NEW AGE (WEEKLY)

Central Organ of the Communist Party of India (CPI)

 EDITORIAL

Farce of Democracy

Whatever might be the outcome of the trial of strength in the Jharkhand Assembly, it is quite obvious that the current House has lost the mandate of the people and the situation calls for a fresh mandate. Even if the so-called partners of the UPA succeed in ousting the NDA government led by Arjun Munda, they will not be in a position to provide a stable government to the state. Similarly, if the NDA coalition succeeds in retaining the power with the help of the speaker’s maneuvering, it will remain under constant threat.

The fractured mandate given by the people of Jharkhand in the first ever elections to the state assembly after the creation of the tribal state failed to produce a stable coalition. First Union coal minister Shibu Soren of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha tried his luck. The three defectors who have created the current crisis were part of that combination. When Soren failed top win the trust of the House, BJP cobbled another coalition which it called the state version of the NDA. It contained the three defectors and they were rewarded with ministership. These chronicle defectors continuously blackmailed NDA leadership in the state. Two weeks before, they ultimately decided to play a fast one on the NDA and sent in their resignations from ministership to the governor. This reduced the Munda dispensation into a minority. The horse-trading started and it was feared that some zealots in the so-called UPA might play foul and seek dismissal of the Munda government. Fortunately, good sense prevailed and on the advice of the Center the Governor called upon the Munda government to prove its majority on the floor of the House. To that extent, one should appreciate the gesture of the UPA.

But beyond that whatever has happened is a farce of democracy. A habitual defector has been promised chief ministership. The best course for the JMM-RJD-Congress combine could have been to ask for the dissolution of the House after ousting the minority government. Alas such democratic ethos is no more the hallmark of our bourgeois political parties.

On the other hand what the NDA is trying to retain power is much more condemnable. The speaker of the assembly has become a tool in the hands of the ruling combine. He is playing all dirty tricks to help the BJP-JD (U) combination to retain power. He has dug an old application for disqualification of the three defectors. The application was made when they first defected. Speaker did not act on that application as they had helped   the NDA to grab the power. The same lot has now defected once more and as it harms the NDA, the Speaker dug out the application and held a farce of “public hearing”. Though the Speaker has not delivered his verdict till the time of going to the press, one can draw one’s own conclusion keeping in view the political loyalties of the Speaker.

Jharkhand developments have brought to the focus another important issue. India has settled in coalition era and it is going to last long. Coalition politics has its roots in many socio-economic factors. Uneven development, a feature of capitalist development, has created regional imbalances that have resulted in formation of many regional parties. Similarly, the urge for share in power has given rise to caste politics. One cannot just wish them away. Mature democracies in the world have evolved mechanism to stabilize politics even in coalition era. But for that, in our country, the politics have to be based on concrete policies. In this regard the national political parties have to play an important role. They should not opt for opportunistic alliances to capture power. Policies and programmes have to be made main criteria while choosing the alliance partners. It is true that, for a while, it will restrict the options before the major political parties. But in the long run it will stabilize our polity as a whole.

The Left parties in Jharkhand have sought dissolution of the current assembly. The demand should be heeded by the UPA at the center and an early election need to be held to seek fresh mandate.  

Alongwith economic and political issues, foreign policy issues have also been hotly debated in recent days.  Political and economic developments in India are taking place in the international context.  It is necessary therefore to analyse the main features of the present international situation.  They can be briefly stated as follows:

¨                Growing aggressiveness of American imperialism, which regards itself as the only super power, following the collapse of the Soviet Union.  It attempts to create a unipolar world and impose hegemonistic domination over the rest of the world.

¨                America brazenly flouts all principles of international relations. It has announced to the world its right to take ‘pre-emptive actions against other countries, whenever and wherever it thinks fit.  For this it has categorized a number of countries – all members of the United Nations, as ‘rogue states’ and discovered as an ‘axis of evil’.

¨      The US sponsored war on ‘Global Terrorism’ has instead of curbing terrorism given rise to more intensified terrorism.  There is a rise in terrorism as well as terrorist attacks in several countries, India being a frequent target.  The world has not become safer as claimed by George W. Bush.  In fact it lives under the constant threat of terrorist attacks.  He has now gone to the extent of declaiming about ‘Islamic Terrorism’ and then going further to talk of ‘Islamic Fascism’, identifying terrorism and fascism with a vast religious community spread over several countries of the world.  In branding terrorist attacks and identifying them he notoriously follows double standards.  Bush today is personified as the greatest terrorist. It is he who aids, finances, trains and equips bands of terrorist gangs for his outrageous attacks on Cuba.

¨      At the same time all the moves of President Bush are encountering bitter opposition from people worldwide and from many governments both in developed and developing countries.  American military adventures abroad have landed into a quandary despite the unprecedented military and economic power  that it wields, because of resistance from people.

¨                Coming to the economic sphere,  we find  a concerted drive by the US and other developed capitalist countries to impose their neo- liberal policies of privatization, globalisation and liberalization on the developing countries using their MNCs, their instruments like the IMF, World Bank and also the WTO to dictate terms  of investment, trade and commerce and thus hold their economy in thrall.  Bourgeois leaderships of many  developing countries have fallen victims to the stratagems of the neo-liberalists and accepted them as ‘economic reforms’ for kick starting their stagnant economy.

¨      The world is witnessing a phenomenal growth of finance capital emerging as International Finance Capital, which criss-crosses national borders in an eternal hunt for higher interest and profits.  Along with American dominance in the Corporate world, speculative forces more and more influence the stock markets leading to increasing numbers of scams and crisis in the economic system.

¨      As a consequence of the so-called Economic Reforms and pursuit of globalisation, poverty, hunger, unemployment, under development are growing.  It has widened disparities in society, with a minority of affluent people at the top and the vast mass of poor at the bottom with ever increasing miseries.  Millionaires and billionaires are coming up while thousands of farmers are being driven to suicide.

¨      Tens of thousands of people are demonstrating on the streets against the distress and misery which the present ‘capitalist’ order is perpetrating with the slogan “Another World is Possible”.  The author of the judgement “This is the End of History” pronounced after the fall of the Soviet Union has had to eat his words.   History is marching on and the world is changing.

¨                Several countries of Latin America at one time considered the backyard of the US, are now fighting back and repudiating the American imposed political and economic dictates.  A Left wave is sweeping across Latin America.  Leftist presidents have won victories in Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina, Brazil and so on.  Along with Cuba they are forging new economic and political regional groupings.

¨                Defeating all moves by the American imperialists against its independence and socialist system, heroic Cuba stands firm like a rock, a beacon for all countries of Latin America, and for all those who are fighting for their independence and their right to choose their own social system.

¨                American intervention in the Middle East, its unstinted support to Israel in all its practical and aggressive moves, its one-sided ‘roadmap’ for a settlement in Palestine, its occupation of Iraq, its threat of sanction and military action against Iran have turned the region into a hotbed of war and instability.  The Lebanese hit back and gave the arrogant Israeli Army a bloody nose forcing the Israelis to talk of negotiation.

¨                People’s China has emerged as a mighty economic power following the path of Socialist Market Economy.  Vietnam has made significant progress along a similar path.

¨      India has to pursue its foreign policy taking all these features into account.  Foreign policy is to a great extent an extension of its domestic and economic policies.  The ruling bourgeoisie and its camp followers in India have accepted the neo-liberal policies worked out by the Washington consensus.  It has undertaken several measures of privatization, liberalization and globalisation.  This has led the earlier NDA regime and the current UPA Government to seek a close alliance with the US and other G-7 countries.  The government entered into a Defence arrangement with the US.  This was followed by the July 18, 2005 Joint Statement signed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and President George W. Bush.  Through this Joint Statement India sought to strike a nuclear deal with the US.  There was even talk of strategic partnership with the US.  There were a number of sinister aspects of this joint statement which indicated that India was moving towards a subservient alliance with the US.  This would have meant a break with the independent foreign policy that India had pursued ever since it achieved freedom.

The CPI and other Left Parties firmly opposed these moves and raised a storm of protest both inside and outside Parliament.  We expressed our deep concern within the forum of the UPA-Left Coordination Committee.  The P.M. had to come out with a lengthy explanation in order to clear up some of these concerns expressed by the Left and other democratic forces.

To this was added India’s vote against Iran in the meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency.  This vote amounted to siding with the US and EU countries, against Iran and other non-aligned countries.  It raised several doubts about India’s intentions within the Non-aligned world.  It jeopardized India’s own national interests.  There was also a second vote of a similar nature.  The Left protested against both these votes which let down a friendly country only to please the US. 

The debate on the Bill about the nuclear deal in the two houses of the US Congress, and the adoption of the Bill in the House of Representatives, further added to the objections of the Left parties to several aspects of the Bill and about the direction of India’s foreign policy.  Many prominent scientists, noted experts in the field of Atomic Energy, many patriotic sections also voiced deep disquiet at the policy being pursued by Government.  They listed out nine objections to the Bill as passed by one House of the American Congress and demanded a full fledged debate in Parliament.

Note has to be taken that while in America and several other countries treaties signed with other countries have to be debated and ratified in their respective parliaments, India’s constitution does not require any such debate or ratification.  In India the executive power could enter into any treaty or agreement with other countries and that becomes valid even without the authorization of Parliament.  This is a serious lacunae which the CPI pointed out calls for an amendment to the Constitution.

The P.M. once again had to stand before Parliament and address himself to all the concerns raised by the Left Parties, all the patriotic sections and the scientific community.  He had to give a firm assurance that India’s interests will be fully safeguarded and its sovereignty will not be surrendered in any way.  It was made clear that no foreign power could legislate or decide what India has to do.  In a way India’s independent foreign policy was reiterated and it reflected the ‘Sense of the House’.  However one needs to be vigilant to ensure that at no stage there is any vacillation or compromise on that score.

We have always held that anti-imperialism, struggle for peace, and full solidarity with all people who are defending independence, democratic rights, and wish to advance along the path of progress and socialism are the bed-rock of our internationalism.  This alone can be the basis of our independent foreign policy.

Some political thinkers and publicists have began to question the relevance of the non-aligned movement.  They glibly talk of a ‘changed world’ by which they mean an American-dominated  unipolar world.  They see the future only in terms of living up with America and accepting its dictates.  These pusillanimous gentlemen cannot think of standing up to the US and refuse to be a part of its strategic designs.   To them the path to prosperity is to hold on to America’s tail.  No one is suggesting that India should be inimical to the US.  In fact we should have most friendly relations with that country.  But to be friendly does not mean to be a camp follower.

The meeting of the NAM-Summit is only four days off.  A big delegation from India led by the Prime Minister is attending this summit which is taking place in Havana.  India has been a founder member and leader of the NAM.  It is to be hoped that it will play a positive role in defining the new relevance of the NAM for creating a multi-polar world and forwarding off all attempts at aggression against other countries. 

Regional groupings which are bringing together several developing countries in a region, such as ASEAN, SAARC, MERCASUR have a very important role to play in bringing about the development of these countries through mutual economic cooperation and trade.  They are powerful weapons for resisting the economic dominance of a handful of developed countries led by the US.

A most significant development has been the emergence of the Shanghai Cooperation Group, popularly known as the Shanghai-6.  This has brought together China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan and Kyrgyz.  India is an observer.  The coming together of Russia-China-India can represent one of the most powerful force, bringing together one-third of the world’s population and inhabiting the biggest land mass.  This can play a strategically vital role for peace and development in the world, ensuring multilaterism in international dealings.  This is not yet being taken as seriously by the Indian leadership as it should.

Nearer home we have to take initiative in settling all disputes with our neighbors specially Pakistan while firmly dealing with all terrorist attacks and cross border, terrorism. We have to resume dialogue with Pakistan and tackle the issue of Kashmir.  Diplomatic pressure has to be used on Bangladesh so that it hands over leaders of all insurgent groups operating in India from its soil and dismantles all terrorist camps.

The massive people’s upsurge in Nepal led by the 7-Party alliance and the CPN(Maoists) against absolute monarchy and for restoration of democracy has been crowned with success.  Surely but steadily Nepal is moving towards consolidation of this success by electing a constituent assembly which will prepare a new Constitution of democratic Nepal.  It will positively influence developments in the neighbouring countries.

BJP-JD(U) Subverts Democratic Norms In Jharkhand

RANCHI: Left parties, which met here on September 11, are deeply concerned on subversion of democratic process by BJP-led Arjun Munda ministry by not raising and by resorting to unfair means through and in connivance with legislative assembly speaker Inder Singh Namdhari combined with orchestrated media hype by top industrial houses, favouring Arjun Munda ministry, for their vested interest in Jharkhand’s rich mineral deposits.

Immediately after he was given time upto September 15 to prove majority, chief minister Arjun Munda made his intention clear in his statement that this assembly session, instead of ‘special’ session would be ‘resumption of adjourned monsoon session and thereby, bringing issues on the floor of the house other than single issue of proving majority. Namdhari’s notice to three MLAs is part of this game plan.

The Left parties calls upon the people of Jharkhand to remain alert on this subversion of democratic norms by BJP-JD(U) combine deliberately creating constitutional crisis and attempting to create confusion and conflicts amongst the people. People’s democratic and legal rights have been suppressed and their legitimate relief and developments have  been denied during BJP alliance rule in the state.

An unnecessary controversy has erupted all over the country  over Bankim Chandra’s Bande Mataram song. During national liberation movement this splendid song had stirred millions of people against alien rulers. Scores of valiant youths braved gallows enchanting Banda Mataram. It is a pity that such a great historic song is denigrated by a section of religious fanatics and political opportunists. The  human resource development ministry is entirely responsible for Bande Mataram fiasco. They had invented a fictitious date – September 7 as the date of Bande Mataram centenary. This unhistorical act has given a handy tool to BJP and Sangh Parivar. The Congress Working Committee has finally acknowledged that there is no historical link between Bande Mataram and September 7.

 A section of researchers believe that Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay wrote the historic poem on November 7, 1875. The music was given by one Gopal Chandra Dhar of Hoohgly. However,  the music which was approved by Bankim Chandra himself was composed by well renowned Jadu Bhatta. Rabindra Nath tuned its first seven lines and he was the first to sing it in a Congress Session in 1896 (Kolkata). So with this historical background how can the question of commemorating  Bande Mataram arise right now? The top historians of the country have pointed out that nothing relevant to the song happened on September 7, 1905. The Varanasi Congress session was held inDecember 27-30.

During freedom struggle such controversies arose again and again. The 1905 Partition of Bengal gave currency to this song. It became an invigorating slogan for the protestors. On the eve of famous session the Bengal Provincial Conference at Barishal, under the presidentship of Abdulla Rasool, shouting of Bande Mataram was banned  by the British Government. On April 14,1906 a brutal police assault was launched because a section of delegates and volunteers raised Bande Mataram slogan.  Partition of Bengal was a  cunning step by the British Government  aimed at widening Hindu-Muslim chasm in political and social life. During this period a large section of Bengali Muslims were averse to Bande Mataram, but they didn’t raise any serious protest against this song. On the contrary there were also a good number of  Muslims who were enthusiastic about this patriotic song. One Liaqut Hossain of Kolkata had organized Bande Mataram squad in twenties of the past century.

The Non-Cooperation movement in 1921 led by Mahatma Gandhi was a real national uprising against British rule. The movement demonstrated the greatest form of Hindu- Muslim unity and solidarity. They raised slogan in one voice “Bande Mataram” (Hail, My country), “Allah Ho Akbar” ( God is great ).

 But the movement and its spirit of amity receded in 1923. Again in many parts of the country sporadic communal disturbances broke out. In thirties, when the anti imperialist waves swept the country, the British played the card of two-nation theory. Communally biased provincial autonomy was effected in 1935. Hindu-Muslim cleavage became wide open. Bande Mataram became a serious political issue to the Muslim community of the country. They made a strong plea that the song is associated with the ionization of  a Hindu goddess. The Muslim League in its Lucknow Session (October 1937) opposed Bande Mataram and urged its rejection.

It was a puzzling situation for the country. The-then Congress President Jawharlal Nehru took a bold step to settle the issue once for all. He announced that a formal resolution on the status of Bande Mataram would be placed in the Working Committee meeting to be held in Kolkata. Jawharlal was aware that stalwarts like Gandhiji were in favour of Bande Mataram being national anthem.

Rabindra Nath came to Kolkata on October 13, 1937 for a medical checkup. He was staying at the residence of Prasanta and Rani Mahalanobish at Baranagar. Jawaharlal sought  the opinion of Tagore on Bande Mataram. He met Gurudev (Tagore) on October 25, and they  had a long discussion on this issue. Rabindra Nath expressed his unhesitant opinion about the song and sent a letter to Congress President on October 26. He wrote that “ I freely concede that the whole of Bankim’s Bande Mataram poem read together with the context is liable to be interpreted in  ways that might hurt Muslim susceptibilities , but a national song though derived from it which has spontaneously come to consist only of the first two stanzas of the original poem, need not remind us of every line of the whole poem, much less of the story with which it was accidentally associated. It has acquired  a separate  individuality and an inspiring significance of its own in which I see nothing to offend any sect or community.”

The letter was circulated to the press by the Working Committee on October 29. The Congress Working Committee had three days deliberation on October 26-28, 1937. The Committee accepted Tagore’s view on Bande Mataram and decided that henceforth only first to stanzas  of the song would be sung in public meetings. The organizers were given full freedom to substitute it by a suitable patriotic song… So singing of Bande Mataram became optional. The resolution did not specify it as sole national song or as such. The resolution which was drafted by Jahwarlal was passed on October 28. It said (excerpts): “…The Committee recognized the validity of the objection raised by Muslim friends to certain parts of  the song. Taking all things into consideration therefore the committee recommend that wherever the Bande Mataram is sung only the first two stanzas are to be sung, with perfect freedom to the organizers to sing any other song of  an unobjectionable character, in addition to it or in the place of  the Bande Mataram song.”

The working Committee formed a sub committee consisting of Abul Kalam Azad, Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose and Narendra Dev to select a proper national anthem for the future. They were advised to take suggestion from Gurudev. So in view of the resolution it was almost settled that Bande Mataram would not be accepted as a national song.

The Hindu intellectuals of Bengal were furious over the decision of the Working Committee and they vehemently opposed the incision of Bande Mataram. The national newspapers strongly criticized Tagore for his stand about the song. Nehru met  Tagore once again on November 3, 1937 and reviewed the acrimonious situation of Bengal. He was firm on the decision. In the midst of tense atmosphere, Dr. J. H. Cousins from Chennai suggested that Jana Gana Mana  should be taken as the true national anthem. The statement of Dr. Cousins on November 3,1937 provided grit to the mill of Tagore’s critics.  But this was the beginning of an end. On January 24,1950 in the concluding session of the Constituent Assembly Chairman Rajendra Prasad stated that Jana Gana Mana will be the national anthem of India and Bande Mataram shall be one of the national songs.

The law and order situation in Madhya Pradesh (MP) is on the brink of collapse. This collapse is being engineered by the State Government of M.P. to protect the violators of law who indulged in open, blatant insult to the teaching community; who brutally assaulted the teachers on election duty at Govt. Madhav College of Arts and Commerce on August 26, 2006. This assault was well-planned and was executed in the most gruesome manner with police standing a mute witness to the gory events. Threats of dire consequences were lashed out openly. The teachers were blemished as being blot on the system as the teachers had refused to be party to irregularities under circumstances of extreme coercion and so the resultant cancellation of the election to the students’ body. But the goons, who claimed to be the State representatives of  a particular national organisation of students, refused to listen to the voice of reason and decided to murder democracy by way of illegal confinement, torture, physical-merciless beating of three hapless teachers of the college. Prof. Harbhajan Singh Sabharwal was brutally murdered and two of his colleagues Prof. L.M. Nath and Prof. Mittal had to be hospitalized. What was their fault? – Evidently their refusal to be partisan in the face of known, documented irregularities.

The support of the power of the State and its partisan machinery was fully behind the perpetrators of the crime at the temple of learning.

Besides creating the environment of terror, panic among the employees of the college, students and general public, the Chief Minister rubbed salt into the injuries and wounds on the body of Democracy by calling the murder of the Professor as mere accident. This irresponsible, unfounded statement would not have been nailed had the post-mortem report not revealed the cause of death: severe internal injuries due to beating.

The whole world has had the first glimpses of the open brutality through the electronic media at the time when the State Govt. was busy in killing the truth. There was widest condemnation by one and all of the brutal murder and CM’s support to cover up the killers. Some sensible political parties, trade unions, teachers’ bodies and even students’ organisations came out in open to protest against the murder and the way the CM projected the whole issue. Unable to face the popular upsurge and anger, the police finally registered the case against two students.

The AIFUCTO’s affiliates in MP lodged strong protests throughout the State against the killers and the irresponsible attitude of the State Government. They expressed total, unflinching solidarity with the teachers and employees of the college, family of Prof. Sabharwal.

Even today, Himanshu the son of Prof. Sabharwal, his family; witnesses and others face mounting terror-tactics unleashed by the delinquent supporters of the killers. Clearly, this has the support of the State Government which deserves to be dismissed for continuous partisan attitude in the matters of law and security and saving the life and property of the college employees.

The AIFUCTO condemned the brutal killing and decided to observe September 5, Teacher’s Day, as National-Mourning-cum-Protest Day on the academic campuses by holding one-hour meetings, wearing black badges and not participating in any Teacher’s Day function. The call got strong response from the teachers throughout the country.

The AIFUCTO adopted the TEACHER’S DAY UJJAIN DECLARATION:

Grieving the heinous murder of Professor Harbhajan Singh Sabharwal and the brutal attack on Prof. L.M. Nath and Prof. Mittal by unruly and rowdy elements;

Taking note of the clandestine attempts of the State to shield the perpetrators of the crime as evidenced by the Chief Ministers’ statement that Prof. Sabharwal died under natural circumstances whereas the post-mortem report clearly showed severe internal injuries caused by the merciless beating.

Considering the larger implications of the unfortunate event, which could be exploited by forces opposed to democratic functioning of student unions to project a case for a total ban on campus politics

Fervently appeal to:

(1) The Prime Minister to intervene and ensure that the murder and mayhem in the Ujjain Campus is investigated by a Central Agency to ensure that the ends of justice are meted out

(2) The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court to immediately consider the Lyngdoh Committee Report on Campus Politics which has been submitted to the Supreme Court in May this year and to issue appropriate orders without any further delay so that while prohibiting violence and vulgar display of ostentatious spending in connection with student union elections, the democratic functioning of student unions could be ensured

(3) The State Chief Minister to own up the moral responsibility for the murder of Professor Harbhajan Singh Sabharwal and to issue orders to give adequate monetary compensation to the bereaved family of Professor Sabharwal.

The AIFUCTO sent petitions to the President of India, Prime Minister, Union Home Minister for a probe by a central agency. On September 6, the petition was submitted in person to the Union Minister, MHRD Mr. Arjun Singh for CBI probe into the whole matter.

The media has shown sensitivity towards the event and have covered the various incidents. At this moment, the media is full of the news of the terror and panic that prevails in Ujjain. This is unfortunate and has to be fought against with full force. The apex body extends full support and solidarity with the fighting teachers of Madhya Pardesh and especially the teachers working in Ujjain Colleges. Dr. D. Kumar, Zonal Secretary, AIFUCTO has been requested to prepare a detailed report.

We have discussed some aspects of the dialectics (motion) of the tool in the previous issue. This is perhaps the best ‘example’ of dialectics in social field.  The beauty and the scientific nature of Marxist dialectics is such that one can often point out even direct and almost tangible sources of  social development. Marxist dialectical method is often accused of ‘reductionism’, i.e. of reducing all the phenomena to one or two process or sources or causes alone. But this is not true. Marxist method looks upon (and should look upon) the social and natural phenomena in all their richness, variety and multiple, endless aspects. Even many Marxists commit this grave error of really reducing everything to one of two formulas, ignoring the richness of a process or processes, thus destroying the live, active quality of dialectics.

Dialectics of Tool

The nature of tools decide social structures and relations. This we have mentioned already but we have not gone into its detailed philosophical implications. Tool (tools) is not an isolated thing. It is made by human beings according to needs of a particular time and the possibilities of such a time. The human beings first think about the shape, size, nature etc of the tool and about the material from which it can be fashioned. This thinking is not only individual but, more importantly, social because it involves the level of the society itself. The stone age humans could by no means ‘think about’ the steam engine.

So, thinking of (the thought of) making stone tools reflects the level of society, including the level of its thoughts. It is this level that causes the making of  a certain type and level of tools. In other words, tool-making is a social act consisting of endless acts and processes taken together in a dialectical unity. This ‘unity’ also contains conflicts, it is in fact a unity of so many conflicts within the complex system of tool-making.

So, tool-making appears to be not such a simple act: Just break a stone and make a tool! It, in this process, reflects the very level and nature and endless contradictions of social development.

This self-movement of the tool creates relations between human beings and creates social structures. Tools are not created in isolation. They are made by the individuals constituting a group of society. Even if one individual somewhere in society makes a tool, it is not an isolated act, it is a social act, an act as part of the society.

Tool and Social Structure

Making of tools necessarily involves creation of structures and organisations of society and of the relations between human beings. As we said, tool is not made operated alone. It is made by several persons, by society. So social relations between human beings are created, they come in contact with each other, talk about it and about many other things, about how to make better tools or the tool in a better way and so on. So, there is some kind of interaction between them. In the primitive society, people used to sit together in groups to fashion tools out of the stones. This is true in varying degrees of the later societies too, including of the industrial capitalist one.

In philosophical terms, we would say that a dialectics or (dialectic) is established between the tool and the humans. They are in a dialectical unity; they are also in dialectical contradiction or difference of conflict – sometimes one goes ahead, sometimes the other. On some occasions, an equilibrium is established between the two. One cannot be thought of without the other.

This dialectics of tools and humans results in certain relations among the latter, which may be similar or dissimilar. This becomes particularly clearer when the human beings use the tools. While using tools they go hunting or they engage in agriculture, make pottery or cloth and  such things in the course of their development. For example, when they hunt and kill animals, food is thus produced, they gather round fire and cook and sing and eat, and particular type or types of relations between them are created. These group relations may constitute a tribe; they are relations pertaining to making of tools, using of tools, production of food, use of food, group consumption of products, singing, dancing, gathering around fire, singing praises of fire and other forces (eg water) and of their ‘good forms’, making of family (tribe or group) etc. Thus, non-material activities (eg. singing) also results say worshipping.

So, the human relations, including cultural and mental ones, are related with the use of particular kind of tools. A dialectic is established here, and it is through such a dialectic that the society is set in motion and this motion accelerates in the course of time.

In the agricultural societies, it is much more complicated and multisided. The relation between the plough and the social relations and structures is far more complicated. Due to agricultural activities, relations between peasants, landlords, shopkeepers, sellers and buyers, artisans and many others are established. Use of tools bring into being certain groups of people necessary for production and distribution of commodities. These relations of production are essential and inevitable results of the production and use of tools. In a complicated series of layering, various social institutions are created. Family, village community, caste, class, state, market and many other organisations are the result.

So, the dialectics of means of production and the relations between human beings and institutions (basically relations of production) evolves as central to the social motion. This dialectics is the source, the cause of all the other relations, ideas, and their motions.

The tools and the relations created on their basis, through their dialectical interaction, emanate energies of various movements and forms, which radiate out and evolve as society. So, when we talk of society and its development, we deal basically with as to how motions and endless inter-relations are produced.

Source of Social Development

What do we mean exactly when we talk of dialectics of means (and forces) of production and production relations? Little do we realize that we are talking of the very source of social development. It is the very cause of the entire development (motion) of society, from the very origins till today. They are complex whole, not simple. We have talked of the dialectics of the tools; we should also talk of the far more complex and complicated dialectics of the production relations. Some of it we have discussed above and mentioned elsewhere. Production relations are highly complex, multilayered and multisided, with unending series of aspects and their mutual dialectics.

Yet, basically, the dialectics of social development can be traced to two main poles of tension: means (including tools) of production (more broadly forces of production) and relations of production. The entire course of human development has been and is being decided ultimately by the unity and conflict between the tools and human relations of production. If we follow the path followed by social development, we find so many types, structures and configurations of society. Various types of societies have emerged: tribal, primitive, Asiatic, slave, feudal, stone-age, agriculture, industrial, capitalist and some others. When human being makes use of a tool: operates it by hand or feet, he/she does so in representation and as part of a social configuration. It is this social structure that enables humans to lift a stone etc; ditto with machines.  

That is because certain types of tools and means of production developed, which necessitated the emergence of those societies. In other words, the tools, in the course of their motion call for a change in the motion and configuration of the society. A change in the configuration of the society facilitates the accelerated motion of the tools and their changing nature. For example, plough cannot be operated (used) in the society based on the use of stone tools (i.e. primitive tribal society). It would be better to say that with the use of ploughshare and oxen, the very nature of society undergoes a change in structure. New relations among the people begin to build up and emanate. The new relations, quite often, break up the old relations (eg. tribal hunting ones), which act as a closed shell for the new relations being continuously produced; this dialectical process facilitates the new relations and their growth, which in turn facilitate the making and use of new means/tools (plough, handlooms, etc).

Agriculture to Industry

Things become clearer while tracing the transition of feudal society into capitalist society. Feudal society is predominantly an agrarian one while the capitalist society is not agrarian but an industrial one. Capitalism is based on the industries created by tools, machines and factions brought into being by the industrial revolution based on steam power.

This transition from agricultural (feudal) to industrial (capitalist) social configuration involves a giant and qualitative leap, an acceleration of social motion unknown earlier in entire history. It is an entire transformation from agriculture to industry. The industrial tools and means of production result in the creation of entirely new social, economic and political institutions, classes and strata, state structures, relations, ideas etc. They are all at variance with the agrarian relations based upon plough, oxen, handlooms and agricultural implements and institutions. The great transition involves the whole complex of dialectical motions. It involves a change where basically the decentred and disperse handicrafts and handlooms gradually (rather rapidly) become concentrated in form of collection of looms and machines. This is made possible by the invention and use of the steam engine. They become industrial and high-speed, and therefore move out of the agrarian realm. The feudal relations between the human beings prove totally inadequate for these machines. Therefore, the humans must enter into new relations, which are now reconstituted, not according to the needs of agricultural-feudal society but to the needs of industrial-capitalist one. Now forms and methods and rates of exploitation emerge.

The dialectics of machine development is such that it transforms production from the agricultural to the industrial forms. In this dialectical motion, tools and manual work are handed over to (taken up by) the self-acting machines. Let us remember that the earlier machines were not self-acting. The tools earlier were, generally speaking (and not always), operated by hands and feet and body actions. Now the tools are attached to the machines eg. the needle to the sewing machine,  hammering and boring and planing etc. tools to the  lathes and forges, spindles and bobbins and shuttles to the spinning and weaving machines, and so on.

Source of modern society lies in machines development, and consequently, in the production of greater surplus and surplus value.

This transformation of tools and means of production brings about fundamental changes in social structures. The social structures, institutions and relations adapt themselves to the qualitatively new and much higher levels and rapid motions of the means of production, distribution and transport. The motion of the individuals increases as never before.

Dialectics reaches new heights: never was it so dynamic and multisided, never so contradictory and transitory and differentiated as now. The high and rising levels of differentiation and growth of tools, machines and means create unprecedented range and avenues of varying motions, which continually find common levels and equilibrium momentarily, only to lose it quickly, making way for forward movement of the differentiated means and relations.

Dialectics is the very life of social existence and motion.    [To be contd.]

The unjust arrest, harassment and humiliation of 12 Indians travelling on a Northwest Airlines flight from Amsterdam to Mumbai has shocked the public’s conscience and generated widespread revulsion. This was a clear case of a false alarm caused by the United States-owned airline staff’s racial and religious prejudice and its suspicion of non-Western, non-mainstream cultures and peoples. A half-way intelligent sky marshal would have known that terrorists don’t purposely attract attention by exchanging seats and cellphones while talking excitedly shortly after take-off.

However, American sky marshals are trained more to shoot accurately than to assess security threats or differentiate between innocuous jokes and “suspicious” behaviour. They, and the cabin crew, over-reacted to infringements of flight rules by a few of the 12 who changed seats while the seat-belt sign was on. Such infringements are common. Instead of rectifying this one by talking politely but firmly to the passengers, and explaining the rules, they chose confrontation and sounded an emergency — while most of the 12 men were asleep.

The Dutch had the airliner escorted back to Amsterdam by F-16 warplanes. The men were handcuffed. Said Dutch co-passenger Antunius Slotboom: “the way they got arrested … was inhumane… they were treated like dogs… Their arrest seemed part of an offensive against Arabic people…” Slotboom too had to disembark because he protested. The “suspects” were denied drinking water and consular and legal access for hours on end. They weren’t allowed to contact their families. They were locked up in solitary cells for 30 hours.

All this violates not just elementary decency, but international and European Union conventions on the treatment of foreigners and ethnic minorities. Therefore, the Indian government must secure an unambiguous apology and adequate compensation for the victims from the Dutch government and Northwest. It must show exemplary solidarity with the victims. That’ll send the right message to the broader Muslim community just when it feels vulnerable following the Mumbai blasts and the imposition of “Vande Mataram” on it as a “loyalty test”. The EU must be clearly told that India won’t put up with ethnic-religious profiling, whose incidence is growing in Europe — witness the recent ejection in London of a British pilot of Muslim extraction, and expulsion of two British-Asian students from a Malaga-Manchester flight after fellow-passengers felt they were acting “suspiciously”.

The Amsterdam episode should help set an anti-racist precedent. However, it’s even more vital that we turn the mirror inwards and honestly ask how Indian authorities treat their own citizens suspected of wrongdoing. Just imagine for a moment the 12 men were poor Muslims — and not garment exporters or frequent international travellers —, who engaged in “suspicious” behaviour on a domestic flight or train. They would probably be detained, rudely interrogated, insulted and badly beaten up. The police, charged with the prevalent paranoid barbed-wire mentality, would claim to have found real or imaginary links with Lashkar-e-Tayyeba, Students’ Islamic Movement of India, Tablighi Jamat, shady madrassas, whatever. National Security Adviser M.K. Narayanan would give interviews alleging that the suspects are probably Lashkar operatives or part of al-Qaeda’s “sleeper cells”.

This isn’t far-fetched. Such things routinely happen especially to poor or underprivileged Muslims. Why, after the Mumbai blasts, even top-level Muslim multinational company executives were asked to “explain” their itinerary during their recent travels abroad! For many Indian Muslims, it’s as unrealistic to expect fair treatment from the police as to be able to rent a flat in middle class localities in most cities. (Indeed, a recent Hindu-CNN-IBN poll says only 42 per cent of Indians expect non-discriminatory police treatment.)

It should be a matter of the utmost concern that Muslims form 30 to 35 per cent of the prisoner population in most states — a proportion two-and-a-half times higher than their population share. Considering that two-thirds of prisoners are undertrials, the higher numbers reflect deep anti-Muslim biases in the law enforcement agencies. If there’s institutionalised racism in the West, there’s institutionalised communalism in India.

This is reflected even more strongly in our intelligence and counter-terrorism agencies than in society. One reason is that these agencies largely follow Western models and doctrines on terrorism, including the characterisation of the principal terrorist threat as “Islamic”. They emphasise military means of tackling terror, and are obsessed with technology-intensive tracking and screening of suspects. This is so although the principal manifestations of terrorism in India are related to regional issues such as Kashmir and the Northeast. Even in the Kashmir case, they are only secondarily related to fundamentalist Islam.

In the West, terrorism isn’t exclusively “Islamic”. It can also be “Christian”.  (Remember Tim McVeigh, the IRA and the Red Brigades?) But it’s stereotyped as “Islamic” on the presumption that Islam promotes intolerance and violence. The Western model also ignores Muslim resentment rooted in imperial Western policies towards West Asia-North Africa for a century, and in recent events like the occupation of Iraq, the festering Palestinian problem and attempts to isolate Iran. These circumstances don’t apply to India, a victim of Empire. Yet, our security agencies fall for the Anglo-American model — hook, line and sinker.

We urgently need to rethink this model and revise our counter-terrorism strategy. Three reforms are indispensable. First, India must reject the Western counter-terrorism approach. This has resoundingly failed to contain terrorism. Five years after the Global War on Terrorism began, violence fired by political motives continues to claim the lives of non-combatant civilians in many countries. As bin Laden and Ayman al-Zawahiri remain at large, new groups have mushroomed which are hostile to the West for a variety of reasons.

Worse, the Western approach has aggravated racism, xenophobia and far-Right extremism. A comprehensive survey released a month ago by the European Network against Racism says Muslims faced mounting discrimination in 2005 in 20 countries across the European Union. The reaction to terrorist attacks has made life harder for ethnic minorities. The report systematically documents “an increase in manifestations of racism and a notable increase in far-right and extremist _expressions of racism… particularly against immigrants and Muslims”. Tougher immigration laws and security measures, including stop-and-search-practices, have helped create conditions in which racism flourishes. Maligning “asylum-seekers” has resulted in the revocation of refugee claims. Last year in Germany, almost 15,000 refugees’ asylum claims were revoked, compared to 577 in 1998.

Anti-terror “crackdowns” have produced racial profiling and stereotypes which demonise whole ethnic groups. The report says: “…Islamophobia [has] infiltrated all forms of public and private lives for Muslims…” On Britain, it quotes an Institute of Race Relations study, which says anti-terrorism laws have been used overwhelmingly against Muslims. “The increase in the number of Asians stopped and searched [is] disproportionately high at 28 percent… In London, there was a massive 40 percent increase in Asians stopped and searched — the largest… ever recorded in a single year…Nationally, Asians are now 2.5 times more likely to be stopped and searched than Whites.” As if that weren’t bad enough, “up to a third of Muslims say they or their family members have been victims of hostility”, including “assaults, arson and other violence”.

Second, we must not depend overly on technological means like APIS (Advance Passenger Information System), under which airlines flying to India must provide information about passengers and crew within 15 minutes of take-off, including name, date of birth, nationality, sex, passport details, country of permanent residence and visa particulars. This is of little use as primary data. It can at best help “connect the dots” between other, basic, terrorism-related information. But we have to generate and meticulously compile the primary data ourselves. This is lacking or highly unreliable. The unreliability is explained by police corruption and the ease with which fake addresses, identity cards and passports can be obtained in India.

Even more dangerous is the temptation to use “smart”-sounding but dubious methods like Screening Passengers by Observation Technique (SPOT), developed by a former Israeli security official and a behavioural psychologist. This involves profiling behavioural clues by watching facial gestures and looking for suspicious conduct, such as picking up and putting down one’s baggage, touching one’s fingers to one’s chin, and making other odd gestures. But recent surveys show that facial-gesture profiling has over the years had an overall success rate of 56.6 per cent — “slightly better than a coin toss”.

The third, and perhaps most vital, reform pertains to the composition of our topmost security agencies, including Research & Analysis Wing, Intelligence Bureau, National Security Council, National Security Guard, etc., where religious minorities find hardly any representation. Of the hundred-plus IPS officers in Central intelligence agencies, only two are Muslims. There are no Muslims in RAW and SPG. This is disgraceful and despicably communal. It presumes that Muslims cannot be trusted with national security. This raises grave doubts about these agencies’ integrity.

Our counter-terrorism efforts cannot succeed unless we make these agencies more inclusive, recruit more Muslims in the police, and sensitise all forces to the Constitutional imperative of secularism. We must promote greater trust and confidence in Muslims. No community should be allowed to feel it’s being excluded and victimised. We cannot combat terrorism unless we fight communalism up-front. n

Absence of Allies from Celebrations Worries Mulayam

From Pradeep Kapoor

LUCKNOW : The absence of allies from the celebrations marking the completion of three years in power highlights the extent Chief Minister and Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav’s isolation in the state.

Allies like Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) and Loktantric Congress Party, though part of the government, are openly critical of  Mulayam and  poor governance of his government. Similarly, Congress, which had given a letter of support to the State Governor at the time of formation of the government, is now demanding its dismissal.

None of  the nine ministers from RLD and LCP took part in the celebrations, which were held at the Samajwadi Party’s headquarters On August 29.

Even left parties are now maintaining their distance. The CPI is seen with Jan Morcha alliance. The CPI(M) to is not with Mulayam.

RLD spokesperson Anil Dubey has said that party president Ajit Singh had not received any  invitation  for the celebrations. Besides, RLD leaders were busy with the party’s Badaun rally in support of a separate Harit Pradesh..

The RLD chief has of late been sharing dais with former Prime Minister VP Singh on the issue of   farmers woes, and addressing meetings in several districts.

Similarly,  LCP minister Harishankar Tewari openly criticised the State government, saying he and his colleague were being ignored by the Chief Minister.

What must cause greater worry for Mulayam is the fact that his own ministers are critical of him and his Government’s performance.

For instance, Cabinet Minister  Hazi  Yaqub Qureshi, who had come to limelight   when he announced a cash award to anybody who would kill the Danish cartoonist who had made the controversial cartoon on Prophet  Mohammad,  too, attacked Mulayam. The Chief Minister, he said, had done nothing for Muslims, adding that there was hardly any separate madarsa for Muslim women.

Political pundits opine that Mulayam had earned tremendous goodwill three years ago  when all parties openly backed him.

A well attended function to celebrate the 80th birth anniversary of the unparalleled leader Fidel Castro was held at LLA Hall, Anna Salai, Chennai.  It was jointly organized by New Century Book House and Castro 80th Birthday Celebration Committee.

As part of the celebration, 8 books written by great writers for the marvelous successes achieved by Cuban people in various fields. - education, health care, agriculture, natural calamity management and literature - and published by NCBH were released.  The morning session was presided over by Professor Doctor Sirpi Balasubramaniam and addressed by the authors of the books and those who released them.  All the speakers extended their warm greetings to Castro, a legendary  figure and great friend of the Indian people, and wished him a long life to lead his people to greater successes and continue his valuable contribution to the cause of  peace and  progress of the mankind.  They narrated briefly the advance made by Cuban people in various fields defeating the blockade and sanctions imposed by USA.

Inspired by the thoughts of Che Guevara and led by Castro, the patriots liberated Cuba from Imperialist Yoke on 1st January 1959 and in the course of 47 years the country from a backward colony, has become a socialist country (Population 1.25 Crores).  Total literacy has been achieved.  Free education in mother tongue upto university level is granted to every citizen.  There is no unemployment.  Hospitals and primary medical centers offer free medical care to every citizen.  There were 6000 doctors in the beginning.  Now there are 68,000 doctors and 3 lakh health workers.  Cuban doctors are sent to African countries to offer medical help to the people there.  In 2004-05, 12,000 students from other countries studied medicine in certain universities.

Special mention must be made about the great difficulties the Cuban people faced when the USSR disintegrated in 1991.  The supply of oil, machineries and other essential items was completely stopped.  Castro and his people were not disheartened but boldly faced the situation with remarkable courage and determination.  They used traditional methods - ploughs and bullocks were used; cooperative farming was introduced.  People went for work by cycles or by walk. Every space in the urban areas  were used to produce rice, vegetables and fruits;  rationing was introduced.  They consequently achieved self- sufficiency on food.

Now the country has progressed and has even found out advance warning system about  natural calamity and the machinery for managing them.

In view of this, when the hurricane hit Cuba recently the loss of life was almost nil.  But in USA, thousands of people died though Bush govoernment didn’t do anything to save its people.

In spite of public assurance given by President John Kennedy that USA will not invade Cuba or interfere in its internal matters  Clinton and Bush administration have been conspiring with the help of CIA to assassinate Castro.  All the attempts have failed (more than 600 times) because he is people’s leader and is with his people.  In spite of the disintegration of USSR.  Cuban leadership did not abandon socialism or its faith in the basic ideas of Marxism and Leninism.  Inspired by Cuban experience, ideas of Socialism are spreading to Venezuela, Bolivia, Argentina, and other Latin American countries.  They are uniting t against the American domination.

The evening session was presided over by Sri R. Nallakannu, Director of NCBH.

Addressing the meeting as the Chief Guest,  Abelardo R. Cueto Sosa, Political Councillor and Deputy Head of the Mission of the Embassy of Cuba in New Delhi, hoped his country would overcome the problems posed by the United States, as it drew strength from its people and their counterparts in the developing countries.  He further said that Cuba would never forget the solidarity shown by the people of India since the days of its first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

Minister of State for Finance  S. S.  Palanimanickam, described, Castro as a great thinker, revolutionary, Statesman and administrator.

State planning commission Vice-Chairman  Nagananthan said though Cuban economy suffered a setback after the disintegration of the Soviet Union it recovered soon thanks to the perseverance of the people.

Nallakannu, CPI leader said the Cuban people, under the guidance of Castro has shown the world how to face the onslaught of Imperialism.

Among other speakers,  was N. Varadarajan, State Secretary of CPM,

D. Pandian, State Secretary of CPI,  Mahendra n assistant secretary and film actor Rajesh hailed the contribution made by Cuban leader Castro to the progress of his country, international communist movement and the non-aligned movement (NAM).

KOLKATA: At the call of West Bengal state unit of Bharatiya Khet Mazdoor Union (BKMU) thousands and thousands of agricultural workers demonstrated in every district of the state and placed their demands to the respective DM of the district on September 6. Agricultural workers have demanded enactment of comprehensive welfare bill for agri workers in the forthcoming winter session of the parliament, to ensure 100 days work for one family member of each of the agri workers families, to cover all the districts under NREG Act, to distribute job cards immediately.

Agri workers also have demanded overhauling of the government machinery in ensuring minimum wages, regular review of minimum wages taking into account increasing market prices, completion of land reforms and distribution of remaining lands to landless families, correction of BPL list etc. Reports are reaching that agri workers in thousands assembled in each district in front of the DM offices defying scorching sun. Massive demonstrations have taken place in the districts of Bardhman, 24-Parganas (north), Paschim Midnapore, Nadia, Bankura, Birbhum, Hooghly, Howrah and in other districts of South Bengal.

The districts of North Bengal are still reeling under drought condition. So the condition of agri workers is worst. Practically they have no work. They have demanded immediate additional relief measures to mitigate their sufferings. Demonstrations and deputations were organised in the districts of Dinajpur Uttar, Dinajpur Dakshin, Maldah, Jalpaiguri, Cooch Behar and Darjeeling. BKMU state secretary Dhiren Dasgupta in a statement congratulated agri workers of the state for their massive participation at the call of BKMU and said that agri workers are increasingly in desperation, if their demands are not met, BKMU would launch much bigger movement.

More than 5,000 agri workers participated in the rally organised at the heart of Bardhman town. It was an impressive rally of poor people. Participation of women agri workers was also impressive. The procession passed through the major thoroughfares of the town and finally reached in front of DM office. Agri workers came from Kalna, Katwa, Nadanghat, Galsi, Raina, Khandoghosh, Andal, Mohali, Jamalpur, Khandeswar and other regions. Addressing the huge rally BKMU state general secretary Dhiren Dasgupta said, even after 59 years of independence, the central governments could not or did not enact comprehensive welfare bill for agri workers of the country. More than 300 million people belong to this strata of the society.

A central draft bill was framed in 1986 in the parliament and no central government cam forward to pass the bill which represents the class character of our rulers. He demanded enactment of the bill in the forthcoming winter session of the parliament according to the promise given in the CMP of the UPA government. He said, though the lot of agri workers in West Bengal is quite different than that of the other states, still agri workers in the state have been increasingly facing acute problems. He demanded immediate genuine implementation of land reforms (third amendment) Act, so that more surplus lands could be retrieved and  distributed amongst landless families. Dhiren Dasgupta expressed deep apprehension at the government’s move to acquire huge agricultural land for industrialization. He said, agri workers are in fear that  their working avenues would be jeopardized in many regions. Dasgupta demanded additional relief schemes to be launched on behalf of the state government so that agri workers working days are not reduced.

Addressing the gathering BKMU state working president Arun Ganguly said, the state government does not review the government’s declared minimum wages at regular interval. In most cases agri workers do not get minimum wages. They are at the mercy of market forces. He demanded immediate overhauling of the state machinery at the block level in strictly monitoring the guarantee of minimum wages.

CPI district secretary R. C. Singh congratulated agri workers for their massive participation in the programme. He said that agri workers movement would enjoy whole hearted support of the working class. Pravat Roy, Shankar Sen, Krishna Ganguly, Subir Sengupta, Sheikh Selim, Dilip Dutta, Jiten Mondol, Jamat Ali and Subhash Bhattacharya led the deputation to the DM. They submitted a 16-point charter of demands.

Agri workers massively participated at the gathering in front of DM office at Barasat of 24 Parganas (north) district. Hundreds of agri-workers came from remote areas of Sunderban region. The participation of tribal agri workers was impressive. Addressing the rally CPI district secretary Swapan Bannerjee said, we have been fighting inside and outside the parliament for enactment of comprehensive welfare bill. He said, agri workers of the country are not in fighting mood. BKMU president Ajoy Chakraborty said, “We are supporting the UPA government on the basis of the NCMP. It had committed to bring forward a comprehensive bill but now the government is dithering. We would fight tooth and nail the government’s dilli-dallying tactics. Agri workers of the country would march to Delhi during the winter session of parliament.”

He said, “There are much better acts in the interests of agri workers in the states like Kerala, Tamilnadu and Punjab.”  He appealed to the state government to enact state Act on that line. BKMU district secretary Chitta Basu said, that state government is to take up special packages to protect concerned regions’ agri workers’ interests while acquiring land for industrialization. Kamal Halder, Gobinda Deb, Kartik Mondol, Ranjit Karmakar, Kumersh Kudu, Swapan Gupta, Subodh Das and Renuka Mondol also addressed the gathering. A delegation comprising of Shibpada Bhattacharya, Chitta Basu, Kamal Harder, Sonamuni Munda, Ananda Mondol, Md. Yakub Ali, Samaj Ali Mollah and Kauser Ali met the officials of DM and placed the charter of demands.

A massive rally was organised in Nadia district. Agricultural workers from all corners of the district assembled in front of the Sushil Chatterjee Bhavan. From there the procession started. The procession passed through major central roads of Krishnanagar town and finally met in front of DM office. Addressing the gathering state assistant secretary of BKMU Kartik Das said, the state government is to take into account the ever increasing price rise in determining the minimum wages. He demanded to immediately cover all the districts under NREGA. Umbar Ali, Madhusudan Chatterjee, Manik Sarkar, Sanjit Pramanik, Golok Thakur, Nurnabi Bhageria and  Mozammel Haque also addressing the gathering.

In the absence of the DM, AIM (Development) received the delegation led by Umbar Ali. He assured the delegation that the administration would create welfare board for agri workers very soon.

More than 5,000 agricultural workers assembled in front of the collectorate of Midnapore town. They came from all the corners of the district. Tribal people from Jhargram subdivision came in good number. Addressing the mobilization district BKMU secretary Pravash Patra said, there is sluggishness in the distribution of job cards for NREG Act. There are also loopholes in the BPL list. These are to be rectified. Santosh Rana, Bimal Bhattacharya, Bharati Rana, Piyush Mahanta and Piku Mandi also addressed the gathering. Prabodh Panda MP was also present. After that a 7-member delegation discussed the issues with the officials of DM office and submitted the charter of demands.

More than 2,000 agri-workers gathered in front of the DM office at Chinsura of Hooghly district. Agri workers came from Goghat, Khanakul, Arunda, Chilajangi, Arambag, Harinkhola, Salepur, Tarakeswar, Haripal, Nalikul, Singur, Barapahalampur, Begampur, Balagarh and other areas. Addressing the meeting BKMU Hooghly district secretary Gourishankar Mitra said, in West Bengal the minimum wages for agri workers did not rise alongwith the agricultural development of the state. He appealed for the unity of  agricultural workers’ movement at the grass root level. P. R. Paul Arun Som, Jagannath Mukherjee, Manik Santra, Subhash Pramanik, Subodh Dutta, Jadunath Kole, Sisir Som and Abhay Roy addressed the meeting. After that a delegation led by Gouri Shankar Mitra met ADM (general administration) and discussed the issues of charter of demands.

A big procession of agri workers marched through major points of the Bankura town. The procession was vibrant and decorative. Participation of women agri workers was very good. The procession drew the attention of the city. They ultimately reached in front of the DM office. There  at a meeting Kriti Bagdi, Satya Ghosh, Lal Behari Ghosh, Ananda Mohan Ghosh, Madan Mukherjee and CPI district secretary Indrajeet Tangi explained the burning demands. After that a 7-member delegation met the DM and discussed the issues of agri workers. He assured to look after the issues.

Such demonstrations and deputations have taken place also in Midnapore (Purba), Howrah, Purulia, Birbhum and Murshidabad districts of South Bengal. Reports are reaching that agri workers have organised demonstrations and meeting and submitted charter of demands at Balurghat, Raiganj, Cooche Behar, Siliguri, Jalpaiguri and Maldah town of North Bengal districts. Agri workers demanded additional special package to save them in the ongoing drought-like situation in North Bengal districts.

SINNERS AT THEIR OLD GAME AGAIN

SK MITTAL

The sinners are at their old-game again, and Delhi – the capital city of India is on the threshold of being destroyed for the eighth-time, as history has it – that it was destroyed seven-times by the ruthless invaders. This time, it is our own politicians, who in their greed to fill their ‘coffers’ have turned the walled city of the Mughals and the Britishers into a big ‘slum’. It’s only the ‘Judiciary’, which is bent upon to bring ‘sanity’ in the civil-life.

The city is reeling under the unprecedented take-over by the building-mafia in collaboration of the politicians. The face of the city has completely turned into ‘chaos’ – largescale commercialization of residential areas, encroachments on public-land and unauthorized construction unparalleled in the civic history – has brought miseries to lakhs of its habitants, who have become mere spectators in this money-game. Large tracts of the famous ‘Chandini Chowk’, Sadar Bazar, Nai Sarak, and in all the city area surrounded by the ‘walls’ – have become a nightmare, even pedestrians could not walk, what to talk of transport. To reach the ‘Town Hall’ from the Railway Station, which is just opposite the civic centre, may take 45 minutes or more. No rule of Law, no traffic police, or any other agency to checkmate traffic. It’s on record that the politicians, who matter in the civic body, have transferred their offices to the football stadium just outside Delhi Gate. The Commissioner sits at this office including others. The foreign delegation that comes to meet the ‘mayor’ are often delayed or put to great inconveniences.

The 70 per cent population of the old-city has shifted due to commercialization ‘Havelis’ have been converted into markets or turned commercial in the lanes and bye-lanes forcing citizens to flee. Crores are collected in this way; the whole area near the ‘Town Hall’ has been converted into commercial areas. No check-gives money and everything is O.K.

From each zone of the civic body slush-money is collected by the officers, in Green Park zone, the figure runs into more than two crore per month, this is besides the money collected by the senior officers. Senior officers, who come on deputation, mint money and when caught merely transferred to their parent department. A junior officer of MP cadre was made Deputy Commissioner despite serious charges against him including a CBI raid. Now, again the officer has been indicted by the court, but he has shifted from the transferred, no action was taken. This blue-eyed boy of the politicians treated senior officers like peons.

Karon Bagh, Lajpat Nagar, GK-I & II, Defence Colony and many high-fy areas have been commercialized. Single floor is getting a rent of Rs. 1 lac or more. The areas coming into A. B. category are facing the wrath of sealing and demolition. There is unprecedented crisis, thousands of people; traders are coming on the streets to save their sources of livelihood. There is a perfect chaos.

Under pressure from the court orders, the politicians are running for cover. The standing committee of the corporation has passed a resolution for commericalisation, mix-use of 1,979 roads and requested for more to follow to the state government. But all attempts to save the Capital from the sealing drive have hit a legal hurdle as Delhi government is unable to figure out under which Act it should formally notify 1,979 streets on commercial, mixed land use and pedestrian shopping streets.

Delhi is faced with civic elections next February and the Congress future is running into bad whether. POCC strong-man Ram Babu Sharma is finding the goings very difficult as the civic body is his pocket-borough and has been misused for the last 10 years.

To end, the mess some ways are to be found as to save the people from undue harassment. It’s now for the Central government or precisely Home Ministry under which the corporation work to devise some ways. RWA’s are also on the war-path due to this brazen misuse of residential colonies.

Rule of Law, must prevail, there are traders, who have been allotted adequate land for shifting, that is, the paper trade and many other trades, but have not shifted on this or that pretext:

a) They should be made to shift  b) all the allottees should be barred to sell or rent the places or flats for atleast 25 years. This will bring some sanity to the otherwise jungle laws prevailing in the city. Thanks to the ruling elite.

TEXT BOOK CONTROVERSY: THE REAL GAME

This is to draw the attention of the honorable members of both the Houses of the Parliament of India with regard to the current debate on the Hindi language textbooks published by the NCERT to be used from 2006-2007 by the schools allover India in the Hindi language classes at different levels.

We must admit at the very outset that we have been greatly anguished by the content, tone and tenor of the debate raging in the Parliament and outside it, It is a real pity that the books prepared after a long and arduous process of intense consultation, discussion and debate involving school teachers, university academics, poets and writers of repute who belong to varied hues of ideologies are being given a hurried and summary trial, Words, which have been chosen after a long and tortuous search by a poet or prose writer and then weaved into the body of the text of the poem or prose piece with creative deftness are being torn apart in a merciless manner from their context, thereby robbing them of their meaning, i. e, their life.

It would be an understatement to say that we were greatly shocked to hear a suggestion that the Punjabi poet Avatar Singh Pash, whose popularity transgresses the boundaries of1anguages should not be included in the textbooks as he happened to be a supporter of the Naxal politics, Is it not ironical that he is being condemned as anti national for his pro-Naxal views and thus unsuitable for any kind of official national recognition, the man who was killed by the separatists militants of the Khalistani movement for having dared to propagate the ideology of unity of all masses? To dub him an anti- Indian from whom our children should be kept away is his double murder. That it should happen in a House which owes its life to the blood of martyrs like Pash make us hang our heads in shame.

We were also dismayed when we learnt that that Mochiram, written by Dhumil was being trashed for the crime of containing some words and expressions unacceptable to some of us, Let us not forget that Dhumil along with some of his contemporaries was responsible for revolutionizing the diction of Hindi poetry and happened to be creatively active in the heady, youthful days of 1960s and Mochiram is regarded as one of the landmarks of modern Hindi poetry.

That the expressions in the writing of the young Dalit writer Om Prakash Valmiki were found unpalatable to some honourable members is yet another instance of the reluctance of the prevalent aesthetic taste to let the voice of the excluded and dumbed sections of the Indian society enter the sacred annals of language and literature, The newly edited books are trying to turn the tide by including the autobiographical pieces of the Dalit writers, These are self-expression resulting out of a painful struggle of the Dalit society and any demand to exclude them would be akin to a conspiracy to keep the emerging Dalit voice out of the educational and social discourse.

Those opposing the inclusion of the autobiographical piece by the artist M. F. Husain written in beautiful Hindi with a typical Indore tinge, denouncing him for being anti Hindu are forgetful of the fact that it was Nirmal Verma, a leading Hindi writer considered by nearly all as a great advocate of the values of Hindu and Indian culture who had released the book under attack to the public and praised it in glowing terms.

Opposition to a piece by Pandey Bechan Sharma Urg, one of pioneers of autobiographical writing in Hindi again results from the historical amnesia we seem to be suffering from. It would do us some good to go back to the tumultuous days of our freedom struggle when none other than Mahatma Gandhi thought it necessary to steal time from the pressing issues which could be of far mere practical importance from the angle of our anti colonial battle to read carefully one of the writings of Ugraji himself, which was attacked for the reasons similar to the ones being cited now and decided to opine in his favour. His stand, in fact, was in consonance with the attitude of our other national leaders who refused to judge creative writing by the moralistic standards. They appreciated the autonomy of the laws of aesthetic writing and would refrain from imposing their own moral or ideological world view on writers and artists. Rabindra Nath Tagore continued to be held in high esteem by Mahatma and other national leaders despite his having opposed very strongly and bitterly the Non Cooperation movement.

Let us imagine a hypothetical situation. Some people decide to teach portions of GHARE BAIRE at some stage and include it some textbook. Some nationalist zealots issue statements demanding its withdrawal as it is critical of the national movement. What would Mahatma do? We can safely say that it would not have taken Mahatma a fraction of a second to chide his followers for having committed this sacrilege. He would have been unwavering in his support for poetic truth to be uttered in the face of the national or moral ones.

We plead all of you to pause for a while and give a moment to ponder over the questions of academic and creative autonomy. The deeper questions of how are languages born and where do they get their nourishment from! What are principles of language learning and artistic creation?

Do we really believe that we should legislate on the manner in which languages should be used by our writers? Should we fetter our poetry and prose with the politically and morally correct terminologies? Should our government departments be given authority to issue licenses to our poets and artists?

We are proud of the fact that Indian democracy has come of age. The foundations of our democratic polity are strong. We have witnessed the rise of the hitherto unheard voices. To many of us it was unsavory; Chaotic for some who wanted political expressions to be disciplined. Do we deny that it is exactly this unsophisticated political uprising that has revitalized our democratic politics? We should in fact applaud the editors of the new school textbooks who have toiled day and night trying to capture the richness of the complex lingual variety obtaining in our society.

Based on the principles of multilingualism, with trust in the innate linguistic capacity of every child, these textbooks are an effort by the language pedagogues to locate our school textbooks in the thriving realities of everyday lives of our masses. It has been recognized, now across nations, that class rooms should not be turned into soundproof cages where the voices clamoring outside are proscribed. Scholars have shown through their research and studies that a language pedagogy which permits a morally and politically purged language in fact cripples the imaginative faculty of the learner and he/she is led to believe that there is an unbridgeable hiatus in the realities of life and ideals our education system keeps preaching.

These language textbooks are based on the premise that very child is intelligent, that she can make her choice and take his/her own, personal, individual decision and would do so by evolving a voice unique to him/her: They are an attempt to help the child face the sometimes harsh realities which are full of possibilities nevertheless, of life. Only by doing so would they be able to develop strategies to transform these realities. Dreamers have been those who have soiled their hands in the mud of life.

Words have wings and they have roots. Writers have been revered in the Indian tradition as PRAJAPATIS who rival Brahma. Do we demand too much when as humble inheritors of this great tradition of ours we plead you to grant autonomy to the academic and poetic world, to let creativity flourish in an otherwise dry land of school, education starving of funds, struggling to keep itself on its feet? Is it not a marvel that there is a growing mass of educators which has refused to say die, which has continued to f