Thousands throng hospital to pay homage to Basu

KOLKATA - Thousands of people gathered in front of the AMRI Hospital here Sunday to get a last glimpse of veteran Marxist icon Jyoti Basu. Many had tears in their eyes.

“I first saw the news on television that said Basu died at 11.47 a.m. this morning. I could not resist myself and rushed to the hospital just to have a last glimpse of our great leader.

“I can’t express my feelings now. All I can say, I grew up watching him and following his Communist ideals throughout my life,” said Arnab Mondal, a 50-year-old resident of Kolkata’s Nagerbazar area.

Hundreds of people, who had assembled in front of the hospital since Sunday morning, broke down in tears when Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) state secretary Biman Bose declared: “Jyoti Basu is no more.”

As soon as the news was announced, the crowd started swelling in front of the hospital. People came in thousands to pay their last respects to the 95-year-old Communist leader.

“I came to hear the medical bulletin this morning. I was so anxious for the past few days and used to follow all the medical reports about his health on television. I never imagined that he would die today. I still can’t believe it,” said Sailen Sarkar, who came to see the ailing leader all the way from Bongaon of North 24-Parganas district.

“I came very early in the morning and waited for the medical bulletin to come. I had no idea that I would have to listen to the news of his death,” Sarkar said as his eyes welled up in tears.

“I never missed any of Jyoti Basu’s political meetings. Whenever he visited our district for any political programme, I always made it a point to attend that political rally,” he said.

Shiva Prasad Yadav, who hails from neighbouring Bihar, also mourned the death of the CPI-M veteran.

“I am completely shattered to hear the news… my leader is no more with me,” he said while crying profusely near the hospital.