The death of the Communist Party patriarch Jyoti Basu at a ripe age of 95 marks the end of an era of the politics in Bengal and of the country. While historians would critically analyze his role and contribution to the state and the nation, it is a fact of life that he strode the political stage of the country for more than half a century like a true colossus. His more than 23 years tenure as Chief Minister which is a record for any democratically elected communist government in a state, was marked by many successes and failures. Like every political leader he too had a number of admirers and critics. But what has transcended all is the respect that he commanded cutting across all party lines. The spectacle, of his bitter critics who saw in him an arrogant person who never cared for opposition, coming in hordes to pay their last homage in glowing terms tells the story of an extraordinary politician.

Jyoti Basu's entry into political arena took place under unusual circumstances before independence. When he went to England for further studies he came under the influence of R.D.Palme and others of the British Communist Party and on his return from that country as a barrister he did not take his profession seriously and joined the Communist movement in the country and established himself as one of the prominent leaders. Even he suffered imprisonment when the communist party was banned by the government. In the post-partition turbulent days of West Bengal, the state had another dynamic and charismatic leader, Dr. B.C.Roy as Chief Minister. Whose long years in office saw allround development of West Bengal and he had the farsightedness to mark Jyoti Basu out, who was the leader of the opposition then, as the future chief minister!

It is undoubted true that he was endowed with great qualities of pragmatism, farsightedness and political acumen. As a leader he towered over others not only of his party but those of others also. He never allowed his political dogmas to cloud his vision but at the same time he remained a strict disciplinarian when it came to obeying the party diktats. In 1996 when the entire country was looking for him to take the mantle of prime ministership, he was not allowed by his party to accept it, which he went on to describe as a “historic blunder”, but never thought of breaking up the party to achieve his selfish goal when such instances are galore in Indian politics.

Unfortunately for him and the people of West Bengal the performance which marked the initials terms of chief ministership was simply missing. The land reforms programmes , the establishment of Panchayati Raj which he so effectively and zealous pursued and succeeded could not be replicated else where. Narrow partisanship, corruption, cronyism and arrogance of the party officials were the features of his rule in the later years. He helplessly watched things falling apart. The state started falling far behind industrially with the militant brand of trade unionism thus worsening the employment scenario. The education sector was turned into a playground of petty party followers and other vested interests. The health sector too presented no better picture. The fact that he had to be admitted to a private hospital where he breathed his last, tells it own story of the state of affairs in health sector.

The history would judge him on the question whether he could have contributed more ,given to his extraordinary talent and abilities.