DOWNFALL of Kolkata Explained in 10 Minutes! | Sanjeev Sanyal on The Neon Show

Summary

The speaker reflects on Kolkata's decline from a thriving economic and cultural hub in the 1970s to a city struggling to regain its former glory, attributing this to the policies of Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and the communist government. They discuss the interconnectedness of economic prosperity and cultural vibrancy, using Kolkata's past as an example of a civilization in decline. The speaker also highlights the importance of aspirations and the need for a renaissance in various spheres of life, drawing parallels with the European Renaissance and the impact of open-mindedness on progress.

Takeaways

• 😔 The speaker grew up in 1980s Kolkata and has a strong aversion to socialism and communism due to witnessing the negative impact on Kolkata's economy and culture.
• 🏙️ Kolkata was once the most important economic and industrial hub in India and one of the most significant in Asia, but it declined significantly under the leadership of Chief Minister Jyoti Basu.
• 📚 Kolkata's intellectual and cultural sphere suffered greatly, to the extent that the city has never fully recovered from the shock of its decline.
• 🌐 The speaker believes that Kolkata's decline was not an accident but a deliberate 'murder', and they consider themselves a witness to this process.
• 🎭 Kolkata's cultural and intellectual decline is directly linked to its economic decline, emphasizing the interconnectedness of economic and cultural vibrancy.
• 🛤️ The speaker's work in various areas, including history and infrastructure, is part of a broader goal to rebuild a civilization, not just an economy.
• 🏛️ The Renaissance in Europe and the Bengal Renaissance are highlighted as examples of a cultural and intellectual awakening that can drive broader societal progress.
• 💡 The speaker argues that the decline in Kolkata was a result of a 'closing of mind' that affected all aspects of society, not just business and commerce.
• 🚢 Kolkata's decline was accompanied by the departure of influential figures and businesses to other cities like Mumbai.
• 🎨 The city has not produced cultural or intellectual figures of the same caliber as Satyajit Ray, Rabindranath Tagore, or Swami Vivekananda since its decline.
• 🗳️ The speaker questions why the people of Kolkata continued to elect Jyoti Basu despite clear signs of mismanagement and decline, suggesting a 'poverty of aspiration'.

Q & A

What was Kolkata's status in the 1980s according to the speaker?

The speaker describes Kolkata in the 1980s as a city that had significantly declined from its former glory as a major economic and industrial hub, largely due to the policies of Chief Minister Jyoti Basu and the communist government.

How did the speaker's experience growing up in Kolkata shape their views on socialism and communism?

The speaker's distaste for socialism and communism stems from witnessing the negative impact of these ideologies on Kolkata's economy, culture, and intellectual sphere, which they believe led to the city's decline and inability to recover.

What was Kolkata's position in terms of economic and industrial importance before the 1980s?

Before the 1980s, Kolkata was India's most important economic hub and one of the most significant industrial hubs in Asia, with a vibrant cultural and political scene.

What does the speaker believe happened to Kolkata?

The speaker believes that Kolkata did not simply decline; it was 'murdered' due to the policies of the socialist government, which they witnessed firsthand.

How did the audience react to the speaker's previous conversation about Kolkata?

The audience was deeply engaged, with many people from Kolkata or those who have visited sharing their own experiences and relating to the speaker's description of the city's decline.

What was the speaker's childhood experience with electricity in Kolkata?

The speaker recalls doing homework by lantern and candlelight due to frequent power outages, which was not a result of poverty but rather poor electricity management by the government.

What is the speaker's perspective on the relationship between economic and cultural vibrancy?

The speaker believes that a vibrant cultural hub cannot exist without a strong economy, implying that economic decline leads to a broader cultural and intellectual decline.

What is the speaker's broader goal in their work?

The speaker's ultimate goal is to rebuild a civilization, which includes not just the economy but also culture, history, and various other aspects of society.

How does the speaker connect the decline of Kolkata with the Renaissance period in Europe?

The speaker draws a parallel between the decline of Kolkata and the Renaissance, suggesting that both periods involved an 'opening' and 'closing' of the mind, leading to periods of cultural and intellectual flourishing or decline.

What does the speaker suggest about the reasons for the continued election of Jyoti Basu and the socialist government?

The speaker suggests that a combination of electoral malpractice and a 'poverty of aspiration' among the people led to the continued election of Jyoti Basu and the socialist government, despite their poor performance.

Why does the speaker believe Kolkata has not produced notable figures like it did in the past?

The speaker attributes the lack of notable figures in modern Kolkata to the overall decline of the city's intellectual, cultural, and economic spheres, which they believe are interconnected.