It is not clear what those “ways” she referred to are. But the Chomsky letter has been prominently printed in Ganashakti, the CPM mouthpiece.

Chomsky, however, has also been invoked by the anti-Nandigram intellectuals, and at a public rally director Aparna Sen was seen holding up a placard with a quote purportedly from Chomsky: “I have been following these grim events of Nandigram and their consequences for he victims. I am worried.”

In this context, the fence-sitters in West Bengal have been duly noted. Gautam Ghose and Mrinal Sen, for instance, have made it a point to be seen at both pro and anti-CPM rallies, claiming that they are with any group that preaches peace.

The fight for the Communist soul is clearly far from finished.