“FOUR and half centuries before, (on this day) in that very place (the atrium of the convent of Mani in the Yucatan) another Franciscan brother Diego de Landa, had burned the Maya's books and with them eight centuries of collective memory”. This memory of the Mayan civilisation would have been lost, but for Eduardo Galeano's entry for April 13, in his Children of Days. In our books, a post script should be added for this day – the day Galeano left, leaving us to celebrate his memories.“He wrote as if he were saying nothing. And he said everything”.

ANSWERING DMK MP Kanimozhi’s question on whether the Government of India planned to criminalise marital rape, the minister of state for home, Hirabhai Parathibhai Choudhary from Gujarat stated that “It is considered that the concept of marital rape, as understood internationally, cannot be suitably applied in the Indian context due to various factors eg, level of education/illiteracy, poverty, myriad social customs and values, religious beliefs, mindset of the society to treat marriage as a sacrament, etc. (Rajya Sabha Question 656, April 29, 2015).

THOUSANDS of peasants and agricultural workers converged in Bangalore on April 28, 2015 in an unprecedented solidarity action to convey a resounding “No” to the draconian Land Acquisition Ordinance brought by the Narendra Modi-led BJP government and assert their rights over land and water. A unique issue-based unity comprising of 12 organisations of peasants, agricultural workers, devadasi women, dalits, adivasis and small planters was built, described by some as a trend-setter for future politics in Karnataka.

Resist Pro-Corporate Anti-Poor Union Budget

The 21st Congress of the CPI(M) points out that the Union Budget of 2015-16 reveals the ruthless manner in which the Modi Government is implementing its neoliberal agenda. The Budget is an exercise in the transfer of resources to big corporations and the rich.

IN keeping with the expectations, the Left Front recorded a resounding victory in the 7th general elections of the Tripura Tribal Area Autonomous District Council. In the results declared on May 6, Left Front candidates emerged victorious in all the 28 seats reaffirming its continuation in office for the third consecutive term. Left Front secured a decisive 54.29 per cent of the total votes polled leaving behind all the other opposition parties. Out of the 28 seats, CPI(M) won in 25 seats while CPI, AIFB and RSP won one seat each.