HIMACHAL PRADESH: CPI (M) IMPROVES POSITION IN LOCAL POLLS - Tikender Singh Panwar

HIMACHAL PRADESH witnessed elections to the panchayats and urban local bodies. While the panchayat polls took place in three phases --- on December 28 and 30 and on January 1 --- urban local bodies went to the polls on January 3, 2011. Party symbols were allowed only in urban bodies, elections to the three-tier rural local bodies --- for the gram panchayats, block panchayats and the zila panchayats --- took place on the symbols allotted by the State Election Commission. The CPI (M) concentrated its efforts on the zila panchayats (Zila Parishads) and contested in a few urban bodies.

The results were declared on January 4 and those for the tribal district of Kinnaur on January 7, 2011, as the elections here were postponed because of heavy snowfall during the election process. The election results have been quite encouraging for the Left and democratic forces. Immediately after the elections both the major parties --- the Congress and the BJP --- started claiming that 75 per cent of the results had gone in their favour, but by the time of writing these lines no district was able to elect the presidents and vice presidents of the zila parishads. This shows the hollowness of their claims.

WHAT THE RESULTS SHOW

Since the elections were not held on party symbols, it is easy for both these parties to make exaggerated claims. Yet the estimate is that non-Congress and non-BJP candidates, including independents and Left candidates, have won in 50 per cent of the total seats. The ruling BJP has got a severe drubbing in the urban bodies; it has received a severe jolt even in the home district of the chief minister. In the urban bodies too, independent candidates have won in a number of places. The CPI (M) has substantially improved its position. CPI (M) members or those who were supported by the party have won seats in over 15 district panchayats (Zila Parishads), over 25 block panchayats (BDC members) and more than 75 positions of panchayat presidents and vice presidents. The figure for the Left parties, taken together, may go still higher. The results have proved that the CPI (M) occupies the third position in the party politics in Himachal Pradesh. CPI (M) candidates have polled more than 1.5 lakh votes in the state. The table below gives a list of the elected representatives in the state.

Another important noteworthy feature of these elections was that wherever the people were in struggle against the neo-liberal policies or fought for their land, forests rights and water, or wherever they fought against the hydro projects, forest mafia, cement plants etc, they almost completely wiped out of the pro-company or pro-government representatives. In many of these struggles, the CPI (M) was in the leadership and while some others were led by regional associations. A vibrant example is related to the Kashang hydro project in Kinnaur district where the entire panel of the CPI (M) got elected against the HCC company that is constructing the said hydro project. Similarly, in the Lafarge cement factory, the leadership was provided by a regional body that has badly defeated the pro-company lobby. Another example of a magnificent victory has been that of a CPI (M) nominee, Reena in Anandpur ward of a Zila Parishad. She who won by a margin of more than 3,000 votes. Here the issue was of the struggle of the peasantry against the menace of wild animals, monkeys, stray cattle etc. In totality, it can be stated that nominees of both the BJP and the Congress got a severe drubbing for having who stood against the interests of the people and siding with the government policies or with the companies that are executing various hydro projects and cement plants.

ISSUES DURING THE ELECTIONS

In the main, regional issue dominated the panchayat elections. As already stated in these columns earlier, a contradiction developing in the state is between the so called development and the snatching of the people’s rights. The issues included that of opposition to various hydro projects and cement plants, compensation amounts, rehabilitation and relief packages for the displaced. The situation is that the state has an immense potential of hydro power generation and the realisable capacity may well be above 23,000 megawatts (MW) but only 305 MW capacity has been harnessed so far. On the other hand, successive governments have been selling the rivers and rivulets to private entrepreneurs who have hardly any concern for the people’s traditional rights and their demands. This gives an immense opportunity for the forces representing the people’s interests, especially the CPI(M), to intervene. The latter’s intervention in favour of the people has been reflected in these elections as well.

The other issues include the persistent crisis the peasants are facing because of the neo-liberal policies. The precarious situation of the peasants has led to large scale migration from their land as farming is becoming increasingly non-remunerative. Issues like the sale of Gumma Agro Packaging India Limited, a carton plant, became prominent in the apple belt. Here the BJP got almost totally wiped out from the scene.

The issue of wild animals, monkeys, stray cattle etc also dominated a large part of the state. It is estimated that at least 10 districts are affected with this menace. A fair estimation of the loss because of the problem comes to almost Rs 2,000 crore per year. The Himachal Kisan Sabha (HKS) and the Himachal Gyan Vigyan Samiti (HGVS) have been running a persistent protest campaign on this issue, under the banner of the Kheti Bachao Sangarsh Samiti (Save Agriculture Struggle Committee). Several demonstrations with massive participation of the kisans (peasants) have been organised in the past. This was thus a conscious and persisting issue. People, who were actively participating in this movement, have not surprisingly been elected. A large number of them are from the HKS and HGVS.

Another issue that has come to light is that of large scale corruption in the panchayati raj institutions (PRIs). Related to it has been the entry into fray of a large number of people who are contractors in the countryside. They also spent huge amounts of money during the elections. In many a place, a candidate organised dhams (feasts) immediately after the day of nomination and this vote catching device continued till the polling began. Similarly, providing liquor and other allurements became a common phenomenon. It is in this background that the CPI (M) has declared that none of its elected members would engage in contractors work in the areas from where they have been elected.

The CPI (M) has also decided to organise a statewide workshop for its elected members, with help from the Kerela and West Bengal state units of the party, so that they could adopt alternative forms and styles of work in the countryside.

S No	Name of Candidate	Ward Votes	Polled/Position
	Reena (W)	Anandpur	6629/Ist
	Padama (W)	Jhakri	5153/Ist
	Sukhdev Chauhau	Rohru NAC Vice Chairperson	1400/Ist
	Balkrishan Bali	Devrighat BDC	1104/Ist
	Taravati	Basantpur BDC	1357/Ist
	Dropodi (W)	Kotkhai BDC	1458/Ist
7.	Om Prakash Chauhan	Chaily ZP	2345/IInd
8.	Sohan Singh Thakur	Devrighat ZP	2238/IInd
9.	Krishna (W)	Narayan ZP	2720/IInd
10.	Savitri(W)	Kungash ZP	4490/Ist
11.	Ramesh	Buchehar ZP	3660/IInd
12.	Devki(W)	Arsu ZP	4236/IInd
13.	Pamma Devi(W)	Poshna ZP	3986/IInd
14.	Gita Nand	BDC Anni	1346/Ist
15	Pratap Thakur	BDC Khunn	Unopposed elected
16.	Ram Lal	BakshadZP	4875/Ist
17.	Kesar Singh	Karsog	5894/Ist
18.	Reema Devi(W)	Dhaled	3500/IInd
19.	Nagina(W)	Ner	2439/IInd
20.	Nirmala(W)	Kummi	2970/IInd
21.	Suresh Kumar	Rewalsar	1292
22.	Sohan Thakur	Nabahi	2600/IInd
23.	Devendra Devi(W)	Sainj	3347/IInd
24.	Mahander Rana	Khalwahi	4090/IInd
25.	Jagdish Thakur	Bheem Kataru	3911/IInd
26.	Padam Dev	Pangana	2183
27.	Prakash Sharma	Dhanyara	1780
28.	Ravi Kant	Kunnu	1600
29.	Prabhash Rana	Sarkaghat BDC	1456/Ist
30.	Jaywanti(W)	BDC	1687/Ist
31.	Teja Devi (W)	Balh BDC	1400/Ist
32.	Loveena Devi	Khera ZP	2508/IInd
33.	Sanyogita Devi(W)	Kharaout ZP	2543/IInd
34.	Jogender Kumar	Sarakkar	3624/Ist
35.	Baldev Singh	Kala Amb

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

SAHMAT CELEBRATES JASHN-E-YAARAN: REMEMBERING FAIZ THROUGH SAFDAR’S MEMORIES - MADAN GOPAL SINGH

Raat yun dil mein teri khoee hui yaad aai

Jaise veerane mein chupke se bahaar aa jaye,

Jaise sehraon mein haule se chale baad-e-naseem,

Jaise beemar ko be-wajh qaraar aa jaye.

JANUARY 1, 2011: The beginning of the New Year bringing to us the memory of our beloved Safdar --- a poet, theatre worker, an exemplary political activist. Asking us to renew our pledge of creativity. The day of warmth and love again saw a gathering of poetry, music and dance.

This year, the audience on the occasion also remembered their unparalleled bard of revolution, Faiz Ahmed Faiz, with a new hope and outspokenness --- singing him, feeling proud of his legacy.

We are now in the birth centenary year of Faiz Ahmed Faiz, a great progressive poet of Asia, nay of the world, who was born in Sialkot (now in Pakistan) in the year 1911. A favourite poet of martyr Safdar Hashmi, and of all of us. The New Year this time was thus a very special occasion. The Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) has decided to observe the whole Faiz Centenary Year in a special way and began the process on the New Year itself. The day, thus, turned to be a memorable one.

People, one and all, were invited this year too, like the years gone by, to this Jashn-e-Yaaran, and much before the scheduled time they began to throng the huge people’s pandal, a covered big tent, put up in the lawns of Vithalbhai Patel House in New Delhi. Full of vigour and enthusiasm, a play by Act One as if came to us as a revolutionary song. Like the earlier years, a street theatre troupe coming from Rohtak was permeated with the same emotions. Manu Kohli regaled the audience with Faiz’s ghazals and nazms. Next, Dr Anju Raina took to the stage and, in her heart-moving voice, presented “Dasht-e-tenhai mein ai jaan-jehan larzan hai,” a moving piece of romantic poetry by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The following stanza of the poem

Is qadar pyaar se ai jaan-e-jehan rakkha hai

Dil ke rukhsar pe is waqt teri yaad ne haath

Yun guman hota hai, garche hai abhi subh-e-firaaq

Dhal gaya hije ka din, aa bhi gayee qasl ki raat

intensely brought to the audience the fond memories of Faiz as well as Safdar, and thus set in motion the caravan of colour and music.

The audience felt spellbound as soon as Astad Deboo, an Indian dancer of international renown, came to the stage. The music descending down into the souls and the dance presentation by Astad Deboo --- time was moving moment by moment, giving new dimensions to Faiz’s poetry. The atmosphere was getting surcharged with emotions. As soon as Astad concluded the ‘bol’ of his dance, the temperature inside began to rise even though the polythene-made roof of the tent was getting affected by chilly winds. Maybe it was something like what Ghalib had called “raqs-e-sharar” (the dance of sparks). Modern art experiments in the East have received their sheen from the struggle for independence, and revolutionary poets like Faiz have played a notable role in this process. It would not be out of place if we situate the dance experiments by Astad Deboo in this very tradition.

Sentiments further deepened when the high-pitch voice of Rekha Raj began to call the years gone by, through her rendering of the poetic creations by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Rekha received her training from her maternal grandmother, Khursheed Begum of Sheikhupura (Pakistan), and from Vasant Lal Ji of Rajasthan (India). She presented the well known poem “Mujh se pehli si muhabbat meri mehboob na maang” and some other pieces including “Rabba Sacchya,” a Punjabi poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz.

The offspring of a Muslim mother and a Hindu father, Rekha presents an image of the Ganga-Jamni (syncretic) culture of this country. However, Inder Salim of Kashmir did not lag behind. With his toy-like puppet, he linked our life today with Faiz’s legacy.

Then came the storytelling pairing of Mehmood Farooqi and Daanish Hussain, Reading out their prepared script for about an hour. Teasing all of us. Telling us something. Making us laugh. The way the pair, with perfect ease, took the audience through Fiaz’s legacy and Faiz’s period, was a novel experiment by itself. With their presentation, Mehmood and Daanish introduced the audience to a new art-form, full of vitality, whose importance will no doubt be recognised in the days to come.

The evening was progressing. The cold was intensifying outside but the people in the pandal were feeling increasingly warm. Now they were waiting for Vidya Shah, a renowned singer. On her part, by her very first presentation, Vidya took music to new heights. Her rendering was, on the one hand, a dialogue with the world gone by; on the other, it presented a new, intensive understanding of Faiz’s poetry. She again and again appeared to be talking to several of the renowned figures of yore; in particular, the images of Begum Akhtar, Malika Pukhraj and Iqbal Bano came to us several times. Her presentation of “Saath raho” and “Aaiye haath uthayen hum bhi” left a deep impact on all those present.

The evening was at its height when young Pakistani novelist Ali Sethi, clad in jeans and a jacket, came to the stage. Many of the audience could not even think that he would present something traditional. Ali Sethi highlighted in detail the times in Pakistan’s history which he had himself gone though or which his near and dear ones had experienced. In particular, his narration of the history behind the rendering of “Mujh se pehli si muhabbat” by Nurjehan was not only binding but also highlighted an episode of revolutionary resistance. Ali Sethi’s musical presentations added lustre to his narration.

In the end, Madan Gopal Singh paid his tributes to this great poet by presenting two Punjabi pieces by Faiz in the Punjabi sufi style.

Suhel Hashmi admirably discharged the responsibility of conducting the programme, presenting in between some selected nazms and ghazals by Faiz, which brought to the audience the depths of Faiz’s legacy in a clear-cut manner.

Another significant event of the evening was the release of a special number of Naya Path, brought out by Janvadi Lekhak Sangh. Renowned Hindi poet Kunwar Narayan Singh released this issue that was dedicated to Fiaz Ahmed Faiz. Kedar Nath Singh, another notable Hindi poet, was present on the dais on the occasion. About 200 copies of this magazine of 450 odd pages were sold out on the spot. Earlier, Qamar Azad Hashmi, martyr Safdar Hashmi’s mother, released the New Year’s calendar brought out by SAHMAT; this too was dedicated to Faiz Ahmed Faiz. The calendar is based on colour and line drawings by M F Hussain to picturise Faiz.

While going home in this chilled night of Delhi, I recalled my meeting with Safdar 30 years ago. Safdar Hashmi was then the information officer in West Bengal Information Bureau and his office in a small room had got very soon converted into a cultural hub. Poets, fiction writers, playwrights, film-makers, students of art and culture, and saddened lovers --- everyone passed this way. Once Mani Kaul, a leading light of New Wave cinema, and me were having tea with Safdar in his office when he opened a book, as he often did, and began to recite a nazm containing the line “Koi ujra hua benoor purana mandir.” Though we both were fond of Faiz’s poetry, this nazm in Safdar’s voice left upon us a unique impact and we found ourselves dumbfounded for some time. The following lines of the nazm

De koi sankh duhai, koi payal bole

Koi but jaage, koi sanwali ghunghat khole,

remained with us for long after we came out.

Faiz Ahmed Faiz, the people’s poet, comes to us in this very manner --- carrying everybody with him, celebrating our common identity, forming a fraternity of revolution!

Courtesy: www.pd.cpim.org/

BURDWAN: NEW DACOITS UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF MAMATA-MAOIST-SUCI-CHIDAMBRAM-MEDIA-INTELLECTUAL NEXUS GETTING UNITED

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TRIBUTE TO LEGENDARY RABINDRA SANGEET SINGER SUCHITRA MITRA

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