10-25-2005, 06:51 AM
`<b>Needed, a new proletarian front to fight communalism'</b>
Staff Reporter
`Communal forces are trying to distort history'
K.N. Panikkar
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted historian K.N. Panikkar on Monday said communalism has been able to penetrate the working class organisations in the country by taking advantage of the latter's cultural shortcomings.
Battle
Communalism cannot be fought on the political front alone. It needs to be tacked in the realm of ideas and in the realm of culture. No single proletarian organisation can carry forward this multi-faceted battle against communalism and the most recent threats posed by the forces of globalisation. So a new umbrella organisation, representing all facets of life and a new leadership, is needed to fight communalism and globalisation on all fronts, he said.
<b>
Dr. Panikkar was speaking after releasing the Malayalam translation of Communist Party of India (Marxist) central committee member Sukomal Sen's book `Working Class of India: History of Emergence and Movement' at a function organised by the Kerala NGO Union here.</b>
Globalisation
Today, globalisation is driving workers away from the workplace. The forces propagating the consumerist culture by trying to inculcate in the working class, a middle class way of life need to be resisted. <b>It is heartening to note that working class organisations are beginning to realise the need to fight communalism and globalisation at the same time.</b>
History books
Communal forces are also trying to distort the history of the people of this country by negating the role of the working class in the freedom movement. <b>"In the history books written for schoolchildren by these communal forces, you will not find any reference to the working class," he said. There exists a pressing need to reclaim the history of the people from the clutches of communal forces.</b>
Books such as the one written by Mr. Sen can go a long way in helping the working class reclaim history from the communal forces.
<i>
Mr. Sen's book is authoritative and seminal in two ways; one because its assertions are based on verifiable documents and secondly because the book uses fundamental Marxian principles to provide an interpretation to the events it chronicles. The book shows how the nation-wide strikes called by the working class were attempts at taking forward progressive politics in the country.</i>
"Sen's book should be translated in more Indian languages. I have also asked today's organisers to ensure that in the next few months widespread discussions are held based on this book. Moreover, it would be useful if an abridged edition of this book was published," Dr. Panikkar added.
CITU general secretary P.K. Gurudasan received the first copy of the book.
Mr. Sen was also present on the occasion.
<img src='http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/25/images/2005102518140301.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />
Staff Reporter
`Communal forces are trying to distort history'
K.N. Panikkar
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Noted historian K.N. Panikkar on Monday said communalism has been able to penetrate the working class organisations in the country by taking advantage of the latter's cultural shortcomings.
Battle
Communalism cannot be fought on the political front alone. It needs to be tacked in the realm of ideas and in the realm of culture. No single proletarian organisation can carry forward this multi-faceted battle against communalism and the most recent threats posed by the forces of globalisation. So a new umbrella organisation, representing all facets of life and a new leadership, is needed to fight communalism and globalisation on all fronts, he said.
<b>
Dr. Panikkar was speaking after releasing the Malayalam translation of Communist Party of India (Marxist) central committee member Sukomal Sen's book `Working Class of India: History of Emergence and Movement' at a function organised by the Kerala NGO Union here.</b>
Globalisation
Today, globalisation is driving workers away from the workplace. The forces propagating the consumerist culture by trying to inculcate in the working class, a middle class way of life need to be resisted. <b>It is heartening to note that working class organisations are beginning to realise the need to fight communalism and globalisation at the same time.</b>
History books
Communal forces are also trying to distort the history of the people of this country by negating the role of the working class in the freedom movement. <b>"In the history books written for schoolchildren by these communal forces, you will not find any reference to the working class," he said. There exists a pressing need to reclaim the history of the people from the clutches of communal forces.</b>
Books such as the one written by Mr. Sen can go a long way in helping the working class reclaim history from the communal forces.
<i>
Mr. Sen's book is authoritative and seminal in two ways; one because its assertions are based on verifiable documents and secondly because the book uses fundamental Marxian principles to provide an interpretation to the events it chronicles. The book shows how the nation-wide strikes called by the working class were attempts at taking forward progressive politics in the country.</i>
"Sen's book should be translated in more Indian languages. I have also asked today's organisers to ensure that in the next few months widespread discussions are held based on this book. Moreover, it would be useful if an abridged edition of this book was published," Dr. Panikkar added.
CITU general secretary P.K. Gurudasan received the first copy of the book.
Mr. Sen was also present on the occasion.
<img src='http://www.hindu.com/2005/10/25/images/2005102518140301.jpg' border='0' alt='user posted image' />