Salil Chowdhury: Pre-Birth Centenary Tribute: “My Worst Nightmare is Fascism”

“What is your greatest fear?” he was asked.
His reply was sharp and emphatic. “That India may someday be ruled by fanatics who will silence the voice of reason, and intellectuals will be singled out and shot”, he said.
The interviewer pressed further. “What is your favourite dream?”
“All peoples shall be equal”, he said.
“And your nightmare?”
“Fascism”, responded Salil Chowdhury firmly.

Uttarakhand: CITU-Led Delegation Visits Collapsed Tunnel Site

A DELEGATION of the Uttarakhand state committee of the Centre for Indian Trade Unions (CITU) led by Rajendra Singh Negi visited the site of the unfortunate accident at the under-construction Yamunotri National Highway Tunnel located at Silkyara in district Uttarkashi where 41 workers have been stranded for the past seven days.

Maha: CPI(M) Makes Headway in Gram Panchayat Polls in Palghar and Other Districts

THE CPI(M) made some headway in the limited gram panchayat elections held in Maharashtra on November 5, 2023. The results were declared next day on November 6. The sarpanch is now elected in the state through direct elections, with the whole village voting. Besides that, gram panchayat members are elected from various wards in the village. The CPI(M) won a total of 11 sarpanches and 133 gram panchayat members in these polls.

Jharkhand: CPI(M) Holds Adivasi Rally in Ranchi

ON November 17, 2023, to mark the Martyr Birsa Munda Birth Anniversary which was two days ago, an impressive rally and public meeting of around 5,000 people, most of them adivasis, was held at Bundu in Ranchi district of Jharkhand

Privatisation in Railways: Private Sector’s Attempt to Enter Integral Coach Factory Prevented

ON November 6, 2023, the Joint Platform of ten central trade unions and independent national federations (CTUs) supported the demands and agitation of the ICF (Integral Coach Factory at Chennai) Joint Action Council opposing private sector’s entry in the ICF; and demanding withdrawal of the decision to handover manufacturing / maintenance of Vande Bharat trains to private sector within ICF premises. They launched agitation staging demonstrations and holding gate meetings.