Thursday, March 29, 2012

Kozhikode turning red to welcome the Party Congress

Each and every part of the Kozhikode district reverberate the message of Party congress. The party members in 2302 branches are in vibrant mode to make it a grand success. Thousands of party workers and lakhs of sympathisers are single heartedly working day and night to make the party congress ever memorable.

This is the first time after 1989, Party congress revisits Kerala. Thiruvananthapuram was the venue of party congress held in 1989. Fourth and eighth party congresses held respectively in Palakkad (1956) and Kochi (1968). Now the turn of Kozhikode, a historic port city this was acclaimed as the port of truth by foreign travallers and historians. In this city, first cell of communist party formed by four starlwarts P Krishnapillai, E M Sankaran Namboothirippad, K Damodaran and N C Sekhar in the presence of Communist party’s central committee member S V Ghate.

This city witnessed the turbulent struggle during the National Independence Movement under the leadership of Congress leader Muhammed Abdurahiman and P Krishnpillai.

This district is now a fortress of CPIM with strong mass base, which reflected in every election. Struggles like Onchiyam, Koothali set base for the movement. The tile workers union also led various striked under the leadrship of P Krishnapillai. Party and its mass organisations are now unleashing their whole force for a success ful party congress. The streangth and vibrancy of the movement is replicated in every program related to the party congress.
City Mayor Prof.A K Premajam,CPI(M) District Secretary T P Ramakrishnan ,other CPI(M) Leaders and Red volunteers engaged in cleaning process at Medical College, Kozhikode, as part of CPI (M) party congress campaigning
Party members and leaders engaged in the cleaning purpose at the Mofusil Bus stand in Kozhikode


 The most popular programme was the cleaning drive by Red volunteers and party workers. Thousands of Youths from Red volunteer brigade participated in one day cleaning drive in the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. Apart from this Pre monsoon cleaning drive for two days also became a big affair. In the whole district thousands of red volunteers, party workers and sympathisers took part in this programme. Kozhikode district which is under the recurring threat of epidemics during the monsoon season would definitely get a releif through this drive. Such a massive cleaning drive by people is the first time in the history of Kozhikode.
Film star Bharath Mammootty inaugurates ticket sale of Nayanar Football Tournament at Town Hall
The football lovers of the city had a true football feast last weeks. A national football tournament christened as E K Nayanar Gold cup organised in connection with party congrss had set a return of football in the city after a long intervel of 15 years.  Former Indian captain Maggan Singh, who has a bunch of sweet memories of his playing years in Kozhikode in Nagjee football, inaugurated the tournament.

In the run up for CPIM 20th party congress, the organizing Committee is holding 13 Seminars from February to the  March end, on wide ranging issues. Each seminar will be organized in 13 area centers in Kozhikode district where the party congress will be held in April 4-9.  "The seminars are intended to spread to the ideological message of party congress and elaborate preparations are on for the success of Seminars", said T P Ramakrishnan,  General Secretary of the Organizing Committee of Party Congress. Renaissance, Secularism, Working Class politics, Development, Neo liberalism, Agriculture, Women Empowerment, struggle against Communalism and Anti Imperialistic struggle are the main topics of Seminars. The seminars are expected result in healthy debate among discerning people, and so far the seminars are attended by large number of people. 

CPI(M) Politburo member S Ramachandran Pillai inaugurating the seminar on "Neo Liberalism in the past 20 years" at Town Hall on 25.03.2012
P.K. Sreemathi inaugurates "Vanitha Sangamam" on 19th March
TK Hamsa,CPI(M) State Committee Member, Inaugurates the seminar on "Threat of Communalism to the Society" 27.02.2012
Nilolpal Basu,CPI(M) Central Secretariat Member Inaugurates the seminar on "Tunisia to Wallstreet" held at Kakkodi 25.02.2012
Dr. Hemalatha, All India Secretary of the CITU Inaugurates Seminar on "Growth and Present situation of Working Class Politics"(24.02.12) at Vadakara.
Paloli Muhammed Kutty , Central Committee Member Inaugurates Seminar on " Minorities and Left" (22.02.12) at Kunnamangalam
V S Achuthanandan, Central Committee Member Inaugurates Regional Seminar on "Crisis in Fishermen Sector"(21.02.12)  in Koyilandi
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan,Politburo Member inaugurates regional Kodiyeri Balakrishnan,Politburo Member inaugurates  Seminar on "Communalism" (18.2.2012) at valayam
CPI(M) Polit Bureau member Brinda Karat inaugurates public meeting on Anti imperialism at Muthalakkulam on 28th March 2012

Meetings and gettogether of various sections of the people are also organised as part of this party congress. Adivasis meet, Communist pioneers meet, National Emergency victims meet, Martyrs family meet, Teachers and Government Officers organisations earlier leaders meet etc were organised. The meetings turned out to be a touching one with the regrouping of the yesteryear leaders and members.
CPIM State Committee member and Punnapra Vayalar revolt leader P.K. Chandranandan inaugurating the meet of Yesteryears Party Comrades
CPIM State Secreteriat member Com. V V Dakshinamoorthy inaugurating the meeting of yesteryear Youth and Student Movement leaders
CPIM State Secretariat Member T Sivadasa Menon inaugurating "Adhyapaka Service Sanghatana pravarthaka sangamam" (Meeting of  Earlier year leaders and members of Teachers and Government Servants movement)
CPIM State Secretariat Member M V Govindan Master inaugurates the meet of "martyrs" Family"
K C Kunhiraman, state president of Adivasi Kshema Samithi , inaugurates the "ADIVASI SANGAMAM,
CPIM Central Committee member Com. T K Rangarajan MP inaugurating the earlier year Workers Meet
CPIM Central Committee Member Com.P karunakaran MP. Inaugurates the Naotinal Emergency Victims meet
Pinarayi Vijayan,CPI(M) State Secretary inaugurates the meet of those who Fought for the Ownership of Land at Muthalakulam
CPIM State Committee memebr M. Vijayakumar, inaugurates "Pravasi Sangamam" held at Muthalakkulam on 9th March 2012

Opening up a new window of intellectual discourse, an International book fair has been opened in connection with party congress. Aprart from leading international publishers like Macmillan, Oxford University Press, Westland, Indian publishers like Prajasakthi, DC books, Chintha are the main participants in the book fair.  Also an international Film Festival, Drama Festival,  is organised as part of the congress. Various types of cultural functions are also organised.

U.A. Khader, noted writer Inaugurates International Book Fair

Didi Damodaran, script writer, inaugurates the film festival organised in Town hall
Prominent Novelist and writer M Mukundan inaugurates the cultural festival, "adarayanam" at town hall on 7th March
National Award Winning Director Priyanandanan inaugurates Drama Festival
P Valsala,noted malayalam writer inaugurates the gathering of Art and cultural Activists
CPIM State Committee member and leading dramatist Com Pirappankode Murali Inaugurates Library workers Meet

Another major programme organised as part of the Party Congress is the exhibition named  “Marxism is Right” . The exhibition was inaugurated on 5th March by Com Prakash Karat, General Secretary of the party. The exhibition is arranged in an acre of space well arranged to suit the same. It is put in separate sections – the great philosophers like Karl Marx and Engels with their sayings, that of V.I.Lenin and the formation of USSR and its unprecedented growth and the International Communist movement etc. The situation and growth of socialist countries like China, Vietnam, Cuba, S.Africa etc. are pictured. The growth of socialist and left of central governments in the Latin American countries are also shown with vivid pictures.

There is another section showing the history of the Communist Party of India, from its formation in Tahkent in 1921 and the ups and downs and the important role played by it in the Independence struggle. The formation of the CPI(M) in 1964 and its growth are all shown with details. The formation of the Party in Kerala and the achievements of the first Communist Government under Com. EMS Namboodiripad in the 1957-59 period till it was dismissed by the Central Government etc. are also there. The various revolutionary struggles like Punnapra- Vayalar,  Onchiyam and many others are shown and explained. The trade union struggles in the country, the agaitations against the neo-liberal policies are also there. The social movements, religious movements all have a place in the exhibition.


Prakash Karat, CPI(M) General Secretary inaugurates the exhibition “future is socialism


Observing the flag day on 23rd, lakhs of houses of party members and workers in the district were adorned with the red flags.The city literally adorn  with red Attractive statues are welcoming the people to party congress.

CPI (M) state committee member Elamaram Kareem MLA hoists the red flag in front of Organising Committee office on the Flag Day observed on 23 March.

Now the whole district is witnessing the innovative modes of campaigning. History exhibitions, blood donation camp, camps for receiving consent papers for organ donations attracts thousands of People.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

CPI(M) blocks roads in Tamil Nadu against anti people policies

Cadres of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) staged demonstrations on Tuesday in various parts of the Tamilnadu against anti-people economic policies of the Central and State governments.  The increase in essential commodities, milk, bus fare and the proposed hike in power tariff will only further burden the people. The CPI (M) members were critical of the power crisis experienced in the state.

In Coimbatore, the party members led by P. Sampath, State Executive Member, V. Ramamoorthy, District Secretary, Sukumar, head, federation of autorickshaw drivers' association, staged demonstration in front of Tamil Nadu Hotel. A few of those attempted to block traffic by lying down on the road. The police arrested and removed 342 protestors from the venue.

Elsewhere in the district, the police removed 98 protestors in Saravanampatti, 139 from Radhakrishna Mill Road Junction, 60 in Sulur, 178 in Thudiyalur, 57 in Pollachi and 62 in Pollachi East. In all, the police arrested and removed over 1,000 CPI (M) cadre. As many as 1,713 members of Communist Party of India (Marxist) were arrested for staging road blockade agitation at 17 places in the district. 

Hundreds of cadres of the CPI(M) staged agitation in Cuddalore and Villupuram districts. Party MLA R.Ramamurthy led the agitation at Villupuram. More than 1,300 members of Communist Party of India (Marxist), including 380 women, were arrested when they attempted to stage road blockades in different parts of the Erode district. In Erode town, over 250 members gathered in front of the Erode Government Hospital. They were courted arrest when they attempted to stage a road blockade. Similar agitations were held in 13 places including Gobichettipalayam, Sivagiri, Sathyamangalam, Bhavani and Thalavadi. 

More than 2,000 cadres of the Communists Party of India (Marxists) were arrested when they took out a rally and picketed roads in 17 places in the Dindigul district. In Dindigul, around 265 cadres including 105 women, led by the party's district secretary N. Pandi, took out rally which started at party office at LGB compound and ended at MGR statue near Kamarajar central bus stand. Later, they picketed AMC Road before the bus stand and raised slogan. A total of 1,075 members were arrested when they picketed roads at various places in the Theni district. They appealed to the Centre not to scale down interest rate on PF savings. The cadres picketed roads in Theni, Goodalur, Periakulam, Cumbum, Bodi, Andipatti, Chinnamanur, Kombai, Devadhanapatti and Kadamalaigundu. A total of 1,233 activists of Communist Party of India (Marxist) were arrested and released in the evening for blocking roads at 14 places in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.In Krishnagiri district, 606 activits, including 98 women, were arrested from seven places and were released in the evening. G. Sekar, district secretary led the agitation in front of the Post Office in Hosur. In Dharmapuri district, 647 activists, including 200 women, were arrested from seven places and were released in the evening. Marimuthu, district secretary, led the agitation in Harur. P. Dillibabu, MLA, attended the agitation at Pappireddipatti.

As many as 272 persons including 66 women were arrested in various parts of the Nilgiris. Demonstrations were organised by the CPI (M) in Kotagiri, Gudalur, Manjoor, Erumadu and Ooty. As many as 622 cadres of the CPI (M) were arrested while attempting to block traffic in eight locations in Tiruvannamalai district. In Tiruvannamalai, the cadres took out a rally from Arivoli Park on Vellore Road. State committee member of the party D.Lakshmanan led the rally. 

A total of 1,735 Communist Party of India (Marxist) cadres including 633 women were detained when they staged a road roko at 14 places in the  Nellai district. As many as 1,237 cadres of the CPI (Marxist) were arrested in various parts of the Thirunelveli district. Activists blocked roads at places including Tuticorin, Kovilpatti, Kayathar, Ettayapuram, Vilathikulam, Ottapidaram, Tiruchendur, Udangudi, Sathankulam, Srivaikuntam, Alwarthirunagari and Seidunganallur.  In Tuticorin, the cadres led by town secretary K.S. Arjunan, staged a road roko near the old bus station.

The activists of CPI (Marxists) tried to stage a road roko in as many as 19 places in the Kannyakumari district The agitation was led by district secretary Murugesan in front of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation office at Parvathipuram. Such agitations were held at Suchindrum, Ethamozhi, Monday Market, Muttaicadu, Kulasekaram, Thiruvattar, Verkilampi, Ponmanai, Karungal, Thittuvilai, Nithravilai, Kadayal, Melpuram, Marthandam, Thuckalay.etc. 

Over 1,000 CPI (M) cadre were arrested all over the  Tiruchi district. Similar attempts were held at 13 centres including Manapparai, Tiruverumbur, Uppiliapuram, Thottiyam, Thuraiyur, Mannachanallur, Lalgudi, Musiri and Jeeyapuram. CPI (M) cadre led by the party state executive committee member S.Noor Mohamed assembled near the central bus stand from where they planned to take out a march and picket the Tiruchi railway junction. Road rokos were organised at 13 places across the Namkkal district including Namakkal, Rasipuram, Komarapalayam, Namagiripettai, Velur, Elachipalayam and Valavanthinadu. CPI (M) cadre, led by State Council member R. Singaravelu and other frontline functionaries of Salem District and Urban Committees staged dharna and road roko in various parts of Salem District. 

 In Thanjavur town, Madukkur S.Ramalingam, state committee member of the party, led the agitation. The functionaries came in procession from Irwin bridge to the collectorate, and squatted on the road, when police rounded them up. Similar protests were staged at 14 places, including Kumbakonam, Pattukottai, Papanasam, Orathanadu, Peravurani, Madukkur, and Thiruvaiyaru. In Tiruvarur, state committee member V. Marimuthu spearheaded the protest in front of the central post office. A procession was taken out from the railway station to the post office. Similar agitations were held at 10 places including Thiruthuraipoondi, Mannargudi, Koradachery, Nannilam, Muthupettai, Kottur, and Valangaiman. Agitations were conducted in Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai town besides eight other centres in the district. A total of 797 party cadre, including 207 women, were taken into custody for picketing the government offices. Nagain Malee, MLA and district secretary of the party, was arrested along with the party workers at Keezhvelur. The protests were held at Keezhayur, Vedaranyam, Thittacherri, Thalainayar, Semmanarkoil, Sirkazhi, and Kuthalam.A total of 1,032 CPI (M) functionaries, including 288 women, courted arrest at 20 places while attempting to picket government offices. In Pudukottai town, the agitation was led by A. Lazar, MLA and state executive member of the party, M. Chinnadurai, district secretary, and T. N. Natarajan, town secretary. The picketing in Aranthangi was led by Kavivarman. The party workers were taken into custody at Alangudi, Karambakudi, Annavasal, Viralimalai, Avudaiyarkoil, Arimalam, and Tirumayam.

A total of 175 workers, including 74 women, were arrested at Ariyalur and Jayamkondam town. In Ariyalur, the agitation was led by Maharajan, district secretary of the party, and Jothiram led the agitation in Jayamkondam.About 120 members were arrested in Perambalur and Veppanthattai town. In Veppanthattai, N. Chelladurai, district secretary of the party, led the agitation in front of the taluk office, while R. Alagarswamy, CITU district secretary, along with party members attempted to picket the taluk office in Perambalur.


Reports Courtesy : The Hindu, Photo Courtesy : Theekathir

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

CPIM Jammu-Kashmir State Conference

CPIM Jammu Kashmir State conference ahead of the 20th Party congress to be held at Kozhikode in April was held at Jammu from 24th to 26th March 2012.

A mass public rally was held at Press Club Jammu on the 24th March by the State Unit of CPI(M) as a part of its two-days 9th State Conference., which was presided by senior party leader, Sham Prasad Kesar. The participants carrying placards and banners were raising slogans against corruption, price rise and failure of central and state governments at all fronts.

Addressing the well-attended rally, Com Prakash Karat, General Secretary, CPI(M) called for strengthening of the CPI(M) and building a unity of the Left and Democratic forces in the country. “In the present situation in the country, the people are suffering from continuous price rise, massive corruption and shrinking job opportunities. It is necessary to have a left and democratic alternative” he said.

The UPA-II Government at the centre for last three years has pursued policies which are harmful for the people of the country. In the recent Union Budget proposals, there is a big cut in subsidies for fuel and fertilizers. This is going to lead to further price rise. Farmers are already facing difficulties to buy fertilizers in view of steep prices. More and more workers are hired on contract basis. Even government departments are hiring contract employees, thus, they are deprived of all the benefits.

As far as corruption is concerned there is no difference between Cong and BJP. Whereas the UPA has become notorious for one after another corruption scams, the record of the BJP is also bad. The corruption indulged in by Karnantaka State Government of the BJP is an example.

Only the CPI(M) and left parties have clean record as far as corruption is concerned. CPI(M) consistently fight against both the neo-liberal policies and the communal forces.

He appealed to the people of J&K not to be divided on communal lines. Such efforts are being made by communal forces on both sides. He criticized the central government for its failure to initiate a political dialogue to ensure a political solution for the problems in J&K. There are many measures that have to be taken now as militancy and violence has come down to instill confidence in the people of the state.

Addressing the rally, State Secretary CPI( M), M.Y.Tarigami urged India and Pakistan to give up the path of disastrous confrontation which has only resulted in pauperizing the people of both the countries and must draw the lessons as quickly as possible to live together. There are options and opportunities which if availed can result in initiation of credible consensus of resolving outstanding issues. The people of J&K can have a sigh of relief and our suffering substantially be reduced if such a process takes off in the region. People of J&K being on the cross-fire can only appeal to the leadership of both the countries to come out from their traditional rigidities.

Indo-Pak confrontations have not only threatened the peace in the sub-continent but have consumed lot of their resources and left the people of J&K across LOC in pathetic conditions.

He strongly urged upon the leadership of the country to come forward and seize the opportunity for entering into a credible process which can help in finding out constitutionally guaranteed political settlement of this long pending issue. The people of J&K have to be assured that any such solution must protect the unity of the state and preserve its diversities. Constitutional mechanisms need to be evolved which could guarantee that such settlement is not abused in future.

People of J&K have almost lost the trust on govt. assurances because whatever commitments have been made so far by the successive govts. have not been implemented. He also refereed to the recommendations of the Working Groups and recently submitted report of the interlocutors.

Cautioning the people of the state to be vigilant against the communal and divisive forces hell-bent to create a wedge among the different regions and communities ; he said that such designs should be fought tooth and nail.

Lamenting both the central and state governments for having failed to curb the menace of corruption, CPI(M) State Secretary said that State Accountability Commission and Vigilance Commission to be competent enough and resourceful to deal the corruption cases firmly and independently. For the purpose, he suggested for an internal and independent mechanism for anti-corruption institutions.

While speaking on the occasion Mohmmad Saleem, Member, Central Committee CPI(M) said that corruption at all levels has exposed UPA led government badly. Ridiculing the Union Govt. for its least concern over the plight of the farmers and working class people frequently subjected to untold economic crisis and natural calamities on the one hand and its constant efforts for bailing out Kingfisher airlines from the present mess is surprising, on the other hand, he said. Political solution of J&K problem lies in restoration of autonomy to the state with regional autonomy to its three distinct regions, he said. He lambasted the successive govts. for failing to implement their promises made from time to time for restoration of autonomy to the state.

Addressing the rally senior CPI(M) leader Gh.Nabi Malik demanded immediate relief to the affectees the recent storm which has devastated public property and horticulture. He regretted that delay is being made in providing relief to the affected families.The rally was also addressed by trade union leaders Om Prakash and Javaed Zargar who highlighted the demands of the different sections of the working people of the state.

Delegate session started at 4 P.M.which was inaugurated by Prakash Karat. CPI(M) State Secretary M Y Tarigami presented the political - organisational report in the conference highlighting the global consequences of "imperialistic liberalisation". It also pointed out the designs of imperialistic forces in South Asia and the Arab world for their ulterior motives. In the report the failures of the UPA government have been analysed and assessment of the present political and economic scenario of the country has also been underlined. It also expresses concern on rising prices, corruption, unemployment and the issues confronting the common man. The party shall unitedly fight against the designs of imperialistic forces in South Asia with other like-minded, progressive and democratic forces, the report suggested. The party shall mobilise the people against anti-people economic policies at every level, as per the report. After delibrations on the report, it was adopted by the conference.

On the conlcluding day of the conference a 17 member state committee was elected. The state committee later unanimously re elected com. MY Tarigami as the state secretary. The conference also elected four delegates for 20th Party Congress.

The conference also adopted resolutions regarding containing unemployment, transfer of powers to Panchayats, protection of human rights, universalisation of PDS, curbing corruption, promoting agriculture and horticulture, protection of trade union rights, removing gender discrimination, implementation of Ranga Rajan committee report, rehabilitation of migrants, refugees and providing relief to the affected families of the recent wind storm in the state.

CPI (M) Maharashtra State conference begins in Akole




The 20th State conference of the CPI (M) in Maharashtra got off to a rousing start at Akole in Ahmednagar district on the 25th of March 2012. The venue of Akole is historic as it was the birthplace and workplace of the legendary Comrade Buva Navale, who was the first President of the Maharashtra Rajya Kisan Sabha; Comrade Navale was elected at its first State conference held at Titwala in 1945.

A large public meeting marked the beginning of the conference in the afternoon of the 25th of March. PB members Com Sitaram Yechury and Com K Varadharajan, along with many State leaders of the CPI(M), were on the stage. Speaking on the occasion, Com Yechury said that the UPA-2 government at the centre had reached an advanced stage of degeneration. It has reacched a stage where the cabinet meetings have to be scheduled in the Tihar Jail. The government has no money to invest in a food security system or employment guarantee, but it is ready to give tax concessions worth Rs 5 lakh crore to the Indian corporate classes.

A large number of people had gathered to hear the leaders. An important feature of the event was that women participated in large numbers. They greeted Com Yechury and Com Varadharajan by putting on traditional turbans on their head.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

Stop Repression at Koodankulam

The CPI(M) condemns the police repression on the people protesting against the commissioning of the nuclear power plant at Koodankulam. Those arrested are being charged with sedition and for waging war against the State which is baseless and unwarranted. There are reports of water supply being cut off and other essential supplies being blocked to the Idinthakari village.
The CPI(M) calls upon the state administration not to resort to repression and force against  peaceful protesters. Since there are a number of issues still agitating the people regarding the nuclear plant, the concerned authorities should immediately begin talks to address these issues.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Why I am an Atheist

It is a matter of debate whether my lack of belief in the existence of an Omnipresent, Omniscient God is due to my arrogant pride and vanity. It never occurred to me that sometime in the future I would be involved in polemics of this kind. As a result of some discussions with my friends, (if my claim to friendship is not uncalled for) I have realised that after having known me for a little time only, some of them have reached a kind of hasty conclusion about me that my atheism is my foolishness and that it is the outcome of my vanity. Even then it is a serious problem. I do not boast of being above these human follies. I am, after all, a human being and nothing more. And no one can claim to be more than that. I have a weakness in my personality, for pride is one of the human traits that I do possess. I am known as a dictator among my friends. Sometimes I am called a boaster. Some have always been complaining that I am bossy and I force others to accept my opinion. Yes, it is true to some extent. I do not deny this charge. We can use the word ‘vainglory’ for it. As far as the contemptible, obsolete, rotten values of our society are concerned, I am an extreme sceptic. But this question does not concern my person alone. It is being proud of my ideas, my thoughts. It cannot be called empty pride. Pride, or you may use the word, vanity, both mean an exaggerated assessment of one’s personality. Is my atheism because of unnecessary pride, or have I ceased believing in God after thinking long and deep on the matter? I wish to put my ideas before you. First of all, let us differentiate between pride and vanity as these are two different things.

I have never been able to understand how unfounded, baseless pride or empty vanity can hinder a person from believing in God. I may refuse to acknowledge the greatness of a really great person only when I have got fame without doing any serious efforts or when I lack the superior mental powers necessary to become great. It is easy to understand but how is it possible that a believer can turn into a non-believer because of his vanity? Only two things are possible: either a man deems himself to be in possession of Godly qualities, or he goes a step further and declares himself to be a god. In both these states of mind he cannot be an atheist in the true sense of the word. In the first case, it is not an outright rejection of God’s existence; in the other, he is affirming the existence of some kind of supernatural power responsible for the working of universe. It does not harm our argument whether he claims to be a god or considers God to be a reality in existence above his own being. The real point, however, is that in both cases he is a theist, a believer. He is not an atheist. I want to bring home this point to you. I am not one of these two creeds. I totally reject the existence of an Omnipresent, all powerful, all knowing God. Why so? I will discuss it later in the essay. Here I wish to emphasise that I am not an atheist for the reason that I am arrogant or proud or vain; nor am I a demi-god, nor a prophet; no, nor am I God myself. At least one thing is true that I have not evolved this thought because of vanity or pride. In order to answer this question I relate the truth. My friends say that after Delhi bombing and Lahore Conspiracy Case, I rocketed to fame and that this fact has turned my head. Let us discuss why this allegation is incorrect. I did not give up my belief in God after these incidents. I was an atheist even when I was an unknown figure. At least a college student cannot cherish any sort of exaggerated notion of himself that may lead him to atheism. It is true that I was a favourite with some college teachers, but others did not like me. I was never a hardworking or studious boy. I never got an opportunity to be proud. I was very careful in my behaviour and somewhat pessimistic about my future career. I was not completely atheistic in my beliefs. I was brought up under the care and protection of my father. He was a staunch Arya Samaji. An Arya Samaji can be anything but never an atheist. After my elementary education, I was sent to D. A. V College, Lahore. I lived in the boarding house for one year. Besides prayers early in the morning and at dusk time, I sat for hours and chanted religious Mantras. At that time, I was a staunch believer. Then I lived with my father. He was a tolerant man in his religious views. It is due to his teachings that I devoted my life for the cause of liberating my country. But he was not an atheist. His God was an all-pervading Entity. He advised me to offer my prayers every day. In this way I was brought up. In the Non-cooperation days, I got admission to the National College. During my stay in this college, I began thinking over all the religious polemics such that I grew sceptical about the existence of God. In spite of this fact I can say that my belief in God was firm and strong. I grew a beard and ‘Kais’ (long head of hair as a Sikh religious custom). In spite of this I could not convince myself of the efficacy of Sikh religion or any religion at all, for that matter. But I had an unswerving, unwavering belief in God.

Then I joined the Revolutionary Party. The first leader I met had not the courage to openly declare himself an atheist. He was unable to reach any conclusion on this point. Whenever I asked him about the existence of God, he gave me this reply: “You may believe in him when you feel like it.” The second leader with whom I came in contact was a firm believer. I should mention his name. It was our respected Comrade Sachindara Nath Sanyal. He was sentenced to life imprisonment in connection with Karachi conspiracy case. Right from the first page of his only book, ‘Bandi Jivan’ (Incarnated Life) he sings praises to the Glory of God. See the last page of the second part of this book and you find praises showered upon God in the way of a mystic. It is a clear reflection of his thoughts.

According to the prosecution, the ‘Revolutionary Leaflet’ which was distributed throughout India was the outcome of Sachindara Nath Sanyal’s intellectual labour. So often it happens that in revolutionary activities a leader expresses his own ideas which may be very dear to him, but in spite of having differences, the other workers have to acquiesce in them.

In that leaflet, one full paragraph was devoted to the praises of God and His doings which we, human beings, cannot understand. This is sheer mysticism. What I want to point out is that the idea of denying the existence of God did not even occur to the Revolutionary Party. The famous Kakory martyrs, all four of them, passed their last day in prayers. Ram Parshad Bismal was a staunch Arya Samaji. In spite of his vast studies in Socialism and Communism, Rajan Lahiri could not suppress his desire to recite hymns from Upanishads and Gita. There was but only one person among them who did not indulge in such activities. He used to say, “Religion is the outcome of human weakness or the limitation of human knowledge.” He is also in prison for life. But he also never dared to deny the existence of God.

Till that time I was only a romantic revolutionary, just a follower of our leaders. Then came the time to shoulder the whole responsibility. For some time, a strong opposition put the very existence of the party into danger. Many leaders as well as many enthusiastic comrades began to uphold the party to ridicule. They jeered at us. I had an apprehension that some day I will also consider it a futile and hopeless task. It was a turning point in my revolutionary career. An incessant desire to study filled my heart. ‘Study more and more’, said I to myself so that I might be able to face the arguments of my opponents. ‘Study’ to support your point of view with convincing arguments. And I began to study in a serious manner. My previous beliefs and convictions underwent a radical change. The romance of militancy dominated our predecessors; now serious ideas ousted this way of thinking. No more mysticism! No more blind faith! Now realism was our mode of thinking. At times of terrible necessity, we can resort to extreme methods, but violence produces opposite results in mass movements. I have talked much about our methods. The most important thing was a clear conception of our ideology for which we were waging a long struggle. As there was no election activity going on, I got ample opportunity to study various ideas propounded by various writers. I studied Bakunin, the anarchist leader. I read a few books of Marx, the father of Communism. I also read Lenin and Trotsky and many other writers who successfully carried out revolutions in their countries. All of them were atheists. The ideas contained in Bakunin’s ‘God and State’ seem inconclusive, but it is an interesting book. After that I came across a book ‘Common Sense’ by Nirlamba Swami. His point of view was a sort of mystical atheism. I developed more interest in this subject. By the end of 1926, I was convinced that the belief in an Almighty, Supreme Being who created, guided and controlled the universe had no sound foundations. I began discussions on this subject with my friends. I had openly declared myself an atheist. What it meant will be discussed in the following lines.

In May 1927, I was arrested in Lahore. This arrest came as a big surprise for me. I had not the least idea that I was wanted by the police. I was passing through a garden and all of a sudden the police surrounded me. To my own surprise, I was very calm at that time. I was in full control of myself. I was taken into police custody. The next day I was taken to the Railway Police lockup where I spent a whole month. After many days’ conversation with police personnel, I guessed that they had some information about my connection with the Kakori Party. I felt they had some intelligence of my other activities in the revolutionary movement. They told me that I was in Lucknow during the Kakori Party Trial so that I might devise a scheme to rescue the culprits. They also said that after the plan had been approved, we procured some bombs and by way of test, one of those bombs was thrown into a crowd on the occasion of Dussehra in 1926. They offered to release me on condition that I gave a statement on the activities of the Revolutionary Party. In this way I would be set free and even rewarded and I would not be produced as an approver in the court. I could not help laughing at their proposals. It was all humbug. People who have ideas like ours do not throw bombs at their own innocent people. One day, Mr. Newman, the then senior Superintendent of CID, came to me. After a long talk which was full of sympathetic words, he imparted to me what he considered to be sad news, that if I did not give any statement as demanded by them, they would be forced to send me up for trial for conspiracy to wage war in connection with Kakori Case and also for brutal killings in Dussehra gathering. After that he said that he had sufficient evidence to get me convicted and hanged.

I was completely innocent, but I believed that the police had sufficient power to do it if they desired it to be so. The same day some police officers persuaded me to offer my prayers to God two times regularly. I was an atheist. I thought that I would settle it to myself whether I could brag only in days of peace and happiness that I was an atheist, or in those hard times I could be steadfast in my convictions. After a long debate with myself, I reached the conclusion that I could not even pretend to be a believer nor could I offer my prayers to God. No, I never did it. It was time of trial and I would come out of it successful. These were my thoughts. Never for a moment did I desire to save my life. So I was a true atheist then and I am an atheist now. It was not an easy task to face that ordeal. Beliefs make it easier to go through hardships, even make them pleasant. Man can find a strong support in God and an encouraging consolation in His Name. If you have no belief in Him, then there is no alternative but to depend upon yourself. It is not child’s play to stand firm on your feet amid storms and strong winds. In difficult times, vanity, if it remains, evaporates and man cannot find the courage to defy beliefs held in common esteem by the people. If he really revolts against such beliefs, we must conclude that it is not sheer vanity; he has some kind of extraordinary strength. This is exactly the situation now. First of all we all know what the judgement will be. It is to be pronounced in a week or so. I am going to sacrifice my life for a cause. What more consolation can there be! A God-believing Hindu may expect to be reborn a king; a Muslim or a Christian might dream of the luxuries he hopes to enjoy in paradise as a reward for his sufferings and sacrifices. What hope should I entertain? I know that will be the end when the rope is tightened round my neck and the rafters move from under my feet. To use more precise religious terminology, that will be the moment of utter annihilation. My soul will come to nothing. If I take the courage to take the matter in the light of ‘Reward’, I see that a short life of struggle with no such magnificent end shall itself be my ‘Reward.’ That is all. Without any selfish motive of getting any reward here or in the hereafter, quite disinterestedly have I devoted my life to the cause of freedom. I could not act otherwise. The day shall usher in a new era of liberty when a large number of men and women, taking courage from the idea of serving humanity and liberating them from sufferings and distress, decide that there is no alternative before them except devoting their lives for this cause. They will wage a war against their oppressors, tyrants or exploiters, not to become kings, or to gain any reward here or in the next birth or after death in paradise; but to cast off the yoke of slavery, to establish liberty and peace they will tread this perilous, but glorious path. Can the pride they take in their noble cause be called vanity? Who is there rash enough to call it so? To him I say either he is foolish or wicked. Leave such a fellow alone for he cannot realise the depth, the emotions, the sentiment and the noble feelings that surge in that heart. His heart is dead, a mere lump of flesh, devoid of feelings. His convictions are infirm, his emotions feeble. His selfish interests have made him incapable of seeing the truth. The epithet ‘vanity’ is always hurled at the strength we get from our convictions.

You go against popular feelings; you criticise a hero, a great man who is generally believed to be above criticism. What happens? No one will answer your arguments in a rational way; rather you will be considered vainglorious. Its reason is mental insipidity. Merciless criticism and independent thinking are the two necessary traits of revolutionary thinking. As Mahatmaji is great, he is above criticism; as he has risen above, all that he says in the field of politics, religion, Ethics is right. You agree or not, it is binding upon you to take it as truth. This is not constructive thinking. We do not take a leap forward; we go many steps back.

Our forefathers evolved faith in some kind of Supreme Being, therefore, one who ventures to challenge the validity of that faith or denies the existence of God, shall be called a Kafir (infidel), or a renegade. Even if his arguments are so strong that it is impossible to refute them, if his spirit is so strong that he cannot be bowed down by the threats of misfortune that may befall him through the wrath of the Almighty, he shall be decried as vainglorious. Then why should we waste our time in such discussions? This question has come before the people for the first time, hence the necessity and usefulness of such long discussions.

As far as the first question is concerned, I think I have made it clear that I did not turn atheist because of vanity. Only my readers, not I, can decide whether my arguments carry weight. If I were a believer, I know in the present circumstances my life would have been easier; the burden lighter. My disbelief in God has turned all the circumstances too harsh and this situation can deteriorate further. Being a little mystical can give the circumstances a poetic turn. But I need no opiate to meet my end. I am a realistic man. I want to overpower this tendency in me with the help of Reason. I am not always successful in such attempts. But it is man’s duty to try and make efforts. Success depends on chance and circumstances.

Now we come to the second question: if it is not vanity, there ought to be some sound reason for rejection of age-old belief in God. Yes, I come to this question. I think that any man who has some reasoning power always tries to understand the life and people around him with the help of this faculty. Where concrete proofs are lacking, [mystical] philosophy creeps in. As I have indicated, one of my revolutionary friends used to say that “philosophy is the outcome of human weakness.” Our ancestors had the leisure to solve the mysteries of the world, its past, its present and its future, its whys and its wherefores, but having been terribly short of direct proofs, every one of them tried to solve the problem in his own way. Hence we find wide differences in the fundamentals of various religious creeds. Sometimes they take very antagonistic and conflicting forms. We find differences in Oriental and Occidental philosophies. There are differences even amongst various schools of thoughts in each hemisphere. In Asian religions, the Muslim religion is completely incompatible with the Hindu faith. In India itself, Buddhism and Jainism are sometimes quite separate from Brahmanism. Then in Brahmanism itself, we find two conflicting sects: Aarya Samaj and Snatan Dheram. Charwak is yet another independent thinker of the past ages. He challenged the Authority of God. All these faiths differ on many fundamental questions, but each of them claims to be the only true religion. This is the root of the evil. Instead of developing the ideas and experiments of ancient thinkers, thus providing ourselves with the ideological weapon for the future struggle, – lethargic, idle, fanatical as we are – we cling to orthodox religion and in this way reduce human awakening to a stagnant pool.

It is necessary for every person who stands for progress to criticise every tenet of old beliefs. Item by item he has to challenge the efficacy of old faith. He has to analyse and understand all the details. If after rigorous reasoning, one is led to believe in any theory of philosophy, his faith is appreciated. His reasoning may be mistaken and even fallacious. But there is chance that he will be corrected because Reason is the guiding principle of his life. But belief, I should say blind belief is disastrous. It deprives a man of his understanding power and makes him reactionary.

Any person who claims to be a realist has to challenge the truth of old beliefs. If faith cannot withstand the onslaught of reason, it collapses. After that his task should be to do the groundwork for new philosophy. This is the negative side. After that comes in the positive work in which some material of the olden times can be used to construct the pillars of new philosophy. As far as I am concerned, I admit that I lack sufficient study in this field. I had a great desire to study the Oriental Philosophy, but I could get ample opportunity or sufficient time to do so. But so far as I reject the old time beliefs, it is not a matter of countering belief with belief, rather I can challenge the efficacy of old beliefs with sound arguments. We believe in nature and that human progress depends on the domination of man over nature. There is no conscious power behind it. This is our philosophy.

Being atheist, I ask a few questions from theists:

1. If, as you believe there is an Almighty, Omnipresent, Omniscient God, who created the earth or universe, please let me know, first of all, as to why he created this world. This world which is full of woe and grief, and countless miseries, where not even one person lives in peace.

2. Pray, don’t say it is His law. If He is bound by any law, He is not Omnipotent. Don’t say it is His pleasure. Nero burnt one Rome. He killed a very limited number of people. He caused only a few tragedies, all for his morbid enjoyment. But what is his place in history? By what names do we remember him? All the disparaging epithets are hurled at him. Pages are blackened with invective diatribes condemning Nero: the tyrant, the heartless, the wicked.

One Genghis Khan killed a few thousand people to seek pleasure in it and we hate the very name. Now, how will you justify your all powerful, eternal Nero, who every day, every moment continues his pastime of killing people? How can you support his doings which surpass those of Genghis Khan in cruelty and in misery inflicted upon people? I ask why the Almighty created this world which is nothing but a living hell, a place of constant and bitter unrest. Why did he create man when he had the power not to do so? Have you any answer to these questions? You will say that it is to reward the sufferer and punish the evildoer in the hereafter. Well, well, how far will you justify a man who first of all inflicts injuries on your body and then applies soft and soothing ointment on them? How far the supporters and organizers of Gladiator bouts were justified in throwing men before half starved lions, later to be cared for and looked after well if they escaped this horrible death. That is why I ask: Was the creation of man intended to derive this kind of pleasure?

Open your eyes and see millions of people dying of hunger in slums and huts dirtier than the grim dungeons of prisons; just see the labourers patiently or say apathetically while the rich vampires suck their blood; bring to mind the wastage of human energy that will make a man with a little common sense shiver in horror. Just observe rich nations throwing their surplus produce into the sea instead of distributing it among the needy and deprived. There are palaces of kings built upon the foundations laid with human bones. Let them see all this and say “All is well in God’s Kingdom.” Why so? This is my question. You are silent. All right. I proceed to my next point.

You, the Hindus, would say: Whosoever undergoes sufferings in this life, must have been a sinner in his previous birth. It is tantamount to saying that those who are oppressors now were Godly people then, in their previous births. For this reason alone they hold power in their hands. Let me say it plainly that your ancestors were shrewd people. They were always in search of petty hoaxes to play upon people and snatch from them the power of Reason. Let us analyse how much this argument carries weight!

Those who are well versed in the philosophy of Jurisprudence relate three of four justifications for the punishment that is to be inflicted upon a wrong-doer. These are: revenge, reform, and deterrence. The Retribution Theory is now condemned by all the thinkers. Deterrent theory is on the anvil for its flaws. Reformative theory is now widely accepted and considered to be necessary for human progress. It aims at reforming the culprit and converting him into a peace-loving citizen. But what in essence is God’s Punishment even if it is inflicted on a person who has really done some harm? For the sake of argument we agree for a moment that a person committed some crime in his previous birth and God punished him by changing his shape into a cow, cat, tree, or any other animal. You may enumerate the number of these variations in Godly Punishment to be at least eighty-four lack. Tell me, has this tomfoolery, perpetrated in the name of punishment, any reformative effect on human man? How many of them have you met who were donkeys in their previous births for having committed any sin? Absolutely no one of this sort! The so called theory of ‘Puranas’ (transmigration) is nothing but a fairy-tale. I do not have any intention to bring this unutterable trash under discussion. Do you really know the most cursed sin in this world is to be poor? Yes, poverty is a sin; it is a punishment! Cursed be the theoretician, jurist or legislator who proposes such measures as push man into the quagmire of more heinous sins. Did it not occur to your All Knowing God or he could learn the truth only after millions had undergone untold sufferings and hardships? What, according to your theory, is the fate of a person who, by no sin of his own, has been born into a family of low caste people? He is poor so he cannot go to a school. It is his fate to be shunned and hated by those who are born into a high caste. His ignorance, his poverty, and the contempt he receives from others will harden his heart towards society. Supposing that he commits a sin, who shall bear the consequences? God, or he, or the learned people of that society? What is your view about those punishments inflicted on the people who were deliberately kept ignorant by selfish and proud Brahmans? If by chance these poor creatures heard a few words of your sacred books, Vedas, these Brahmans poured melted lead into their ears. If they committed any sin, who was to be held responsible? Who was to bear the brunt? My dear friends, these theories have been coined by the privileged classes. They try to justify the power they have usurped and the riches they have robbed with the help of such theories. Perhaps it was the writer Upton Sinclair who wrote (Bhagat Singh is referring to Sinclair’s pamphlet ‘Profits of Religion’ – MIA transcriber) somewhere “only make a man firm believer in the immortality of soul, then rob him of all that he possesses. He will willingly help you in the process.” The dirty alliance between religious preachers and possessors of power brought the boon of prisons, gallows, knouts and above all such theories for the mankind.

I ask why your Omnipotent God does not hold a man back when he is about to commit a sin or offence. It is child’s play for God. Why did He not kill war lords? Why did He not obliterate the fury of war from their minds? In this way He could have saved humanity of many a great calamity and horror. Why does He not infuse humanistic sentiments into the minds of the Britishers so that they may willingly leave India? I ask why He does not fill the hearts of all capitalist classes with altruistic humanism that prompts them to give up personal possession of the means of production and this will free the whole labouring humanity from the shackles of money. You want to argue the practicability of Socialist theory, I leave it to your Almighty God to enforce it. Common people understand the merits of Socialist theory as far as general welfare is concerned but they oppose it under the pretext that it cannot be implemented. Let the Almighty step in and arrange things in a proper way. No more logic chopping! I tell you that the British rule is not there because God willed it but for the reason that we lack the will and courage to oppose it. Not that they are keeping us under subjugation with the consent of God, but it is with the force of guns and rifles, bombs and bullets, police and militia, and above all because of our apathy that they are successfully committing the most deplorable sin, that is, the exploitation of one nation by another. Where is God? What is He doing? Is He getting a diseased pleasure out of it? A Nero! A Genghis Khan! Down with Him!

Now another piece of manufactured logic! You ask me how I will explain the origin of this world and origin of man. Charles Darwin has tried to throw some light on this subject. Study his book. Also, have a look at Sohan Swami’s “Commonsense.” You will get a satisfactory answer. This topic is concerned with Biology and Natural History. This is a phenomenon of nature. The accidental mixture of different substances in the form of Nebulae gave birth to this earth. When? Study history to know this. The same process caused the evolution of animals and in the long run that of man. Read Darwin’s ‘Origin of Species.’ All the later progress is due to man’s constant conflict with nature and his efforts to utilise nature for his own benefit. This is the briefest sketch of this phenomenon.

Your next question will be why a child is born blind or lame even if he was not a sinner in his previous birth. This problem has been explained in a satisfactory manner by biologists as a mere biological phenomenon. According to them the whole burden rests upon the shoulders of parents whose conscious or unconscious deeds caused mutilation of the child prior to his birth.

You may thrust yet another question at me, though it is merely childish. The question is: If God does not really exist, why do people come to believe in Him? Brief and concise my answer will be. As they come to believe in ghosts, and evil spirits, so they also evolve a kind of belief in God: the only difference being that God is almost a universal phenomenon and well developed theological philosophy. However, I do disagree with radical philosophy. It attributes His origin to the ingenuity of exploiters who wanted to keep the people under their subjugation by preaching the existence of a Supreme Being; thus claimed an authority and sanction from Him for their privileged position. I do not differ on the essential point that all religions, faiths, theological philosophies, and religious creeds and all other such institutions in the long run become supporters of the tyrannical and exploiting institutions, men and classes. Rebellion against any king has always been a sin in every religion.

As regard the origin of God, my thought is that man created God in his imagination when he realized his weaknesses, limitations and shortcomings. In this way he got the courage to face all the trying circumstances and to meet all dangers that might occur in his life and also to restrain his outbursts in prosperity and affluence. God, with his whimsical laws and parental generosity was painted with variegated colours of imagination. He was used as a deterrent factor when his fury and his laws were repeatedly propagated so that man might not become a danger to society. He was the cry of the distressed soul for he was believed to stand as father and mother, sister and brother, brother and friend when in time of distress a man was left alone and helpless. He was Almighty and could do anything. The idea of God is helpful to a man in distress.

Society must fight against this belief in God as it fought against idol worship and other narrow conceptions of religion. In this way man will try to stand on his feet. Being realistic, he will have to throw his faith aside and face all adversaries with courage and valour. That is exactly my state of mind. My friends, it is not my vanity; it is my mode of thinking that has made me an atheist. I don’t think that by strengthening my belief in God and by offering prayers to Him every day, (this I consider to be the most degraded act on the part of man) I can bring improvement in my situation, nor can I further deteriorate it. I have read of many atheists facing all troubles boldly, so I am trying to stand like a man with the head high and erect to the last; even on the gallows.

Let us see how steadfast I am. One of my friends asked me to pray. When informed of my atheism, he said, “When your last days come, you will begin to believe.” I said, “No, dear sir, Never shall it happen. I consider it to be an act of degradation and demoralisation. For such petty selfish motives, I shall never pray.” Reader and friends, is it vanity? If it is, I stand for it.