People's Democracy

DYFI’S EIGHTH ALL INDIA CONFERENCE CALL

Intensify Youth Movement For Strengthening India’s Future

Pushpendra Tyagi

THE five-day Eighth All India Conference of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) concluded in Chennai on May 11 with a clarion call for intensifying youth movement to demand ‘Investment in Youth’ in order to strengthen India’s future.

The conference of the largest youth organisation in India began with a historic and colourful youth rally of around one lakh youth on May 7. There were flags and banners of DYFI everywhere as the Chennai city was decorated to welcome the delegates. On the afternoon of May 7, adivasi youth from the remote and inaccessible parts of far flung districts of Tamilnadu danced on the streets of Chennai to the sounds of their traditional drums as the procession of thousands of youth shouting slogans of ‘jobs for all – education for all’ and DYFI Zindabad’ started from Chepauk stadium. Five thousand white dress volunteers of DYFI were in the forefront of the youth march from Chepauk stadium to Bhagat Singh ground (Island ground).

Sitaram Yechury was the main speaker at the massive public meting held after the youth march at Island ground. Emphasising the fact that the youth today constitute almost two thirds of our population, Yechury said the future of the India depends on the future of this vast majority of our population. He said that development and any worthwhile future would be possible only if employment, health and education are provided to the youth. He congratulated the DYFI for giving a correct and concrete slogan and said that this is what is required today from an organisation like DYFI.

INAUGURAL SESSION

The inaugural session of the conference began on May 8, 2007 at Vellore Shaheed Nagar, 1857 Shaheed Manch (Kamraj Auditorium) with the hoisting of DYFI flag by all India president of DYFI K N Balagopal. Floral tributes were paid to the martyrs. Youth jathas from Kuthuparamba in Kerala and from Vellore in Tamilnadu handed over the flag and torch carried by them to the general secretary and president of DYFI. Apart from the cultural programmes, an exhibition organised on this occasion was also inaugurated. K N Balagopal placed the condolence resolution and resolution in memory of martyrs.

The chairman of the reception committee and editor-in-chief of The Hindu, N Ram in his welcome address pointed out that this is the second time that DYFI’s all India conference is being held in Chennai. He hoped this conference will successfully complete the task of chalking out the future plan of action to face the challenges posed by imperialism and communal forces.

Famous actor and Padma Bhushan recipient Mammootty inaugurated the conference. In his inaugural address he appealed to the youth to work hard with a view to eliciting the support of the people. He also stressed the need to fight the communal forces and added that had DYFI been stronger in Gujarat as it is in other states the massacre of minorities would not have taken place. Comparing youth power to atomic energy, he said this should be harnessed in a positive way and in this an organisation like DYFI has a bigger and important role.

Addressing the inaugural session, Sitaram Yechury appealed to the youth “to join the battle of ideas for creating an India of non-exploitation prosperity and free from the viruses of communalism and casteism”. The youth should rise to the occasion and carry forward the fight to defend the country’s sovereignty and freedom against the backdrop of imperialist globalisation whose political objective was to re-colonise the developing world, he said. He appreciated the DYFI’s role in defending the unity and integrity of the country. Vocalist Nithyashree Mahadeven greeted the delegates in inaugural session. DYFI president K N Balagopal presided over the inaugural session.

DELEGATE SESSION

The delegate session of the eighth conference began in the afternoon of May 8 with the acceptance of the proposal for the various committees for the smooth conduct of the conference proceedings. DYFI general secretary Tapas Sinha placed the Draft Political-Organisational Report. Placing the report he explained the international and national situation. He underlined the impacts of the onslaught of imperialism on the youth and the people. Pointing out the dangerous implications of these onslaughts and policies of imperialist globalisation at the national level, he charged that the Congress-led UPA government now and the previous BJP-led NDA government had compromised on the country’s sovereignty in the spheres of economic and foreign policies. Tapas Sinha said that youth played an important role in removing the BJP-led NDA from power and they expected from the UPA government reversal of the anti-youth and anti-people policies. But apart from some steps, thanks to the sustained pressure of the Left, the UPA government has failed to fulfil its promises made in the CMP. There is a serious crisis in employment, education and health. While reminding the delegates about the campaign and movements undertaken by the organisation in last three and half year he pointed out that the UPA government’s claim about the growth and development has no place for the majority of our people. He explained the slogan of “Strengthen India’s Future, Invest in Youth’ and said that DYFI is prepared for this battle. For employment, education and health we have to carry forward our struggle against imperialism and communalism. “When we are commemorating the birth centenary of legendary martyr of freedom struggle Bhagat Singh and 150th anniversary of 1857, there is an opportunity to motivate and inspire the youth community. We have to discharge this important responsibility by strengthening our organisation”, so saying he concluded.

DISCUSSIONS

The discussion on the political-organisation report started on May 9. A total of 49 delegates, among whom 11 were young women, participated in the discussion. Delegates participating in the discussion drew attention to various aspects and gave important suggestions. The aspect of women development in the organisation was discussed and it was suggested to pay special attention for the development and expansion of the organisation in weaker states by launching movement on local issues.

The amendments in DYFI’s Constitution placed before the conference were passed unanimously.

RESOLUTIONS

The eight all India conference passed 30 resolutions on various important issues and subjects. These include resolution against unemployment, for a comprehensive national youth policy, against imperialist globalisation, against communalisation, against price rise and deteriorating PDS, against terrorism, in support of Sachar Committee recommendations, on 150th anniversary of 1857, in support of reservations, against privatisation and commercialisation of education, in favour of land reforms, on the problems of North-Eastern region, in favour of women’s rights and freedom of the press, in favour of the scientific socialism.

FRATERNAL SESSION

A session of the fraternal delegates was organised on May 9. In this session all India president of AIKS, S Ramachandran Pillai, secretary of CITU, W R Varadrajan, AIDWA general secretary Sudha Sundararaman, all India joint secretary of AIAWU, Hannan Mollah, SFI general secretary, K K Ragesh, AIYF general secretary Pramod Prabhakar, RYF general secretary Ranjan Mukherjee and AIYL general secretary Sanjay Bhattacharya participated and greeted the eighth conference of DYFI.

SILVER JUBILEE SESSION

DYFI was formed on November 3, 1980. On November 3, 2005, the organisation completed 25 years of its formation and celebrated its silver jubilee year. Based on the slogan of ‘struggle, sacrifice and advancement’ given in the silver jubilee year, a session was organised in the eighth conference. In this session the founder general secretary of DYFI Hannan Mollah, former president, M Vijay Kumar and former vice president, M Nanmaran addressed the conference and shared their experiences. The former leaders expressed their happiness on the steady growth of the organisation and added that comparing with their time, the youth community today is faced with much serious challenges. They said that DYFI has a big responsibility of uniting the youth and fighting against these challenges. The former leaders were felicitated by giving them the memento of the Eighth All India Conference. DYFI president K N Balagopal and general secretary Tapas Sinha highlighted the achievements of the organisation during the last 25 years.

SPECIAL SESSION

In the background of the uncompromising struggles in favour of the people and the notable works done for the advancement of the interests of the toiling masses by the Left-led governments, a special session was organised in the eighth conference. The subject of this special session was – ‘The Question of Development and the Role of the Left-led Governemnts’. This session was addressed by the chairman of the Left Front in West Bengal, Biman Basu. He explained how the Left forces made utmost sacrifices countering the all round attacks and won the confidence of the common people. He mentioned about the food movement in West Bengal and said that the Left and its state governments have always faced the attacks and hostility of the reactionary, opportunist forces and that of the governments at the centre. He reminded the delegates that these forces are once again trying to malign the Left Front government of West Bengal. He said that the Left-led governments are committed to working for the advancement and development of the people and this commitment is based on the confidence placed by the people on the Left. Biman Basu released a book on Shaheed Bhagat Singh, published by the CEC of the DYFI on this occasion.

INTERNATIONAL SESSION

On May 10, an international session was organised in the conference. It was an expression solidarity by leaders of various youth movements across the globe with the democratic youth movement in India. It was attended by delegates from Cuba, Vietnam, France, Portugal, Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Greece and Zimbabwe. The vice president of WFDY also participated. Apart from these the eighth conference of DYFI received greetings and messages from several other countries like Palestine, Syria, Ukraine and Young Communist League(YCL) of USA. This session was successful not only in terms of participation but also in terms of the expression of solidarity and strengthening co-ordination at international level. “Cuba and India are at different ends of the world but out hearts are together in the crusade against US imperialism. We seek your support and solidarity for this global crusade”, said the Cuban delegate Dallamy Diaz Munoj. In this session former president of DYFI, M A Baby, was also present. As part of the conference proceedings an international seminar on “For Better Future, Invest in Youth” was also organised in Chennai.

CONCLUDING SESSION

On the last day, the report of the credential committee was placed by the convenor of the committee Avas Roy Choudhury. According to the credential committee’s report a total of 888 delegates attended the eighth all India conference from 24 states. Out of these, 735 were male and 153 were female. 329 delegates were employed and 559 were unemployed. As for the social composition, 113 delegates were from SCs, 48 from STs, 80 were from others. Age wise from 15 to 20 years there were 12 delegates, from 21 to 25 years, 70, from 26 to 30 years, 105, from 31 to 35 years, 335, and above 35 years, there 366 delegates. Among the delegates, 656 were married and 232 were unmarried. According to the family background, 191 delegates were from working class families, 105 were from agricultural labour, 52 from peasants, 335 from middle classes, and 32 were from business family and 164 were from others.

After the credential committee report, general secretary replied to the discussion on political-organisational report and appealed to achieve the target of two crore members of DYFI. The report was unanimously passed by the conference.

NEW LEADERSHIP

The eighth all India conference of DYFI elected a new 87 member central executive committee in which two are ex-officio members and three places kept vacant. The 84 members elected in the conference held their first meeting and elected a 19-member central secretariat with one vacancy. P Sriramakrishnan was elected new president. Tapas Sinha was re-elected as general secretary and Pushpendra Tyagi was re-elected as treasurer and editor of Youth Stream.