September 21, 2014
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Achintya Bhattacharya Birth Centenary Celebrations Conclude

Isfaqur Rahman

THERE were three distinct visions for an independent India during freedom struggle – the Nehruvian vision, the Left vision and the right-wing ‘Hindutva’ vision. Pandit Nehru represented the mainstream vision for a ‘secular democratic’ India, while the Left vision was for a ‘secular, democratic and socialist’ India. The third was for converting independent India into a rabidly intolerant ‘Hindu Rashtra’. This vision originated with the formation of the RSS in 1925. The Muslim League was a ‘twin brother’ of the RSS. They fought for creation of Pakistan in the name of religion.” These observations were made by CPI(M) Polit Bureau Sitaram Yechury while delivering a speech at a seminar in Guwahati on August 23 last. He was speaking on Achintya Bhattacharya and Today’s India, to mark the concluding programme of Comrade Achintya Bhattacharya’s Birth Centenary Celebrations. The Centenary Celebration Committee was formed by the CPI(M) Assam state committee. Addressing the massive gathering at the District Library Auditorium, Yechury said, “The Left vision which was distinctly different from the Nehruvian vision and diametrically opposite to the vision of ‘Hindu Rashtra’ sought to transform the political content of the Indian Republic into economic empowerment of the people. The ‘socialist’ vision has to be built on the pillars of secular democratic polity. The battle of visions that took place during the freedom struggle continues even today. The conflicts that we see in present day politics are essentially an expression of this clash of ideas or ‘battle of ideas’.” The seminar was presided over by senior CPI(M) leader Hemen Das. CPI(M) state secretary Uddhab Barman also spoke on the subject. Comrade Achintya Bhattacharya (16 August, 1914 - 23 August, 1993) was a prominent freedom fighter, Marxist intellectual and a prolific writer. He joined the Communist Party in 1939 and played a pioneering role in building up the Communist movement in Assam. He was one of the leading Communists, along with Biresh Mishra, Nandeswar Talukdar and others, to form the CPI(M) in Assam and was elected as the founder secretary of the state unit of the Party and held that position till January, 1982. He was also elected to the Central Committee of the CPI(M) in 1964 and served in that position till his death. Bhattacharya’s birth centenary was observed at the district and local levels across the state prior to the concluding programme in Guwahati. Speaking on the occasion, Yechury recalled his association with Achintya Bhattacharya, popularly called Comrade AB, on various occasions since early 1980s. He said Comrade AB was an inspiration to our generation. He tried to apply Marxist-Leninist principles especially on the tribal questions in concrete conditions of Assam and the country as a whole. Through his writings, AB championed the cause of the down-trodden and the tribal people. He advocated for protection of rich cultures and traditions of the tribal people and to integrate them with the national mainstream. In this context, Yechury added, “You cannot integrate the tribals through coercion. You have to do it through equality and equal status and respect to them.” Referring to the influence and activities of Naxalites or so-called ‘Left-Wing Extremism’ in the tribal areas, the CPI(M) leader said extreme poverty and social backwardness, deprivation and dispossession were the roots of such problems. The economic deprivation and sense of alienation among the tribals and Adivasis were being utilised by the extremists, Yechury said. Dealing with the situation after the death of Comrade AB, Yechury said after the set-back to socialism and disintegration of USSR, the bi-polar world had become unipolar which paved the way for US hegemony across the world. Now the US imperialism has been targeting any country which put up some challenge to it. We have also entered into the present phase of capitalism which is known as ‘globalisation’. In India, too, the disastrous policies of neo-liberal economy was introduced and implemented by former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his company at the behest of imperialist driven globalisation. The concept of planned economy was gradually abandoned and the role of Planning Commission had been curtailed in the last two decades after liberalisation. Now Prime Minister Modi had announced not only elimination but final burial of the Planning Commission. This would mean withdrawal of the welfare measures taken by the successive governments and the private parties would play the lead role in our economy, Yechury observed. Explaining Modi’s ascendancy to power, Yechury said it was not that the people of our country had become religious overnight and a communal party had come to power with absolute majority. Of course, emotions and sentiments were always associated with religion and Hindutva forces were trying to exploit the religious sentiments. But Narendra Modi mainly capitalised on the wave against the misrule of the Congress-led UPA government. The growing discontent and anger of the people against the Congress, coupled with communal hate-campaign unleashed by the RSS-BJP, had paved the way for Modi. The big businesses and the corporate sector also extended their wholehearted support and backing to Modi. But there was no difference between the Congress and the BJP on the economic policy matters. Now the Modi government was hankering after the PPP model of development. It was nothing but private looting of public property. The economic policies of the present government was ‘nationalisation of loss and privatisation of profit’, Yechury asserted. Dealing with the communal situation, Yechury said that the Hindutva forces had been unrelenting in propagating their hate campaign. Referring to the recent ridiculous statement of RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat in Cuttack where he had said citizens of ‘Hindustan’ should be known as ‘Hindus’ as the inhabitants of England are English, those of Germany are Germans etc., Yechury advised Bhagwat to read the Indian Constitution. Words used by the framers of the Constitution were ‘India’ or ‘Bharat’, not Hindustan, he said. Yechury pointed to the first article of the Constitution of India which states, “India, that is Bharat, shall be a union of states”, implicitly codifying ‘India’ and ‘Bharat’ as equally official short names of the Republic of India. But the BJP and communal forces were trying to destroy the ‘idea of India’, he said. “The real problems of our country are poverty, malnutrition, illiteracy, unemployment etc. But the government is not willing to spend money for seeking solutions to these problems the people are confronted with. They are giving concessions, tax relief etc. to the tune of lakhs of crores of rupees to the big business and corporate sectors. They call it ‘incentives for growth.’ Disinvestment in PSUs and entry of FDI in all sectors are being allowed. As a result of these disastrous policies, pauperisation and impoverishment of the common people continue unabated. On the otherhand, the assault on India’s secular democracy comes in the name of religion. By now, it is clear that religious fundamentalism of all variety has very little to do with religion or religiosity. It is purely an attempt to consolidate political power by misusing religion. So the relevance of Comrade AB’s life and work appears more enlarged in the troubled times in which we live today. The battle of ideas, the battle of visions continues,” he said. Yechury concluded by saying, “Our task today is to defend the secular democratic character of Indian Republic and to intensify the struggle for realising our vision – a better India – a socialist India.” Besides party members and activists from across the state, the seminar was attended by a large number of intellectuals, writers, educationists etc. The district Library Auditorium was packed to its capacity. CPI(M) state secretary Uddhab Barman, in his speech, recalled his long association with Comrade AB. He said AB’s unique contributions in building the CPI(M) in Assam, in spreading Marxist ideologies through literary excellence would always be remembered. He made immense contributions in understanding the problems of various ethnic groups in Assam and tried to unify them in common struggles. Memorial Award Presented As part of the centenary celebrations, the first Achintya Bhattacharya Memorial Award was jointly presented to distinguished writer and historian Amalendu Guha and eminent litterateur Sashi Sharma for their lifelong contributions to progressive thinking, literature and social change. Guha’s wife, also a prolific writer, Anima Guha received the award on his behalf as the ailing historian could not attend the function. Guha sent a letter expressing gratitude and pride for receiving the award. The letter was read out by Anima Guha. Sashi Sharma, in his grief speech, said that Achinty Bhattacharya was an embodiment of devotion and principles. Both the recipients were nonagenarians. The award, instituted with monetary contributions by family members of Comrade AB, carries a citation and cash component of Rs 50,000 for each recipient. AB’s son Arindam and daughter Sumitra Singh Bhattacharya were also present on the occasion. Noted Assamese writer and chairman of the Centenary Celebration Committee Anil Roychoudhury chaired the function. The awards were given away by Anil Roychoudhury, Hemen Das and Uddhab Barman. The convener of the Award Committee Paramanda Majumadar conducted the presentation ceremony. Unity and Integrity of Assam The two-day concluding programme of the birth centenary started on 22 August at the District Library Auditorium. At the outset, a souvenir was released by prominent educationist Chandra Mohan Sarma in the hallowed memory of Achintya Bhattacharya. Later, a well-attended seminar was held with CPI(M) state secretary Uddhab Barman in the chair. Noted intellectual and social scientist Indibor Deuri spoke on Unity and Integrity of Assam and the Left Movements. In his speech, Deuri traced the history of Assam and made an excellent appraisal of the problems of Assam – a multi-lingual, multi-ethnic, multi-cultural and multi-religious state in the North-Eastern Region. He cited the report of the Anthropological Survey of India conducted in 2003, and said there were 114 ethnic groups and nationalities in Assam. Last year, the People’s Linguistic Survey prepared a report and stated that at least 55 linguistic groups were the inhabitants of Assam. There were seven live scripts in the state. During the British Rule, Assam was marginalised and neglected. The discriminatory attitude towards development of Assam continued even after Independence. The successive central government had done precious little for rapid industrialisation and infrastructure development, Deuri lamented. Deuri made an objective assessment of the situation in Assam and said various ethnic groups had now started seeking their own identity and asserted their rights for equality and dignity. The Hindutva forces are trying to utilise the genuine discontent of the tribal communities. The RSS had been active in the tribal areas too. The forces of reaction and evil had raised their ugly heads. Muslim fundamentalist forces were also no less active. Under the trying circumstances, the Left parties should address the genuine grievances and fulfil the aspirations of all the communities through united actions. All sections of the people were to be mobilised in democratic platform, Deuri added. Speaking on the subject, senior CPI(M) leader Hemen Das expressed concern at the growth of identity politics in Assam and said Assamese chauvinism had played a major role for disintegration of the social fabric in the state. Cultural functions were also organised on the evening of August 22 to mark the Birth Centenary Programme. Noted cultural celebrities like Bibhu Ranjan Choudhury, Ghana Deka and artists from ‘Janamat’ and others performed in the brief function.