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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across...

Poriborton!

BJP candidate for Bhabanipur and Nandigram constituencies Suvendu Adhikari, who defeated West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee in the prestigious Bhabanipur seat, shows a certificate of election on Monday. Pic: PTI Mumbai: The Bengali word “Poriborton” translates to profound change. While it was initially fiercely utilized as the central battle cry for the assembly elections in West Bengal, the final tally from all five state elections reveals that the spirit of the word has swept across the entire nation. The recent electoral outcomes have fundamentally rewritten the established rules of Indian democracy. From a massive anti-incumbency wave overturning fifteen years of rule in Bengal, to a political novice shattering a six-decade Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu, and the Congress-led alliance successfully dislodging the incumbent Left in Kerala, the electorate has delivered a highly decisive mandate. Alongside sweeping consolidations of power in Assam and Puducherry, these results collectively disrupt historical traditions and reshape the national political landscape for years to come. Titan Toppled In West Bengal, the call for Poribartan finally resonated with enough force to bring down a formidable political fortress. A relentless anti-incumbency wave has overturned Mamata Banerjee’s fifteen-year rule. For a decade and a half, the Trinamool Congress maintained an iron grip on the state’s narrative, having previously ousted the Left Front on the very same promise of sweeping change. The defeat of the incumbent government signifies a monumental shift in the political psychology of Bengal. The electorate, driven by an urgent desire for a new direction, has dismantled a deeply entrenched political machine. This result forces a complete recalibration of power dynamics in eastern India, leaving a massive political vacuum that victorious forces will now rush to fill, fundamentally altering the governance trajectory of the state. Duopoly Shattered Equally seismic is the political earthquake that has struck Tamil Nadu. For six decades, the state’s political arena was fiercely guarded by a seemingly unbreakable Dravidian duopoly, with power alternating predictably between established giants. However, the emergence of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by cinema icon Thalapathy Vijay, has dismantled this historical dominance. By emerging as the single-largest party in the assembly count, the TVK has achieved what generations of politicians deemed impossible. This is not merely a change in government but a profound cultural and political revolution. The voters of Tamil Nadu have overwhelmingly opted for a fresh narrative, proving that star power coupled with an untested political promise can still upend deeply rooted ideological empires, ushering in an entirely new era of leadership. Absolute Dominance Meanwhile, the political landscape in the Northeast has witnessed a different kind of decisive mandate. In Assam, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has not only retained power but has emerged significantly stronger, securing a third consecutive term. This victory effectively cements an aggressive regional hegemony and signals the near-total ouster of the Congress party from Assam’s mainstream politics. The result brings an ironclad continuity to the state, allowing the incumbent administration to push forward its agenda without any formidable legislative friction, while leaving the state’s oldest party desperately searching for political relevance. Pendulum Swings In Kerala, the electorate has delivered a decisive blow to the incumbent Left Democratic Front. The Congress-led United Democratic Front has successfully dislodged the government, claiming a vital victory in a state renowned for its fiercely contested, oscillating elections. This resurgence of the UDF injects critical new life into the state’s Congress machinery, drastically altering the governance model in Kerala. The outcome firmly proves that the traditional pendulum of Kerala politics still possesses the momentum to swing back fiercely against the incumbent, denying the Left a continued and uninterrupted grip on power. Comfortable Continuity Further down the coast in Puducherry, the mandate favored stability within a rapidly changing national map. The National Democratic Alliance government, led by the AINRC, comfortably secured its return to power. This victory ensures that the NDA maintains a crucial administrative foothold in the southern union territory, providing a steady anchor for its regional allies amid the broader national churn. When viewed collectively, these independent state results weave a complex tapestry that will inevitably reshape national politics. The fall of towering regional satraps in West Bengal and the disruption of the historic Dravidian stronghold in Tamil Nadu indicate a national electorate that is deeply restless and entirely unafraid to discard legacy systems. For the national opposition, the revival in Kerala offers a much-needed glimmer of hope, though it is heavily overshadowed by the existential crisis they face in Assam. The spectacular rise of new regional entities introduces a fresh, highly unpredictable variable into the national coalition arithmetic ahead of future general elections. Ultimately, the political center of gravity has fundamentally shifted, proving that “Poribartan” is no longer just a localized slogan, but the defining new reality of the country.

God does not forgive nor forget: Justice D.V. Ramana bids farewell with bitterness and grace

  • PTI
  • May 21, 2025
  • 4 min read


Indore: "God does not forgive nor forget," were the words echoed with profound bitterness by Justice Duppala Venkata Ramana, a Judge of the High Court of Madhya Pradesh, as he prepared to demit office on Tuesday. What is traditionally a moment of reflection and gratitude turned into a critique of a system that, in his eyes, had inflicted deep and unwarranted personal hardship.

 

"It was a remarkable period of my life," Justice Ramana said at his farewell function in Indore, his voice steady, yet laden with pain.

 

"I was transferred from the Andhra Pradesh High Court to the Madhya Pradesh High Court without any reason. I was asked for options. I opted for the state of Karnataka, so that my wife could receive better treatment," he said, referring to his wife's battle with PNES (Paroxysmal Non-Epileptic Seizures) and severe brain complications following the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

But his plea -- a husband's earnest request born from compassion -- fell on deaf ears.

 

The Supreme Court, he said, disregarded his choice, and what followed was a relentless and ultimately futile struggle for a compassionate hearing.

 

He had submitted formal representations to the Supreme Court on July 19, 2024, and again on August 28, 2024, reiterating the severity of his wife's medical condition.

 

"But the representation was neither considered nor rejected," he lamented.

 

Another appeal during the tenure of the previous Chief Justice also went unanswered.

 

"I received no response. A judge like me expects at least a humane consideration. I was disheartened and deeply pained," he added.

 

He acknowledged that the current Chief Justice of India B R Gavai might have been more sympathetic -- but it came "too late in the day as I am demitting office."

 

Justice Ramana expressed his belief that the transfer was executed with "ill intention to harass me." "Anyway, my transfer order seems to have been issued with ill intention and to harass me. I suffered as I was transferred from my home state for obvious reasons," he stated, a veiled reference to unseen forces.

 

"I am happy to satisfy their ego. Now they are retired. God does not forgive nor forget. They will also suffer in another mode," he added.

 

Despite the bitterness, his speech was not without dignity and resilience.

 

A first-generation lawyer, Justice Ramana reflected on his life: "I bore witness to the resilience of human existence, the power of human struggle, dignity in poverty, and most importantly, unshakable hope and faith." "These ordinary, everyday experiences" taught him that "except hard work, there is no shortcut to success".

 

His career, he acknowledged, was marked by "struggles and bitter experiences" that eventually led him to "diversify my activities." From the moment he joined the judicial service, he was subjected to "conspiratorial scrutiny." "My family has suffered in silence,” he shared, "But ultimately, the truth will always prevail."

 

He invoked the words of Martin Luther King Jr: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy."

 

Justice Ramana stressed that every achievement in his life came after enduring setbacks and hardships.

 

He embraced these challenges, believing that "every failure carries a seed of equivalent advantage." "I never claimed to be a scholarly judge or a great judge. But I always believed that the ultimate purpose of the justice delivery system is to provide justice to the common man".

 

Justice Ramana maintained he was "subjected to conspiratorial scrutiny" as he spoke in the presence of brother judges and the advocate fraternity.

 

It may be noted that the Supreme Court collegium proposed the transfer of Justice Ramana from his native high court of Andhra Pradesh to the Madhya Pradesh High Court in August 2023. Justice Ramana said he had requested that his transfer proposal be reconsidered and sought to be moved to the Karnataka High Court, but the collegium did not consider it.

 

He said the collegium did not find merit in his request and resolved to reiterate its recommendation to transfer him to the Madhya Pradesh High Court as a permanent judge.

 

"I was asked for options. I opted for the state of Karnataka so that my wife gets better treatment at NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences, Bengaluru), but it was not considered by the Hon'ble Supreme Court," he said.

 

"However, as fortune would have it, the bane turned into a boon for me because I received immeasurable love, support, and cooperation from my brother judges as well as members of the Bar at Jabalpur and Indore," Justice Ramana averred.

 

Justice Ramana said the "transfers were expected to rattle me, but they did not. I did the opposite".

 

"I have made lasting contributions in each of the two states -- Andhra Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. I had an opportunity to serve in the land of Amravati, Krishna, Godavari, and Narmada. I have truly served justice. I am blessed for these opportunities," he told the gathering.

 

Justice Ramana noted he has come a long way after starting as a judicial second-class magistrate in 1994.

 

"I have faced many challenges in my life and realised that, except for hard work, there are no shortcuts to success. The journey of struggle and bitter experiences in my career helped me diversify my activities. From the day I joined the judicial service till I reached this position in the judiciary, I was subjected to conspiratorial scrutiny. But ultimately, the truth will always prevail, 'Satyamey Jayate'," he said.

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