Editorial, A FRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE, in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 December 2014 issue, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 23

A FRIEND, PHILOSOPHER AND GUIDE

of all of us liberty-lovers and rights-buffs is no more now. Justice Krishna Iyer, was all along his life, an indomitable fighter for humane socialism, an indefatigable human rights activist and a world-famous jurist. This editor very much remembers his kind and cooperative attitude towards all things progressive and gratefully recollects how he has been very much associated with the activities of the Marxist Study Forum convened by this editor and came at his own expense to Hyderabad to inaugurate a national seminar on Revolution and Socialism held by the Forum in November 1996. In his illuminating foreword to the first volume of this editor’s 'In Retrospect' [Sagas of heroism and sacrifice of Indian revolutionaries during freedom struggle] he had paid tributes to the “glorious procession of self-sacrificing spirits with radical vision and liberationist passion who lit the flame of struggle for Indian independence,” acknowledged that “our freedom from foreign rule is mainly achieved thanks to immense sacrifices and matchless acts of [heroism] by innumerable national revolutionaries. Even the non-violent movement under Mahatma Gandhi’s hegemony derived its inspiration and potential for success from the great who were tortured and hanged;” and finally expressed his parting poignant thought that “Had the succeeding Left activists, nationalist politicos and crowd of socialist pretenders kept alive a spark of the vision, mission and passion of the galaxy of revolutionaries covered in this book [Bhagat Singh and his ilk rising against all forms colonial], the merchants of money-making, seat-seeking enterprise and brokers of power would not have promoted the moral collapse and re-colonization collaboration we behold now in operation in India. India’s enemies are as much within as without.” He always lived up to the views, ideals and duties as mentioned succinctly in those lines. This editor particularly acknowledges his valuable aid in consenting to be one of our editorial advisers and contributing several educative articles for publication in this journal. We mourn his demise very much, but he lived a full and complete life and fell like a ripe fruit. As the great sloka runs: "Jaatasya hi dhruvo mrutyuh, Dhruvam janma mrutasyaca, tasmaad aparihaaryarthea na tvam Sochitumarhasi" - that way one should not worry too much and certainly 'he will be reborn' i.e. the zeal and spirit of service to humanity he cherished and displayed will always be living and his inspiration will give birth to innumerable activists for the cause of human rights and social justice and to achieve the ideal of humanitarian democratic socialism.   §§§

Editorial, LESSONS OF OCTOBER, in 15 November 2014 October Revolution Special issue, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 21 issue

LESSONS OF OCTOBER

In his historic polemic under this caption Leon Trotsky might have dealt mainly with the course of the proletarian revolution as it was then rife in Russia, on the genius of a Lenin who could gauge the real heat of the then convulsions to make a sudden shift in the leader party’s line and steer it toward victory in the revolution, as also warned against right deviationist, oppressive policies and measures of certain sections of revolutionaries themselves, etc. but here we are more concerned with the great lessons that historic Socialist Revolution left for the humankind as a whole. It was this revolution which for the first time in the world decisively overthrew and declared the demise of the then rampant coarse capitalist development modes in Russia and other backward regions under its control and ushered in a real rule of the masses – a sort of democratic dictatorship of the workers and peasants. New forms of state organization were developed, universal adult franchise for all including women and discriminated races and tribes was granted; the entire land was nationalized but mainly distributed to the poor and needy among the peasantry while protecting the interests of the non-exploitative sections too. All the industries nationalized and collective property made the chief norm with private property confined to personal assets that ought not to allow for exploitation of other humans. The get-rich-quick-anyhow mentality was decried and universal social welfare declared as the prime motif of the revolution. Stupendous efforts were made by the ruling party as well as the dedicated masses for war against counter revolutionary forces and for socialist construction on a gigantic scale and the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics emerged as the brilliant beacon for the toilng people all over the world and as a bastion for the fighting forces against all forms of oppression and injustices in all countries. Colonialism was unequivocally condemned and pre & post World War II we saw the enormous contributions of the USSR for the defeat of Fascism and end of colonialism. Of course, totalitarian excesses did occur with not proletarian democracy but a new form of oppression and suppression of human rights and initiatives thriving in the garb of state socialism and all that, with the changing circumstances, contributed to the decline and fall of the Socialist Camp. But this great experiment in human history and its glorious contributions to the cause of socialism, democracy and human welfare still serve as an undying inspiration to the people of the world who now have to take to new measures for building a humane socialist society, with guaranteed human rights and liberties, for sustainable development and universal peace. §§§

Editorial, ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF BIFURCATION, in 31 October 2014, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 20 issue

ADVERSE CONSEQUENCES OF BIFURCATION

have emerged within months of the unfortunate and unwarranted partition of the Annapoorna State. As rightly forewarned by the former CM of united AP, ‘water wars (disputes)’ and ‘current kashtalu (troubles)’ are engulfing the regions, especially Telangana. For the spate of recent peasant suicides in Telangana, already commented upon in these columns earlier, the ‘current crisis’ is a main contributory factor. The excessive consumption of electricity by Telangana people is a main reason. The populist measure of free electricity to farmers has exacerbated the problem for, otherwise, the peasants would have perhaps continued or switched over to other less water-needing crops than paddy – for the cultivation of which these plateau lands, but for the supply of irrigation facilities at enormous cost, are not that suited. Well, the crisis has also brought to notice the phenomenal development of electricity generation in Telangana which shows no discrimination but more favor to this region in the united State. Except for the private power plants and non-conventional and renewable energy sources, all other power indicators in Telangana show high rise – it now possesses 6251.3 MW out of 12425.3 MW i.e. 50.3% of such electricity production of the united AP, and a disproportionately high share in power from hydel sector and central power generating stations [with but 42% of the total population in the united State]. However, the Goebbelsian propaganda by the separatists, continuing to this day, has depicted as if great injustices are, and are still being, done to Telangana in this sphere also – mainly to divert attention from real solutions to which they might not have even applied their minds properly. It is to be stressed that from the very low level of energy consumption with only 11 villages electrified [in contrast to 147 in Rayalaseema and 398 in coastal Andhra] in 1955-56, Telangana has now achieved total rural electrification even, but surely, as Gandhiji always stressed, there are not enough resources in the world to satisfy all the greed of the people. The real solution to such crisis lies not in quarrelling with the other Telugu State but cooperating in an amicable manner and, more important, concentrating on development of minor and medium irrigation schemes as are best suited to the topography and environmental conditions of this region and transforming the mode of agricultural production to one chiefly attuned to cultivation of semi-arid regional crops [metta pantalu], horticulture, floriculture, etc. §§§

Editorial, PEASANT SUICIDES IN TELANGANA, in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 October 2014, Vol. 10, Part 2, No. 19 issue

PEASANT SUICIDES IN TELANGANA

Though it is a very sad and really awkward topic to comment on at this juncture of the nascent State of Telangana, it seems quite essential too. Now, there is no redeeming First Cause of a separatist movement in the account of which all such heartrending happenings could easily be put; nor is there any justification for a psychic chauvinist government to yet make any third parties responsible for what is so evidently a consequence solely of the Tuglaqian policies and measures of governance. Telangana has been a power deficit region and due to the adjustment policies in the united State, a lion’s share was allotted to Telangana consumption much above its population proportion. Now that Telangana has become a separate entity, perforce it has to fend for itself. The share of allotment of power generated through central power production units in the united State as indicated in the AP Reorganization Act 2014 may only be a temporary solace and is also subject to several riders. Instead of concentrating on the imminent power crisis from the day one of its installation, the State Government of Telangana has been focusing on other extraneous matters and also resorting to repressive measures against the people’s liberties. Instead of counseling the agitated farmers, no doubt severely suffering due to non-supply of enough power for their irrigation purposes that has much ruined their agriculture, and so livelihoods even, they have been deliberately ignoring, even repressing, their agitation. The Telangana CM himself declared irresponsibly that neither he, nor his/anybody’s ancestors come alive, could supply adequate power for the next three years; a further provocation to the already broke and disappointed farmers who are committing suicides in droves. This government is in the main responsible for this tragic development though the distorted development policies and measures of the erstwhile governments also play a contributory part. One solution lies in the present government publicly and honestly assuring all the farmers that their losses, and lives, will be taken care of and nobody need worried unduly about their future; and then enter into a meaningful dialogue with the Centre and other states to devise ways and means to solve this intricate problem instead of concentrating on making whipping boys of this or that person or party or sections of people. §§§

Editorial, 'THE AMERICAN CONNECTION" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 30 September 2014, Vol. 10, Pt. 2, No. 18 issue.

THE AMERICAN CONNECTION

It is hotly debatable whether the much acclaimed American connection is so much essential for our country. True, our new Prime Minister Narendra Modi, till now a persona-non-grata for the US, was welcomed with fanfare and assured of continued support and aid to us, but the point remains whether the US itself is today in a position to help, and not wreck, others. Of course, Modi was also vocal enough to state that the future belongs to Asia but even the present, it is generally felt, is looking towards this continent. Were Modi to invest even half the zeal and energy displayed by him for cultivating America to the case of improving relations with China, our bigger neighbor, whose President has so graciously come forward to first visit our country, our commerce and industry, particularly in the field of high speed railways, would have certainly benefited several times more than what US could help to do. The vexed and protracted border dispute with that country should be solved at the earliest in a ‘give and take’ spirit, for which that side has always been and still remains ready, without being bugged by the prejudices from the past. Perhaps a way out for our ‘oil crisis’ can also be found in close relations with China than banking on the Gas Pipeline that America is so ambitious, and genocidally aggressive, to push through the Middle East for its greedy profits. It is said that the aggressiveness of the US abroad and protectiveness at home go together and due to the latter we may lose several thousand jobs, and more opportunities, for our youths in that country which are available now. It doesn’t seem Modi has addressed that problem at all though he gave effusive exhortations about the Indian jaagaran at Madison Square NY, sounding quite hypocritical in lauding Gandhi (who never visited that country), while completely forgetting or deliberately overlooking Swami Vivekananda, who perhaps was our first ambassador of peace to that land, let alone the indomitable Hindustani Gadar Party with patriots and martyrs like Har Dayal, Baba Sohan Singh Bhakna, Karatar Singh Saraba and Vishnu Ganesh Pingle, who began their valiant fight for our freedom from that free land. Anyway, it is safer for us to remain at a respectable distance from the US lest we be wittingly/unwittingly drawn into the maelstrom of all the ‘terrorist’ wars it is spreading in the world. §§§

Editorial, 'THE GREAT DECEPTION!?" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 15 September 2014, Vol. 10, Pt. 2, No. 17 issue.

THE GREAT DECEPTION!?

Well, it could very well be so. Especially if one observes the almost free fall of the WTC 7 tower, not hit by any plane/body, it appears as a controlled demolition and so the non-mentioning of even the fact of its collapse in the 9/11 Commission Report, and ascribing of a silly reason for the same in the NSIT Report which in its turn slighted the 9/11 Commission Report, surely indicates a massive cover-up by the then government of America, which alas continues to this day. Many of us have all along opposed American invasion of Iraq, on the allegations of Saddam Hussein’s belligerent and harsh measures and his alleged possession of the so-called Weapons of Mass Destruction, which ultimately proved fraudulent with not a single WMD found anywhere but even so the Iraqi President, who might have been despotic in his own country but was a rare secular Arab leader of the day, mercilessly executed by a lackey government through a Kangaroo Court trial amidst worldwide protests. But none of us had an inkling that the American extra-territorial expansionist policy and measures could have been built on the basis of a horrendous homicidal crime perpetrated on their own people through this 9/11 carnage, which, per what the 9/11 Truth movement or several war veterans/military-intelligence officers of America now reveal and accuse, is certainly a dirty work of the notorious Bush-Cheney gang then in power. Even the US intervention in Afghanistan was excessive and counter productive. Their recent intervention in Syria in aid of the very al-Qaeda and other fundamentalist outfits and its proxy war on Assad of Syria, another secular Arab leader, has generated the ‘Frankenstein Monster’ of ISIS, a religious fanatic terrorist outfit whose atrocities are so horrendous. It is a matter of utmost shame, even of grave crime, on the part of the US as also the developed democracies of the West that they could not launch an effective criminal investigation into this crime of the century with the UN also supine. We join the voice of the 9/11 Truth Movement and demand an impartial and comprehensive criminal inquiry into the 9/11 incidents, preferably through the United Nations, by an international tribunal comprising of eminent jurists, lawyers, engineers and other experts from all over the world to find out the real causes/ persons responsible for this calamitous crime. §§§

Editorial, "Alas, the Giants are Departing" in LAW ANIMATED WORLD, 31 August 2014 issue, Vol. 10: Part 2, No. 16

ALAS, THE GIANTS ARE DEPARTING

one by one – gargantuan in their respective fields, with superb motivation to serve humanity in general. Their extraordinary achievements in diverse arenas are but contributions to the cause of common human weal. This editor fondly remembers his school days when all the students – generally film goers – would split into two camps of ANR-NTR fans and heatedly argue as to ‘ANR goppaa? NTR goppaa?’ [who is greater hero – ANR or NTR?] and gradually realization would dawn that both were great, unparalleled-in-their-respective-specialized-characters actors who had mesmerized the Telugu film watching public in those days. They were a competing, if not rival, duo in the eyes of people then. In contrast the friendly duo of Bapu-Ramana commanded the Telugu film sector to an extent in recent decades. Bapu’s versatility in art, direction and production is indescribable and sadly his body now extinct, following his demised friend, a magician of the written word in Telugu. Well, as time passed, the fascination for films waned and this editor as also many of the growing up students were drawn into the vortex of academic, social and political developments in the country and some into the movements to ‘change the society’ [samaaj ko badal dalo] when acquaintance first and camaraderie next with giants in political and social transformation movements had taken place. That is how a M.T. Khan and a Bipan Chandra came into the socio-political circle of contacts to this editor and the former was more of a comrade-in-arms, as a revolutionary writer, in the movement for social and human emancipation that shook the country in the late sixties and seventies, which continued to the present day with Khan Saheb more and more immersing himself in and guiding the human rights movements. And Bipan Chandra, a doyen of progressive historians in India, with his in-depth, scholarly studies into the history of the freedom struggle and communist movement, was a sort of Dronacharya for several Ekalavya disciples like this editor. This very personal note is to profoundly condole the passing away of these eminent personalities and, paying them glowing tributes, to rededicate ourselves to their noble ideal of universal human welfare in the sublime spirit of ‘vasudhaiva kutumbakam’ (entire world one family). §§§