Aug 21

National Democratic Revolution

BV Kakkilaya Centenary at Mangaluru at 2pm -4pm on Saturday, Aug 10, 2019
Discussion on National Democratic Revolution (Kannada) –
Presentation: Com. KS Parthasarathy, Reaction: Sri Dinesh Amin Mattu

The second topic of discussion on the first day was National Democratic Revolution, in Kannada. Com. KS Parthasarathy initiated the discussion with his presentation, in which he explained about the different methods of governance, from aristocracy to democracy, and about the strengths and weaknesses of the socialist and communist models of governance, including the concept of dictatorship of the proletariat. With aristocracy being the longest mode, and democracy the shortest, he stressed on the fact that democracy in a country like India is still evolving, and if the people are not careful, and if money and muscle power are allowed to decide the fate of the elections, democracy would fail and would pave the way for autocracy. Sri Dinesh Amin Mattu, senior journalist and former media advisor to Sri Siddaramaiah, former CM of Karnataka, spoke about the reasons for failure of the left oriented politics in India. He asserted that caste in Indian society is a reality that doesn’t change even with the change in the class characters of a person, and therefore cannot be ignored or wished away, and therefore, he said, Communists should have realized this fact, and should either have joined with Dr BR Ambedkar or should have had a leader such as Dr Ambedkar. Whereas the commitment, honesty, and sacrifices made in the struggles for the oppressed by the communists are all unquestionable, it’s also a fact that the communists have failed to update themselves with the changing realities of the country, said Sri Mattu.

Dr. Siddanagouda Patil’s introductory remarks on ‘National Democratic Revolution’

Sri Kalale Parthasarathy’s presentation on National Democratic Revolution’

Sri Dinesh Amin Mattu’s reaction on ‘National Democratic Revolution’

Photos: Yajna, Mangaluru

Video: Shenoy Video, Mangaluru

Aug 21

Dr. Kanhaiya’s Lesson on Diversity

BV Kakkilaya Centenary at Mangaluru, at 1pm on Saturday, Aug 10, 2019
Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar Responds to a Questioner on Jai Shri Ram

During the discussion on Indian Youth at Crossroads, a question asked by a girl, who claimed herself to represent the students and youth of Mangaluru, was answered by Dr. Kanhaiya in such a way, that it instantly became madly viral all over the media, with millions watching the video, and the conversation transcribed into many languages.

The young girl started her question with ‘Jai Sriram’ and asked Com Kanhaiya why he cannot preach one nation, one student power, one polity, one unity policy. Com. Kanhaiya replied: ‘You are preaching one. But I am born of the interaction of two people i.e., my father and my mother. There is no controversy about our nation being one. Our nation is bound by one constitution which has got more than 300 articles.  The constitution provides for one parliament which has two houses. Each house has several elected members. So whatever we follow or whatever we do has plurality or diversity. You may say ‘Jai Sriram’ or ‘Jai Hanuman’ or anything you like to say. The constitution has given you liberty to say whatever you want. So please say ‘Jai’ to our constitution also.’

Dr. Kanhaiya continued: ‘I am born in Begusarai which is included in Mithila province. In Mithila every year Rama’s marriage is arranged. During this festival, several people from Ayodhya came over to Mithila with Rama’s attire. They are welcomed with abuses by locals. This is the practice of our place. It is our culture. In our place we do not name the Gods singly. We always say Seetharam or Radhekrishna and like that. There are more than 300 Ramayanas written by different people in different regions. In Lahol district there is a different Ramayana. In this version, Ravana is the father of Seetha. Rama loves Seetha and marries her. Ravana was against it and thus the war between them. In Himachal Pradesh there is a Triloknath Temple. There the idol of Shiva is on the head of Buddha. Here both Buddhists and Hindus pray. India is a big nation with a lot of diversities. To know this we have to travel the whole of India. Then only you will understand the beauty of it. When we think of the broadness of India it makes us to feel how small we are. If you go to any part if India you will have different experiences and thrills. You and I love this country. We love our mother. But if anybody come to you with a flag and ask you to shout a particular slogan and ask you to show your love to your mother, I am sure you will not do it. This country is mine. I love it. But love is not for exhibition. I always carry it in my heart and move forward.’ The reply was received with thunderous applause and the video has since gone viral all over, with more than 1 crore people watching it and there were thousands of congratulatory comments.

Other links:

Prajavani with Kannada sub titles:

And many many more!

And many many more!

 

Video: Shenoy Video, Mangaluru

Aug 21

Indian Youth at Crossroads

BV Kakkilaya Centenary at Mangaluru at 11am-1pm on Saturday, Aug 10, 2019
Discussion: Indian Youth at Crossroads – Presentation: Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar, Reaction: Com. Amarjeet Kaur

The first discussion after the inauguration was titled ‘Indian Youth at Crossroads’. Making his first ever presentation in Mangaluru in front of a huge, very enthusiastic gathering, Com. Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar dealt at length on the topic, and explained the current crisis that’s affecting the youth of our country.

Com. Siddanagouda Patil welcoming Com. Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar

Dr. Srinivas Kakkilaya introducing and welcoming Coms. Amarjeet Kaur and Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar

Drawing parallel with Com. BV Kakkilaya, Com. Kanhaiya said that whereas Com. Kakkilaya was jailed by the British for participating in the freedom struggle, the present government of free India is jailing activists like himself for raising their voices against the anti people policies, and that in both instances, the governments chose to term these people as anti nationals. Explaining the crisis of capitalism, Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar drew attention to the fact that the technological revolution has lead to mass production of goods with the use of smaller and smaller workforce, leading to crisis of profits, which in turn have led to liberalization and globalisation, and at the same time, protectionism. Such crisis ridden situation has resulted in fragmentation and separation of the working masses, with workers, peasants, women, students and youth, marginalised and minorities having had to go their own ways and to fight their own smaller battles. The fundamentalist forces that are inimical to new knowledge and scientific advancement, he pointed out, are always at the forefront of using the latest of the very same technology that they shun. Such contradictions help these forces to wage emotional and perceptional propaganda, misleading the youth away from their real issues. He said that the attacks on public universities are a part of the agenda to break bigger institutions while also creating a perception that such universities that impart knowledge, and prepare the youth into intellectuals who pose tough questions, as breeding grounds of anti nationals. He urged the youth to pose tough questions to the powers, and said that singing paeans to the powers in blind faith, in fact is an act of being unpatriotic. Dr. Kanhaiya Kumar emphatically stated that like day and night, democracy, liberty and secularism shall remain forever, and the darkness if any, can only be temporary. He called upon the youth to practice democracy in their own homes, by valuing their spouses, and taking their own decisions about courses and careers. Such democrats, he asserted, would naturally uphold and fight for democratic values.

Com. Amarjeet Kaur, in her response to Dr. Kanhaiya’s presentation, narrated the struggles waged by the AISF and other mass organisations and her own experiences as a member and office bearer of the AISF, NFIW and AITUC. She urged the youth to follow the ideals of democracy, secularism and progressive thought, and to maintain sustained vigil and struggle for these values.

Revolutionary songs by IPTA Karnataka

During the interaction that followed, many questions were asked about the Indian communists vis-à-vis others, the cultural and other spaces that need to be reclaimed by the communists, the new ideas for Indian politics, particularly the left, etc., and Com. Kanhaiya answered them with élan. A question asked by a girl, who claimed herself to represent the students and youth of Mangaluru, however, was answered by Dr. Kanhaiya in such a way, that it instantly became madly viral all over the media, with millions watching the video, and the conversation transcribed into many languages.

Photos: Yajna, Mangaluru

Video: Shenoy Video, Mangaluru