If you want to understand how to become better allies to people with disabilities, then join us at Embracing All Abilities: Including People with Disabilities at Work.
Didi, Monobina Gupta’s biography of Mamata Banerjee is a well-rounded portrayal of a paradoxical politician.
Review by Anjana Basu
Whatever Mamata Banerjee’s government brings to West Bengal she has found a place for herself in history as the woman who brought down the world’s longest serving communist government. Monobina Gupta’s biography is an incisive analysis of the factors that brought ‘Didi’ – as Mamata Banerjee is fondly referred to by the world at large – to the forefront of power.
Monobina Gupta begins by describing the character of a woman who can be exasperating and magnetic by turns. She points out that Mamata hails from the lower middle classes and therefore is not a bhadralok as many of the top echelons of the CPI-M are. But bhadralok culture in Bengal is on the wane; something that helped Mamata in her rise from the grassroots up. Add to that the fact that, arrogant after 34 years of election walkovers, the CPI-M made mistake after mistake and alienated their loyal following. She also says that Didi, unlike other female politicians in India, made it to the top on her own without the support of any male figure of power – yes, there was Rajiv Gandhi who supported her briefly before his assassination, but that was too brief to have been of any significance.
Gupta painstakingly outlines the landmarks in Mamata’s road to the top – the brutal 1990 attack on Hazra Road that highlighted Didi’s fearlessness in the face of what then seemed indomitable odds gathered to destroy her. Singur, Nandigram and Lalgarh where forcible land acquisition, bullets and manhandling of women went against the ruling party and turned the intellectuals who were the pride of the CPI-M against the Party. Poets and playwrights estranged by an increasingly Big Brother policy that led, on occasion, to the banning of plays, went to swell Mamata’s ranks.
Gupta points out Mamata’s histrionics with her famous black shawl and speaks about the culture of political theatrics – the jatra politician and politician who uses laughter – which gives her an opportunity to compare and contrast Mamata and Lalu Prasad Yadav, who was a follower of the comedic school of politics and who was the Railway Minister before Mamata.
She also emphasizes Didi’s trademark simplicity, that white sari with a ‘thin’ coloured border, the hair pulled back into a bun and the rubber slippers, pointing out that Mamata despite her apparent naivete knew how to manipulate an environment dominated by the media. Where Buddhadeb took a jeep on his political rallies, Mamata walked sweating for kilometers meeting people and shaking hands, realizing perfectly well the ‘blood, sweat and tears’ impression that it would create. Didi was also aware, says Gupta, when it was wise to refrain from interfering, as in the case of Taslima Nasrin who was forced to leave West Bengal after a fracas created by a Muslim minority group and whose book launch was aborted again this year in 2012.
The portrait that emerges of Didi is a well-rounded one. Gupta of course points out that her book went to press as Mamata’s government completed six months in power and there is a long way to go before any definitive pronouncement can be made on the success or failure of the Trinamool triumph. For those who are students of political history and for fans as well as for skeptics this book will throw light on a very paradoxical politician.
Publishers: Harper Collins
If you’re planning to purchase Monobina Gupta’s Didi, do consider buying it through this Women’s Web affiliate link at Flipkart. We get a small share of the proceeds – every little bit will help us continue bringing you the content you like!
Readers outside India can purchase Didi through our affiliate link at Amazon.
Women's Web is a vibrant community for Indian women, an authentic space for us to be ourselves and talk about all things that matter to us. Follow us via the read more...
Women's Web is an open platform that publishes a diversity of views, individual posts do not necessarily represent the platform's views and opinions at all times.
Stay updated with our Weekly Newsletter or Daily Summary - or both!
Rajshri Deshpande, who played the fiery protagonist in Trial by Fire along with Abhay Deol speaks of her journey and her social work.
Rajshri Deshpande as the protagonist in ‘Trial by Fire’, the recent Netflix show has received raving reviews along with the show itself for its sensitive portrayal of the Uphaar Cinema Hall fire tragedy, 1997 and its aftermath.
The limited series is based on the book by the same name written by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy, who lost both their children in the tragedy. We got an opportunity to interview Rajshri Deshpande who played Neelam Krishnamoorthy, the woman who has been relentlessly crusading in the court for holding the owners responsible for the sheer negligence.
Rajshri Deshpande is more than an actor. She is also a social warrior, the rare celebrity from the film industry who has also gone back to her roots to give to poverty struck farming villages in her native Marathwada, with her NGO Nabhangan Foundation. Of course a chance to speak with her one on one was a must!
Is Hansika Motwani doing anything really bizarre? It is common practice for celebrities to sell exclusive rights to their wedding, new baby etc. to publications.
We heard about a rather unique proposition on social media recently – the monetisation of a wedding – by transforming it into a reality TV show. Now I will admit my first reaction to this was horrified disbelief.
Image source
Please enter your email address