People's Democracy

WSF Gets A Big Push Forward In Mumbai

  N S Arjun

“WHEN it was decided to move the WSF out of Brazil into India, many felt it would be risky. But today we are extremely happy. It's become the biggest event in its history, giving the process a big push forward.”

These words of Brazilian social activist and one of the founding figures of the World Social Forum, Chico Witaker, sums up the success of the WSF-2004, being held in Mumbai. It is not that the fundamental weaknesses of the process – the inability to concretise the discussions and debates, and embark on focused action; the presence of organisations with dubious funding etc – have been overcome. But the amount of enthusiasm it generated among the grassroots who are seriously engaged in fighting globalisation is tremendous. It was visible right from the inaugural day. Not only numbers – nearly 1.5 lakh delegates participation, given India's size is not that big – but the way wide spectrum of issues, and organisations championing them, competed for attention showed how this process is striking a chord among the suffering people. Their enthusiasm was palpable. They were glad that people of entire world were sharing their concerns and expressing their solidarity.

Even as the more than 1000 seminars, workshops and meetings were taking place on topics ranging from globalisation, women's issues, labour issues, the US occupation of Iraq, caste and racism, trade union rights, human rights, there was a continuous stream of various groups trying to highlight their issues through songs, drumbeats and other cultural forms outside these meeting halls. The vibrant cultures of Indian toiling masses, especially dalits, tribals came through vividly during the WSF meetings. Far more than the attendance in the seminar halls, the “streets” in the venue were brimming with downtrodden sections of society. People with tattered clothes, lungis, torn sarees etc were joyfully rendering slogans against globalisation, communalism, and US imperialism. This significant participation by Indian masses, clearly, overawed the foreign delegates. A Brazilian delegate told People's Democracy that this was what was lacking in WSF meetings in Porto Allegre.

What is the alternative to globalisation? This important question became the medium through which ideological battles were waged within the WSF. While the communists, socialists, radicals were unambiguously stating that the only alternative to globalisation can be socialism, there were others, especially NGOs and groups funded by capitalist countries, who were pushing the line that globalisation can be reformed or humanised. The Left appeared to be pushing its line more effectively, more convincingly. The testimonies of the victims of globalisation – the workers and trade unionists, the poor villagers – in various seminars on globalisation also brought home the point that unless the existing system is thrown out they do not find any hope of improvement of their lives. At a debate on the 'Future of the Movement’ organised by the group Globalise Resistance, many speakers from Europe stressed that the movement can expand in Europe only by involving the organised working class. A speaker from Italy was blunt: “there should no longer be any space in the movement for those who say globalisation must be humanised.” He also stressed that instead of opposition per se of political parties, the positions they take on issues should become the criteria in taking them on board.

The participation of the organised Left in significant numbers in the WSF-2004 was in that sense very timely. Apparently, the growing realisation within the WSF that in order to strengthen the struggle they need the involvement of workers, the grassroots needed to be tapped. The seminars organised by Social Scientist and Social Science Probings on Socialism were attended in large numbers by both foreign delegates and Indian delegates. There was a big contingent of trade unions from South Korea, Thailand, Bangladesh etc. apart from the huge presence of the Indian labour groups. Women’s groups, including AIDWA had a significant presence in these meetings. Another big presence was from the All India People's Science Network, the FMRAI and other mass fronts. The cultural plays performed by Jana Natya Manch – one titled “Bush ..Bush”, and another “Ponga Pandit”, directed by Habib Tanvir evoked good response. The DYFI and SFI were participating in strength in the Intercontinental Youth Camp (IYC), being held as part of the WSF. The venue of this camp was some 30 km away from the main WSF meeting venue at NESCO grounds.

As many speakers have stressed, the main challenge before the WSF is to merge the growing struggles against globalisation and war into one powerful stream of movement against US imperialism. And to aid that process, it would be useful if the organisations within the WSF, which are taking funds from capitalist forces to fight against globalisation are marginalised. This can only happen when the genuine fighters against globalisation increase their presence in the WSF. Let us hope the poor response drawn by those organising the parallel Mumbai Resistance – a few hundreds turning up – would make them realise their folly.