Chittabrata Majumdar
Encyclopedia
Chittabrata Majumdar (1935 – 2007) was general secretary of Centre of Indian Trade Unions
(CITU), the trade union wing of CPI(M)
from 2003 till his death. He was also a member of the politburo of the party and was always considered a hard liner. His body was taken in a procession at Kolkata
and donated to a hospital
, now in Bangladesh
in 1935, he joined the Communist Party of India
(CPI) while still a student of Bangabasi College
in 1954. After graduating in science he obtained another degree in textile technology. When CPI split in 1964, he joined CPI (M).
As a CITU leader, he visited many countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Malaysia, France, Austria, North Korea, China and the then USSR.
s (SEZs). The party has so far not taken any decision on how to deal with land acquisition for other industries,’’
Majumdar had strong views on foreign direct investment (FDI). Stating that allowing FDI in the country is compromising India's own "self reliance", he said, "No country can develop on the basis of foreign investment alone." He pointed out that an assessment should be made as to whether foreign investment is indeed beneficial to the country - in terms of employment and money generated - or just another way of international companies filling their deep pockets.
On the eve of his joining the Rajya Sabha, he was asked whether it would send wrong signals to the industry, Majumdar said, "We are not here to liquidate industries. If our industrialists are sincere on growth, they need not get scared. In fact, this is a common phenomenon in advanced countries."
Centre of Indian Trade Unions
Centre of Indian Trade Unions , CITU is a National level Trade Union in India politically attached to the Communist Party of India . The Centre of Indian Trade Unions is today one of biggest assembly of workers and classes of India...
(CITU), the trade union wing of CPI(M)
Communist Party of India (Marxist)
The Communist Party of India is a political party in India. It has a strong presence in the states of Kerala, West Bengal and Tripura. As of 2011, CPI is leading the state government in Tripura. It leads the Left Front coalition of leftist parties in various states and the national parliament of...
from 2003 till his death. He was also a member of the politburo of the party and was always considered a hard liner. His body was taken in a procession at Kolkata
Kolkata
Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...
and donated to a hospital
Formative years
Born at DhakaDhaka
Dhaka is the capital of Bangladesh and the principal city of Dhaka Division. Dhaka is a megacity and one of the major cities of South Asia. Located on the banks of the Buriganga River, Dhaka, along with its metropolitan area, had a population of over 15 million in 2010, making it the largest city...
, now in Bangladesh
Bangladesh
Bangladesh , officially the People's Republic of Bangladesh is a sovereign state located in South Asia. It is bordered by India on all sides except for a small border with Burma to the far southeast and by the Bay of Bengal to the south...
in 1935, he joined the Communist Party of India
Communist Party of India
The Communist Party of India is a national political party in India. In the Indian communist movement, there are different views on exactly when the Indian communist party was founded. The date maintained as the foundation day by CPI is 26 December 1925...
(CPI) while still a student of Bangabasi College
Bangabasi College
Bangabasi College is a Kolkata based liberal arts, commerce and sciences college. It offers undergraduate and postgraduate courses of the University of Calcutta. It was founded by Acharya Girish Chandra Bose, the eminent educationist, social reformer and agriculturist in 1887...
in 1954. After graduating in science he obtained another degree in textile technology. When CPI split in 1964, he joined CPI (M).
At the helm
He was elected to the West Bengal state assembly in 1967 and was minister, in charge of cottage and small-scale industries. However, he was really a party organization man. Majumdar rose sharply within the party. He was a member of the district secretariat in Howrah in 1968, a member of the state committee in 1982, general secretary of state unit of CITU in 1991 and finally general secretary at the national level in 2003. He was a member of the Rajya Sabha.As a CITU leader, he visited many countries, including the UK, Switzerland, Malaysia, France, Austria, North Korea, China and the then USSR.
His opinions
Speakin during the CPM central committee’s session at Kolkata in January 2007, which discussed land policy, Majumdar emphasized, “That policy only speaks of land for Special economic zoneSpecial Economic Zone
A Special Economic Zone is a geographical region that has economic and other laws that are more free-market-oriented than a country's typical or national laws...
s (SEZs). The party has so far not taken any decision on how to deal with land acquisition for other industries,’’
Majumdar had strong views on foreign direct investment (FDI). Stating that allowing FDI in the country is compromising India's own "self reliance", he said, "No country can develop on the basis of foreign investment alone." He pointed out that an assessment should be made as to whether foreign investment is indeed beneficial to the country - in terms of employment and money generated - or just another way of international companies filling their deep pockets.
On the eve of his joining the Rajya Sabha, he was asked whether it would send wrong signals to the industry, Majumdar said, "We are not here to liquidate industries. If our industrialists are sincere on growth, they need not get scared. In fact, this is a common phenomenon in advanced countries."