(I wrote this piece as an impressional attempt about a Rajasthani’s face, appearing in a full-page ad in the Times of India sometime in 1990 – to express the feelings I experienced at that point of time. I hope you will find it interesting as a pastime; unfortunately the very ad is no longer with me – in fact the credit goes to my mother in preserving this piece in her beautiful handwriting; otherwise, even this would not have seen the light of this day)
A mood of melancholy oozes out of his transparent grey eyes glimmering dimly against the setting sun. It has lit up a side of his bold imposing countenance. On it the imprint of majesty is unmistakable. Of course it is the only remnant of a glorious past. His distinctive attire - a chequered turban, whiskers spiraling upwards and his beard brushed upwards too away from the middle of his chin along the sideburns would help you single him out from the midst of any admixturous rabble. His stately non-chalance confirms that the days of yore have deserted him. Those days of valour, pride and chivalry, so lofty and sublime yet gorgeous- in the midst of that inhospitable Jaisalmer desert. It was left only for Colonel Todd and Abanindranath Tagore to recount his ancestral anecdotes. On the other hand what does the darker side connote? Does it not insinuate darkness immediately below the lamp? Did not the indomitable Rajput Spirit also unleash the nastiest feudal oppression on a hapless peasantry? Did not their boisterous machismo trample so many Roop Kanwars over as many years? Probable. That is why he is unable to put brave face up to the setting sun
Anyway he is now consigned to a seemingly serene and unobtrusive existence to just one side of my cramped and stuffed room. Indeed in sharp contrast to the wide undulating expanses of his native sandy dunes. He cannot help it. After all, he is just a two dimensional entity courtesy the Times of India. In it he too modeled for a cigarette ad the other day. That was how the introduction went and since then apparently he did not find it difficult to perch himself on to me. As for me, divining the mind and mood of this singular personality has become an absorbing pastime. Strange enough, sometimes I feel myself to be in perfect unison with the ethos that surrounds him. Reclining on the back of my chair, I fight off occasional boredom fathoming the depths of a tradition of several centuries he epitomizes. But enough is enough, I must be stretching the limits of your patience. So let me rest my pen that you may ignite your imagination and activate your brain.
(Typing, formatting & editing – courtesy Ms. Dimple Tyagi; responsibility for errors if any is however mine)
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Pricks on the question of Quantum Mechanics of Black Holes
# What caused the unimaginably high temperature at the time of the big bang singularity, which was concentrated at the unimaginably small dimensions at that time?
# In a black hole singularity, the event horizon does not let any energy (photons) to get away from it: so how could the big band singularity allow so much of energy and matter to move away from one another? Was there no event horizon? Was the big bang singularity naked?
# What could be the nature of matter within a singularity? Do all the probability waves associated with all the particles compressed into the singularity get joined and acquire relevance and meaning only over a region of space time far smaller than even the dimensions of subatomic particles?
# How far does the nature of matter within a black hole type of singularity differ from the known forms of matter? It is because while the mass of black holes still remain perceptible through its gravitational effects but the wave properties of the black hole mass/energy go outside the possibility of measurement/perception/ detection because of the event horizon-from which no photon can escape.
# How does Hawking radiation affect the event horizon of a black hole? Why does the space time curvature change so very rapidly near the event horizon of a black hole so much so that particle-anti-particle pairs are generated out of the quantum fluctuations of force fields outside the event horizons? Why does/or how can change in the value of space-time curvature (which is caused by gravity) cause quantum fluctuations in the force fields of types not related to independent of gravity?
# Does the theory of Quantum Gravity attempt to link the electric charges of electrons and protons with that of the gravitational mass of these particles, particularly when these are compressed inside a black hole singularity? How far is the net electric charge of a given mass of particles indestructible?
# Prof Stephen Hawking has postulated that a black hole, after losing a critical amount of mass, through processes like Hawking radiation ends up with violent outburst. Is the critical limit somewhat same as the "Chandrasekhar Limit" of two solar masses? Does the final violent outburst occur on account of the operation the "Pauli's Exclusion Principle"?
# Energy expenditure through axial jets and swirling and spiraling dust and debris moving at the speed of light to fall into a black hole consumes and saps away lot of energy from a black hole, Is that factor more important in evaporation of a black hole than that by the factor of Hawking radiation?
# Normally a black hole, especially those at the galactic centers of a spiral galaxy, nest in lot of interstellar dust and debris, whose movements extort lot of energy away from a black hole: Is it possible then for the mass, energy or value of force fields neighbouring a black hole to be near zero, so that its quantum fluctuations would become important for Hawking radiation to occur?
(softcopy generation and editing: Ms. Ritika Manchanda, all errors are however my responsibility)
# In a black hole singularity, the event horizon does not let any energy (photons) to get away from it: so how could the big band singularity allow so much of energy and matter to move away from one another? Was there no event horizon? Was the big bang singularity naked?
# What could be the nature of matter within a singularity? Do all the probability waves associated with all the particles compressed into the singularity get joined and acquire relevance and meaning only over a region of space time far smaller than even the dimensions of subatomic particles?
# How far does the nature of matter within a black hole type of singularity differ from the known forms of matter? It is because while the mass of black holes still remain perceptible through its gravitational effects but the wave properties of the black hole mass/energy go outside the possibility of measurement/perception/ detection because of the event horizon-from which no photon can escape.
# How does Hawking radiation affect the event horizon of a black hole? Why does the space time curvature change so very rapidly near the event horizon of a black hole so much so that particle-anti-particle pairs are generated out of the quantum fluctuations of force fields outside the event horizons? Why does/or how can change in the value of space-time curvature (which is caused by gravity) cause quantum fluctuations in the force fields of types not related to independent of gravity?
# Does the theory of Quantum Gravity attempt to link the electric charges of electrons and protons with that of the gravitational mass of these particles, particularly when these are compressed inside a black hole singularity? How far is the net electric charge of a given mass of particles indestructible?
# Prof Stephen Hawking has postulated that a black hole, after losing a critical amount of mass, through processes like Hawking radiation ends up with violent outburst. Is the critical limit somewhat same as the "Chandrasekhar Limit" of two solar masses? Does the final violent outburst occur on account of the operation the "Pauli's Exclusion Principle"?
# Energy expenditure through axial jets and swirling and spiraling dust and debris moving at the speed of light to fall into a black hole consumes and saps away lot of energy from a black hole, Is that factor more important in evaporation of a black hole than that by the factor of Hawking radiation?
# Normally a black hole, especially those at the galactic centers of a spiral galaxy, nest in lot of interstellar dust and debris, whose movements extort lot of energy away from a black hole: Is it possible then for the mass, energy or value of force fields neighbouring a black hole to be near zero, so that its quantum fluctuations would become important for Hawking radiation to occur?
(softcopy generation and editing: Ms. Ritika Manchanda, all errors are however my responsibility)
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Languages & Nationalities in India
Safdar Hashmi Samaroha & EMS Centenary lecture
Dt. 03.03.2010, Muktadhara Auditorium Near Gol Market, New Delhi.
Com Chanchal Chauhan of Lok Lahar(Hindi) presided over
Speaker; Com. Prakash Karat, General Secretary CPI-M:-
Communists' position and record of activities:-
[Initial tributes were paid to Com.EMS- as the leader who married Marxist Theory to actual political practice - he also demonstrated as to how communists should participate in parliamentary politics]
Recognition of linguistic nationalities aspirations:
Com.EMS was the first theoretician to study the historical evolution of the Malayali nationality- showed how agrarian relations shaped development of the Malayali culture and language in the Princely stated of Malabar and Travancore- Cochin; emphasis on the malayali identity was therefore a means to rally the peasantry of what is now known as modern Kerala, into the common struggle against feudalism and the overall anti-imperialist and anti- colonial struggle.
Com.EMS as a member of the Malabar tenancy Reform Committee- in his minutes of dissent advocated abolition of landlordism in Malabar and Travancore- Cochin States- the feudal Jammi system- championed the slogan that all Malayalis should be in a Malayala speaking state.
Communists elsewhere also pressed for the necessity of recognition of different linguistic nationalities in India- a major plank of the anti- imperialist & anti- feudal struggle.
Communists understood that the masses - mostly the peasantry in colonial India - can be brought easily to the common anti - colonial cum anti - feudal struggle only with a linguistic consciousness.
A pan- Indian identity consciousness- the necessary ingredient for freedom struggle- could develop as a culmination f the provincial linguistic consciousnesses serving as a backdrop of local struggles.
Communists recognized the process of development of linguistic identities in the feudal pre-colonial India -> with development of commerce - primarily money- lending over different regions - also as a result of the Bhakti Movement. However nationalities fully develop only with the development of capitalism - development of nation - states is possible only with the advent of capitalism.
In 1920, under inspiration of Gandhiji - in the Nagpur AICC session - Congress reorganized its Provincial Committees on linguistic lines- negating the British imperialist administrative divisions of India into admixtureous provinces and princely states in total disregard of the linguistic identities.
Around 1946, Com P Sundarayya called for Vishalandhra and Com Bhabani Sen called for Natun Bangla (New Bengal) - linguistic states as a base for the anti- imperialist/ feudal struggle.
Attitude of the Big Bourgeois:
Immediately after independence:
Though Congress set up a Committee under Motilal Nehru in 1920 for reorganisation of Indian provinces on linguistic lines- it started going back on its promise after Independence - citing partition as an excuse and displaying the specter of further vivisection of the country now on linguistic lines.
The Jawahar Lal Nehru + Vallabh Bhai Patel + Pattabhi Sitaramaiah Committee set up immediately after independence(in 1947) wanted to negate the demand for creation of linguistic states - as a diversionary tactic proposed postponement of formation of linguistic states for a period of 10 years.
However big movements for reorganization of states on linguistic lines viz. Vishalandhra, Samyukta Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala swept the country by 1953 - these were mostly led by the communists - Congress was unable to prevent this tide.
Even before 1953 there existed a small Andhra Pradesh - The states Reorganisation Committee (SRC) recommended an Andhra Pradesh sans Hyderabad, Bombay Province (Maharashtra & Gujarat)
The Morarji Desai Govt. shot dead scores of people on the streets of Bombay for demanding separate Gujarat and Maharashtra.
SRC also turned down formation of a Punjabi Saba. However the cause of formation of linguistic states triumphed finally with the formation of such states even in the North Eastern Region.
Anti- communist forces presently seek to interpret CPI-M opposition to smaller states as a means to prevent creation of Gorkhaland. That is as to how the opposition of CPI-M to TELENGANA formation is being portrayed.
The big bourgeois earlier distrusted formation of linguistic states as it favoured a countrywide common homogenous market with un- impeded access to any location. RSS also opposed formation of linguistic states on the plea of stopping vivisection of the country, as it regards India as an uniform ancient nation.
Big Bourgeois position as of now i.e. since 2000:
Because of strong development of capitalism mostly in linguistic states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra compared to the non- linguistic Hindi speaking states, the Big- Bourgeois is no longer that strongly averse to formation of linguistic states
On the contrary the big bourgeois now prefers formation of even smaller states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc. where it can buy up/ suborn Govt. and get license to loot natural resources.
Smaller states like those in the NE Region are always dependent on central Govt. largesse. Politicians in those states therefore always have to switch sides with change of guard at the Central Govt.
Big linguistic states are more coherent and independent and can therefore reflect the democratic aspirations of their population.
Linguistic fissipareousness originating from regional backwardness:
Capitalist development with its lopsidedness- especially the accelerated pace of post- independence capitalist development generates so many advanced and backward states and similar disparities within a state. Thus we have historically backward regions like Vidarbha and Telengana experiencing demand for statehood- whereas Telengana autonomy resolutions were never seriously taken up.
the Liberalisation – Globalisation - Privatisation policies have generated cut-throat competition – it fractured petit bourgeois as a class – generated a fissured identity- encourages in some strata, a manufactured identity - which fuels an illusory hope of advancement through smaller statehoods
Hindi Regions are a particular case in point – no linguistic nationality concept is developed here - people here are either straightaway : Indian or Bundelkhandi, Awadhi etc. - no concept of a Hindi identity from Rajasthan to Bihar exists. Whether breaking up into smaller states would really solve the problem of lack of development is really doubtful?
Though Sardar Patel is credited with absorption of princely states - Com EMS has shown that struggle for linguistic and cultural rights formed the basis of a framework of a modern, secular and democratic India- for this mere existence of linguistic identity was not enough.
Position on Linguistic Rights:
Solution of the languages question is part of the democratic reordering of the Indian Society- so far there are 22 scheduled languages with option open for further addition to the list
There should be equality of all Indian languages - formation of linguistic states helped in further development of the languages
There should be simultaneous translation into various Indian languages-use of only English and/ or Hindi as official languages is unscientific nd undemocratic.
Primary Education should be in mother tongue which requires more use in day to day life ->to bloom as states official language- it can reduce utility of English and people develop through own experience a composite link language
(softcopy generation and editing: Ms. Dimple Tyagi, all errors are however my responsibility)
Dt. 03.03.2010, Muktadhara Auditorium Near Gol Market, New Delhi.
Com Chanchal Chauhan of Lok Lahar(Hindi) presided over
Speaker; Com. Prakash Karat, General Secretary CPI-M:-
Communists' position and record of activities:-
[Initial tributes were paid to Com.EMS- as the leader who married Marxist Theory to actual political practice - he also demonstrated as to how communists should participate in parliamentary politics]
Recognition of linguistic nationalities aspirations:
Com.EMS was the first theoretician to study the historical evolution of the Malayali nationality- showed how agrarian relations shaped development of the Malayali culture and language in the Princely stated of Malabar and Travancore- Cochin; emphasis on the malayali identity was therefore a means to rally the peasantry of what is now known as modern Kerala, into the common struggle against feudalism and the overall anti-imperialist and anti- colonial struggle.
Com.EMS as a member of the Malabar tenancy Reform Committee- in his minutes of dissent advocated abolition of landlordism in Malabar and Travancore- Cochin States- the feudal Jammi system- championed the slogan that all Malayalis should be in a Malayala speaking state.
Communists elsewhere also pressed for the necessity of recognition of different linguistic nationalities in India- a major plank of the anti- imperialist & anti- feudal struggle.
Communists understood that the masses - mostly the peasantry in colonial India - can be brought easily to the common anti - colonial cum anti - feudal struggle only with a linguistic consciousness.
A pan- Indian identity consciousness- the necessary ingredient for freedom struggle- could develop as a culmination f the provincial linguistic consciousnesses serving as a backdrop of local struggles.
Communists recognized the process of development of linguistic identities in the feudal pre-colonial India -> with development of commerce - primarily money- lending over different regions - also as a result of the Bhakti Movement. However nationalities fully develop only with the development of capitalism - development of nation - states is possible only with the advent of capitalism.
In 1920, under inspiration of Gandhiji - in the Nagpur AICC session - Congress reorganized its Provincial Committees on linguistic lines- negating the British imperialist administrative divisions of India into admixtureous provinces and princely states in total disregard of the linguistic identities.
Around 1946, Com P Sundarayya called for Vishalandhra and Com Bhabani Sen called for Natun Bangla (New Bengal) - linguistic states as a base for the anti- imperialist/ feudal struggle.
Attitude of the Big Bourgeois:
Immediately after independence:
Though Congress set up a Committee under Motilal Nehru in 1920 for reorganisation of Indian provinces on linguistic lines- it started going back on its promise after Independence - citing partition as an excuse and displaying the specter of further vivisection of the country now on linguistic lines.
The Jawahar Lal Nehru + Vallabh Bhai Patel + Pattabhi Sitaramaiah Committee set up immediately after independence(in 1947) wanted to negate the demand for creation of linguistic states - as a diversionary tactic proposed postponement of formation of linguistic states for a period of 10 years.
However big movements for reorganization of states on linguistic lines viz. Vishalandhra, Samyukta Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala swept the country by 1953 - these were mostly led by the communists - Congress was unable to prevent this tide.
Even before 1953 there existed a small Andhra Pradesh - The states Reorganisation Committee (SRC) recommended an Andhra Pradesh sans Hyderabad, Bombay Province (Maharashtra & Gujarat)
The Morarji Desai Govt. shot dead scores of people on the streets of Bombay for demanding separate Gujarat and Maharashtra.
SRC also turned down formation of a Punjabi Saba. However the cause of formation of linguistic states triumphed finally with the formation of such states even in the North Eastern Region.
Anti- communist forces presently seek to interpret CPI-M opposition to smaller states as a means to prevent creation of Gorkhaland. That is as to how the opposition of CPI-M to TELENGANA formation is being portrayed.
The big bourgeois earlier distrusted formation of linguistic states as it favoured a countrywide common homogenous market with un- impeded access to any location. RSS also opposed formation of linguistic states on the plea of stopping vivisection of the country, as it regards India as an uniform ancient nation.
Big Bourgeois position as of now i.e. since 2000:
Because of strong development of capitalism mostly in linguistic states like Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Karnataka, Andhra and Maharashtra compared to the non- linguistic Hindi speaking states, the Big- Bourgeois is no longer that strongly averse to formation of linguistic states
On the contrary the big bourgeois now prefers formation of even smaller states like Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand etc. where it can buy up/ suborn Govt. and get license to loot natural resources.
Smaller states like those in the NE Region are always dependent on central Govt. largesse. Politicians in those states therefore always have to switch sides with change of guard at the Central Govt.
Big linguistic states are more coherent and independent and can therefore reflect the democratic aspirations of their population.
Linguistic fissipareousness originating from regional backwardness:
Capitalist development with its lopsidedness- especially the accelerated pace of post- independence capitalist development generates so many advanced and backward states and similar disparities within a state. Thus we have historically backward regions like Vidarbha and Telengana experiencing demand for statehood- whereas Telengana autonomy resolutions were never seriously taken up.
the Liberalisation – Globalisation - Privatisation policies have generated cut-throat competition – it fractured petit bourgeois as a class – generated a fissured identity- encourages in some strata, a manufactured identity - which fuels an illusory hope of advancement through smaller statehoods
Hindi Regions are a particular case in point – no linguistic nationality concept is developed here - people here are either straightaway : Indian or Bundelkhandi, Awadhi etc. - no concept of a Hindi identity from Rajasthan to Bihar exists. Whether breaking up into smaller states would really solve the problem of lack of development is really doubtful?
Though Sardar Patel is credited with absorption of princely states - Com EMS has shown that struggle for linguistic and cultural rights formed the basis of a framework of a modern, secular and democratic India- for this mere existence of linguistic identity was not enough.
Position on Linguistic Rights:
Solution of the languages question is part of the democratic reordering of the Indian Society- so far there are 22 scheduled languages with option open for further addition to the list
There should be equality of all Indian languages - formation of linguistic states helped in further development of the languages
There should be simultaneous translation into various Indian languages-use of only English and/ or Hindi as official languages is unscientific nd undemocratic.
Primary Education should be in mother tongue which requires more use in day to day life ->to bloom as states official language- it can reduce utility of English and people develop through own experience a composite link language
(softcopy generation and editing: Ms. Dimple Tyagi, all errors are however my responsibility)
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Seminar: “Maoist Role”: 06.11.2009
Muktadhara Auditorium, Gol Market, New Delhi
Chair:Prabir Purakayastha,
Speakers: Prof. Jayati Ghosh, Prakash Karat
Extracted points/ significant submissions/ formulations
[I am sorry as this blogging site has removed some colouring/ formatting tools, the points and formulations I wanted to focus specifically, could not be presented that way; however those in italics are my own additions]
Prof. Jayati Ghosh:
Perceptions & positions
Romanticisation of Maoist mayhems as ‘Revolution’ by some Left leaning intelligentsia;
Maoists in particular and Naxals in general are do not participate in the fight against US-led imperialism; not bothered about issues ranging from agrarian crisis, unemployment, food security to Nuclear deal; take no position about it; in fact such movements the world over degenerate into instruments of backroom manoeuvres by imperialist agencies like CIA;
Violence coupled with lack of any vision of future after overthrow of the present system of exploitation, of the big bourgeois controlled state. They do not speak of Socialism, democratic rights for the underprivileged – this results in undermining the progressive positions of the mainstream Left & Democratic movement. It is an empty political agenda;
Attack/ annihilate cadres of the organised Leftist movement in particular areas; seek to disrupt/ obstruct mass mobilisation by Leftist movement on burning issues affecting the toiling people;
It is a Nihilistic, anarchist and romanticised response to capitalist exploitation and state repression;
Maoist violence and gore provoke revulsion among middle class against Leftist movement in general and legitimises Govt. repression on that movement and toiling people; also it creates political space for counter activities for a Right-wing reactionary movement like Salwa Judum;.
Like Narodniks of pre-revolution Tsarist Russia Maoists oppose industrialisation and lack any vision of development – its economic outlook is similar to that of Cambodia’s murderous ultra-Left Pol Pot regime in opposing industrialisation, perpetuation of an underdeveloped agrarian economy;
Ground Realities
Maoist infested areas are basically Dryland farming, tribal areas, currently suffering from agricultural distress over and above affected by the Capitalist course of uneven development, now brutally exposed to the unjust inequalities of the market forces;
The Maoist scourge worsens the material conditions – destruction of infrastructure etc. in the affected areas and makes life harder for the population living there;
Oppose poverty amelioration/ relief attempts like National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) schemes; siphon off funds for Mid-day meals, primary health centres, destroy power, transport and communication facilities;
Maoist reliance on violence results in an endless cycle of violence – violence begets violence;
Maoist Kangaroo courts ‘punish’ or victimise only the hapless poor toiling people, no exploiting landlord is ever punished;
There is absolute intolerance towards differing opinion; it is silenced by gun; recall recent media reports about Maoists trying to eliminate its splinter groups in Bihar and Jharkhand;
Prabir Purakayastha
There is absolutely no attempt to analyse the class character of the Indian State – according to them India is still a colony – they are however silent on whose colony is India now?
Prakash Karat
Putting Maoists to place
It is a Left Sectarian anarchist trend – it accompanies growth of the organised Left & democratic movement in every country – to disrupt the very same movement – as Lenin has put it “petty – bourgeois driven to frenzy by the horrors of capitalist exploitation”;
It is not to be equated with other terroristic organisation like the Islamic Fundamentalists viz. LeT, HuJI etc., which never voice any social issue; Maoists however use violence as a major instrument in their politics;
In Maoists world view, South Asia is going through a revolutionary upsurge, which includes even the TALIBAN !!! This perceived upsurge is regarded as only next to the actual West Asian/ Palestinian upsurge against US – cum – Israeli state terror in that area;
What occurred and is parallely occurring
US - led imperialism is slowly entrenching itself strategically in South Asia and Maoists are silent about it;
Naxals ultimately sided with the Indian Ruling classes from the ’70s; they were therefore used as instruments of extermination against the Left & Democratic Movement – as Cong –Shals (Congress + Nakshals/Naxals) they killed 350 CPI-M cadres; such elimination was mostly concentrated during 1970 – 72;
CPI-M was sought to be isolated and physically attacked during 1970 – 71; since only CPI-M bore the brunt of such ruling class ferocity, no other party made a protest – the same thing is happening now in putting CPI-M under siege in West Bengal with other Left Parties hardly raising any voice against the “murder CPI-M” campaign;
[This blogger still remembers how CPI-M cadres in West Bengal still used to be doubly cautious about disclosing their political identities till mid – ’80s, i.e. even after 7-8 years of Left Front Rule in West Bengal]
Attacks on CPI-M - 1970s onwards (approx. 1,500 killed and 25,000 displaced from home/ place of work) were later widened into general onslaught on democracy during the EMERGENCY;
Popular rejection of Maoists in West Bengal
Maoists are repeating the same agenda now against CPI-M in West Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia Distts. of West Bengal; they say that their “boycott” of CPI-M and State Govt. Machinery in those areas is “successful”;
However, the tribals mostly supported CPI-M in West Medinipur as CPI-M won the Jhargram Lok Sabha constituency by the biggest margin in West Bengal, amidst widespread reverses particularly in South Bengal – Lok Sabha Elections, 2009;
Murderous spree of Mao-Mulis (Maoists + Trinamulis) is therefore the most desperate in West Medinipur, West Bengal. However, they have also targeted and killed CPI-M activists in Orissa, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh;
Maoists weaken democratic mass movements
Maoists are nowhere known to be organisers of peasants in movement for land. Their predecessors Naxals too never organised peasants in movement for right to till and harvest land, even during the “spring thunder” at Naxalbari. All that they could achieve were diverting the developing peasants’ democratic movements from snatching surplus/ benami land from landlords to armed clashes with the Army or Police, giving the latter opportunity to launch repressive actions
It marginalises, displaces and diverts tribals’ democratic protest movements against dispossessing from forest rights, loss of tribal habitat etc., by adopting violent means, which invites Govt. repression. They operate from deep forests dwelt by tribals not for any concern for their miseries but because the terrain tactically suits their armed guerrilla operations
Only in Srikakulam Distt. of Andhra Pradesh did Naxals organise some peasant movement; there too, once they adopted violent means, police and para – military forces mowed down the movement and exterminated the leadership. Hardly, any Naxals survive there now. The only prominent surviving leader, viz. Com. Chaudhuri Tejeswara Rao acknowledges the strategic mistakes and has now returned to lead the mainstream Left movement. He is presently the Secretary, CPI-M, Srikakulam Distt. Despite the sharp ideological differences and their wrong political – tactical line, CPI-M always appreciated the heroisms and personal sacrifices made/ hardships faced by such deviated leaders of the original Naxalite movement (refer: http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1522/15220880.htm )
In an article, Prakash Karat predicted in 1985 that Naxals would keep splitting into splinter groups but would stage a comeback as grounds exist in certain areas of the country for such a possibility;
They keep extorting money (thousands of crores of rupees) from contractors, Govt. officials, industrialists, goods consignment transporters etc. in Chhatisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand; as they are now almost driven out of Andhra Pradesh, their original area of operation;
[This blogger also remembers recent media reports about how Maoists force tribal families at gun-point to let their teenagers join their ranks, turn them into ruthless killers and while similarly exploit the women in their ranks sexually]
Maoists’ “boycott of bourgeois parliamentary elections” is a farce, as they often negotiate with one bourgeois party, gives it covert support and enforce “boycott” of the opponent candidate;
Political combat vs. Banning Maoists
Ban seldom achieves suppression of such extremists, they regroup under different names; however, their violence – “elimination of the class-enemy”, in reality only the lowest level police personnel, army jawans, Govt. officials, teachers, doctors & nurses and political activists, no big-bourgeois/ landlord worth the name, need to be tackled administratively;
Ultra-Left groups like PWG of Andhra Pradesh and MCC of Bihar/ Jharkhand were already in the ban schedule of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Their regrouped synergy as “Maoists”, made them more lethal, so the only addition is of Maoists in the ban list.
Extremist organisations are not mere terrorists. So, ban under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act backfires and is hence opposed by CPI-M. The need is to fight them politically – organisationally.
UPA Govt. and PM Manmohan Singh acknowledges lack of development in the tribal areas – Privatisation of Mines & Minerals in the forested and tribal populated – dispossession of tribals – depredations of MNCs and Big bourgeois help sometimes the Maoists to strike a chord with the tribals
The hapless population of the affected areas gets caught in the crossfire; security forces which come from outside are usually unable to distinguish between the Maoists and the locals. While the guerrilla warfare trained Maoists can escape to deep forests, the locals usually face paramilitary repression.
Maoists have a special ire against CPI-M – as the latter fights it politically, organisationally and ideologically; Naxals ceased to have any base in rural/ tribal Bengal after successful implementation of Land Reforms in West Bengal.
Murderous spree of Mao-Mulis is with the objective to prevent CPI-M, West Bengal unit from working among the people – particularly the peasants and tribals
Mao-Mulis physically eliminate and uproot CPI-M cadre, particularly peasant activists, village after village in West Bengal and turn them into refugees in one’s own country; if any CPI-M sympathiser is left in the area, he/ his family has to face heavy extortion, denial of livelihood, live with constant fear of life and is compelled at gun – point to join Mao-Mulis’ meetings
“Civil Society” romancing Maoists
Maoists Left – Sectarian Appeal makes the urban intelligentsia romance it – Big business media highlights it to black out the organised Left – but the romanticisation has now become difficult in West Bengal, especially after the Maoists’ leader Kishanji confirmed several times their “joint – enterprise” with Mamata Banerji
The actual impact of the ultra – Left phraseology, of disrupting the genuine peoples struggle against the Big – bourgeois + Landlord rule and imperialist exploitation needs to be exposed through political – ideological struggle
Maoists borrow their concepts wholesale from the Left-sectarian and adventurist period of Chinese “Cultural Revolution”; for them India, like pre – revolution China, is still semi-colonial and semi-feudal; refuse to see the strong development of Capitalist industry and even Capitalist agriculture; therefore working class movement has no place in their politics
International experience of the fate of ultra – Left movements:
“Prachanda” of Nepal Maoists have denied any organisational contact with the Indian Maoists
“Senderno Luminoso” – the “Shining Path” Maoist movement of Peru got its popular appeal on a/c of the repressions let loose by the US backed military junta – lastly from the brutalities of Alberto Fujimori; however, return of democracy in Peru made them fail to adapt to the new political situation, caused organisational disarray and withering of their political appeal;
Similarly the “New Peoples’ Army” of the Philipino Communist Party, once controlling large tracts of that country failed to adapt to the democratic polity after overthrow of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and is so diminished organisationally that not much of Left politics is left in that country
Chair:Prabir Purakayastha,
Speakers: Prof. Jayati Ghosh, Prakash Karat
Extracted points/ significant submissions/ formulations
[I am sorry as this blogging site has removed some colouring/ formatting tools, the points and formulations I wanted to focus specifically, could not be presented that way; however those in italics are my own additions]
Prof. Jayati Ghosh:
Perceptions & positions
Romanticisation of Maoist mayhems as ‘Revolution’ by some Left leaning intelligentsia;
Maoists in particular and Naxals in general are do not participate in the fight against US-led imperialism; not bothered about issues ranging from agrarian crisis, unemployment, food security to Nuclear deal; take no position about it; in fact such movements the world over degenerate into instruments of backroom manoeuvres by imperialist agencies like CIA;
Violence coupled with lack of any vision of future after overthrow of the present system of exploitation, of the big bourgeois controlled state. They do not speak of Socialism, democratic rights for the underprivileged – this results in undermining the progressive positions of the mainstream Left & Democratic movement. It is an empty political agenda;
Attack/ annihilate cadres of the organised Leftist movement in particular areas; seek to disrupt/ obstruct mass mobilisation by Leftist movement on burning issues affecting the toiling people;
It is a Nihilistic, anarchist and romanticised response to capitalist exploitation and state repression;
Maoist violence and gore provoke revulsion among middle class against Leftist movement in general and legitimises Govt. repression on that movement and toiling people; also it creates political space for counter activities for a Right-wing reactionary movement like Salwa Judum;.
Like Narodniks of pre-revolution Tsarist Russia Maoists oppose industrialisation and lack any vision of development – its economic outlook is similar to that of Cambodia’s murderous ultra-Left Pol Pot regime in opposing industrialisation, perpetuation of an underdeveloped agrarian economy;
Ground Realities
Maoist infested areas are basically Dryland farming, tribal areas, currently suffering from agricultural distress over and above affected by the Capitalist course of uneven development, now brutally exposed to the unjust inequalities of the market forces;
The Maoist scourge worsens the material conditions – destruction of infrastructure etc. in the affected areas and makes life harder for the population living there;
Oppose poverty amelioration/ relief attempts like National Rural Employment Guarantee (NREGA) schemes; siphon off funds for Mid-day meals, primary health centres, destroy power, transport and communication facilities;
Maoist reliance on violence results in an endless cycle of violence – violence begets violence;
Maoist Kangaroo courts ‘punish’ or victimise only the hapless poor toiling people, no exploiting landlord is ever punished;
There is absolute intolerance towards differing opinion; it is silenced by gun; recall recent media reports about Maoists trying to eliminate its splinter groups in Bihar and Jharkhand;
Prabir Purakayastha
There is absolutely no attempt to analyse the class character of the Indian State – according to them India is still a colony – they are however silent on whose colony is India now?
Prakash Karat
Putting Maoists to place
It is a Left Sectarian anarchist trend – it accompanies growth of the organised Left & democratic movement in every country – to disrupt the very same movement – as Lenin has put it “petty – bourgeois driven to frenzy by the horrors of capitalist exploitation”;
It is not to be equated with other terroristic organisation like the Islamic Fundamentalists viz. LeT, HuJI etc., which never voice any social issue; Maoists however use violence as a major instrument in their politics;
In Maoists world view, South Asia is going through a revolutionary upsurge, which includes even the TALIBAN !!! This perceived upsurge is regarded as only next to the actual West Asian/ Palestinian upsurge against US – cum – Israeli state terror in that area;
What occurred and is parallely occurring
US - led imperialism is slowly entrenching itself strategically in South Asia and Maoists are silent about it;
Naxals ultimately sided with the Indian Ruling classes from the ’70s; they were therefore used as instruments of extermination against the Left & Democratic Movement – as Cong –Shals (Congress + Nakshals/Naxals) they killed 350 CPI-M cadres; such elimination was mostly concentrated during 1970 – 72;
CPI-M was sought to be isolated and physically attacked during 1970 – 71; since only CPI-M bore the brunt of such ruling class ferocity, no other party made a protest – the same thing is happening now in putting CPI-M under siege in West Bengal with other Left Parties hardly raising any voice against the “murder CPI-M” campaign;
[This blogger still remembers how CPI-M cadres in West Bengal still used to be doubly cautious about disclosing their political identities till mid – ’80s, i.e. even after 7-8 years of Left Front Rule in West Bengal]
Attacks on CPI-M - 1970s onwards (approx. 1,500 killed and 25,000 displaced from home/ place of work) were later widened into general onslaught on democracy during the EMERGENCY;
Popular rejection of Maoists in West Bengal
Maoists are repeating the same agenda now against CPI-M in West Medinipur, Bankura and Purulia Distts. of West Bengal; they say that their “boycott” of CPI-M and State Govt. Machinery in those areas is “successful”;
However, the tribals mostly supported CPI-M in West Medinipur as CPI-M won the Jhargram Lok Sabha constituency by the biggest margin in West Bengal, amidst widespread reverses particularly in South Bengal – Lok Sabha Elections, 2009;
Murderous spree of Mao-Mulis (Maoists + Trinamulis) is therefore the most desperate in West Medinipur, West Bengal. However, they have also targeted and killed CPI-M activists in Orissa, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh;
Maoists weaken democratic mass movements
Maoists are nowhere known to be organisers of peasants in movement for land. Their predecessors Naxals too never organised peasants in movement for right to till and harvest land, even during the “spring thunder” at Naxalbari. All that they could achieve were diverting the developing peasants’ democratic movements from snatching surplus/ benami land from landlords to armed clashes with the Army or Police, giving the latter opportunity to launch repressive actions
It marginalises, displaces and diverts tribals’ democratic protest movements against dispossessing from forest rights, loss of tribal habitat etc., by adopting violent means, which invites Govt. repression. They operate from deep forests dwelt by tribals not for any concern for their miseries but because the terrain tactically suits their armed guerrilla operations
Only in Srikakulam Distt. of Andhra Pradesh did Naxals organise some peasant movement; there too, once they adopted violent means, police and para – military forces mowed down the movement and exterminated the leadership. Hardly, any Naxals survive there now. The only prominent surviving leader, viz. Com. Chaudhuri Tejeswara Rao acknowledges the strategic mistakes and has now returned to lead the mainstream Left movement. He is presently the Secretary, CPI-M, Srikakulam Distt. Despite the sharp ideological differences and their wrong political – tactical line, CPI-M always appreciated the heroisms and personal sacrifices made/ hardships faced by such deviated leaders of the original Naxalite movement (refer: http://www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl1522/15220880.htm )
In an article, Prakash Karat predicted in 1985 that Naxals would keep splitting into splinter groups but would stage a comeback as grounds exist in certain areas of the country for such a possibility;
They keep extorting money (thousands of crores of rupees) from contractors, Govt. officials, industrialists, goods consignment transporters etc. in Chhatisgarh, Orissa, Jharkhand; as they are now almost driven out of Andhra Pradesh, their original area of operation;
[This blogger also remembers recent media reports about how Maoists force tribal families at gun-point to let their teenagers join their ranks, turn them into ruthless killers and while similarly exploit the women in their ranks sexually]
Maoists’ “boycott of bourgeois parliamentary elections” is a farce, as they often negotiate with one bourgeois party, gives it covert support and enforce “boycott” of the opponent candidate;
Political combat vs. Banning Maoists
Ban seldom achieves suppression of such extremists, they regroup under different names; however, their violence – “elimination of the class-enemy”, in reality only the lowest level police personnel, army jawans, Govt. officials, teachers, doctors & nurses and political activists, no big-bourgeois/ landlord worth the name, need to be tackled administratively;
Ultra-Left groups like PWG of Andhra Pradesh and MCC of Bihar/ Jharkhand were already in the ban schedule of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Their regrouped synergy as “Maoists”, made them more lethal, so the only addition is of Maoists in the ban list.
Extremist organisations are not mere terrorists. So, ban under Unlawful Activities Prevention Act backfires and is hence opposed by CPI-M. The need is to fight them politically – organisationally.
UPA Govt. and PM Manmohan Singh acknowledges lack of development in the tribal areas – Privatisation of Mines & Minerals in the forested and tribal populated – dispossession of tribals – depredations of MNCs and Big bourgeois help sometimes the Maoists to strike a chord with the tribals
The hapless population of the affected areas gets caught in the crossfire; security forces which come from outside are usually unable to distinguish between the Maoists and the locals. While the guerrilla warfare trained Maoists can escape to deep forests, the locals usually face paramilitary repression.
Maoists have a special ire against CPI-M – as the latter fights it politically, organisationally and ideologically; Naxals ceased to have any base in rural/ tribal Bengal after successful implementation of Land Reforms in West Bengal.
Murderous spree of Mao-Mulis is with the objective to prevent CPI-M, West Bengal unit from working among the people – particularly the peasants and tribals
Mao-Mulis physically eliminate and uproot CPI-M cadre, particularly peasant activists, village after village in West Bengal and turn them into refugees in one’s own country; if any CPI-M sympathiser is left in the area, he/ his family has to face heavy extortion, denial of livelihood, live with constant fear of life and is compelled at gun – point to join Mao-Mulis’ meetings
“Civil Society” romancing Maoists
Maoists Left – Sectarian Appeal makes the urban intelligentsia romance it – Big business media highlights it to black out the organised Left – but the romanticisation has now become difficult in West Bengal, especially after the Maoists’ leader Kishanji confirmed several times their “joint – enterprise” with Mamata Banerji
The actual impact of the ultra – Left phraseology, of disrupting the genuine peoples struggle against the Big – bourgeois + Landlord rule and imperialist exploitation needs to be exposed through political – ideological struggle
Maoists borrow their concepts wholesale from the Left-sectarian and adventurist period of Chinese “Cultural Revolution”; for them India, like pre – revolution China, is still semi-colonial and semi-feudal; refuse to see the strong development of Capitalist industry and even Capitalist agriculture; therefore working class movement has no place in their politics
International experience of the fate of ultra – Left movements:
“Prachanda” of Nepal Maoists have denied any organisational contact with the Indian Maoists
“Senderno Luminoso” – the “Shining Path” Maoist movement of Peru got its popular appeal on a/c of the repressions let loose by the US backed military junta – lastly from the brutalities of Alberto Fujimori; however, return of democracy in Peru made them fail to adapt to the new political situation, caused organisational disarray and withering of their political appeal;
Similarly the “New Peoples’ Army” of the Philipino Communist Party, once controlling large tracts of that country failed to adapt to the democratic polity after overthrow of the dictator Ferdinand Marcos and is so diminished organisationally that not much of Left politics is left in that country
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Time spaced out & Space times in: My impressions
1. According to the singularity theorems of Prof. Roger Penrose and Stephen Hawking, any stellar body of a mass more than that of two suns collapses to a singularity - unless it manages to throw off enough mass in a supernova explosion that its mass falls below that of the cut off limit of two solar masses.
2. Although the General theory of Relativity deals with structures on the very big scale and Quantum Mechanics consider things in the scale of very tiny and these two great theories do not reconcile in any normally occurring body or structure of the universe;
3. The singularity theorems underline the fact that matter can be squeezed to dimensions where their Quantum Mechanical properties cannot be ignored.
4. In fact, in a way, the high curvature of space-time produced by highly compressed matter, brought about by gravitational collapse brings the quantum mechanical properties of all that matter out to the fore so much so that it overshadows space-time and ends the histories of all particles in real time.
5. As formulated in the theories and principles of quantum mechanics beneath a certain length- which is lower than the wavelength of light e.g. gamma rays, it is difficult or rather impossible to determine both the position and velocity of a particle with any arbitrary accuracy.
6. Time dimension is a derivative of the space dimensions: time is measured by diurnal motion of the earth, annual motion of the earth around the sun, motion of the sun as round the galactic centre or the oscillations of a cesium atom in an atomic clock i.e. different kinds o periodic motion
7. When matter gets highly condensed on account of gravitational collapse- say in a black hole or in baby universe as was during the one second after the ‘big bang’, its position becomes highly certain but even the velocity of a photon may a fluctuate wildly in a quantum mechanical way, off the known velocity of light.
8. In such circumstances, it would be very difficult to measure with arbitrary accuracy the periodic motion of any particle in condensed mass clutter in a singularity. In other words, it would be very difficult to say with certainty the positions of a particle whose periodic motion so long rendered a time- keeping service. Chronology of particle positions would become meaningless, as it would be impossible to fix with any arbitrary accuracy, positions of a time keeping particle for labeling their position as past, present and future, if the velocities are very certain for such particles. Time, as we understand, ceases to exist in such a situation.
9. Anybody trying to correlate spatial positions of a time keeping particle -i.e. its chronological positions within a periodic motion- with the spatial positions of any other particle (without a recurring motion) will find the task practically impossible;
10. here will be no past or present against which the chronology of other particles’ positions may be labelled, it would be only positions correlated with positions without any consideration of chronology.
11. This above situation may be called “time getting spaced out” in black - hole condensation or if the reverse process of inflationary expansion after big bang is concerned, “space timing in” –where getting free from the quantum mechanical prison of indetermination, one can detect and measure stellar periodic motion.
12. When the histories/ world line of a particle(s) ends in real-time after entering the event horizon of a black hole, it is still possible for an observer outside that singularity to compute the histories of the particles converging into the black hole in real or imaginary time as the situation permits.
13. However, when an universe comes out of a worm hole or ends up in it (call it big bang or big crunch) nobody can measure the histories/ world lines of its constituent mass of particles proximate to either of the boundaries (i.e. big bang or big crunch) be it real - time or imaginary time.
14. From it comes out the further question: is it possible for an observer in another universe to calculate the sum over histories of our universe in imaginary time or for us to do the same for another universe?
(Ack: Ms. Dimple Tyagi in typing out, editing and formatting; responsibility of errors are however mine)
2. Although the General theory of Relativity deals with structures on the very big scale and Quantum Mechanics consider things in the scale of very tiny and these two great theories do not reconcile in any normally occurring body or structure of the universe;
3. The singularity theorems underline the fact that matter can be squeezed to dimensions where their Quantum Mechanical properties cannot be ignored.
4. In fact, in a way, the high curvature of space-time produced by highly compressed matter, brought about by gravitational collapse brings the quantum mechanical properties of all that matter out to the fore so much so that it overshadows space-time and ends the histories of all particles in real time.
5. As formulated in the theories and principles of quantum mechanics beneath a certain length- which is lower than the wavelength of light e.g. gamma rays, it is difficult or rather impossible to determine both the position and velocity of a particle with any arbitrary accuracy.
6. Time dimension is a derivative of the space dimensions: time is measured by diurnal motion of the earth, annual motion of the earth around the sun, motion of the sun as round the galactic centre or the oscillations of a cesium atom in an atomic clock i.e. different kinds o periodic motion
7. When matter gets highly condensed on account of gravitational collapse- say in a black hole or in baby universe as was during the one second after the ‘big bang’, its position becomes highly certain but even the velocity of a photon may a fluctuate wildly in a quantum mechanical way, off the known velocity of light.
8. In such circumstances, it would be very difficult to measure with arbitrary accuracy the periodic motion of any particle in condensed mass clutter in a singularity. In other words, it would be very difficult to say with certainty the positions of a particle whose periodic motion so long rendered a time- keeping service. Chronology of particle positions would become meaningless, as it would be impossible to fix with any arbitrary accuracy, positions of a time keeping particle for labeling their position as past, present and future, if the velocities are very certain for such particles. Time, as we understand, ceases to exist in such a situation.
9. Anybody trying to correlate spatial positions of a time keeping particle -i.e. its chronological positions within a periodic motion- with the spatial positions of any other particle (without a recurring motion) will find the task practically impossible;
10. here will be no past or present against which the chronology of other particles’ positions may be labelled, it would be only positions correlated with positions without any consideration of chronology.
11. This above situation may be called “time getting spaced out” in black - hole condensation or if the reverse process of inflationary expansion after big bang is concerned, “space timing in” –where getting free from the quantum mechanical prison of indetermination, one can detect and measure stellar periodic motion.
12. When the histories/ world line of a particle(s) ends in real-time after entering the event horizon of a black hole, it is still possible for an observer outside that singularity to compute the histories of the particles converging into the black hole in real or imaginary time as the situation permits.
13. However, when an universe comes out of a worm hole or ends up in it (call it big bang or big crunch) nobody can measure the histories/ world lines of its constituent mass of particles proximate to either of the boundaries (i.e. big bang or big crunch) be it real - time or imaginary time.
14. From it comes out the further question: is it possible for an observer in another universe to calculate the sum over histories of our universe in imaginary time or for us to do the same for another universe?
(Ack: Ms. Dimple Tyagi in typing out, editing and formatting; responsibility of errors are however mine)
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
What provoked “imaginary time”?
[Prof Stephen Hawking - his imaginary time in Prof. Richard Feynman’s sum over histories - quantum Mechanics & definite measurements]
i. Smearing of position (impossibility of pinpointing space coordinates) when mass contracts beyond the quantum mechanical level into the dimensions of a singularity.
ii. Richard Feynman’s sum over histories for a particle - the world line of particles present insurmountable difficulties when summation is done over real-time. However, such summation is possible it is done over imaginary time.
iii. What is there in the probability distribution in the sum over histories or the world line of a particle that it makes it possible to do the sum over in “imaginary time” ?
iv. Was there anything in the equations of sum over histories that itself suggested to Prof. Stephen Hawking and Jim Hartle to have the idea of imaginary time?
v. How did they do the exercise of sum over histories using imaginary time particularly when all the particles under examination are squeezed into a position of near infinite density?
vi. Is it nor possible in quantum mechanics to create two identical experiments where in one case, attention is focused on the position of a particle rather than the velocity and in the other the velocity of the particle rather than the position? Thereby, if this suggestion is feasible, if not in the same situation, at least for two identical situations of the same kind of particle, say of an electron, you can get definite measurements of the position and velocity of the particle - or to be precise similar particles in identical situations if not most desirably the in same situation.
vii. If Real-time (time as we normally understand plus that which is connoted in the General Theory of Relativity) may be associated with periodic and/ or oscillatory motion, what kind of motion imaginary time may be associated with? Does any such association really exist? Is imaginary time only a mathematical trick coming with diagrammatic representation using imaginary numbers ?
(Ack: Ms. Dimple Tyagi in typing out, editing and formatting; responsibility of errors are however mine)
Wednesday, June 24, 2009
Picture of exploitation:
Contract workers in the Central Ministries
i. Most of the contract workers get a monthly remuneration as low as 1/3 or even ¼ of a permanent worker’s (i.e. LDC/UDC/Stenographers) remuneration.
ii. The contractors take a cut from even such small amount and what the contract workers get ultimately is even less than the minimum wage level.
iii. Though on paper the contractors may be depositing a part of the workers’ salary as contribution towards PF and ESI, whether they are actually depositing the amount always or not is doubtful.
iv. The contract workers do not get any leave and medical facilities like regular workers and are given very little salary to afford these on their own.
v. Any contract worker raising voice against such rampant exploitation may be immediately sacked from the job; there is no job security.
vi. The contract workers are not provided with appointment letters etc. with which they can prove that they were actually performing tasks in the Central Sectt. of perennial nature.
vii. The contract workers in most cases are designated as Data Entry Operators to give an impression that they are not performing a perennial job.
viii. The so called data entry operators actually perform the jobs of permanent/ perennial nature as performed by LDCs/UDCs/Stenographers.
ix. In many cases the contract workers are forced do jobs for longer hours than the permanent workers.
x. Instead of one officer in any GoI Ministry being designated as the principal employer, the no. of contract workers is being split into groups of 19 or less, which means that in each Ministry there may be more than one principal employer though all these workers happen to serve the same Ministry.
xi. Non-designation of any body as principal employer helps the Ministries to shirk their statutory responsibilities of obtaining license from CLC(C) as ‘principal employer’ as required under the Contract Labour (Rehabilitation & Abolition) Act and allows the contractor to exploit the workers.
xii. This rampant exploitation is going on everywhere, even at the Union Ministry of Labour which administers the Contract Labour Act and is supposed to protect the interest of the workers. It has engaged a large no. of contract workers circumventing its own Contract Labour (Rehabilitation & Abolition) Act by fragmentation of the no. of workers among various wings, its HQ. and field offices.
xiii. Sometimes because of non-renewal of contract, the workers do not get anything at all, although they are told to work in anticipation of renewal of contract.
xiv. The Govt./ Ministers take advantage of the fact that most of the contract workers are young girls from needy families or students/ fresh graduates who are neither aware their rights nor see their contractual status as a permanent aspect of their life worth a struggle for its improvement.
Difficulties in organizing contract workers in the Central Ministries
1· There is no record that a contract worker is actually employed at any Govt. Ministry it is difficult to prove their existence
2· Any contract worker would not easily raise his/her voice against their poor pay, arduous nature of duties and long working hours for fear of being sacked
3· It is also possible for the contractor and even the ministry to shift any ‘trouble’ making contract worker from one establishment to another and not exactly sack him/ her to avoid more trouble.
4· Since most workers are young girls/students who come to do the job as a transient phase before marriage/ better employment, do not feel very strongly about the exploitation they have to suffer.
5· Non – designation of principal employer in Ministries makes it difficult to prove their existence and unionise and take the cases of these contract workers to CACLB under Contract Labour Act for prohibition of their kind of jobs.
Possibilities of militant TU movement:-
a· The contract workers are actual ‘have - nots’- real proletariat- unlike permanent employees they do not have a world to lose if sacked.
b· They know that if sacked from one office/ establishment, they can always try at another establishment.
c· Most significantly the contract workers are not bound by conduct rules which is applicable to the duly appointed temporary/ permanent workers/ employees in Govt.
d· It properly led, they may come under the banner of organized TU movement.
e· Unlike less educated causal/ daily rated workers, the contract workers may understand the tactics/ requirements of organized TU movement better.
f· Wherever the branches of the Non-Gazetted employees union are strong and militant in the Central Sectt., there will be possibilities of easier organization of the contract workers.
Because of abolition/ non- fill up of vacant regular posts, the Ministries are becoming increasingly dependent on the services of contract workers, putting them at a better bargaining position.
(Ack: Ms. Dimple Tyagi in typing out and editing formatting,; responsibility of errors mine)
i. Most of the contract workers get a monthly remuneration as low as 1/3 or even ¼ of a permanent worker’s (i.e. LDC/UDC/Stenographers) remuneration.
ii. The contractors take a cut from even such small amount and what the contract workers get ultimately is even less than the minimum wage level.
iii. Though on paper the contractors may be depositing a part of the workers’ salary as contribution towards PF and ESI, whether they are actually depositing the amount always or not is doubtful.
iv. The contract workers do not get any leave and medical facilities like regular workers and are given very little salary to afford these on their own.
v. Any contract worker raising voice against such rampant exploitation may be immediately sacked from the job; there is no job security.
vi. The contract workers are not provided with appointment letters etc. with which they can prove that they were actually performing tasks in the Central Sectt. of perennial nature.
vii. The contract workers in most cases are designated as Data Entry Operators to give an impression that they are not performing a perennial job.
viii. The so called data entry operators actually perform the jobs of permanent/ perennial nature as performed by LDCs/UDCs/Stenographers.
ix. In many cases the contract workers are forced do jobs for longer hours than the permanent workers.
x. Instead of one officer in any GoI Ministry being designated as the principal employer, the no. of contract workers is being split into groups of 19 or less, which means that in each Ministry there may be more than one principal employer though all these workers happen to serve the same Ministry.
xi. Non-designation of any body as principal employer helps the Ministries to shirk their statutory responsibilities of obtaining license from CLC(C) as ‘principal employer’ as required under the Contract Labour (Rehabilitation & Abolition) Act and allows the contractor to exploit the workers.
xii. This rampant exploitation is going on everywhere, even at the Union Ministry of Labour which administers the Contract Labour Act and is supposed to protect the interest of the workers. It has engaged a large no. of contract workers circumventing its own Contract Labour (Rehabilitation & Abolition) Act by fragmentation of the no. of workers among various wings, its HQ. and field offices.
xiii. Sometimes because of non-renewal of contract, the workers do not get anything at all, although they are told to work in anticipation of renewal of contract.
xiv. The Govt./ Ministers take advantage of the fact that most of the contract workers are young girls from needy families or students/ fresh graduates who are neither aware their rights nor see their contractual status as a permanent aspect of their life worth a struggle for its improvement.
Difficulties in organizing contract workers in the Central Ministries
1· There is no record that a contract worker is actually employed at any Govt. Ministry it is difficult to prove their existence
2· Any contract worker would not easily raise his/her voice against their poor pay, arduous nature of duties and long working hours for fear of being sacked
3· It is also possible for the contractor and even the ministry to shift any ‘trouble’ making contract worker from one establishment to another and not exactly sack him/ her to avoid more trouble.
4· Since most workers are young girls/students who come to do the job as a transient phase before marriage/ better employment, do not feel very strongly about the exploitation they have to suffer.
5· Non – designation of principal employer in Ministries makes it difficult to prove their existence and unionise and take the cases of these contract workers to CACLB under Contract Labour Act for prohibition of their kind of jobs.
Possibilities of militant TU movement:-
a· The contract workers are actual ‘have - nots’- real proletariat- unlike permanent employees they do not have a world to lose if sacked.
b· They know that if sacked from one office/ establishment, they can always try at another establishment.
c· Most significantly the contract workers are not bound by conduct rules which is applicable to the duly appointed temporary/ permanent workers/ employees in Govt.
d· It properly led, they may come under the banner of organized TU movement.
e· Unlike less educated causal/ daily rated workers, the contract workers may understand the tactics/ requirements of organized TU movement better.
f· Wherever the branches of the Non-Gazetted employees union are strong and militant in the Central Sectt., there will be possibilities of easier organization of the contract workers.
Because of abolition/ non- fill up of vacant regular posts, the Ministries are becoming increasingly dependent on the services of contract workers, putting them at a better bargaining position.
(Ack: Ms. Dimple Tyagi in typing out and editing formatting,; responsibility of errors mine)
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