It was sometime in the 1970s. The All India Conference of the AITEEU Class III was being held at Jaipur, Rajasthan. Myself and wife Pankajam were delegates to the Conference. We were accommodated in a dharmasala some distance away from the Conference place. There were other delegates also.
After the session for the day, when we started to return it was already late and was becoming dark.May be around 07.00 PM. We engaged a hand pulled riksha and told the driver our destination.
We reached a steep hill and it became very difficult for the driver to go up the hill with both of us in the riksha.Hence I got down and walked beside the riksha pushing it from behind, so that the weight will be reduced and he will be able to go up the hill. Pankajam was sitting in the riksha.
I was thinking that the riksha will stop at the top and I can climb in. But when the riksha reached the top it started going down very fast. I could not get in and was stranded there.
I became panicky seeing the riksha going fast with Pankajam in it. I shouted to the driver to stop.I could hear her also shouting to stop.But the riksha was going down very fast without stopping. I was afraid to the core that he may disappear any time with my wife.
I am not a good runner , but now ran as fast as never have, down the hill and somehow caught up with the riksha by the time it reached the level area. He had stopped the riksha and I got in. He apologised stating that he thought that I have got in at the top and later understood that I was not there but could not stop the riksha while it was going down the hill.
We reached the dharmashala safely. Pankajam told me that she was very much afraid and was shouting to the driver to stop and was also thinking of jumping from the riksha.
It was in 1993. We were attending the Central Working Committee meeting of AITEU. Class III Union at Yuba Kendra, Moulali, Kolkata. I had to go to a hospital about two kilo meters away to see a patient.
Immediately after the morning section, without waiting to take meals,I hurried out of the building and got in to a Cycle riksha and gave the address. I was thinking about the issues to be discussed in the CWC. After a few minutes I realised that the riksha was moving very slowly. All of a sudden I understood.It was not a Cycle Riksha , but a riksha being pulled by an old man. I asked him to stop. I got down and paid him the charge of Rs. 10 which he had said at the start and said to him that I will get a taxi, as I had to go quickly and return.
He was a very old man and was pulling the rikssha with great difficulty.I thought of giving some extra money. But, as I thought that probably it will be a disrespect and humiliation for him, I did not pay anything extra.
I got a taxi and went to the hospital, met the patient and returned in time.
Despite the introduction of cycle riksha and auto rikaha , Man Pulling Rikshas are still in Kolkata and some other Northern Cities. This system has to be abolished at the earliest by giving them alternate jobs, like providing cycle rikshas.
2024 is the Diamond Jubilee year of the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) – CPI(M). It was formed in the Party Congress held at Calcutta from 31st October to 7th November 1964 which elected a Politbureau of 9 and the new Central Committee with Com. P.Sundarayya as the General Secretary. The nine PB Members, who are called the Navaratnas, are Comrades P.Sundarayya, A.K.Gopalan, E.M.S.Namboodiripad, B.T. Ranadive, M.Basavapunnaiah, Harkishan Singh Surjeet, P.Ramamurthi, Jyoti Basu and Promod Das Gupta.
The 24th Party Congress of CPI(M) is scheduled to be held at Madurai, T.Nadu, in April 2025. The Conferences from the Branch level to the state level will be completed before the same.
The Indefinite strike of the Central Government Employees and Workers in 1960, in which I had participated and was victimised, was a turning point in my life. It was only the Left Parties, especially the Communists, which came forward to support the strike and the victimised workers. This created a great bond first with CPI and then with CPI(M) when it was formed in 1964, and continues till date. My stay at New Delhi for 25 years from 1991 to 2017 and that too very near to AKG Bhawan, the Central Committee Office of CPI(M), was another opportunity to meet many leaders of the Party. I could also attend the Party Congresses held at Hyderabad (2002), New Delhi (2005), Coimbatore (2008) and Kozhikode (2012) as Fraternal Delegate. I got the opportunity to attend the Party Conference in U.K. also, while I was on a visit there, and which was inaugurated by Com.Sitaram Yechury.
At this time of the Diamond Jubilee of the Party, it is but natural to remember the great leaders, the 9 PB members elected at the Calcutta Congress in 1964. I have been fortunate to see all of them either in the All India Conferences of the E.III Union , which I started attending since 1963 or in Federal Councils of NFPTE as also while visiting Delhi to attend the various All India Conventions organised by the Central Trade Unions or the Confederation of the Central Govt. Employees and Workers . I could personally meet most of them and get inspired for my future activities. All of them had passed away but their contributions to the people and the Party are well remembered.
I propose to write very briefly about all these 9 comrades one by one in the next posts.
24th November 2021 is the 67th Anniversary of the formation of National Federation of P & T Employees ( NFPTE), the mighty organisation which organised many historic struggles along with Confederation, raising the just and reasonable demands of Central govt employees. NFPTE was formed in 1954 by merging all existing unions in P&T Department. Unions in P&T were formed as early as the first decade of 20th century and organised many struggles in the first two decades and achieved important demands. Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, Henry Barton and V.G.Dalvi were the founding fathers of the three main unions. Some of these leaders also were part of formation of AITUC, the first Trade Union in the country. The epic 22 days struggle of P&T workers in 1946 in which the British rulers were compelled to concede all the demands raised, is considered as part of Independence Struggle. Formation of NFPTE in 1954 and Confederation of CG Employees in 1956 gave a new life to the central govt employees movement. The result was the magnificient strikes of 1960 and 1968 in which a number of comrades became martyrs for the cause of the working class. The main demands were needbased minimum wage and DA according to cost of living index. The second demand is achieved and struggles continue for the first. Of course, much improvement have taken place and the demand is now raised by the entire working class. The heroic strike of 1974 was another mile stone. The railway workers were the real heroes who fought till the last. The strike was brutally suppressed by the government, but the demand of was achieved by 1979. Comrades Dada Ghosh, O.P.Gupta, K.G.Bose,P.S.R.Anjaneyulu, N.J.Iyer, K.Adinarayana and many others led the movement through those difficult times. Consequent to bifurcation of P&T Department, NFPTE was bifurcated in to NFPE and NFTE in 1986. The history of both is also that of struggles, although vaccilation took place sometimes. After formation of BSNL, the newly formed BSNL Employees Union has become the true inheritor of the valiant tradition of NFPTE in the telecom sector.
Since 1991, both the UPA as well as NDA govts had aggressively taken the disastorous path of globalisation, privatisation and liberalisation causing more and more misery to the people. Public Sector Units are being privatised. The present Modi Govt has declared that ‘ business is not the business of the govt’ and is selling the PSUs to corporates for a song. Rights of workers are being curtailed. Working class as well as Kisans are on struggles for existence. P&T workers are also part of this great struggle.
On this 70th anniversary of NFPTE we salute all those leaders and workers who lived and showed a dedicated and militant path for the future generations. Red Salute to those martyrs who sacrificed their valuable lives so that the future generations may live a better life.
( A few copies of the book ‘ HISTORY OF P&T TRADE UNION MOVEMENT’ authored by V.A.N.Namboodiri with introduction by Com.A.K.Padmanabhan, then President CITU and Com. (Late) M.Krishnan, then Secretary General Confederation of CG Employees & Workers and published by Com.R.N.Parashar, SG NFPE are available with CHQ NFPE Delhi for sale).
It was June 1993. The Central Working Committee of the All India Telecom Employees Union Class III was going to be held at Kolkata. Since the revisionists had floated a parallel list of office-bearers and created problems, the deliberations of the CWC was going to be most important. Com.Moni Bose, General Secretary , as is his usual practice, made everything ready for the journey to Kolkata, including printing of Report & Accounts etc.
He contacted the office-bearers and other CWC members in Delhi and nearby circles (states) and planned to travel to Kolkata in the same train. Some will join from the stations on the way. One or two very big steel dabbas with full of rotis (chappattis ), subji (vegetables ),fruits and very tasty sweets were arranged with the help of Com.Raghubir Singh, our office staff, and Ghaziabad Comrades. Water was stored and could be refilled from the stations when necessary . ( Water bottles system not started ). About 20 / 25 comrades were there in the same sleeper compartment. North Indian comrades usually brought food and sweets from home even otherwise. It was a very happy journey.
Next day morning when we reached Howrah Railway station and got down from the train, there were a large number of leaders and workers waiting in the open space in the the platform with garlands and shawls to receive us. All were received with welcome slogans and garlands. Not only the leaders of Telecom, but that of Postal and CG employees were also there. W.Bengal and Kolkata were always a bastion of the progressive section and the reception was an expression of the same.
I had gone to certain places in Maharashtra on organisational tour and was returning to Delhi. The comrades in the last station had said they will purchase my Delhi ticket and handed over the same to me at the time of boarding the train. It was almost 22.00 hours when the train arrived. I got in to the same and the train moved.
I found out my berth in the sleeper coach, sat down and looked at the ticket, before putting it in to my pocket.To my dismay, I found that it was a ticket reserved as a Senior Citizen Concession ticket. At that time 40% concession was available in tickets for those senior citizens of 65 age and above. I was not 65 and was short of a few days for completing 65. The comrade who booked the ticket had not consulted me, but have booked thinking that I am above 65. My pure white hair might have given him that impression.
I felt very embarrassed. At that time, along with the booked ticket, you had to show the Identity Card also to the TTE at the time of checking. My real age will be clear from the Identity Card, exposing that I am not 65. If I am caught with a wrongly purchased concession ticket, it will be a shame both to me and the union. My heart was beating fast with doubts.
After some time the TTE came, checked the ticket and identity card. He looked at me and gave a charming smile and passed on. In that smile, everything was there, that he had found out my lapse, but did not want to punish this white-haired senior citizen, whom he might have thought innocent in the matter, as truly it was. I was relieved. and went to sleep.
After a few months of this incident, the Central government reduced the age for railway concession for males from 65 to 60. The age for concession to women were already 58.
Now the BJP government has discontinued the ticket concession to senior citizens, both men and women , utilising the time of Covid. Despite much pressure from the political parties and senior citizens, the concessions are not yet restored.
While travelling by road in many states like Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chattisgarh etc. you can not find any hotels or shops or even houses for miles together. After an hour or so, you may see a dhaba , usually in a temporary shed. That is the resting place for the driver as also the passengers and for refreshments.
After stopping the vehicle, the first thing is simply lying down on the charpais ( Wooden frames with coir or jute woven bed) and take rest for some time. After 10 – 15 minutes ( according to the requirement) , go to the toilet / wash room, refresh oneself, come back and order food required. Usually the menu will be roti (Chappati), subji and other vegetable dishes. You get it very hot immediately after preparation, which will be very tasty and fresh. There may be other travellers also. Most of the time , there will be customers, with vehicles parked on the road side.
You get refreshed , pay the bill and continue journey. These dhabas will be opened 24 hours. You get the service in night also. They are a great help during long journeys.
I remember one such journey. We were going through Chattisgarh in the night. If my memory is correct, Com. S.C.Bhattachajee, Cicle Secretary, BSNLEU, Com. Atmapoojya and some other comrades were there in the vehicle. The young driver was the son of one of our comrades. Even after two – three hours, we could not find any dhaba or hotel. I somehow wanted tea or coffee. Already we had told the driver to stop at any dhaba. But nothing was to be seen.
After some time, at about 02.00 in the night, the driver stopped the van near a small building which was closed. He went to the front door and knocked. A middle-aged man opened the door and seeing the driver asked us to enter the house. It was a residence-cum-cloth store. His wife also got up and joined. Driver told that we could not get tea on the way. Tea and biscuits were served within no time. They were not irritated at all. Instead they seemed happy to see us and offer tea.
After tea, we got up and continued the journey. We asked the driver how he knew the store-keeper. He told that the store owner is his friend and used to help him in bringing cloth bundles and other necessities from the city for him. Anyway, his friendship helped us.
The tour to the North-Eastern states, called the seven sisters – Assam, Manipur, Arunachal Pradesh, Mizoram, Nagaland, Meghalaya and Tripura – was very difficult in earlier days compared to the present situation. Immediately after the formation of BSNLEU in March 2021, it was decided to organise country wide tours. Tour of North East was part of the plan.
Three telecom circles viz. Assam, NE -1 and NE-2 covered these states. All other six states have border with Assam.
After a hectic tour of W.Bengal and Kolkata in June 2001, started for Silchar (Assam) by flight. There was a grand reception of Silchar Airport by the leaders and workers and two well attended meetings were held there at Telegraph Office and Head Post Office premises.
Aizwal (Mizoram)
Along with Com.S.Lyngdoh, Circle Secretary, T.IV Union, started for Aizwal, capital of Mizoram by bus. On the way, the bus was stopped by All Assam Students Union(AASU) stating that bandh was going on and no bus will be allowed to go. The crowd was very angry and we were afraid of being beaten. But Com.Lyngdoh got down, spoke in the local language and convinced them not to stop us. He was well known to them. A large meting was held at Aizwal which was inaugurated by me and was addressed by Principal of the local college, Prof. Gohain, union leaders Narayan Chakraborty, Prabir Dutta, Swapan Chakraborty and others. There was heavy rain, but meeting was well attended.
Dimapur (Nagaland)
On the way to Dimapur, capital of Nagaland, we could see a few landslides of yesterday night. Being rainy season, we were moving slowly. All of a sudden the driver stopped the vehicle. We could see about half a kilo meter in front, a landslide, huge rocks and mud falling and blocking the road. Had we been two minutes earlier, do not know what could have happened. We returned on the road we came.
Guwahati ( Assam)
Returned to Assam by bus and addressed a well attended meeting at Guwahati, the capital of Assam. Com.M.R.Das and other leaders of all unions also addressed. Another meeting in the divisional office was also held.
Imphal (Manipur)
From Guwahati along with Com. J.N.Mishra,the President of BSNLEU, Comrades Swapan Chakraborty and Prabir Dutta started for Imphal (Manipur ) by bus . It took a very long time going through the narrow roads. Our meeting at Imphal was fixed at about 10.00 hours. We reached the border at about 06.00 hours or so. At the border, there was a military/ BSF checking post. While checking , they found a large number of old coins in two small bags kept at the dashboard of the driver. When questioned, the driver told that he is taking them to give to somebody, in connection with the burial ceremonies, as is a religious custom. BSF was not satisfied and they took the driver to their office nearby for questioning. They clarified that it is a crime to carry such old coins. The bus was stranded there. Passengers were very much worried. It was morning time and people wanted to go to toilets, wash faces etc. But there were no facilities. No water. Everybody anxiously waiting for the driver. About an hour passed by.
We went to the BSF post , where the driver was being questioned. I told the officers that the passengers are much troubled. I requested them that if the driver is to be questioned, why the passengers should be put in to trouble as the bus can continue with the second driver , who is available. They agreed and the bus was allowed to go, while the first driver was kept there.
Due to lack of speed and also the unexpected delay at the BSF post, we reached Imphal only at about 13.00 hours, instead of 10.00 hours. On the way our Imphal comrades have come with a car and taken us. All the employees, including one Account Officer from Kerala were waiting for us at the meeting place. We had not even brushed our teeth, gone to toilet or taken bath, which we wanted first. At the same time , keeping them for much more time was cruel. So, after toilet and a cup of tea, I started addressing the meeting, while others went for morning rituals and breakfast. By the time others came, I had concluded my speech and went for my morning rituals. It was almost evening by the time the meeting was over and we started.
On the way we saw a few cycle rikshas standing on the road waiting for passengers. Their heads were completely covered by clothes and looked like terrorists. I asked our comrades, why they are dressed like that. I was told that the drivers are mostly young people with high education, but due to lack of job opportunity, they are compelled for this job and do not want their identity to be known to the people. Many youngsters used to go in to the army, but for some time Manipur people were denied of military recruitment, due to some unknown reasons.
It was almost night by the time we reached the border to Nagaland. Military personnel blocked us stating that one cannot cross to Nagaland in the night due to obvious dangers. We had to reach Arunachal Pradesh next day. On our continued insistence they allowed us to cross after noting our names and addresses and taking a declaration that we are responsible for any danger that may happen. Fortunately, there was no untoward incident.
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh )
After a very long journey we reached the border of Arunachal Pradesh , but the car was not allowed to cross the border. Anyway, knowing the rules, Comrades from Itanagar have been waiting at the border and took us in their car. Including the top officers of the BSNL , a large numer of leaders and workers were waiting for the meeting. Though the meeting was fixed at 1700 hours due to our late arrival the meeting could start only at about 1900 hours. GS, Swapan Chakraborty, Prabir Dutta and other leaders also addressed.
We returned next day to Tezpur in Assam and with a meeting there completed the tour. Due to heavy rain and bad climate, we could not go to Tripura and Meghalaya this time. But toured there after some time.
The tour clearly showed us the challenges faced by the people of the North East. The area had been completely neglected. Rail connection is not in all states. Job opportunities are less.The continued agitations and protests are natural in such situation. The present conflict in Manipur is also part of this unhappy situation.
The All India Conference of All India Telecom Employees Union Class III held at Bhopal from 24th to 27th December 1991 resulted in a change of the top leadership of the union. Com.O.P.Gupta , who was the General Secretary since the formation of the union in 1954, and his team were defeated in a stiff contest. The progressive section with Comrades V.A.N.Namboodiri as President and Com. Moni Bose, as General Secretary were elected with good margin, despite the revisionist leadership’s attempts to manipulate the election process.
The voting was arranged in the big maidan, where the AIC was being held. The election process took more than one day with more than 3000 delegates participating in the same.
Com. Homi Daji, M.P., the former President of the Union and under whose supervision the election was conducted, had already left the place immediately after announcing the results. Utilising the opportunity, there was an attempt by the defeated leadership with the help of goonda elements to grab the ballot boxes and the votes, in order to destroy the same and to raise a dispute and create trouble. But under the leadership of Com.J.Renganathan, Assistant Election Officer, with the help of election volunteers, defeated the game and all the election materials including the ballot boxes,ballot papers and other connected materials were hastily put in three -four big sacks and kept in a safe place, the office of the Income Tax Employees Federation , Bhopal.
There were doubts raised whether the newly elected office-bearers will be allowed to enter the Union building in Delhi . Where to keep the ballot boxes and the votes safely was another question. It was decided that the newly elected President and General Secretary will stay at Bhopal for two days, attend General Body meetings arranged there and then move to Delhi without informing anybody. Doubts have been raised by certain comrades earlier that the defeated leadership in Delhi may create some problem on our arrival, both at Railway Station and at Dada Ghosh Bhawan, the union headquarters.
Hence we planned our journey meticulously. Com. Ramachandran , State Secretary of ITEF along with the sacks of ballot boxes etc. will accompany us to Delhi. We will not go up New Delhi Railway Station, but will get down at Nizamuddin Railway Station and go to Dada Ghosh Bhawan directly and face the situation there, if any problem is created.
It was a journey with full tension in our mind. Whether we will face black flags in the station ? Whether we will be allowed to enter the Union office ? where we will stay ? With regard to the sacks of ballot boxes, ballots etc. it will be safe as Ramachandran will take it to ITEF office and keep them there.
During our long discussion in the train, we took a firm decision. We are the elected office-bearers and we are going to run the union from the union office itself. If the followers of the defeated leadership try to create problems in the Railway Station or at the Office, we will face it firmly and defeat their game. We are not going to runaway.
Once this decision was taken, there was no need to get down at Nizamuddin Station. The train reached New Delhi Railway Station and we got down with our luggage. Ramachandran had got down at Nizamuddin and gone to his office direct with the sacks.
There was a lot of people waiting for us with red flags and shouting slogans. For a moment we were bewildered thinking what to do. But seeing Coms. Adinarayana, General Secretary of P.IV Union, P.S.Raman Kutty, GS of T.III , N.M.S.Rao, Dy.GS of R.III Union etc. in front of the procession we were overcome with joy. They have come in large numbers to receive us to Delhi and also to ensure that no problem is created by others. A largely attended meeting was held there at the RMS office premises and we were welcomed.
Com.Moni and I went to the Union office, Dada Ghosh Bhawan. There was no problem there also, the former GS Com.O.P.Gupta welcoming us and arranging for our stay etc.
( Yes, there was no problem at that time. But within months, election dispute and many problems were created by the former GS making it a fight for survival and which we faced effectively and advanced. That is another story. The ballot papers became useful to us when election dispute was raised in the court.)
November 2006. The Third Membership Verification for grant of recognition to the non-executive union in BSNL was in process. Leaders of all unions were touring the country, holding meetings and canvassing support from the employees. As General Secretary of BSNL Employees Union, along with other leaders in the alliance I was in Bihar Circle for a two day tour on 20th and 21st November 2006.
The first meeting on 20th was in Samastipur. We had to catch the train to Patna, where a big meeting was arranged in the evening. The meeting prolonged and somehow by the time we reached the station, the express train which we intended to travel had already left. Next was a local train which would take much time. But no other go. Only 70 -80 km to Patna, but delayed due to stopping long time in many stations. Frantic calls coming from Patna asking us to reach immediately as a large number of workers are waiting. The meeting was fixed at 17.00 hours, but by the time we were nearing Patna, it was almost 1800 hours. Coms. J.N.Mishra, All India President, B.P.Singh, Circle Secretary, N.K.Sreevastava, P.N.Jha and other leaders were with me.
Just about one 1 km before reaching Patna Junction, the train stopped for want of signal. I was reading a book and did not notice that others were getting down there, since the meeting hall was near. It was an on the spot decision, as getting down there will save at least half an hour. When they called me to get down, I rushed to the door. By the time, the train has started moving slowly. One comrade who was behind me told not to get down, but go to Patna station and get an auto to the meeting hall. But I was not in a mood to be further late for the meeting. Being winter, the light was dim outside. Anyhow, I jumped down from the slowly moving train to the side of the railway line, which was full of grass.
The jump was perfect and I bent down forward. Had I bent backwards, I would have been under the train. Then only I realised the danger. When I stood up, I saw that my pants and shirt were full of cow dung, on which I had jumped. Our comrades were panicked when they saw me jump. But seeing me covered with cow dung, they started laughing. I told them let us go to the meeting without waste of time. We almost ran and reached the meeting hall. Some of the people had already left. There I cleaned the pants and shirt and spoke for some time. Com.R.P.Singh, FNTO Circle Secretary, presided. By the time the comrade who got down at Patna came back, the meeting was almost over.
The Meeting was saved and I had the satisfaction that I attended the meeting. But I got a clear warning through experience against jumping from a moving train in future.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 