Farewell Message
Departure-eve Message of Gopalkrishna Gandhi Governor of West Bengal 13 December, 2009 Friends,
It has been the practice of Governors to share some thoughts with the people of the State on the eve of their departure.
I would like to continue that practice, with reverential gratitude.
The affection and the understanding that has been shown to me, and the good wishes that have been showered on me, are a treasure that I never expected. I pray that I may deserve it.
It has been my privilege to receive the sustained kindness of India’s elder statesman, Shri Jyoti Basu. His wisdom and his subtle humour have made a difference to my time in West Bengal. Knowing Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray has, likewise, been a most valued and enriching experience for me. I convey to both my grateful namaskar.
To the Government of West Bengal and, in particular, to its Chief Minister, the Hon’ble Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, I convey my sincere appreciation for all the cooperation and courtesies extended to me. I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation of the officers of the Government of West Bengal in all its ranks, for their able assistance to me.
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To the political parties in the Opposition, and their leaders, too, I owe cordial thanks. To Smt. Mamata Bandyopadhyay I extend my appreciation for the warmth she has shown to me. Likewise, to Shri Pranab Mukherji for enlightening me by his astonishing grasp of history and, equally, by his perception of current issues.
In how many places can one find a bibliophile Chief Minister who also writes poetry with sensitivity, an Opposition leader who sings and paints with feeling, and an expert in finance whose knowledge of political science and history has become a national asset?
Countless people outside of politics have enriched my knowledge of the liferhythms of our State. Of these I must mention Professor Amartya Sen who I had the privilege of accompanying to the archaeological site at Chandraketugarh
It has been the practice of Governors to share some thoughts with the people of the State on the eve of their departure.
I would like to continue that practice, with reverential gratitude.
The affection and the understanding that has been shown to me, and the good wishes that have been showered on me, are a treasure that I never expected. I pray that I may deserve it.
It has been my privilege to receive the sustained kindness of India’s elder statesman, Shri Jyoti Basu. His wisdom and his subtle humour have made a difference to my time in West Bengal. Knowing Shri Siddhartha Shankar Ray has, likewise, been a most valued and enriching experience for me. I convey to both my grateful namaskar.
To the Government of West Bengal and, in particular, to its Chief Minister, the Hon’ble Shri Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, I convey my sincere appreciation for all the cooperation and courtesies extended to me. I would like to place on record my sincere appreciation of the officers of the Government of West Bengal in all its ranks, for their able assistance to me.
1
To the political parties in the Opposition, and their leaders, too, I owe cordial thanks. To Smt. Mamata Bandyopadhyay I extend my appreciation for the warmth she has shown to me. Likewise, to Shri Pranab Mukherji for enlightening me by his astonishing grasp of history and, equally, by his perception of current issues.
In how many places can one find a bibliophile Chief Minister who also writes poetry with sensitivity, an Opposition leader who sings and paints with feeling, and an expert in finance whose knowledge of political science and history has become a national asset?
Countless people outside of politics have enriched my knowledge of the liferhythms of our State. Of these I must mention Professor Amartya Sen who I had the privilege of accompanying to the archaeological site at Chandraketugarh