How prosperous is the future of industrialization, even in a very low scale, in West Bengal which is not an economically stable State in India? This question is more significant particularly when the State is expected to move forward under the stewardship of the exuberant Chief Minister of the present Government.

It is widely recorded by all the concerned that for last about 3 decades , perhaps, only the silhouette of this State exists in the map of the country and that of the world. Thanks to the most damaging and abnormal art of ruling during the period. It is quite scary to notice the most bizarre mindsets very carefully built up in the personalities of the Bengali working force during this era.

Recent exultant wave of hopes cherished by the educated folk in the changed environment created by the new Chief Minister was difficult to fathom. However, unfortunately that crests of hopes have suffered a rude shock in the reality as mentioned in the succeeding paragraphs.

The get-together [ no other term may be suitable] recently arranged by the present Government inviting all the big and medium industrialists is undoubtedly praise-worthy. Though the deliberations in that get-together of the august personalities highlighted a bit rumbling thought processes of the concerned authorities, it is understandable. As observed in the TV, the show has been earmarked by the following:

• Deliberations not based on any proper agenda - remarkably a need of more organizing effort.
• Lack of professionalism felt every moment.

The presence of a number of big and most respected industrialists in that gathering demonstrated entirely the greatness of the guests who thronged there with genuine positive mindset and enthusiasm.

Basic objective in writing this article is to project a very serious phenomenon in the present society of West Bengal currently charged so boisterously in the light of a number of promises by the new ruling party. That phenomenon is the PRO-NON-INDUSTRIALISTS psyche seems to be very carefully nurtured and kept hidden by a section of people and particularly the work force of the State.

Section of the educated lots just felt highly embarrassed witnessing the same attitude which has surfaced now suddenly. This is exemplified by the current incident of harassing and humiliating the Tata Group which is one of the most respected industrialists in India and abroad. Tata Group is not just one group of industrialist; they are also the legend contributing so profusely to the build-up of the industrial world in the country. It deeply pained us including, perhaps, all the industrialists observing how badly such a star industrial group has been treated  by the present authorities particularly at this crucial stage. It is more than a platitude that this august group deserves an iota of decency and courtesy in a State where this group has precious contributions for about 5 decades. This has thus reflected the scary images and characteristics of all the concerned in the bandwagon of the previous authorities in power. And that is the matter of concern.

This most disturbing incident concerning one of the most respected industrialists caused by the present Government of West Bengal has shaken the root of all prospects of industrialization in the State.

Land: The treatment caused recently to the Tata Group at the very juncture of the new program of industrialization in a big way in the State, envisages what lies ahead in the future approach of the present Government of West Bengal. With rudimentary knowledge, one knows that Land is one of the four most precious factors or parameters of a Production Function, other factors being Building, Labor and Entrepreneur. Without land no production unit can work. Interestingly, the Government of West Bengal have withdrawn themselves entirely from this most important commitment. Purchasing large number of plots of land from private owners by the industrialists is next to impossible and absolutely not feasible. This entails a series of inconvenient tasks, viz., contacting owners, pursuing them, obtaining their consent, verifying the actual legal ownership and so on. This is a horrendous job. The industrialists just can not afford to do that. So in absence of State Government’s help and commitment, land can not be made available to the industrialists. Thus the Government of West Bengal sledge-hammered the whole prospect of industrialization in the State.

Agriculture: That West Bengal is gifted with fertile agricultural land is well known. At Singur where Tata Group has built up their automobile Factory, the present Government of West Bengal is extraordinarily keen to ‘return’ plots of land to ‘unwilling’ farmers. This reflects compassion and sympathy to those farmers. That is quite fine. But what about addressing alarming unemployment problem? It is interesting to ascertain to what extent those farmers will be able to lead a normal life with at least two square meals a day and to afford to arrange most essential goods and services for a daily normal life. On the other hand if one member in each of those farmers’ families would get employed in that factory, their life style would have been upgraded manifold permanently.

The State is already deeply problematic and tension-oriented which is not so congenial for industrialization. The industrialists have to encounter unpredictable hurdles every moment. More serious aspect is that Government of West Bengal will not be in a position to provide better facilities than what have been offered by Maharashtra, Gujarat and Karnataka Governments.

Judging the situation in the State, it seems to be quite justified and appropriate if the State moves for agricultural development rather than for industrial development erasing, of course, the unemployment problem from the agenda. This proposition is appropriate keeping with the facts that major portion of land in West Bengal are highly fertile and cultivable. Availability of fallow land as such for building up factories is really an impediment in West Bengal.

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Prasanta Kumar Saha