Chavez brings fresh inspiration for Left

Fourteen years after the fall of the Communist-ruled Soviet Union in 1991, the Left’s search for an international father figure seems t...

Fourteen years after the fall of the Communist-ruled Soviet Union in 1991, the Left’s search for an international father figure seems to have ended. Kolkata opened its arms wide as Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez arrived here this evening. Left leaders displayed their ‘‘new inspiration’’ as the Left Front government of Buddhadeb Bhattacharya felicitated Chavez.

Numerous red flags, a massive bilingual banner in Spanish and Bengali and a 20,000-odd crowd greeted Chavez. In response, the President broke into a song and cracked jokes. The crowd chanted: ‘‘Viva Chavez. Volvio Chavez’’ (Long live Chavez. Chavez has returned). The Venezuelan President reciprocated: ‘‘Viva Venezuela. Viva Bengala. Viva la India.’’

Describing Chavez as ‘‘our leader’’, CM Buddhadeb Bhattacharya said: ‘‘Chavez is our inspiration. Chavez is a comrade in our struggle.’’

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CPI(M) policy-makers Anil Biswas, Biman Bose and Prakash Karat looked on as the Chief Minister introduced Chavez as a hero of the anti-US movement.

The CPI(M), which had projected Russia, China and Vietnam as the ideal states for the poor in the past, is now projecting Venezuela in the same light. The Chief Minister used the same language to describe Chavez today as the party once did for the other three countries. Bhattacharya mentioned Chavez’s efforts in introducing a new food programme, his drive to eradicate illiteracy and his land reform programmes in Venezuela.

The Venezuelan President’s speech on the occasion, too, had the air of the father figure that the party might be looking for in him. He said, ‘‘There are many political, economic and humanitarian reasons for my coming to Kolkata.’’ He further said that his visit to the city was influenced by the government’s anti-US stance. Speaking to the assembled gathering, Chavez said, ‘‘Aami apnader bhalobashi (I love you all).’’

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