Decoding Didi: Making Sense Of Mamata Banerjee

by Dola Mitra

From being eulogised as a leader of the masses to being pilloried as a mad, whimsical dictator, Mamata Banerjee is nothing less than an enigma. Very few politicians in India today generate as much interest as does the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee - popularly known as Didi. Diminutive yet defiant, unassuming yet arrogant, always volatile, though now increasingly erratic, Didi remains a puzzle. In 2011, Didi defied all odds to achieve what was once considered near impossible-she brought the thirty-four-year-old left regime in West Bengal to an end with a promise of a better tomorrow for the state. The success of Mamata Banerjee has been a subject of study at some of the most prestigious universities in the world, including Harvard and Cambridge. But the same Mamata Banerjee has also been scathingly criticised and ridiculed, not just by rivals in politics but also by former supporters, civil society and even the common man for failing to deliver on the dream she once promised her constituents. Decoding Didi presents the phenomenon that is Mamata Banerjee. A chronicle of an extraordinary life, it documents the heady days of the elections which toppled the left regime-raising hopes for a political renaissance in West Bengal and the crushing disappointment at Mamata Banerjees failure to bring about any meaningful change. A clear-sighted account, Decoding Didi is an essential guide to understanding one of the most significant forces in contemporary Indian politics.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Politics

208 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 2014

Reviews

[Nikita · Rating 1 out of 5]

What type of a biographical book doesn't tell you the background (parentage, education, initial professional career) of the protagonist even after reading 50 pages. The book seems more like a psychoanalysis of Ms Bannerjee' outward behavior rather than an insightful scholarly study about the person as a whole (and that too based solely on few interviews of the author with Ms Bannerjee). The writer appears largely to be theorizing about which Mamata action fits into which Mamata attitude. It is really a pity that such interesting subject as a slumdweller poor woman single-handedly toppling a party deeply wedded to the ideology of the poorest(i.e. Communists) was wasted by the author. Writing is similarly uneventful and boring - the author devotes 4-5 pages to explain something which could be succinctly expressed in 2-3 sentences.

Even after such an agonizing reading, you walk away with only a single page info about Bengali politics or Ms Bennerjee herself. One gets more info out of a normal articles in newspaper or websites. Sincerely wish the author could learn something from Ajoy Bose's excellent biography 'Behenji' about Mayawati.

One has to be very careful about selecting which biographies to read.

[Rahul Sharma · Rating 3 out of 5]

Journalist Dola Mitra's book 'Decoding Didi' is a swift read and talks about the rise of Mamata Banerjee in the politics of West Bengal. "Mamata Banerjee's entry into West Bengal politics was as explosive as a bomb, writes Mitra, equating it to a "revolution in world history. The vilification, right now, stems from Bengal's intense disappointment that she doesn't seem to have the magic wand.

Dola discusses significant events like Singur, Nandigram and Jangalmahal which led to the ascent of Mamata and also throws light on events like Park Street Rape, Saradha Chit Scam etc. when Mamata became the CM and her handling of those events.

It's a rapt and intimate book which is executed firmly. However, towards the end when she 'evaluates' Didi's performance till now she came across as severely critical. As someone who is supposed to be neutral; she focuses only on the shortcomings of her government and the promises she had not fulfilled. With the Trinamool Congress winning every civic poll there must be some good which she would have done. No? Only if the book talked about that too!

[Ronal Das · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book simply missed the point of a biography .She written it by the perspective of a communist party cadre. I think most probably she is a communist sympethizer .

Not recommended this work .

[A. B. · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting introduction to the contemporary politics of West Bengal.