Putin in India

THE Russian President, Vladimir Putin was in Delhi in the second week of December to participate in the annual India-Russia summit that has become an annual event since 2000. President Putin and Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee had signed the historic Declaration on Strategic Partnership that year. Though the Russian president was in the Indian capital for only a day, the 2014 summit has yielded a raft of substantive agreements.

SFI: A Movement of Study, Struggle and Sacrifice For a Scientific, Secular Education

THE Students’ Federation of India evolved through decades of ideological struggle and the organisation took the final shape in a four-day conference from December 27 to December 31, 1970 in Thiruvananthapuram. The Programme of the organisations was adopted on the penultimate day of the conference, and hence on December 30 this year SFI will be observing its 44th Foundation Day.

SFI Leads Statewide Stir of ITI Students

THE Students’ Federation of India (SFI), Maharashtra state committee led a month-long statewide protest of students in the Industrial Technical Institutes (ITIs) with the main demand to scrap the negative marking system which was newly introduced for ITI students and which led to thousands of students failing in their examinations. More than 25,000 students successfully participated in these SFI-led protests in 20 districts of Maharashtra. It must be remembered that ITI students form part of the future working class of our country.

MAHARASHTRA: Massive CPI(M) March in Solapur on Housing Issue

MORE than 40,000 people marched in Solapur on December 24, 2014 under the banner of the CPI(M), demanding that the state government immediately sanction the proposed housing projects for the poor, along with the necessary budgetary allocations. This march started from the CPI(M) office at Datta Nagar and culminated at the district collector's office. Thousands of members of the housing projects participated. A huge number of them were women. The march was led by CPI(M) Central Committee member Narsayya Adam, ex-MLA.

SAHMAT’s Tribute to Safdar Hasmi on 26TH Anniversary of His Martyrdom

AS the world welcomed the first day of 2015, Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) organised a day-long event to mark the 26TH anniversary of Safdar Hasmi’s martyrdom. This year also marks his 60TH birthday. The Constitution Club Annexe, New Delhi was the venue of this politically and socially significant event. Artistes from varied walks of life came together on a common platform to remember the sacrifice of a person whose life was cruelly cut short by those who were not comfortable with his outspoken, non-conformist and radical methods.

Natak Jari Hai

TWENTY Six years have elapsed since Safdar Hashmi was felled, while in performance, to the blows of the assassins. The play being performed was Halla Bol, in support of workers' demand of minimum wages. JANAM (Jana Natya Manch) came back to the site of the attack to complete the performance of the play on January 4 that year. On January 1, 1990, Janam performed a play here Natak Jari Hai, The play is going on. Indeed the show must go on, the show is going on.

Predatory Capitalism Leading to Regional Wars: Yechury

THE centenary of the end of the First World War being observed across the globe was described at that time as the “end of the war to end all wars”. A century later, the world is still witnessing many regional wars chiefly caused by the unjust `capitalist illogic’ that perpetrated two world wars in the 20th century. First World War gave birth to many wars.

Massive Dharnas by BSNL Employees

THOUSANDS of BSNL employees sat on three-day dharnas in front of their offices/exchanges, demanding immediate action to provide mobile equipment, broadband modem and cables as well as installation of BTS/Towers to enable the employees to provide better services to the customers. The call for organising three-day dharnas from January 6 to January 8 was given by joint forum of all BSNL unions and associations. In New Delhi, the dharna was organised in front of the BSNL Corporate office, with participation of more than 300 employees.

MAHARASHTRA: AIKS Holds March to Assembly on Peasant Issues

AROUND 5,000 peasants led by the Maharashtra State Kisan Sabha (AIKS) marched to the Nagpur session of the state assembly on December 16, 2014 on burning peasant issues like severe drought, peasant suicides, debt relief, remunerative prices for agricultural produce, implementation of the Forest Rights Act, etc. It was the first and the largest peasant demonstration on the assembly after the BJP-led state government assumed power a month ago. Hence the AIKS action got good publicity in both print and electronic media.

Some Lessons from the Ideas & Work Of Savitribai & Jyotirao Phule

AS the democratic organisations celebrate the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule, the dalits of the country face important and stiff challenges for their survival in the contemporary times. The weakening of the social welfare system has led to a social counter revolution led by the conservative rightwing forces and made dalits in particular socially and economically vulnerable. The idea that the neo-liberal State will be a limited State that does not interfere in societal affairs has strengthened social institutions that have given a new fillip to forces of social conservatism.

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