People's Democracy

JHARKHAND NEWSLETTER

  CPI(M) Conducts Ideological Education Campaign

  D D Ramanandan

THE Jharkhand state committee of the CPI(M) utilised the period from April 22 to May 5 for the purpose of education of party functionaries throughout the state. While April 22 this year marked the 103rd birthday of Comrade V I Lenin, Karl Marx was born 185 years ago, on May 5, 1818. On these dates, Lenin’s and Marx’s birthdays were observed in different parts of the state.

As a part of the statewide programme, a general body meeting of leading party cadres from Dhanbad, Koderma, Jamtada, Deoghar and partly from Bokaro, Pakur, Singbhum and other districts was held at Dhanbad on May 4. The meeting was addressed by Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury who, in a simple style, explained the relevance of Marxism in today’s world. Quoting Karl Marx, he showed that what Marx had foreseen 155 years ago became a reality later. He explained how class struggle is the essence and the scientific base of Marxism. He urged the party cadres to prepare for the incoming battles including the May 21 strike of workers and employees, and organise solidarity actions involving agricultural workers, peasants, women, youth and students, tribals, Dalits and other economically and socially oppressed sections. He emphasised that an alternative to the present system can be built up only through struggles and the maximum possible unity of oppressed sections. The aim, in the ultimate analysis, is to overthrow the present bourgeois-landlord order so as to establish socialism for the ultimate emancipation of man from shackles. He cautioned against the imperialist attempts at economic recolonalisation of the world.

The meeting was presided over by the CPI(M)’s state secretariat member S K Bakshi and also addressed by state secretary J S Majumdar. State secretariat member and Dhanbad district secretary G K Bakshi was the organiser of the meeting.

ON OBSERVANCE OF SIGNIFICANT DAYS

Marx’s birthday was observed on May 5 in tribal-dominated Silli area in Ranchi district; it was addressed by Sitaram Yechury. A large number of tribals and other poor, men and women, and significantly a large number of youth, coming from different parts of the district and even from forest and hilly tracts, participated in the meeting to observe Marx’s birthday. The hall was overflowing; many were standing outside the hall to listen Yechury’s speech on Karl Marx. Never before was such a big general body meeting of party members held in Ranchi district. Yechury explained the contribution and relevance of Marxism in today’s world and the necessity of forging class struggle by uniting all oppressed sections. He specifically dwelt upon the tribal people’s exploitation.

Hundreds of youth, holding party flags high and raising slogans, received Yechury at Muri bordering West Bengal and escorted him. It was one of the most impressive demonstrations, while Yechury’s presentation on Marx enthused the party members attending this meeting.

All party branches throughout Jharkhand also observed May Day by organising workers’ and employees’ rallies, meetings etc. The CPI(M) is a working class party and hence the May Day has relevance for it. Party units organised flag hoisting, processions and mass meetings in villages and towns throughout the state.

June 9 is the day of martyrdom of a legendary tribal leader of Jharkhand and June 30 marks the day of Santhal Hul (Santhal Revolt) under the leadership of legendary tribal leaders Birsa Munda, Sidhu, Kanu and others. The state committee of the party has decided to observe both the days in a befitting manner --- to commemorate the tribal people’s struggles, in which thousands of tribals laid down their lives. These days are relevant in today’s situation as this tribal revolt was directed against British imperialism and constitutes a golden chapter in the history of our national liberation struggle. Today, when imperialists are trying to reshape the world and the ruling classes in India are meekly surrendering before the US and other imperialist powers, the struggle against imperialism by tribal people during the 190 years till independence has to be remembered to arouse the people against imperialism and its attempts at economic recolonisalisation of the world by exerting its influence on the economic, political, social, ideological and cultural spheres.

The dates of June 9 and June 30 are significant in today’s context also because the landlord sections in Jharkhand are trying to dominate the political and economic spheres by raising the issue of 1932 survey settlements by the British, during the zamindari days, as a basis of identification of Jharkhandis. These zamindars and moneylenders were then the agents of the British and exploited the tribals and other poor sections in the area. These were the very sections against whom Birsa Munda, Sidhu, Kanu, Tilka Majhi and other tribal leaders directed their revolts.

It is in this background that the CPI(M) units in the state would take out processions in every village on June 9 and 30 and organise village level meetings to explain the direction of the tribal revolts that are so relevant in today’s situation in the world, in the country and in the state.

GENERAL BODY ON TRADE UNION WORK

All the state committee members, district secretaries and cadres who are in leading positions in trade unions --- in all, 100 party functionaries --- attended a specially called meeting at Dhanbad on May 4.

CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Sitaram Yechury was the main speaker at the meeting and explained the ideological and political background of the updated document about tasks on the trade union front, particularly in the background of the attacks of globalisation and of the fascistic communalism capturing the centrestage of Indian polity. He urged all party members to understand the role of each party member in the secular democratic movement in India. CPI(M) state secretary J S Majumdar explained the various aspects of the tasks document.

This state level initiative will be followed in districts so as to equip the entire party about the tasks ahead.

DISINVESTMENT OF THE CMPDIL

While addressing the employees and officers of Central Mine Planning and Design Institute Limited (CMPDIL) in the fully packed Mayuri auditorium of the CMPDIL, Sitaram Yechury said the disinvestment of the CMPDIL is the beginning of stagnation and of the government of India’s attempt to dismantle the Coal India Limited. The Disinvestment Commission has already recommended the CMPDIL’s disinvestment and its separation from the Coal India Limited, in violation of the tripartite agreement reached in presence of the coal minister in Delhi. He said the attacks on research and development institutions and their disinvestment are in reality an attack on the country’s self-reliance in the core sector of industries. Yechury stressed the historical background in which the public sector undertakings (PSUs) were established, their present situation, and the way Indian and foreign monopoly capital have got a vested interest in the dismantling and disinvestment of PSUs as they want to usurp the people’s national assets created since independence. He also explained the reality of the central government’s policy of disinvestment behind the façade of the stated objective of generating fund, the sale of these PSUs at throwaway prices and the massive corruption involved in the deals.

Yechury urged upon all sections of employees to maintain and broaden their unity and put up resistance, as only by that can the CMPDIL be protected.

The seminar, at which Yechury was the main speaker, galvanised the workers and employees towards preparing for the May 21 countrywide strike and the subsequent additional strike by CMPDIL employees.

PREPARATIONS PRIOR TO STRIKE & BANDH

Preparations went on in Jharkhand for the success of May 21 all-India strike of workers and employees. The CITU brought out handbills and posters for the purpose. It also ran campaigns through gate meetings and pit meetings, and is explaining the 8-point demands of the strike. Apart from these, it also raised demands for immediate drought relief including a food for work programme and strengthening the public distribution system. The state CITU office bearers met on May 4 to take concrete decisions about organising the strike, about the joint meeting of striking central trade unions, NPMO meetings in districts and also about joint trade union meetings industrywise.

For the success of the May 21 strike, the coordination committee of workers and employees of Jharkhand, which includes CITU unions, the organisations of state and central government amployees, of bank, insurance and other employees, and some other unions and associations, held a state level meeting, and brought out campaign leaflets. According to the meeting’s decisions, the committee explained up to May 9 the 8-point demands to the workers and employees so as to mobilise them for the strike, and held public meetings in nearby villages and street corner meetings in towns from May 10 to 15 to explain the central and state governments’ anti-people policies and the issues of strike, which are of importance to all toiling sections of the whole country. It also organised jathas during this period.

Further, in support of the all-India strike call and the demands to be pressed, six Left parties, namely the CPI, CPI(M), CPI(ML), Marxist Coordination Committee, Forward Bloc and RSP, jointly organised a Jharkhand bandh. (See People’s Democracy, May 18 issue.) The bandh was in continuation of the united initiatives of Left parties in Jharkhand, which included a state level convention of parties and mass organisations at Ranchi on October 27, a campaign at grass roots level from November 2002 to January 2003, and a joint jeep jatha from Ghatshilla to Sindri where the copper mines and factory and the fertiliser factory stand closed. This jatha covered a 600 km distance and organised 32 mass meetings in six industrial districts, addressed by state level leaders of the organising parties and trade unions. In a joint press conference on May 5, the Left parties declared their resolve to continue their efforts for a united movement. 

On May 21, the Jharkhand state Kisan Sabha too organised rail roko and rasta roko actions and, prior to that, held village meetings and campaigns among the peasantry. The DYFI’s state unit brought out handbills in support of the strike, and organised campaigns and torchlight processions in the run-up to the strike. The SFI organised a students’ strike and procession, while the Mahila Samiti brought out handbills and would stage dharnas and rallies in major centres in the state.