know what the ‘answer’ will be. Politics is complex, and so are people — so when you mix the two, life suddenly becomes many times more interesting.

I met a few very interesting young men and women, all of whom articulated, with remarkable ease, why they believe in and espouse the politics they do. These were all people in their 20s, who didn’t just mouth views for the heck of fitting the ‘young and opinionated’ stereotype, but people who actually engaged with difficult questions that face them and their identities.

One person I met said it took him a long time to accept and embrace his Bengali Muslim identity — no longer letting one cast a shadow on the other. Another, who was born in Bihar but grew up in Kolkata, said she realises she isn’t a ‘Bengali’ but identifies with the culture of the state cent per cent.

Yet another person, a young man driving an auto rickshaw, said he doesn’t have time to engage with questions of identity — life is difficult as it is.

Then, of course, I met with and spoke to several older people to try and see how their lived experiences contrast against the idealism of the young. It was heartening to see that most older people I spoke to — well above their 70s — weren’t dismissive of the young, or their aspirational style of politics.

“We are old and retired, we drink tea and enjoy our time now. Our opinions don’t matter, theirs do,” one person in Sheikh Para told me.


Also read: Observing big changes, digging in to the best cuisine & humming Kishore on Assam poll trail


‘Do or die’

Unlike Kerala, the political lines in West Bengal are drawn way more sharply. People who have been committed to Trinamool Congress or Left all their lives find it difficult to switch their loyalties, and when they do, it isn’t unless there is a strong driving force. Of course, there are newer contenders in the game this time — the BJP’s all-in campaign in the state hasn’t missed anyone’s eye.

Speaking to people here, I realised how bitter the electoral politics here has become. Like many told me, “this election is a matter of do or die”.

(Edited by Neha Mahajan)


Also read: Churches, chicken roll and a 5-hour journey between generations in Kerala


 

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