IT was the end of the 70s. The days of autocratic rule came to an end. People's struggle for democracy was gathering steam. At that historical juncture, the CPIM gained successes and formed government at state level. On the other hand, a bright red star of peasant's resistance in the Central Bihar heralded the beginning of a rejuvenated agrarian struggle. An armed peasant movement in Bankura resonated West Bengal. At this juncture, a comrade who came and inspired a new batch of youth in 24 Parganas (N) District to take a plunge in the revolutionary movement of social change was Dhurjati Prasad Bakshi – our beloved Pranab da. We all found within him a friend were no barrier of ‘seniority’ ever existed. He inspired us to go to the villages, to integrate with the peasantry and eventually to get declassed. He also advised us not to turn our heads backwards, to destroy all the bridges which always lure us to retreat. So I left my studies and career, and went to organise peasant movement from Nadia district to Naxalbari area. At that time Pranab da was given the responsibility of organising in Assam.
When he came to North Bengal, he used to say that it is important to build leaders from the nationality itself and that is the prime responsibility of a party organiser. He never shunned any responsibility and even Vinod Misra said, “wherever the party deputes Pranab, he creates assets.”
-- Jayatu Deshmukh
