People's Democracy

AIPSO Organises State Conference Successfully

THE first conference (new phase) of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) West Bengal state committee was held successfully on March 29, 2013 at Victoria Institution Hall, Kolkata. More than three hundred delegates from all over West Bengal participated in the conference. Internationally acclaimed magician P C Sorcar (junior) inaugurated the conference. He spoke for the universal quest of mankind for living in peace. But still there are some people in the world who try to create war and conflict among people. The peace-loving people of the world with hand in hand have to defeat them, he added. 

The presidium for conducting the conference was constituted with noted film director Tarun Majumdar, former vice-chancellors, Professor Pabitra Sarkar, Asoke Nath Bose, Ashoke Ranjan Thakur, Dilip Bose, noted author Abul Bashar, lawyer and former law minister of the state Nisith Ranjan Adhikari, former member of parliament Manoj Bhattacharya, physician Subhas Chakraborty, women organiser Doli Roy and naxalite leader Azizul Haque. Former member of parliament Barun Mukherjee, former minister of the state Probodh Sinha, theatre personality Usha Ganguly, actress Papia Adhikari, veteran singer Srikumar Chattopadhyay, former president of AIFUCTO Anil Bhattacharya, leader of primary teachers’ movement Samar Chakraborty were also present in the conference.

Rabin Deb, the convener of the West Bengal unit of AIPSO placed the secretary’s report. The report, in detail, discussed the relevance of peace and solidarity movement in present world order. In the backdrop of the current international scenario, the role of AIPSO West Bengal unit has been discussed in the report. The report has also dealt with specific programs initiated and observed by the AIPSO West Bengal unit since 2007. The report has also focused the rich heritage of India in peace and solidarity movement. In this phase of globalisation, imperialism is working through finance capital and neo-liberal economy and is more aggressive than before. No part of the globe or any mode of livelihood presently is free from the aggression of globalisation. In this juncture, the pertinence and relevance of peace and solidarity movement has been reiterated in the report. The report has mentioned the importance of making the organisation a real broad platform for accommodating pluralistic ideas and dispositions against imperialism.    

Rabin Deb emphasised the rich heritage of India in the peace and solidarity movement. The initiation of organised peace and solidarity movement in India took place after the World Congress of the Intellectuals in Poland after the Second World War and it culminated with the organisation of All India Peace Council (AIPC) in 1951. From the very beginning, it was affiliated to the World Peace Council (WPC). After the setbacks to  socialism, the role of AIPC and then AIPSO became all the more important. From 2007, AIPSO entered its new phase after reorganising its organisational structure. The West Bengal state unit of AIPSO was also revamped in 2007. Rabin Deb took charge as the convener of the state unit. And in these six years of time, the organisation took a shape to be able to keep a mark through its regular programs.  

Surjyakanta Mishra, the leader of opposition of the West Bengal legislative assembly, congratulated the organisation for holding their first conference. He emphasised the utility of peace and solidarity movement under the context of increasing aggression of imperialism. He also brought to the notice of the house that this movement has to be the broadest participatory platform of anti-war, peace-loving, democratic forces. He also harped on the importance of convincing the common people about the nature of attacks unleashed by the imperialist forces.

Nilotpal Basu, one of the national general secretaries of AIPSO, brought to light the role of imperialism in today’s world. He said that imperialism would try to come out of the present global economic crisis by imposing further burdens on the people of developing countries. The finance capital, with all its aggression, is curbing the sovereignty of all such countries. He pointed out how the imperialist forces are trying to impose its hegemony over the world. He expressed perturbation on the spinelessness of current Indian government's foreign policy which is turning out to be a departure from its glorious non-aligned stance. He said that it is the duty of all peace loving people of our country and the state of West Bengal to stand in solidarity with the people who are struggling against imperialism. The peace and solidarity movement will lose its focus if it fails to identify who are actually responsible for impending peace in the world, he added. Pallab Sen Gupta, national general secretary (coordination) AIPSO, congratulated the delegates and discussed future programs adopted by the national council. He emphasised the forthcoming jatha which is going to travel through India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. He also pointed out the increasing responsibility of AIPSO West Bengal state committee.

Delegates from different mass organisations participated in the discussions on the secretary’s report. The conference was enriched with the participation of the delegates from different sectors of activity. Delegation from trade union movement, insurance movement, student-youth-women movement, teachers’ movement including primary, secondary and higher education sector participated in the conference. Their discussion threw lights on aggressive attack of imperialism in their respective fields and they unanimously voiced for the necessity of peace and solidarity movement as a part of greater fight against imperialism. They unanimously felt the necessity of retaining the broad support base for this patriotic and multi-tendency organisation. They endorsed the reports and strengthened it further with their valuable suggestions. The conference unanimously adopted the report and the audited report of income and expenditure. The conference also unanimously adopted the revised membership fees. The delegates unanimously adopted the necessity of variety of programs. They identified some areas of weakness and suggested measures to strengthen those. The conference decided to take special move to make the forthcoming membership drive a grand success. The delegates unanimously resolved a special initiative for fund raising. They further resolved to organise joint programs with the like-minded organisations. The conference ended with the election of new committee to implement its tasks and mandate.  The conference elected the patrons, presidium, vice presidents, general secretaries, secretariat and members of the state committee.  Anjan Bera, Binayak Bhattacharya and Ajoy Agnihotri were elected as the general secretaries. Former vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University and noted academician Professor Asoke Nath Bose was elected the chairman of the presidium.