Jyoti Babu is no more! He breathed – permit me to use the word ‘breath’ for life-support ventilation-cum-haemodialysis - his last at 1147 am on 17 January 2010. His last rites – again, ‘rites’ here means body-donation for medical research – will be performed on 19 January 2010. Will that be the end of the Jyoti Basu story? Not at all!
I paid respects to Late Jyoti Basu at the overwhelmingly crowded ‘emergency’ gate of AMRI Hospital as he commenced his journey into eternity at 3 pm on 17 January 2010.
To me, Jyoti Babu has been a role model of pragmatic Marxism since 1965. He has influenced growing millions since then. I respect him not only for his charisma-of-a-leader and because he attended my wedding way back in 1971, but also for his unblemished personal conduct and genuine concern for all sections of society. His unshakable conviction to the cause he endeared and commitment to teamwork has influenced countless men and women. He shaped numerous contemporary events in India and abroad. That is “Why Jyoti Basu mattered so much?”
Jyoti Babu lives in the hearts and minds of people across human generations, across political spectra and across international boundaries. Long live Jyoti Babu!
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