THE Second World War, or, the war against fascism, was one of the truly epochal events of the 20th century. The war was like no other in history because of its global scale and the immense destruction of human lives and productive capacities. It also exemplified the collision of various historical forces set in the background of the worst crisis faced by capitalism and imperialism. The barbarous force which emerged in the inter-war period, between the First and the Second World Wars, was the phenomenon of fascism and its German variant Nazism.

THE CPI(M)’s recently concluded 21st Congress spoke of the trident of challenges facing the country and the people. The aggressive pursuit of the neo-liberal policies of economic reforms; the relentless onslaughts on the secular democratic foundations of the Indian republic by the sharpening of communal polarisation and the movement towards an authoritarian rule through the erosion of democratic institutions and methods considered sacrosanct in a parliamentary democracy, constitute the current constellation of challenges before us.

ON this 9th of May, the 70th anniversary of the end of the Second World War will be observed. The rising of the Red Flag on the Reichstag, a day before in 1945, signaled the end of the war and the decisive defeat of the Nazi, fascist forces. Hitler, who symbolised the evil Nazi-fascists, committed suicide in his bunker on April 30, 1945, with the Red Army only streets away in Berlin.

IN Comrade P K Ganguly a trade union leader was born out of three currents of the movement – against ideological revisionism and trade union reformism; against drug multinationals and for country’s self-reliance in medicines and for trade union rights of the medical and sales representatives – entwined in a common movement in early 1970s. P K Ganguly was moulded in the fire of struggle and sacrifice under the guidance of Comrade B T Ranadive.

THE Budget Session of Lok Sabha resumed on April 20. On the very first day, the government tabled the controversial land acquisition bill to replace the ordinance amid vociferous protests by the Opposition and subsequently walk-out.In the afternoon when the house reassembled, the Lok Sabha started with the pending discussion on agrarian crisis, initiated by Leader of CPI(M) in Lok Sabha P Karunakaran. Speaking on the issue, Sankar Prasad Datta said at present a situation like that of mid 60's has arisen in our country. The situation in the countryside has worsened.