The second phase of polling which took place yesterday in parts of West Bengal was one of the most violent elections seen by any state. The violence in Nandigram and different parts of the state is an indicator that popularity of the ruling CPI (M) party which has been in power for more than 30 years is waning. But the votes are cast. There has been unprecedented polling, more than 75% overall and 86% in Nandigram alone. This election is truly a testing ground for Mamata Banerjee and her Trinamool Congress which is riding on the wave of change. Unfortunately pre-poll, during polls and post poll violence shows that election in West Bengal is a gory battlefield.

All eyes were on Nandigram during the second phase of election. Nandigram has been a battlefield for rivals CPI (M) and Trinamool Congress for more than year. Nandigram came in to limelight last year when the anti-land acquisition movement by peasants and farmers created history and ruling party had to roll back its land acquisition plans and shift the SEZ project.

CPI (M) began to lose ground in villages in Nandigram when it tried using muscle power to gag the agitating farmers. The ground was never to be regained again. This election gave another opportunity to CPI (M) to assert party dominance in this nerve center. The battlefield was expected to erupt again during polls and it did.

It is indeed a shame that in a democratic country people have to risk and lose their lives to exercise their democratic right and vote for the party they trust. Even if they do, they have to face the brunt of political party hooligans even after votes are cast.

No one knows if recession is going to end or it will become worse in 2009. But it seems with many factories and companies shutting down and workers being laid –off, many workers in China are returning back home. So will this reverse migration be a new global trend in 2009?

Millions of people migrate to cities (and to even different countries) every year all over the world in search of better jobs and better opportunities. Countries have shifted from simple agrarian economy to industry based, open-market economy. Many a farm lands have been converted into special industrial zones all over the world. Now that hyper-capitalism bubble is bursting people have no choice but to make that long journey back home to their roots and their lands. With food crisis looming large and great demand for bio-fuels, will farming become a most viable option of livelihood once again?

No doubt this recession, terrorism and continued conflicts will definitely change future of many individuals and nations. There will be total chaos if economic trends do reverse on a global scale. Hope nations, world leaders and policy-makers will draft better plans to bail-out humanity from crisis at all levels.

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Via International Herald Tribune