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SFI-JNU: "Onwards to the Formation of a New Student Organization"

Wed, 2013-01-23 04:08 — srinir
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Pragoti has been tracking the political developments in Jawaharlal Nehru University over the past year. SFI-JNU, a rebel student organisation that was formed following the dissolution of the erstwhile SFI unit in the campus has over the year, won the president's post in the JNUSU elections and has, also since, involved in the formation of a new initiative for a joint struggle platform of Progressive, Democratic and Left forces. SFI-JNU has now resolved to form a new student organisationon the basis of a set of principles.This blogpost carries that message (also hosted at their website). 

SFI-JNU came into being after the SFI-CPI (M) leadership dissolved the SFI Unit in JNU in July 2012 for voicing its public dissent over the unprincipled decision of the CPI (M) to support Congressman Pranab Mukherjee in the presidential elections. The Left was divided on the issue with the CPI and RSP deciding to abstain in the elections. The dissolution of an entire organizational unit in a campus was an unprecedented and undemocratic move which evoked widespread protest and condemnation from progressive and democratic sections. It was in this context that we decided to form SFI-JNU, pursue principled and non-sectarian Left politics and continue our struggle on student issues. Despite vicious political attacks and slander from certain quarters, SFI-JNU received widespread support from the student community in its endeavors, including in the JNUSU elections.

 
SFI-JNU had raised three basic questions vis-à-vis the SFI leadership and all other student organizations in course of the debate following its inception:
 
  • Whether a university campus based unit has a right to adopt positions on major national and international issues?
  • Whether student organizations would have autonomy to act in an independent manner, or would they be reduced to mere student fronts of political parties?
  • Would student organizations be allowed to express dissent or differences on decisions of political parties, which are against the interests of the broader progressive and democratic movement?
 
While raising these questions, SFI-JNU had also resolved to adopt a non-sectarian outlook and stand in solidarity with all genuine people’s struggles being waged across the country. In the course of last six months, SFI-JNU has firmly adhered to its commitment. It was the SFI-JNU led JNUSU which took the lead in forging a broad based unity among students, teachers, women’s organizations and other civil society groups to build a vibrant movement against the heinous gang rape of a 23 year old student in Delhi last month.
 
 
On the basis of these experiences, SFI-JNU has decided to organize a Conference on 24-25 January 2013 in JNU to form a new student organization, which will uphold and carry forward the same principles. The Executive Committee of SFI-JNU has already made public the draft Programme and Constitution of the new organization (available at http://www.sfijnuweb.wordpress.com), which would be finalized and adopted after deliberations in the Conference. Three names have been proposed for the new organization – (a) Students’ Federation (b) Progressive Students’ Federation and (c) Democratic Students’ Federation. The name of the new organization would be finalised on the basis of a Referendum in the Conference. SFI-JNU appeals to the student community to participate in this exercise in large numbers, join the new student organization and contribute towards building a progressive, democratic, united and vibrant student movement.
 
 
The forthcoming Conference will also discuss and deliberate on the issues confronting the JNU student movement. The agreement between the JNUSU and the JNU administration during the last agitation must be fulfilled in letter and spirit. The struggle for enhancing MCM scholarships to Rs 3000, building more hostels, ensuring deprivation points for Muslim minority students and reduction of viva-voce weightage marks has to be carried to its logical conclusion. The JNUSU should also continue its interventions in the ongoing struggle for making gender just laws and preserving the autonomy of GSCASH. The struggle for restoration of JNUSU Constitution against the Lyngdoh Recommendations should also be taken up.
 
 
These struggles cannot be seen in isolation from the larger political situation. The neoliberal Congress-led government at the Centre is pushing anti-people policies in an aggressive manner. After allowing FDI in retail trade and raising railway fares, now they have deregulated diesel prices, which would imply all-round increase in prices of food and transportation. In JNU mess bills have increased by more than 500 rupees in the past few months, hurting the student community. The vulgar sycophancy over Rahul Gandhi’s “elevation” in Congress’ Chintan Shivir in Jaipur only brings forth the degeneration of the ruling party and also its disconnect with the aspirations of the students and youth. The same self-styled youth icon Rahul Gandhi and his clique of “babalog” were not to be found when thousands of students and youth were braving tear gas and lathis in the protests after the Delhi gang rape.
 
 
The BJP cannot provide any better alternative to the corruption and anti-people policies of the Congress, since it shares the same neoliberal economic ideology. Moreover, the BJP subscribes to the communal-fascistic hindutva ideology of the RSS, whose dangers can be seen in the anti-Muslim pogroms against minorities in Gujarat in 2002 or the terror attacks perpetrated by groups like Abhinav Bharat. BJP’s projection of Narendra Modi as its prime ministerial candidate or the re-nomination of the thoroughly corrupted Nitin Gadkari as its national president further exposes its communal and degenerate character.
 
 
What India needs today is a genuine progressive and democratic alternative to the Congress and the BJP. Unfortunately, the Left Parties under the leadership of the CPI (M) is unable to provide this alternative. That is because they continue to rely on opportunistic forces like the SP, BSP and other regional parties, which do not share any alternative policy vision. The recent vote in Loksabha on the FDI in retail issue has once again proved that the struggle against neoliberal policies cannot be waged by relying on forces like the SP, BSP etc. Moreover, the CPI (M) continues to indulge in doublespeak on neoliberal policies – opposing it at the Centre while supporting it in its strongholds, like West Bengal. CPI (M) Polit Bureau member Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee continues to openly bat for granting SEZ status to IT companies in West Bengal, in brazen violation the CPI (M)’s stated positions on SEZs. This is seriously eroding the credibility of the CPI (M).
 
 
It is in this context that SFI-JNU has associated itself with the process of bringing together like minded progressive, democratic and Left forces across the country in a common platform to wage uncompromising struggles for democracy, progressive alternative to neoliberal policies, social justice, secularism and unity against imperialism. Such a platform can only succeed in building broad-based peoples’ unity when it shuns sectarianism of the CPI (ML)-Liberation variety, whose sole motivation is to attack the CPI (M), and not build constructive struggles and movements. It is because of such narrow-minded sectarianism that the CPI (ML)-Liberation has also faced a steady decline in Bihar, where it was once a credible Left force.
 
 
The public meeting held in JNU on January 13, 2013 was a step in the direction of creating a broad-based platform of progressive, democratic and Left forces. In keeping with its understanding of preserving the autonomy of student organizations, the new student organization that will be formed after the Conference will be a partner in this common platform and not a student front of any particular organization.
 
 
We appeal to the students of JNU as well as other universities/educational institutions in Delhi to support our initiative and participate in the founding Conference of the new organization on 24-25 January 2013 in JNU.

 

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Comments

by Anonymous on Tue, 2013-02-19 23:37

SFI-JNU: "Onwards to the Formation of a New Student Organization

what is your position on SEZ to IT-companies in west bengal?
weather its benefitial to bengali prospective technical students and unemployed technical gradduates?

by Anonymous on Sat, 2013-01-26 20:53

Undue criticism of the CPIM

The article by srinir exhibits petty-bourgeoise attitude, ignoring the complex ground realities in a vast country like India.

The emergence of various regional parties in many states is a ground reality. A Communist party like the CPI(M) can’t ignore them totally. There are certain contradictions between the regional parties as a whole and the two main big bourgeoise political representatives like the Congress and the BJP, again contradictions among regional parties themselves and contradictions between the Congress and the BJP themselves. These are not simple issues to be ignored .

The authors sweeping remarks against the CPI(M) are exactly in same nature like what the anti-Communist vested interests, parties and the media have been making against the CPI(M) for a long time. Their objective has always been to belittle the CPI(M) on every issue and in the process, to promote parties that suit their political preferences. Earlier, the Right wingers were attacking .Now the Left wingers are competing with the right wingers to attack the CPI(M) from petty bourgeoise sectarian angle.

The author makes an over-simplified remark like , “Unfortunately, the Left Parties under the leadership of the CPI (M) is unable to provide this alternative. That is because they continue to rely on opportunistic forces like the SP, BSP and other regional parties, which do not share any alternative policy vision”, in support of which he cites their recent voting on FDI in parliament .

The CPI(M) has no illusions about the class character of the various regional parties like the SP,BSP, TDP, DMK,AIADMK etc .The CPI(M) always relies on and gives emphasis to the independent mobilization of the masses on various issues that affect the people . The vacillations of various regional parties on class issues is well –known to the Left, especially the CPI(M) which has been pointing out this fact from time to time .

The very fact that the Left parties jointly and the CPI(M) independently have been conducting numerous movements at all india level and at state level as well shows that they don’t rely on parties like SP and BSP , as the author would want us to believe. But at the same time, it does not mean that the CPI(M) should not go for joint action whenever the possibilities arise on various issues? If the regional parties make volte face on various issues, it is they who get exposed and it is they who stand isolated from the masses. Why blame the CPI(M) ?

For your information, the CPIM in Tamil Nadu has been exposing the DMK for its double talk on fuel price hike and FDI in retail. The CPI(M) leadership in the state led by State Secretary, Com G Ramakrishnan has been posing numerous questions to the DMK .Its octogenarian leader , Karunanidhi has been busy these days to write in his party mouth piece ,responding to the CPI(M)’s criticism of his party’s stand. Why does the DMK Chief take the CPI(M)’s criticism seriously, though the latter is not a ruling party in TN? It is simply because the CPI(M) and its mass organisations like SFI, DYFI, KISAN SABHA, AIDWA , Untouchability Eradication Front have been conducting numerous movements independently and also jointly with other Left parties and organisations. The DMK is apprehensive of its impact on the people both in short and long run. Hence the DMK and other regional parties resort to identity politics , just to blunt the Left’s political mobilization of the masses by diverting the peoples attention from real issues. The Left parties have to live with this reality and work hard more to overcome the difficulties in its struggle against the policies of the ruling class, which is not their making.

It is simple dialectics that the regional parties will come to join hands with the Lerft more reliably, only when the Left can emerge more strong ,more particularly in its strongholds and can play its interventionist role in national politics . That is why the Imperialism and the ruling class has been very particular to weaken the Left, particularly the CPI(M) in its strongholds. Because, it fears the organized Left more which is capable of unleashing mass movement against neo-liberal policies of the ruling class.

But then , who plays into the hands of the ruling class by giving a call for “new left” now , by gathering various individuals being hostile to the CPI(M)? The ruling class is always gleeful,whenever splinter CPI(M) groups are active. Their media goes overboard to give more coverage to whatever they utter against the CPI(M). They lionize such splinter groups disproportionately. We have seen this more particularly in Kerala , west Bengal and Tripura in the past and at present as well.

The author mentions about the CPI(ML) "whose sole motivation is to attack the CPI (M)". I agree with this comment. But what about the author himself? I am afraid that he is doing exactly the same , attacking the CPI(M) blindly . The January 13th meeting itself was by those who have been to hostile to the CPI(M)!!!!

RMaran

by Anonymous on Mon, 2013-01-28 11:52

what do you have to say on

what do you have to say on the cpim support to pranab mukherjee and the dissolution of the SFI unit in JNU? do you support these steps?

by Anonymous on Mon, 2013-01-28 11:24

emergence of a "new left" is necessary

Mr. Maran,

you may be content with karunanidhi replying to your criticisms in the DMK party mouthpiece. but that is hardly a certificate for your party taking any independent and credible left initiative. what about the aiadmk and cpim's role vis-a-vis the jayalalitha led state government? one never hears any initiative on the part of the cpim against the jayalalitha regime..why so? why did the cpim stand with the state government and against the protesting people on the kudankulam nuclear power plant issue?

the problem with arrogant dogmatists like you is that whoever does not agree with the cpim or makes any criticism of it has to be branded as "hostile to the cpim". there is no attempt to look within and introspect. that is why, you are boasting about the cpim even in a state like tamil nadu where it has failed to make any advance even after so many decades of existence. tailing the dmk in one election and aiadmk in another can hardly ensure any advance for the left. it can of course secure a few mp/mla seats but that hardly means anything for the working people in tamil nadu today.

your political bankruptcy is further exposed by the fact that while you are indulging in name-calling and showing envy at the media coverage received by the "lionized splinter groups", you fail to address the criticisms of the cpim made in the SFI-JNU/DSF pamphlet. (i) do you deny the fact that the cpim leadership jointly protested with mulayam singh against FDI in retail? where was cpim's or left's independent mobilisation on that issue? why trust mulayam singh even after the nuclear deal fisco? (ii) do you deny that buddhadeb bhattacharjee has been arguing for granting SEZ status to Wipro and Infosys in west bengal? do you support his position?

please answer these questions before embarking on your rants. these are not blind criticisms. these are concrete criticisms, which many within the cpim itself - who are not arrogant dogmatists and flatterers of the party leadership like you - will agree with. it is because of such erroneous politics that the cpim, that was once the pride of the indian left, has fallen into such disrepute. see the evidence in the steady erosion of its mass base, even in its strongholds like west bengal and kerala. do you know what is going to happen in the forthcoming panchayat elections in west bengal?

it is in this context that the emergence of a "new left" has become objectively necessary and subjectively possible. you do not seem to have the capacity to critique this "new left" on the basis of its agenda or its praxis. therefore you resort to the same hackneyed charges of being "hostile" to the cpim, as if it is a moral sin. cpim will get what it deserves. if its politics is increasingly becoming anti-people it will be criticized for that. either correct your own mistakes or be prepared to face criticisms. no point whining about it.

Roshan Kishore

by Anonymous on Sat, 2013-02-02 00:58

Reply to Roshan Kishore -PART II

 

Mr Roshan Kishore,

Further to what I stated in my first part titled as , 'Who is dogmatist?', - let me answer your political points.
First ,you find fault with my reference to TamilNadu. Since your pamphlet accused that “ the Left Parties under the leadership of the CPI (M) is unable to provide this alternative. That is because they continue to rely on opportunistic forces like the SP, BSP and other regional parties, which do not share any alternative policy vision.”, I stoutly refuted your allegation to emphasis that the CPI(M) does not rely on regional parties like SP, BSP and other regional parties, even as they carry on their independent mass movement on various issues and TamilNadu was mentioned in that context, not for contenting myself with the CPIM replying to Karunanidhi .The CPI(M) is not interested in getting any certificate from any quarters, least of people like who are utterly incapable of understanding political events and activities in proper conext . The CPI(M) and its mass organizations have been mobilizing masses on various state level and local level issues against the anti-people policies of AIADMK Govt. be it against the workers, peasants, students, women, youth etc.. . It is not necessary here to list them.The CPI(M) is the only Left party which has organized maximum struggles against the policies of the state and central govt regimes independently ,apart from joint stuggles with other left parties. . . If you still insist, I am prepared to list them.
 
By the way, since when making reference to how the CPI(M) has been conducting independent mass movement in Tamilnadu and taking on DMK for its role on anti-people policies of the UPA-II Govt is considered as “boasting”? If you can “boast” of your activities in JNU/Delhi, why cant I “boast” of CPI(M)’s political activities? . Your question as to why the CPI(M) failed to make advances in Tamilnadu and your ‘ridicule’ of its electoral alliances with state parties is typical of what the petty-bourgeoise sections and anti-Left media have been making from time to time just with the objective of belittling the Left, The CPI(M) joined hands with the DMK or AIADMK ,only if it was consistent with its all India political line at the prevailing times based on national issues .not to secure any MLA/MP. . As long as you were with the CPI(M), was it an issue for you and your cohorts any time? Well. if you are so averse to having allies in political fight, how come you have joined hands with paper organizations like Left Co-ordination Committee in Kerala, Marxist Peravai in TamilNadu, Mangat Ram Palsa’s Punjab CPM, etc in search for allies for your own Left Collective? Can you give any guarantee that your so-called Left Alliance would make advances at least in states where these outfits are from so that your outfits can “mean something for the working people”? Dont be so pathetic in your political understanding in few months of time of having been expelled from the CPI(M).
 
It is ridiculous on your part to say that the CPI(M) stood with the state govt in Koodankulam issue. The stand of the CPI(M) is independent of what Jayalalitha stood for. For your information, it is again a canard that the party was against the protesting people. The CPI(M) has always been against the state govts repressive action against the people, You are trying to distort the CPIM’s stand .
 
Your pamphlet mentioned of the Left having “failed to provide political alternative because it relies on parties like SP,BSP and other regional parties”. I have answered you by stressing on CPI(M)’s independent and joint activities. What else was my comment then in my very first post?
 
The CPI(M has organized various movement against the FDI in retail independently in states . The very fact that the UDF Govt led by the Congress in Kerala is not going to allow entry of Retailers like Walmart speaks volumes about the impact of the Left on state’s ruling alliance. So also in west Bengal where Mamata has been forced to take stand against FDI in retail because of Left’s strength in west Bengal .
 
The CPI(M) and other Left parties have integrated signature movement for food security with opposition to FDI in retail. In Chennai, Prakash Karat of the CPI(M) and D Raja of the CPI participated in rally to inaugurate the signature drive movement in which the state president of the Traders Association was also present.. The CPIM in Tamilnadu organized s been conducting numerous street corner meetings and demonstrations against the FDI in retail, in Madurai, the CPI organized a protest meeting addressed by Brinda Karat in which chamber of commerce office bearers also participated. So also in industrial town of Tiruppur where Sitaram Yechury addressed meeting in which Traders bodies too took part. Various state leaders took part in rallies in key centres in Tamilnadu. In various states too, the CPIM and other Left parties have been rallying the masses against the FDI in retail. What about the Feb all india strike by the central trade unions , the demands include opposition to the FDI in retail, the key role being played by the Left TUs.?
 
You are repeatedly talking about Mulayams betrayal like a cliché, as if Mulayam singh’s party is under the control of the CPIM , as rightly pointed out by Com Samsher Singh in his post which has been removed subsequently. If tomorrow, one of the outfits that participated the Left Collective meeting on jan 13th deserts you, will you stop your activities as a whole? The CPI was with the Congress from 1970 till their Batinda Party Congress in 1978/79,It supported Emergency. It called the JP movement as fascist . It disrupted the Left in Bengal and Kerala. It was party to the semi-fascist reign of terror let loose by the Congress in West Bengal in 1972-77. In spite of all these, when it came back to the Left fold, it has been accepted as part of the Left Front, not shunned? Why don’t you have basic understanding that bourgeoise parties are not consistent on peoples issues. Yet, you have to go for joint movements ,because they need to be broad-based as much as possible .wherever its necessary. This is the essence of unity and struggle . Well, one can wake up those who really sleep. but not those who pretend sleeping!!!
As for your reference to Buddhadeb on SEZ, please quote him exactly ,Then I will respond to you. I cant respond to your generalized comment about him.
 
Well, the CPI(M) is not averse to criticism. But they should be based on facts, not like the ones to say that it “relies on regional parties”, completely ignoring its independent mass movement. This is not to say that as a party ,it never committed any mistakes. A child that walks will fall few times, in the process, it learns further. In the same way, the CPIM is capable of learning from mistakes and taking the Left movement further. But what is political bankruptcy is to attempt to float so-called New Left to oppose the CPIM, by joining hands with outfits that are only in paper ,not any organizations worth its name, to use Dr Ashok Mitra’s words. . Your so-called ‘ New Left’ is bound to flop like Saiffuddin Choudhury’s PDS in west Bengal, like various ultra Left outfits who became appendage of the ruling class at various times.
 
As for your gleeful remarks about CPIM’s prospects in West Bengal, I can only recall those who predicted doomsday for the CPIM in Bengal after its “defeat” in 1972 elections , as the CPIM was considered to be in “political wilderness” from 1972 to 1977. Yet when the opportunity came, the people reposed their confidence in CPIM and other Left parties , because the CPIM never lost contact with the masses at ground level, despite reign of terror during the period.
 
The CPIM is the leading and most organised Left and the Left Front led by it stands in forefront in providing political alternative to the ruling class by mobilizing the masses on various issues , though it knows the struggle is a complex and protarcted one. there is no short cut to this. Any other so-called Left outfit that stands aloof from the Left Front will only play into the hands of the ruling classes,wittingly or unwittingly.
 
RMaran

 

by Anonymous on Fri, 2013-02-08 13:25

@Maran

Dear Com. Maran,

I hope you know that Buddhadeb Bhattacharya and the CITU unit of West Bengal are not observing the strike on 21st Feb because of international language day.....the great leader Buddhadeb is openly advocating setting up of SEZs in West Bengal...not a word has come from his, in his (in)famous interview for 4 hours to two consecutive Bengali TV channels about the all-India jathas, the movement for food security, the killing of 85 comrades in WB....and our great leader Prakash Karat is conspicuously silent and people like you would defend this kind of complete subversion to bourgeois values, in the name of discipline....i only hope that you and others identify, before it is too late who are the Gorbachevs and Yeltsins of WB and India are!! unless u do so, the day is not far when Buddhadebs of the world will liquidate the party and you will continue to adhere to the disciplines of a non-existent communist party....

With revolutionary greetings,
Biplab Orao

by Anonymous on Fri, 2013-02-08 11:11

@RMaran

Dear Maran,

Your vicious attack on any initiative that is constructively critical of the CPI(M) (while acknowledging its achievements) clearly suggests that you believe that the Left's fortunes can only be resuscitated by the CPI(M) even with its humongous mistakes.

If all you say is so hunky-dory with the CPI(M), why is it in a state of decline for years now? Why is its representatives and leaders such as Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee unwilling to change their spots and insisting upon disastrous courses (SEZs, industrialisation with more land acquisition, etc) despite being shown their places time and again by the people? What form of Left unity do you think is possible if leaders like Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee continue to rule the roost in the CPI(M)?

Howmuchsoever the CPI(M) tries to stay true to its programme and its left credentials in other states and smaller units, its repeated condoning of the actions of its strong unit leadership - such as Bengal's - will only drag it down further. And when those who are tired of trying to fight it from within, strive to build left unity and praxis from outside the CPI(M) without the baggage of the right wing deviation and anti-people nonsense perpetrated by the likes of Bhattacharjee and his clique, they are derided by people like you.

Do introspect and think about it. The Left in India is in crisis- partly and mainly of its own making. And the CPI(M) cannot absolve itself of blame. Nonsensically parroting what your leaders tell you as defense of the CPI(M)'s many mistakes and deviations will certainly not help. Constructive criticism is the order of the day as much as appreciation of any other work/struggle that is not necessarily led by the CPI(M). The CPI(M) does not have a monopoly over the lives and activism of those committed to work on the Left in the country. Try understanding that.

by Anonymous on Tue, 2013-01-29 18:19

Who is dogmatist?

Mr Roshan Kishore, When I posted my comments to the article posted by srinir, I mentioned that the article exhibited petty bourgeoise attitude, ignoring the complex ground realities in vast country like India, the term ‘ petty bourgeoise’ used in political sense. Now I understand the at personal level also, you are suffering from petty bourgeoise childishness. Otherwise, you would not have said that I was “ indulging in name-calling and showing 'envy' at the media coverage received by the "lionized splinter groups".

If warning about the real intention of the media and its hostility towards the CPI(M) which is the sole motive for it to give coverage to splinters groups like yours is to be construed as being “jealous and envious “ by people like you, then it only confirms your lack of Marxist understanding of the corporate media and how petty-minded that you're.

Well, since you have great admiration for Com Ashok Mitra for whom every Left leaning person has great respect , let me
reproduce some extracts from an article he penned in ‘The Telegraph’ (dated 23/5/2001 , reproduced in People’s Democracy dated June 3,2001) titled as “Looking Back in Triumph “ , after the West Bengal Assembly elections which returned the Left Front for the 6th time in a row. Here is how Dr Mitra hit out at the media in his own sarcastic style , while talking about its role in whipping up anti-CPI(M) propaganda and in propping up all those who were ranged against the CPI(M), including those who were expelled from the CPI(M) then:

“ None of the media bothered to find out whether voters in West Bengal, in town and country, could have a mind of their own and might have benefited in some measure or other on account of the activities of the Left Front regime in the course of the past two and a half decades. They regarded the electorate in West Bengal as dummies who would vote as the media would direct them to.
As divertissement, the media also built up into a major political entity the hotchpotch of a handful of stray characters who had recently deserted the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and formed a paper organization, the Party for Democratic Socialism. The PDS was provided with huge space in the print as well as the electronic media. The phantom leaders of this so-called party emerged overnight as all-India figures, courtesy the media. The electorate was assured that, apart from the deliverer lady, the PDS too would contribute substantially towards the driving of the final nail in the Left Front’s coffin. (Almost all the candidates put up by this outfit were found to have lost their security deposits when the poll results were out.)”. The Telegraph dated 23/5/2001

Obviously, Dr Mitra was referring to the Party for Democratic Socialism (PDS) floated by Mr Saiffuddin Chowdhury , a CPI(M) MP and CC Member that he was , expelled from the CPI(M) in 2000 ,if I am not wrong.

Well, the point here is: you’re accusing me as “envy or being jealous” for mentioning about the real motive of the media giving space and coverage for the present splinter outfits like yours. But, Poor Saiffudin Chowhury, he did not have an adviser like Mr Roshan Kishore to accuse Dr Ashok Mitra being “envious and jealous” of the media space PDS was getting from the media,both national as well as Calcutta media !!!!!

Instead of analyzing the real motive and the role of the corporate media in promoting anti-Left propaganda from Marxist outlook, you are resorting to petty-minded childish argument. Better you grow up to counter me politically instead of name calling as “envious and jealous” .

Well, in the present context , only players are different, with PDS replaced by splinter groups expelled from the CPI(M) for various reasons, who gathered in Delhi on Jan 13th to give a call for ' New Left' which is totally unwarranted . But the media which is gleeful like it was with PDS in Calcutta then , continues to do the same job of belittling the CPI(M) whenever they get chance to do so , as was precisely analyzed by Dr Mitra in 2001.

Be that as it may. Next, you are accusing me as “arrogant dogmatist and flatter” of the CPI(M) as though I was indulging in personality cult of the CPI(M) leaders. Arrogant is one who calls others as arrogant. My whole reply was political in nature . A dogmatist is one who sees things with blinkered eyes and always inflexible , not taking ground realities in their entirety into account. The living essence of Marxism is about concrete analysis of the concrete conditions which are nothing but realities.

While the CPI(M) and other Left parties carry on their independent mass movements on various issues, they have flexible approach as well to join hands with regional parties om issue basis ,accoding to the political situation ,whenever there is scope for joint movement .That is how Political alternative has to be built and brought about ,especially when the Left as a whole is weak in many states .The success or failure of this depends on co-relation of political forces and class consciousness. You dont want the Left to be flexible , Yet you call yourself as pragmatist .I stand for flexibility, but I stand accused by you as ‘dogmatist’ ? Strange indeed!!!!!!!

RMaran

P S:My next part will deal with your slander on CPIM and certain other issues you have raised.

by srinir on Mon, 2013-01-28 07:36

To Rmaran

Dear Com. Maran,

This is not an article written by me, but a repost of a pamphlet published by the (now renamed as Democratic Students' Federation) SFI-JNU.  

The student organisation came to being after the JNU unit was dissolved by the national SFI (presumably under orders from the CPI(M)). 

The DSF's views on the CPI(M) are not unwarranted as you make out to be. They are valid criticisms. Making valid criticisms of the CPI(M) is not to attack it rampantly for the sake of it as other left organisations (like the ML-Lib have unfortunately done), but are political criticisms from a non-sectarian point of view. The views accurately reflect on the mistakes and deviations made by the CPI(M) over the years and which has resulted in disenchantment with some of its own adherents, sympathisers and activists, who have now decided to strike it on their own after their unfortunate "dissolution". This does not mean that DSF & other organisations are not cognisant of the achievements of the CPI(M) and those involved and are part of it. They are acknowledeged and the DSF provides its solidarity with them (and I am not speaking for them but reiterating what they have been saying - archived at http://dsfweb.wordpress.com). 

I request you to have an open mind and take an impartial view of the Left's mistakes over the years, which include an undue reliance on degenerated regional parties only to be rebuffed and made a fool of every time; right wing deviation and anti-people stances & policies in West Bengal and authoritarian anti-democratic attitudes in places like Kerala - even as being supportive and endorsing of the humongous achievements of the mainstream Left in a degenerate polity like ours. I sincerely believe that without taking a critical and objective stance, the ills that the Left faces today will neither be cured and will only push the Left further into isolation rather than into the popular mainstream with its core intact - despite its achievements elsewhere.