If there is anyone out there who still doubts that India is a place where all things are possible; who still wonders if the dream of our founders is alive in our time; who still questions the power of our democracy, tonight is your answer.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and govt. buildings in numbers this nation and our state has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, leftist and rightist Bengalis who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red and green people: we are, and always will be, Proud Indian and Bengalis.
I still remember the day back at school when a chapter on West Bengal was taught and I was the most proud Bengali in the class of Punjabis. Today once again that pride is back and when not just India but the whole world is talking about us and this time for a good reason. It is the time for all of us to pick ourselves up dust ourselves off and start rebuilding the work of Bengal. So that no could say to us that we are inferior to any other state in this country. So that no one says Kolkata is a big junkyard. God has gifted our state with so many natural resources and above with a resource which is most important of all the human beings. Once upon a time, we were the best state in this country and now it is the time to reclaim that title back.
The person who has brought about this change. Who showed us all hope in the hour of despair. Who made us chose hope over hate and fear is true embodiment of the Bengali spirit. She has been trashed so badly so many times, brutally insulted so many times still she carried on. When all the top leaders have left their hope of get Bengalis rid of a dictatorial government she came forward. She inspired many to stay on in our state and do something here. Today nothing will change if we don’t change. We have to stay back in our state and work here. For everywhere we look there is work to be done. Just as enthusiastically we proved that after six decades and more our government is still the government of the people, by the people and for the people. This time when I voted for the first, this belief as strong in my mind as it is in the mind of my grandmother who for last 87 years have seen the best of days and worst of the hours in this country and knows, to all problems which we face has solution in ballots and not bullets. And not just me young people like my friend Purbani Di who travelled 222 km to press the button for good. In the same way, we have to work hard to get back our lost dignity. After 26/11 I said that there is one PM he had failed today but there are 1.2 billion Indian we also failed that day as we did not do our duty to the nation. In the same way, we have only one CM as we are hoping she will do her job diligently but we must not fail in doing our duties too. Everyone accuses us that we talk a lot and do very little this is the time when we should make our actions speak louder than our words.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but I have never been more hopeful than I am today that we will get there. I truly believe - we as a people will get there. We have succeeded in fixing those school which fail too many. Help our infrastructure stand on its feet back again. We have to get back young people to work to mend our leaking state purse. Make health care affordable and in reach to million so that they could spend their good times with their loved ones and not by missing them.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long and work together for one goal and better Bengal a better India and a better World... As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if Bengal's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
In the last 20 years, I have seen how the first call was made which started a mobile revolution in the country and the first round also fired which also started a revolution to protect our rights. Let us all come together to work for the achievements like former even thought dark memories of the later have left a gaping hole in our heart. This is our time this is our moment to prove to the world that we Bengalis are capable of rebuilding our Sonar Bangla from scratch. I truly believe that yes we can do it now.
It's the answer told by lines that stretched around schools and govt. buildings in numbers this nation and our state has never seen; by people who waited three hours and four hours, many for the very first time in their lives, because they believed that this time must be different; that their voice could be that difference.
It's the answer spoken by young and old, rich and poor, leftist and rightist Bengalis who sent a message to the world that we have never been a collection of Red and green people: we are, and always will be, Proud Indian and Bengalis.
I still remember the day back at school when a chapter on West Bengal was taught and I was the most proud Bengali in the class of Punjabis. Today once again that pride is back and when not just India but the whole world is talking about us and this time for a good reason. It is the time for all of us to pick ourselves up dust ourselves off and start rebuilding the work of Bengal. So that no could say to us that we are inferior to any other state in this country. So that no one says Kolkata is a big junkyard. God has gifted our state with so many natural resources and above with a resource which is most important of all the human beings. Once upon a time, we were the best state in this country and now it is the time to reclaim that title back.
The person who has brought about this change. Who showed us all hope in the hour of despair. Who made us chose hope over hate and fear is true embodiment of the Bengali spirit. She has been trashed so badly so many times, brutally insulted so many times still she carried on. When all the top leaders have left their hope of get Bengalis rid of a dictatorial government she came forward. She inspired many to stay on in our state and do something here. Today nothing will change if we don’t change. We have to stay back in our state and work here. For everywhere we look there is work to be done. Just as enthusiastically we proved that after six decades and more our government is still the government of the people, by the people and for the people. This time when I voted for the first, this belief as strong in my mind as it is in the mind of my grandmother who for last 87 years have seen the best of days and worst of the hours in this country and knows, to all problems which we face has solution in ballots and not bullets. And not just me young people like my friend Purbani Di who travelled 222 km to press the button for good. In the same way, we have to work hard to get back our lost dignity. After 26/11 I said that there is one PM he had failed today but there are 1.2 billion Indian we also failed that day as we did not do our duty to the nation. In the same way, we have only one CM as we are hoping she will do her job diligently but we must not fail in doing our duties too. Everyone accuses us that we talk a lot and do very little this is the time when we should make our actions speak louder than our words.
The road ahead will be long. Our climb will be steep. We may not get there in one year or even one term, but I have never been more hopeful than I am today that we will get there. I truly believe - we as a people will get there. We have succeeded in fixing those school which fail too many. Help our infrastructure stand on its feet back again. We have to get back young people to work to mend our leaking state purse. Make health care affordable and in reach to million so that they could spend their good times with their loved ones and not by missing them.
Let us resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long and work together for one goal and better Bengal a better India and a better World... As Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, "We are not enemies, but friends...though passion may have strained it must not break our bonds of affection."
And to all those watching tonight from beyond our shores, from parliaments and palaces to those who are huddled around radios in the forgotten corners of our world - our stories are singular, but our destiny is shared, and a new dawn of leadership is at hand. To those who would tear this world down - we will defeat you. To those who seek peace and security - we support you. And to all those who have wondered if Bengal's beacon still burns as bright - tonight we proved once more that the true strength of our nation comes not from our the might of our arms or the scale of our wealth, but from the enduring power of our ideals: democracy, liberty, opportunity, and unyielding hope.
In the last 20 years, I have seen how the first call was made which started a mobile revolution in the country and the first round also fired which also started a revolution to protect our rights. Let us all come together to work for the achievements like former even thought dark memories of the later have left a gaping hole in our heart. This is our time this is our moment to prove to the world that we Bengalis are capable of rebuilding our Sonar Bangla from scratch. I truly believe that yes we can do it now.
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