But not everyone in Singur has reason to be happy. For most farmers, these are uncertain times, with the Nano factory gone and development coming to a halt. The shops that mushroomed up around the factory are left with no customers.

Madhab Das, 35, resident of Khaserbheri in Singur lost 3.5 acres of his agricultural land for the project but refused to take the compensation. “I did not take the compensation as a mark of protest because the state government forcibly took away my land. I invested in my land, I got two mini deep tubewells installed. My family earned Rs 25,000 per month from my land. Barring a few kottah of land, everything was taken away for the factory. My family now lives on borrowed money,” says Madhab Das.