Jyoti Basu's centenary celebrations to begin July 8

KOLKATA: Release of a memorial volume, and year-long programmes throughout West Bengal highlighting his life and philosophy would mark late West Bengal Chief Minister and marxist patriarch Jyoti Basu's centenary celebrations beginning July 8.

Basu's s ideals that helped in consolidating the unity of the working class' movement would also be emphasised before the new generation workers and employees during the celebrations, the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) labour wing CITU's West Bengal committee said in a statement.

Bengal's legendary Marxist - born July 8, 1914 - was the founder-vice president of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU).

The centenary celebrations would be launched through raising of the CITU flag and garlanding of Basu's portrait at its state headquarters Shramik BhawanJuly 8. Similar programmes would be organised in all offices of the CITU and its affiliate units through the day.

"All units across the state would host various programmes till July 8 next year. The programmes would highlight Basu's life and philosophy and initiatives would be taken to showcase his ideals that helped in the spread of the united movement of the working class," CITU state general secretary Dipak Dasgupta said in the statement.

In August, a book of tributes containing write-ups of the workers' and left movements would be brought out by CITU.

The organisation's state president and CPI(M) central committee member Shyamal Chakraborty has already appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to issue a set of postage stamps to mark the occasion.

Basu was at the helm of affairs in West Bengal for over 23 years from 1977, the longest chief ministerial tenure in India. He voluntarily stepped down Nov 6, 2000 due to ill health.

Basu almost became India's prime minister in 1996 at the head of a centre-Left United Front government. But the CPI-M vetoed the proposal, and the leader later dubbed the party's decision a "historical blunder". He died January 17, 2010.

Jyoti Basu's centenary celebrations to begin July 8 | Business Standard

CPI (M) asks PM for postage stamp on Jyoti Basu

Kolkata, June 12, (IANS):  The CPI(M) has appealed to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to issue a set of postage stamps to mark the centenary of late West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu.

In a letter to Singh released to the media Wednesday, Communist Party of India (Marxist) Rajya Sabha member and central committee member Shyamal Chakraborty said Basu's centenary would be celebrated from July 8 this year to July 8 2014.

"I propose that your good office may kindly advice Department of Posts to publish a set of commemorative postage stamps in his name during his birth centenary," said Chakraborty.

An identical letter was sent to Communication and Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal.

In his letter, Chakraborty refered to the role Basu played in India's political life after Independence.

"He (Basu) ran a government in a state for consecutive five terms. (He) had the widest experience of working with 10 out of 13 prime ministers of India. This may be reckoned as unprecedented record in the history of democracy."

Chakraborty also pointed out that during his stint as the country's finance minister between 1991 and 1996, Singh had worked with Basu.

Basu, born July 8, 1914, was at the helm of affairs in West Bengal for over 23 years from 1977, the longest chief ministerial tenure in India. He voluntarily stepped down in 2000 due to ill health.

Basu almost became India's prime minister in 1996 at the head of a centre-Left United Front government. But the CPI-M vetoed the proposal, and he later dubbed the party's decision a "historical blunder".