KARL was eighteen years old when he spent the late summer weeks of 1836 in his parent’s home after leaving Bonn University and before proceeding to Berlin to continue his studies. During these weeks, he wooed Jenny von Westphalen, who had not only unusual beauty but also an unusual spirit and character.The Marx and Westphalen families were friends and Jenny was the daughter of Government Councillor Ludwig von Westphalen who, in contrast to most of his colleagues in his social position and profession, was a highly educated man with liberal ideas.

MEGHALAYA Governor Tathagata Roy, in yet another outrageous statement, has endorsed a call for boycott of Kashmir and Kashmiris in the wake of the Pulwama tragedy.  This comes at a time when Kashmiris, particularly students, in various parts of the country are being attacked, tormented and forced to leave. The governor holds a constitutional office. As the representative of the president of India, he is expected to act as the custodian of the Indian constitution.

AS the Kerala Samrakshana Jathas are travelling across the state, huge crowds are greeting the LDF leaders in the jatha, indicating that many sections of people are supporting the Left Democratic Front (LDF). The two jathas led by CPI(M) state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and CPI state secretary Kanam Rajendran each, would culminate on March 2 at Thrissur. The southern jatha headed by Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has begun from Putharikandam in Thiruvananthapuram on February 14 and the northern jatha led by Kanam Rajendran, began at Kasargod two days later.

MARXISM is a key to end all sorts of exploitation that exists in society and that can only be achieved through revolutionary movements of working class by applying Marxist doctrine of concrete analysis of concrete conditions, said Sitaram Yechury, general secretary CPI(M) while addressing a gathering in New Delhi on the occasion of celebration of 200th birth anniversary of Karl Marx.The programme was organised by CPI(M), Delhi state committee.

IN these columns of the previous issue, the main points of the report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of Accounts (CAG) on the Rafale deal were discussed. It was noted that all price figures had been redacted, rendering the reader incapable of informed assessment.