By Mumtaz Alam Falahi, TwoCircles.net,
Zakaria Street, Kolkata: They want palti (change). Whether they are living in Zakaria Street, in the heart of the state capital, or in Matia Buruj, a suburb, or in Mallikpur, a rural area, the word is at many lips. The Muslim-dominated areas seem have clearly made up mind – they will dethrone the Left in this assembly poll.
“This is a commercial area, so there is not much problem. But people seem to have fed up with the Left rule. Now people want change. The Left has done nothing for Muslims as a community. They could have done lot but did nothing,” says Merajuddin, a young businessman in Zakaria Street.
A pan vendor Sayeed lists problems. “We have many problems – from housing to business to school. Schools are without teacher. There are very few Urdu schools and teachers are fewer there,” says Sayeed who has been living in the area since 1985.
Nakhuda Mosque in Zakaria Street, Kolkata
Why are Muslims unhappy with Left? “Muslims are not happy with any party. No party has done anything to make Muslims happy after Independence. This is not the case with only Left. All parties have betrayed Muslims,” says Sayeed who sells pan in front of Nakhuda Masjid in Zakaria Street.
He says people can vote for Left and he puts peace as the biggest achievement of the Left. He, however, admits unemployment has increased during the regime.
What is the mood of the local people? “There is a wave for change. People want change and I hope change will come,” says Merajuddin. Voting will take place in Kolkata in the Phase 3 on 27th April.
Why have Muslims shifted from Left? “Because the Left has done nothing for us,” says Atif Adnan, another young businessman who is running Kolkata’s leading publishing house Naaz Book Depot in Zakaria Street.
People busy in business in Zakaria Street
“Change is always good. I am not saying Left is bad or Trinamool is good. But change is always good,” says Adnan who has done MBA from UK and worked in US and Delhi before taking up the family business.
“If there will be change, people will always be alert that they need to do something to remain in power,” says the businessman.
An elderly street vendor in the shadow of Nakhuda Mosque
On present educational condition of the local Muslims, Adnan says: The present generation has woken up. The earlier generation was very much business-dominated. They did not get high education. They just did business.
As for neglect of Muslim-dominated areas, there is another locality called Topsia in Kolkata. Situation of education and health is not good here. “Illiteracy is increasing here. People do not get job, so they go to work rather than to school,” says Farida Begum, a public health activist in the area. The government is not spending much on education. There are not many schools, she informs.
Topsia area in Kolkata
About health, she says most of the local Muslims come under Below Poverty Line. They have not access to health facilities.