TAMILNADU

A Cultural Rally Against War

A B Viswanathan

 THEY came in droves; they came in thousands, pouring into the Marina beach. As news of US armoured tanks slaughtering its way through central Baghdhad broke, the sands of Marina Beach reverberated to the drumbeats of a different war – a war against the war of aggression. At the call of the ‘Committee Against the US War on Iraq’ thousands of people thronged the venue on April 7 to register their protest against the brutal war on Iraq.

Flags, placards and banners condemning the war fluttered across the multitude. Some sported headbands with slogans while some others had their faces painted with slogans decrying the war. Artists from the ‘Cholamandalam Artists Village’ dabbed a long canvas with ingenious anti-war strokes.

It was a carnival with a difference, with an intensity of purpose. A large number of celebrities- musicians, painters, poets, literary figures, folk artists, street theatre activists, media personalities, academics and scientists not to mention the youth, students, women, trade unionists and the general public took part in this programme. In fact, the swelling numbers of common public was the most heartening feature of the gathering.

Arumuga Nainar, CPI(M) state committee member and  the joint convener of the committee, holding the stage called the meeting to order. The programme began with a song invoking peace, by eminent musicians Vijaya Shiva and T N Krishnan. This was followed with an invigorating fusion of folk and western instruments by ‘Koothuppattarai’ heralding  the cultural protest of the occasion.

Then it was the turn of the choir music troupe ‘Madras youth choir’ founded by the late M B Srinivas to take stage together with ‘BEAT’, another choir of bank employees. Even the beach winds seemed to become still, along with the mass of the gathering, at the soul stirring  rendition of compositions, ranging from that of Mahakavi Bharathiar to Beethoven’s ‘world anthem’ interspersed with that ever inspiring ‘We shall overcome’.

The entire congregation simmering at the outrage against Iraq was dipped in the elixir of solidarity and peace.

Next was the street theatre interlude ‘Bush Vandhaar’, an adaptation of Sudhanva Deshpande’s ‘George Bush in New Delhi’, performed by Pralayan’s group ‘Chennai Kalaikuzhu’. The biting sarcasm and rubbishing of Bush & Co drew repeated cheers- a veritable venting of spleen for the crowds.

By then the sun had fully set and the skies turned quite dark. Out came the candles and as The Hindu noted the next day “As the flames of the lighted candles under the glasses struggled to burn with a strong breeze blowing across, they also gave hope that the weak could not be crushed without provoking international revulsion”.

After the candlelight display, Unnikrishnan , the famous playback singer, rendered a classical solo that embellished the spirit of the evening.

As a grand finale A Soundararajan, CITU leader who recently visited Iraq as part of a Left delegation ripped apart the stance of the US with a startling account of what he saw, heard and experienced during his visit. He was also categorical about his assessment that neither the war will be a cake walk for the coalition troops nor would it be the end of it.

Among the participants included the CPI(M) state secretary, N Varadarajan and leaders of various mass organisations and NGOs. There were also singers of eminence Unnikrishnan, Vijay Shiva, T N Krishnan, artists Sajitha, Viswam, Veerasanthanam, Pugazh, poets Kanimozhi, Erode Thamizhanban,  media personalities Veerapandian, Malan and scores of others were there. Noted educationist and chairperson of the State Women’s Commission Vasanthidevi also lent her presence.

N Ram, Frontline editor and Sasikumar of Media Development Foundation as conveners of the ‘Committee against the US war on Iraq’ guided the proceedings, and also the preparations for holding this biggest ever anti-war rally in the state of Tamilnadu.

In Punjab

In Punjab, as in the rest of the country, public opinion is growing against the brutal war on Iraq launched by the US imperialism. This is reflected in various forms like protest demonstrations and signature campaigns against the war. Virtually every Left mass organisation of workers, peasants, employees, women, students, youth and lawyers is participating in programmes condemning this unjust war.

  On April 2, more than eight thousand people from all walks of life gathered at Desh Bhagat Memorial in Jalandhar and lodged their strongest protest against war on Iraq. This massive and strident protest was organised jointly by the Punjab units of CPI(M), CPI and CPI(ML) New Democracy. The participants, mostly from the districts of Amritsar, Gurdaspur, Jalandhar, Hoshiarpur and Ropar districts, first assembled in the open premises of the Desh Bhagat memorial and held a meeting which was presided over by Rachhpaul Singh, Kulwant Singh Adampur and Tara Singh.

  Speakers addressing the protestors strongly condemned the US and British aggression on Iraq, which is leading to the massacre of thousands of civilians and widespread destruction.  They said all this was aimed at lotting the vast oil reserves of Iraq. The speakers also attacked the BJP-led central government for its refusal to condemn the war.

  The meeting was addressed amongst others by Balwant Singh, state secretary of CPI(M), Lehamber Singh Taggar state secretariat member of CPI(M), Dr Joginder Dyal state secretary CPI and Bant Singh Brar state secretariat member CPI, Darshan Khatpar state secretary CPI(ML) and Sardar Singh Mahul and Baba Bhagat Singh Bitga.

  After the meeting a procession was taken out through the main thoroughfares of the city. The protestors raised thunderous slogans like ‘No War for Oil’ ‘Stop this Brutal and Unjust War’ ‘Killer Bush Down Down’. They were carrying placards denouncing the war and expressing solidarity with the Iraqi people. In the end an effigy of Bush was burnt.

  Earlier On March 31, more than one thousand activists belonging to CPI(M) and CPI held a protest rally and march at Ludhiana. The protestors first met in a rally at Chattar Park. Denouncing the war as illegal, unjust and gross violation of UN charter and international law the speakers called for an immediate stop to the brutal war and withdrawal of invading troops from Iraq. They also called upon the BJP-led central government to categorically condemn the US war of aggression. After the rally the protestors took out a procession.

In Maharashtra

Reports of anti-war demonstrations and processions from Thane and Nagpur in Maharashtra indicate growing anti-war feelings among the populace. Hundreds of activists of CPI(M) and DYFI gathered in front of Thane Railway Station, one of the most crowded areas of the city on March 27 in response to the call given by CPI(M) and staged militant demonstration condemning the unilateral attack on Iraq by US and UK.  The activists carrying placards and flags shouted slogans exposing the naked and barbaric invasion of Iraq.

  In Nagpur as part of the continuing activities against war, a candle light demonstration was held on March 25.  Many non-Congress, non-BJP parties, including CPI(M), CPI, Janata Dal(Secular), Samajwadi Party, RPI, Peoples Republican Party, SUCI, participated in this programme.