the left and the proletariat

Under the pressure of globalisation, Indian government is in a rush to set up multinational industries in India. The land being acquired for such Special  economic Zones [SEZs]is farming land. Usually the provisions for rehabilitation of displaced people [in millions, in India] are very poor. Most of these lose their traditional means of livelihood, have no other skills and are rendered poorer and homeless. Many farmers commit suicides.

One such SEZ was planned for Bengal - a state in eastern India. Incidentally, this state was ruled by communists for thirty years - the so-called anti-capital pro-poor party.

On March 14, 2007 the state government police attacked the protesting farmers protesting against the SEZ and killed 14 of them.

The painting records this event.

Many such SEZs proposed all over India and a great debate is going on in the country whether international capital should encroach on indigenous people's way of life.