Promode Dasgupta - Revision history

Indian constitution: Updated article with clearer structure

2025-12-03T13:04:28Z

Updated article with clearer structure

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:34, 3 December 2025
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}
	{{Infobox officeholder		{{Infobox officeholder
	\| name = Promode Dasgupta		\| name = Promode Dasgupta
	\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg		\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg
	\| image_size = 180		\| image_size = 180
	\| caption = Dasgupta, ~~{{Circa\|1978s}}~~		\| alt = Promode Dasgupta holding a cigar between his fingers
	\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]		\| caption = Dasgupta, c. 1978
	\| term_start = 7 November 1964		\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
	\| term_end = 29 November 1982		\| term_start = 7 November 1964
	\| office1 = ~~West Bengal~~ State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)~~\|CPI(M)~~]]		\| term_end = 29 November 1982
	\| term_start1 = 1964		\| office1 = State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal]]
	\| term_end1 = 1982		\| term_start1 = 1964
	\| predecessor1 = Position Created		\| term_end1 = 1982
	\| successor1 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]		\| predecessor1 = Position Created
	\| office2 = Chairman of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]]		\| successor1 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]
	\| term_start2 = 1977		\| office2 = Chairman of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]]
	\| term_end2 = 1982		\| term_start2 = 1977
	\| predecessor2 = Position Created		\| term_end2 = 1982
	\| successor2 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]		\| predecessor2 = Position Created
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=yes\|1910\|7\|13}}		\| successor2 = Saroj Mukherjee
	\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Kaurpur village]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (~~Present day [[Faridpur District]] [[~~Bangladesh]])		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=yes\|1910\|7\|13}}
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|1982\|11\|29\|1910\|7\|13}}		\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Kaurpur village]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (now in Bangladesh)
	\| death_place = [[Beijing]], ~~[[People's Republic of~~ China]]		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|1982\|11\|29\|1910\|7\|13}}
	~~\| party = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]<br/>(1964–1982)<br/>[[Communist Party of India]]<br/>(1938–1964)~~		\| death_place = [[Beijing]], China
	~~\| birth_name = Promode Dasgupta~~
	~~\| nationality = [[India]]n~~
	~~\| citizenship = [[British Raj]] (1910–1947)<br />[[India]]n (1950–1982)~~
	~~\| blank1 = Religion~~
	~~\| data1 = None ([[Atheism]])<br/>Formerly [[Hinduism]]~~
	~~\| alma_mater = [[Brojomohun College]]~~
	}}		}}

	'''Promode Dasgupta''' (13 July 1910 – 29 November 1982) often referred to as '''PDG''' was ~~an Indian Communist politician from~~ [[~~West Bengal]] belonging to~~ Communist Party of India (Marxist) ~~and one of the founding member of Communist Party of India~~ (~~Marxist~~)~~. He has also~~ serving as State Secretary ~~of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]~~ from the party's birth in 1964 until his death in 1982. He was also a member of the ~~first~~ [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)'s politburo]]. Although he personally never contested an election, Dasgupta earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser of the party and its cadres. Under his ~~and among others~~ leadership, the CPI(M) [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]] came to power in 1977.		'''Promode Dasgupta''' (13 July 1910 – 29 November 1982) was an Indian Communist politician from [[West Bengal]], often referred to as '''PDG'''. He was the first leader of the West Bengal unit of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)), serving as State Secretary from the party's birth in 1964 until his death in 1982. He was also a member of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)'s politburo]], its supreme decision-making body. Although he personally never contested an election, Dasgupta earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser of the party and its cadres. Under his leadership, the CPI(M)-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]] came to power in a landslide victory in the 1977 election, and remained the dominant force in West Bengal politics for several decades following Dasgupta's death.

	==Biography==		==Biography==
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	==Working style and personality==		==Working style and personality==
	In a 1978 article written during the first year of the Left Front government, ''India Today'' compared the personalities and leadership styles of ~~Chief Minister~~ [[Jyoti Basu]] and Promode Dasgupta. It described the former as an urbane, mild-mannered statesman from a prosperous family who had attended Calcutta's top schools and studied law in Britain, where his conversion to Marxism had occurred. In contrast, ''India Today'' characterised Dasgupta as a "homespun Marxist" whose "life has been devoted to the single-minded aim of strengthening the CPM" in West Bengal. The article pointed out PDG's genius for organisation but also his reputation for being a "shadowy figure" who is "blunt, abrasive and retiring by nature".<ref name=IT1>"[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19780415-jyoti-basu-is-mr-soft-and-pramode-dasgupta-the-mr-hard-of-west-bengal-cpm-818341-2015-02-04 'Jyoti Basu is Mr Soft and Pramode Dasgupta the Mr Hard of West Bengal CPM' ]". ''[[India Today]]''. 15 April 1978.</ref> For Sumit Mitra, writing in the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', "it was Dasgupta who pulled the strings, and Basu was the puppet."<ref>Sumit Mitra. "[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/counter-evolutionary/story-MzgG39yMS9MYQ6Wqe49k6H.html Counter-evolutionary]". ''[[Hindustan Times]]''. 18 January 2010.</ref>		In a 1978 article written during the first year of the Left Front government, ''India Today'' compared the personalities and leadership styles of West Bengal chief minister [[Jyoti Basu]] and Promode Dasgupta. It described the former as an urbane, mild-mannered statesman from a prosperous family who had attended Calcutta's top schools and studied law in Britain, where his conversion to Marxism had occurred. In contrast, ''India Today'' characterised Dasgupta as a "homespun Marxist" whose "life has been devoted to the single-minded aim of strengthening the CPM" in West Bengal. The article pointed out PDG's genius for organisation but also his reputation for being a "shadowy figure" who is "blunt, abrasive and retiring by nature".<ref name=IT1>"[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19780415-jyoti-basu-is-mr-soft-and-pramode-dasgupta-the-mr-hard-of-west-bengal-cpm-818341-2015-02-04 'Jyoti Basu is Mr Soft and Pramode Dasgupta the Mr Hard of West Bengal CPM' ]". ''[[India Today]]''. 15 April 1978.</ref> For Sumit Mitra, writing in the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', "it was Dasgupta who pulled the strings, and Basu was the puppet."<ref>Sumit Mitra. "[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/counter-evolutionary/story-MzgG39yMS9MYQ6Wqe49k6H.html Counter-evolutionary]". ''[[Hindustan Times]]''. 18 January 2010.</ref>

	Among the managerial skills he exhibited were thorough knowledge of CPI(M) grassroots organisations in West Bengal. "Promode da was an excellent manager. Even as he sat all by himself in his office room at the party headquarters at Calcutta and smoked his cigar," ''India Today'' quoted a party worker, "a well-oiled communication machinery brought to him exactly what was happening at various levels of the party so that he was rarely caught off guard." This knowledge enabled him to act as a mediator, brokering truces between conflicting groups within the CPI(M) and the various parties in the Left Front.<ref name=IT2>"[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19821231-marxist-leader-promode-dasgupta-death-leaves-a-political-void-in-cpi-m-772530-2013-07-26 Marxist leader Promode Dasgupta's death leaves a political void in CPI-M]". ''India Today''. 31 December 1982.</ref>		Among the managerial skills he exhibited were thorough knowledge of CPI(M) grassroots organisations in West Bengal. "Promode da was an excellent manager. Even as he sat all by himself in his office room at the party headquarters at Calcutta and smoked his cigar," ''India Today'' quoted a party worker, "a well-oiled communication machinery brought to him exactly what was happening at various levels of the party so that he was rarely caught off guard." This knowledge enabled him to act as a mediator, brokering truces between conflicting groups within the CPI(M) and the various parties in the Left Front.<ref name=IT2>"[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19821231-marxist-leader-promode-dasgupta-death-leaves-a-political-void-in-cpi-m-772530-2013-07-26 Marxist leader Promode Dasgupta's death leaves a political void in CPI-M]". ''India Today''. 31 December 1982.</ref>
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	In the CPI(M) politburo, PDG often took hardline stances against the national leadership, especially in their desire to seek out alliances with non-Left parties. "Those who are not strong enough in their own rights have to go in for such exercises", he quipped. He also protected the positions of his West Bengal unit from the more moderate central politburo. Upon Dasgupta's death, Basu acknowledged the difficulty of his successor's task, both as chief organiser ("When he (Dasgupta) was there none of us had to bother about the organisation. Now we will have to work as a collective body.") and as politburo representative ("Promode babu enjoyed a special position in the politburo and it would be too much to hope that his successors will command the same respect.").<ref name=IT2/>		In the CPI(M) politburo, PDG often took hardline stances against the national leadership, especially in their desire to seek out alliances with non-Left parties. "Those who are not strong enough in their own rights have to go in for such exercises", he quipped. He also protected the positions of his West Bengal unit from the more moderate central politburo. Upon Dasgupta's death, Basu acknowledged the difficulty of his successor's task, both as chief organiser ("When he (Dasgupta) was there none of us had to bother about the organisation. Now we will have to work as a collective body.") and as politburo representative ("Promode babu enjoyed a special position in the politburo and it would be too much to hope that his successors will command the same respect.").<ref name=IT2/>

	On the flip side, Dasgupta is routinely cast as "Stalinist" and "anti-intellectual" by commentators.<ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/restoration-drama-p-c-joshi-rehabilitated-means-that-promode-dasgupta-is-finally-dead/cid/1026319 Restoration drama]". ''[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]]''. 22 April 2007.</ref><ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/demolition-of-bengal-s-pride/cid/499601 Demolition of Bengal's pride]". ''The Telegraph''. 15 July 2010.</ref>		On the flip side, Dasgupta is routinely cast as "[[Stalinism\|Stalinist]]" and "[[anti-intellectualism\|anti-intellectual]]" by commentators.<ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/restoration-drama-p-c-joshi-rehabilitated-means-that-promode-dasgupta-is-finally-dead/cid/1026319 Restoration drama]". ''[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]]''. 22 April 2007.</ref><ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/demolition-of-bengal-s-pride/cid/499601 Demolition of Bengal's pride]". ''The Telegraph''. 15 July 2010.</ref>

	''India Today'' wrote of his personal asceticism in 1978:<ref name=IT1/>		''India Today'' wrote of his personal asceticism in 1978:<ref name=IT1/>
	<blockquote>A man of frugal habits, Dasgupta has few worldly possessions. He lives simply in a single room provided by the party and has his meals at the common hall of the CPM district office at Alimuddin Street, off Lower Circular Road, Calcutta. Dressed in starched and spotless dhoti-kurta, his one weakness is his Castro-style cigar which he lights and relights as he talks. He has never married and has few family attachments. "Pramode Babu is married to the party," say his followers.</blockquote>		<blockquote>A man of frugal habits, Dasgupta has few worldly possessions. He lives simply in a single room provided by the party and has his meals at the common hall of the CPM district office at Alimuddin Street, off Lower Circular Road, Calcutta. Dressed in starched and spotless dhoti-kurta, his one weakness is his [[Cuban cigar\|Castro-style cigar]] which he lights and relights as he talks. He has never married and has few family attachments. "Pramode Babu is married to the party," say his followers.</blockquote>

	==References==		==References==
	{{reflist}}		{{reflist}}

			==Further reading==
	*"[http://ganashakti.tripod.com/archive/pdg.htm Remembrances: PDG]". ''[[Ganashakti]]''. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.		*"[http://ganashakti.tripod.com/archive/pdg.htm Remembrances: PDG]". ''[[Ganashakti]]''. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.

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	[[Category:1910 births]]		[[Category:1910 births]]
	[[Category:1982 deaths]]		[[Category:1982 deaths]]
	~~[[Category:Bengali politicians]]~~
	[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal]]		[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal]]
			[[Category:Barishal Zilla School alumni]]
			[[Category:Brojomohun College alumni]]
			[[Category:People from Faridpur District]]
			[[Category:Politicians from Dhaka Division]]
			[[Category:20th-century Indian politicians]]

2409:4061:4E10:89E4:0:0:D80A:CF14 at 08:07, 24 January 2022

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	\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg		\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg
	\| image_size = 180		\| image_size = 180
	~~\| alt = Promode Dasgupta holding a cigar between his fingers~~
	\| caption = Dasgupta, {{Circa\|1978s}}		\| caption = Dasgupta, {{Circa\|1978s}}
	\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]		\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]

2409:4061:4E10:89E4:0:0:D80A:CF14 at 08:06, 24 January 2022

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← Older revision		Revision as of 13:36, 24 January 2022
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	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}
	{{Infobox officeholder		{{Infobox officeholder
	\| name = Promode Dasgupta		\| name = Promode Dasgupta
	\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg		\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg
	\| image_size = 180		\| image_size = 180
	\| alt = Promode Dasgupta holding a cigar between his fingers		\| alt = Promode Dasgupta holding a cigar between his fingers
	\| caption = Dasgupta, ~~c. 1978~~		\| caption = Dasgupta, {{Circa\|1978s}}
	\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]		\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
	\| term_start = 7 November 1964		\| term_start = 7 November 1964
	\| term_end = 29 November 1982		\| term_end = 29 November 1982
	\| office1 = West Bengal State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)]]		\| office1 = West Bengal State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)]]
	\| term_start1 = 1964		\| term_start1 = 1964
	\| term_end1 = 1982		\| term_end1 = 1982
	\| predecessor1 = Position Created		\| predecessor1 = Position Created
	\| successor1 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]		\| successor1 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]
	\| office2 = Chairman of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]]		\| office2 = Chairman of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]]
	\| term_start2 = 1977		\| term_start2 = 1977
	\| term_end2 = 1982		\| term_end2 = 1982
	\| predecessor2 = Position Created		\| predecessor2 = Position Created
	\| successor2 = Saroj Mukherjee		\| successor2 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=yes\|1910\|7\|13}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=yes\|1910\|7\|13}}
	\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Kaurpur village]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (~~now in~~ Bangladesh)		\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Kaurpur village]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (Present day [[Faridpur District]] [[Bangladesh]])
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|1982\|11\|29\|1910\|7\|13}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|1982\|11\|29\|1910\|7\|13}}
	\| death_place = [[Beijing]], [[People's Republic of China]]		\| death_place = [[Beijing]], [[People's Republic of China]]
			\| party = [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]<br/>(1964–1982)<br/>[[Communist Party of India]]<br/>(1938–1964)
			\| birth_name = Promode Dasgupta
			\| nationality = [[India]]n
			\| citizenship = [[British Raj]] (1910–1947)<br />[[India]]n (1950–1982)
			\| blank1 = Religion
			\| data1 = None ([[Atheism]])<br/>Formerly [[Hinduism]]
			\| alma_mater = [[Brojomohun College]]
	}}		}}
	~~{{Communism in India}}~~

	'''Promode Dasgupta''' (13 July 1910 – 29 November 1982) was an Indian Communist politician from [[West Bengal]]~~, often referred~~ to ~~as '''PDG'''~~. He ~~was the first leader~~ of ~~the West Bengal unit of the~~ [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] ~~(CPI(M)), serving as State Secretary~~ from the party's birth in 1964 until his death in 1982. He was also a member of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)'s politburo]]~~, its supreme decision-making body~~. Although he personally never contested an election, Dasgupta earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser of the party and its cadres. Under his leadership, the CPI(M)~~-led~~ [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]] came to power in ~~a landslide victory in the~~ 1977 ~~election, and remained the dominant force in West Bengal politics for several decades following Dasgupta's death~~.		'''Promode Dasgupta''' (13 July 1910 – 29 November 1982) often referred to as '''PDG''' was an Indian Communist politician from [[West Bengal]] belonging to Communist Party of India (Marxist) and one of the founding member of Communist Party of India (Marxist). He has also serving as State Secretary of [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] from the party's birth in 1964 until his death in 1982. He was also a member of the first [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)'s politburo]]. Although he personally never contested an election, Dasgupta earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser of the party and its cadres. Under his and among others leadership, the CPI(M) [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]] came to power in 1977.

	==Biography==		==Biography==

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			{{Short description\|Indian politician}}
	{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}		{{Use dmy dates\|date=April 2020}}
	{{Infobox officeholder		{{Infobox officeholder
	\| name = Promode Dasgupta		\| name = Promode Dasgupta
	\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg		\| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg
	\| image_size = 180		\| image_size = 180
	\| alt = Promode Dasgupta holding a cigar between his fingers		\| alt = Promode Dasgupta holding a cigar between his fingers
	\| caption = Dasgupta, c. 1978		\| caption = Dasgupta, c. 1978
	\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]		\| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
	\| term_start = 7 November 1964		\| term_start = 7 November 1964
	\| term_end = 29 November 1982		\| term_end = 29 November 1982
	\| office1 = West Bengal State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)]]		\| office1 = West Bengal State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)]]
	\| term_start1 = 1964		\| term_start1 = 1964
	\| term_end1 = 1982		\| term_end1 = 1982
	\| predecessor1 = Position Created		\| predecessor1 = Position Created
	\| successor1 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]		\| successor1 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]
	\| office2 = Chairman of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]]		\| office2 = Chairman of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]]
	\| term_start2 = 1977		\| term_start2 = 1977
	\| term_end2 = 1982		\| term_end2 = 1982
	\| predecessor2 = Position Created		\| predecessor2 = Position Created
	\| successor2 = Saroj Mukherjee		\| successor2 = Saroj Mukherjee
	\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=yes\|1910\|7\|13}}		\| birth_date = {{Birth date\|df=yes\|1910\|7\|13}}
	\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Kaurpur village]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (now in Bangladesh)		\| birth_place = [[Faridpur District\|Kaurpur village]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (now in Bangladesh)
	\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|1982\|11\|29\|1910\|7\|13}}		\| death_date = {{Death date and age\|df=yes\|1982\|11\|29\|1910\|7\|13}}
	\| death_place = [[Beijing]], [[People's Republic of China]]		\| death_place = [[Beijing]], [[People's Republic of China]]
	}}		}}
			{{Communism in India}}

	'''Promode Dasgupta''' (13 July 1910 – 29 November 1982) was an Indian Communist politician from [[West Bengal]], often referred to as '''PDG'''. He was the first leader of the West Bengal unit of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)), serving as State Secretary from the party's birth in 1964 until his death in 1982. He was also a member of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)'s politburo]], its supreme decision-making body. Although he personally never contested an election, Dasgupta earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser of the party and its cadres. Under his leadership, the CPI(M)-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]] came to power in a landslide victory in the 1977 election, and remained the dominant force in West Bengal politics for several decades following Dasgupta's death.		'''Promode Dasgupta''' (13 July 1910 – 29 November 1982) was an Indian Communist politician from [[West Bengal]], often referred to as '''PDG'''. He was the first leader of the West Bengal unit of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)), serving as State Secretary from the party's birth in 1964 until his death in 1982. He was also a member of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)\|CPI(M)'s politburo]], its supreme decision-making body. Although he personally never contested an election, Dasgupta earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser of the party and its cadres. Under his leadership, the CPI(M)-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)\|Left Front]] came to power in a landslide victory in the 1977 election, and remained the dominant force in West Bengal politics for several decades following Dasgupta's death.
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	[[Category:Bengali politicians]]		[[Category:Bengali politicians]]
	[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal]]		[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal]]
	~~{{WestBengal-politician-stub}}~~

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	In the CPI(M) politburo, PDG often took hardline stances against the national leadership, especially in their desire to seek out alliances with non-Left parties. "Those who are not strong enough in their own rights have to go in for such exercises", he quipped. He also protected the positions of his West Bengal unit from the more moderate central politburo. Upon Dasgupta's death, Basu acknowledged the difficulty of his successor's task, both as chief organiser ("When he (Dasgupta) was there none of us had to bother about the organisation. Now we will have to work as a collective body.") and as politburo representative ("Promode babu enjoyed a special position in the politburo and it would be too much to hope that his successors will command the same respect.").<ref name=IT2/>		In the CPI(M) politburo, PDG often took hardline stances against the national leadership, especially in their desire to seek out alliances with non-Left parties. "Those who are not strong enough in their own rights have to go in for such exercises", he quipped. He also protected the positions of his West Bengal unit from the more moderate central politburo. Upon Dasgupta's death, Basu acknowledged the difficulty of his successor's task, both as chief organiser ("When he (Dasgupta) was there none of us had to bother about the organisation. Now we will have to work as a collective body.") and as politburo representative ("Promode babu enjoyed a special position in the politburo and it would be too much to hope that his successors will command the same respect.").<ref name=IT2/>

	On the flip side, Dasgupta is routinely cast as "Stalinist" and "anti-intellectual" by commentators.<ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/~~1070422~~/~~asp~~/~~opinion~~/~~story_7664148.asp~~ Restoration drama]". ''[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]]''. 22 April 2007.</ref><ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/~~1100715~~/~~jsp~~/~~frontpage~~/~~story_12685868.jsp~~ Demolition of ~~Bengal’s~~ pride]". ''The Telegraph''. 15 July 2010.</ref>		On the flip side, Dasgupta is routinely cast as "Stalinist" and "anti-intellectual" by commentators.<ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/opinion/restoration-drama-p-c-joshi-rehabilitated-means-that-promode-dasgupta-is-finally-dead/cid/1026319 Restoration drama]". ''[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)\|The Telegraph]]''. 22 April 2007.</ref><ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/india/demolition-of-bengal-s-pride/cid/499601 Demolition of Bengal's pride]". ''The Telegraph''. 15 July 2010.</ref>

	''India Today'' wrote of his personal asceticism in 1978:<ref name=IT1/>		''India Today'' wrote of his personal asceticism in 1978:<ref name=IT1/>

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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Promode Dasgupta
| image = Promode Dasgupta.jpg
| image_size = 180
| alt = Promode Dasgupta holding a cigar between his fingers
| caption = Dasgupta, c. 1978
| office = [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Member of Polit Bureau]], [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]
| term_start = 7 November 1964
| term_end = 29 November 1982
| office1 = West Bengal State Secretary of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]]
| term_start1 = 1964
| term_end1 = 1982
| predecessor1 = Position Created
| successor1 = [[Saroj Mukherjee]]
| office2 = Chairman of the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]]
| term_start2 = 1977
| term_end2 = 1982
| predecessor2 = Position Created
| successor2 = Saroj Mukherjee
| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1910|7|13}}
| birth_place = [[Faridpur District|Kaurpur village]], [[Bengal Presidency]], [[British India]] (now in Bangladesh)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1982|11|29|1910|7|13}}
| death_place = [[Beijing]], [[People's Republic of China]]
}}

'''Promode Dasgupta''' (13 July 1910 – 29 November 1982) was an Indian Communist politician from [[West Bengal]], often referred to as '''PDG'''. He was the first leader of the West Bengal unit of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)), serving as State Secretary from the party's birth in 1964 until his death in 1982. He was also a member of the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)'s politburo]], its supreme decision-making body. Although he personally never contested an election, Dasgupta earned a reputation as a disciplined organiser of the party and its cadres. Under his leadership, the CPI(M)-led [[Left Front (West Bengal)|Left Front]] came to power in a landslide victory in the 1977 election, and remained the dominant force in West Bengal politics for several decades following Dasgupta's death.

==Biography==
Promode Dasgupta was born in July 1910 in a [[Baidya]] family in [[Faridpur District|Kaurpur village]] in the [[Bengal Presidency|undivided Bengal]] of [[British India]]; it is now a part of Bangladesh. His father was a doctor employed in government service. Dasgupta had eight siblings, of whom one sister would become a fellow CPI(M) member. PDG says of his youth, "I joined the university but gave it up soon after to become an apprentice in a workshop".<ref name=IT1/>

==Working style and personality==
In a 1978 article written during the first year of the Left Front government, ''India Today'' compared the personalities and leadership styles of Chief Minister [[Jyoti Basu]] and Promode Dasgupta. It described the former as an urbane, mild-mannered statesman from a prosperous family who had attended Calcutta's top schools and studied law in Britain, where his conversion to Marxism had occurred. In contrast, ''India Today'' characterised Dasgupta as a "homespun Marxist" whose "life has been devoted to the single-minded aim of strengthening the CPM" in West Bengal. The article pointed out PDG's genius for organisation but also his reputation for being a "shadowy figure" who is "blunt, abrasive and retiring by nature".<ref name=IT1>"[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/cover-story/story/19780415-jyoti-basu-is-mr-soft-and-pramode-dasgupta-the-mr-hard-of-west-bengal-cpm-818341-2015-02-04 'Jyoti Basu is Mr Soft and Pramode Dasgupta the Mr Hard of West Bengal CPM' ]". ''[[India Today]]''. 15 April 1978.</ref> For Sumit Mitra, writing in the ''[[Hindustan Times]]'', "it was Dasgupta who pulled the strings, and Basu was the puppet."<ref>Sumit Mitra. "[https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/counter-evolutionary/story-MzgG39yMS9MYQ6Wqe49k6H.html Counter-evolutionary]". ''[[Hindustan Times]]''. 18 January 2010.</ref>

Among the managerial skills he exhibited were thorough knowledge of CPI(M) grassroots organisations in West Bengal. "Promode da was an excellent manager. Even as he sat all by himself in his office room at the party headquarters at Calcutta and smoked his cigar," ''India Today'' quoted a party worker, "a well-oiled communication machinery brought to him exactly what was happening at various levels of the party so that he was rarely caught off guard." This knowledge enabled him to act as a mediator, brokering truces between conflicting groups within the CPI(M) and the various parties in the Left Front.<ref name=IT2>"[https://www.indiatoday.in/magazine/indiascope/story/19821231-marxist-leader-promode-dasgupta-death-leaves-a-political-void-in-cpi-m-772530-2013-07-26 Marxist leader Promode Dasgupta's death leaves a political void in CPI-M]". ''India Today''. 31 December 1982.</ref>

In the CPI(M) politburo, PDG often took hardline stances against the national leadership, especially in their desire to seek out alliances with non-Left parties. "Those who are not strong enough in their own rights have to go in for such exercises", he quipped. He also protected the positions of his West Bengal unit from the more moderate central politburo. Upon Dasgupta's death, Basu acknowledged the difficulty of his successor's task, both as chief organiser ("When he (Dasgupta) was there none of us had to bother about the organisation. Now we will have to work as a collective body.") and as politburo representative ("Promode babu enjoyed a special position in the politburo and it would be too much to hope that his successors will command the same respect.").<ref name=IT2/>

On the flip side, Dasgupta is routinely cast as "Stalinist" and "anti-intellectual" by commentators.<ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/1070422/asp/opinion/story_7664148.asp Restoration drama]". ''[[The Telegraph (Calcutta)|The Telegraph]]''. 22 April 2007.</ref><ref>Ashis Chakrabarti. "[https://www.telegraphindia.com/1100715/jsp/frontpage/story_12685868.jsp Demolition of Bengal’s pride]". ''The Telegraph''. 15 July 2010.</ref>

''India Today'' wrote of his personal asceticism in 1978:<ref name=IT1/>
<blockquote>A man of frugal habits, Dasgupta has few worldly possessions. He lives simply in a single room provided by the party and has his meals at the common hall of the CPM district office at Alimuddin Street, off Lower Circular Road, Calcutta. Dressed in starched and spotless dhoti-kurta, his one weakness is his Castro-style cigar which he lights and relights as he talks. He has never married and has few family attachments. "Pramode Babu is married to the party," say his followers.</blockquote>

==References==
{{reflist}}

*"[http://ganashakti.tripod.com/archive/pdg.htm Remembrances: PDG]". ''[[Ganashakti]]''. Retrieved on 31 July 2018.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Dasgupta, Promode}}
[[Category:1910 births]]
[[Category:1982 deaths]]
[[Category:Bengali politicians]]
[[Category:Communist Party of India (Marxist) politicians from West Bengal]]
{{WestBengal-politician-stub}}