TWO esteemed scholar-activists of Maharashtra, Dr Narendra Dabholkar and Comrade Govind Pansare were shot dead in the last two years in almost identical circumstances. It is widely known that extremist Hindutva outfits like Sanathan Sanstha are behind these killings. Very recently another outspoken scholar M M Kalburgi was also shot dead at his home in Karnataka in similar circumstances. These gruesome murders took place in the background of the RSS-led BJP’s ascendancy in national politics and with the Hindutva combination of BJP and Shiv Sena becoming the major political force in Maharashtra. Obviously, the Sangh Parivar has decided that it is time for them to step up their efforts to destroy the secular fabric of India and convert the Indian State into an authoritarian Hindu Rashtra without brooking any opposition. This is the logic behind the Dabholkar-Pansare-Kalburgi murders. Alerting the people about this game-plan is the most urgent task of all democratic forces.

With this objective in mind, the DYFI Maharashtra state committee decided to organise two jathas starting from those spots in Pune and Kolhapur where Dabholkar and Pansare were shot and culminating at Aurangabad on the eve of the 10th DYFI state conference. The slogans chosen for the jatha were “Defeat the forces which murdered Dr Narendra Dabholkar, Com Govind Pansare and Prof M M Kalburgi” and “March on towards a casteless secular Maharashtra.”

It was decided that the jathas would cover 16 districts in six days. Most importantly, it was decided to constitute jatha reception committees at maximum places as broad coalitions of democratic, secular and progressive organisations, intellectuals, artists and eminent personalities.

Both jathas started on October 4 and toured 16 districts as planned before culminating at Aurangabad on October 9, the eve of the DYFI state conference. These jathas have given immensely energising experiences to the youth movement and have laid the foundation for building effective coalitions in defending secular society and democratic political processes. Several public intellectuals and artists associated themselves with this effort.

BRUSHES

AGAINST BULLETS

In fact, jatha-related activities started off on October 2 itself. On Gandhi Jayanti day, the DYFI organised a mass painting programme at Pune’s Omkareshwar Bridge, the exact spot where Narendra Dabholkar was shot dead. Suneet Chopra, one of the founding leaders of DYFI, famous art critic and painter, came from Delhi to inaugurate this programme titled ‘Brushes against Bullets’. Nearly 20 artists participated. We got sympathetic response from hundreds of ordinary people in Pune who stayed back with us at the venue. The most exciting experience was a batch of around 30 students of JSPM Engineering College who came to the venue shouting slogans. The same programme was organised outside Vashi railway station in Mumbai on October 3 afternoon and also in the western suburbs of Mumbai on October 6, attracting scores of painters and hundreds of viewers.

On Gandhi Jayanti, DYFI comrades took the initiative and organised rallies in defence of secularism in the morning, bringing together citizens from various backgrounds in more than 20 towns in the state. All of them were very impressive gatherings and a new experience to most of the participants.

PUNE

JATHA

The Pune jatha was led by DYFI state president Adv. Bhagwan Bhojane and K S Raghu, Adv. Pradeep Salvi, Moin Ansar, Ganesh Darade, Laxmi Shamantul and Sanjay Kamble were the other permanent members. Along with them was a cultural troupe consisting of Praja Natya Mandali comrades from Solapur. The jatha started off from Pune on October 4 at 5 pm from the spot where Dr Narendra Dabholkar was killed. It was inaugurated by Avinash Patil, president of Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti at a well-attended public meeting. Well-known theatre personality Atul Pethe was the main speaker in the function.

For the next five days the Pune jatha was enthusiastically welcomed at the following places: Pimpri-Chinchwad and Junnar in Pune district; Murbad, Ulhasnagar, Dombivli, Vashi and Thane city in Thane district;  Uran in Raigad district; Mankhurd, Ramabai Ambedkar Nagar, Sonapur, Bhandup, Powai, Marol, Jogeshwari, Goregaon, Mira Road and Vasai Road in and near Mumbai; Talasari, Dhundalwadi, Dahanu, Charoti, Manor, Wada and Vikramgad in Palghar district; Nashik city, Dindori, Vani, Surgana, Umbarthan, Alangun and Chandwad in Nashik district; Jalgaon city and then Aurangabad.

Pradnya Daya Pawar, Sagar Sarhadi, Dr. Kunda Prani and Neerja were some of the well-known public intellectuals who participated at various jatha reception points.

KOLHAPUR

JATHA

The Kolhapur jatha was led by DYFI state secretary Preethy Sekhar and other permanent members were Ajay Burande, Janardan Kale, Mohan Jadhav (SFI state president) and Datta Chavan (SFI state secretary). This Jatha also had a cultural troupe consisting of Praja Natya Mandali comrades.

Prof K S Bhagwan, noted Kannada writer who is on the hit list of communal elements, inaugurated the Kolhapur jatha. The day’s events started with a visit to Rajarshi Shahu Janmasthal. Later, the jatha started off from the spot where Com Govind Pansare was shot at. A public meeting was held in the afternoon at Shahu Smarak Mandir. Prof K S Bhagawan delivered the inaugural speech in which he exhorted the youth to confront communal and casteist forces and thus carry forward the legacy of Pansare, Dabholkar and Kalburgi. Sharad Bhutadia, famous Marathi film and theatre personality also spoke at the meeting. Left leaders and theatre personality Aditya Khebudkar also joined the public meeting.

Over the next five days, the jatha was enthusiastically welcomed at the following places: Ichalkaranji in Kolhapur district; Sangli, Shirudhun and Kavthemahankal in Sangli district; Solapur in Solapur district; Latur and Ahmedpur in Latur district; Nanded and Kinwat in Nanded district; Vasmat in Hingoli district; Parbhani,  Manwat and Pathri in Parbhani district; Parali, Ambajogai, Moha, Sirsala, Nitrud, Majalgaon and Talkhed in Beed district; and then the jatha entered Aurangabad.

The jathas culminated at Aurangabad on October 9 on the eve of the DYFI state conference where a massive youth rally and public meeting were organised. The public meeting was addressed by Mohammed Salim MP, Dr Ashok Dhawale and Teesta Setalwad, apart from DYFI leaders.

SIGNIFICANT

SUCCESS

Both the jathas reached thousands of people in these 16 districts. Most of the receptions were very enthusiastic. The DYFI state committee had prepared a booklet explaining the purpose of the jathas which was widely distributed. Similarly a booklet on the struggles of adivasi youth was also distributed. Govind Pansare’s popular book ‘Shivaji Kon Hota’, books against communalism by Dr Ram Puniyani and several other progressive books were widely sold at the reception spots. Leaders and activists of the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti and Rashtra Seva Dal enthusiastically welcomed the jatha in several places. Other Left and secular political parties, progressive organisations and well-known personalities came forward to support this initiative in several places.

The martyrdom of Dabholkar-Pansare-Kalburgi has moved ordinary people towards firm positions against the politics of hatred. People are realising that Hindutva is a disguised form of savage assault on all the downtrodden sections in all communities. A significant section of young men and women are firmly against backward-looking ideologies that are trying to dominate the world of ideas in Maharashtra. The DYFI’s task is to organise them and build a platform of resistance to extreme commoditisation and rabid communalism. The Yuva Sangharsh Jathas have given both confidence and ideas to undertake this all-important task. The success of the jathas has proved that the ‘march towards a casteless secular Maharashtra’ is really on.