The victim was identified as Ali Imam. On the way to hospital, he died. I was also told that he was a party supporter and used to work in the LIC. EMS Namboodiripad had stayed in his residence only a few days back. In fact, I was also supposed to be his guest and he had come to receive me at the station. In the bargain, he had to pay a heavy price. I was slightly wounded in my finger. As news of the shooting spread, tension gripped Patna city. A rally of around 20,000 people moved towards the state Assembly and a huge rally was organised in the evening. I spoke at the rally.

Journalists In Patna asked me who I thought was responsible for the attack I told them that I did not believe that any individual was responsible and that this was just a political conspiracy. Later, I came to know that the assailant belonged to the Ananda Marg. I went to Ali Imam’s residence and called him a martyr. He had lost his wife some years back and his daughter and son now were orphans.

Somehow, the incidents that came one after another touched me deeply. My arrival, the tumultuous welcome, the attempt on my life, the killing of Ali Imam and the orphans…all of these moved me and left a lasting impression on me.

Back home in Calcutta, more news awaited me. As soon as the news of the attempt on my life had trickled in, students had come out on the streets and even the Higher Secondary examinations had been postponed in some centres. Industry had shut down and offices had become empty in the busy Dalhousie area. It was as if the city was observing a general strike. Streams of people trooped into our party office asking about my well-being. This encouraged us greatly and became a source of renewed inspiration to carry on our programme despite the ‘‘hate campaign’’ launched against us by the Congress and its cohorts. There is nothing more valuable in life than the love of the people. We are always ready to sacrifice our lives for a greater cause. When the time comes, we should not be found wanting. Our lives should not be spent idling away our time. There should not be any regrets in having led a life of disuse. That has always been my bottomline.

Pramode Dasgupta presided over a mammoth rally at the Sahid Minar on April 1. The call went out loud and clear: those who were out to destroy our democratic movement by violent means and with intentions to annihilate us would be faced with a strong challenge through the people’s platform.