Reforms have a finite shelf life!
Mamta Banerjee swept to power last week, uprooting CPM rule of 34 years. Looking back, CPM came to power in 1977 with a promise of sweeping land reforms under Operation Barga. This started a movement of elevating poor sharecroppers to recorded tenenats and ultimatly to landowners.
As reform opearations go this was one of the most successful in India, affecting 1.5 M people, who were almost at the bottom of the pyramid.
Unfortunatly, the ruling Communist Party rested on its laurels. Of late, disputes on land acquisition in its attempt to bring in industry, exposed its dissociation with grassroot. West Bengal was left far behind, while its brethrens in the west, north and south prospered.
The sell by date of that reforms was long past due. It went unnoticed till the electorate exposed it!
Reforms are steps to a destination, not destination itself!
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