30th April 2025 is the 7th death anniversary of Comrade Sisir Bhattacharjee , respected senior leader of the P and T workers., especially the Telecom Factory workers.

Com. Sisirda, as he was respectfully called by the workers, started his job in the P & T Work Shop ( later renamed as Telecom Factory) and was the unquestioned leader of the Industrial and Non- Industrial workers for decades. He was the leader along with Com.K.G.Bose, who through great struggles achieved Festival Advance for the CG employees. Com. Sisirda  was the first Patron of BSNL Employees Union elected in its foundation Conference at Visakhapatnam on 22 nd March 2001. 

I knew him since the 1960s, when I started attending the All India Conferences of the All India Telecom Engineering Employees Union Class III , where he will also be present. At that time he was the General Secretary of the P & T Industrial Workers Union, consisting of thousands of industrial workers employed in the 7 Telephone Factories situated in various parts of India  and the Telecom Stores , Calcutta. It was through the struggles organised under his militant leadership that the Industrial workers could accomplish many achievements. The AIC of Industrial Workers Unions used to be  held along with that of E.III Union. The TF workers considered him as their Saviour.

I used to meet him every time I went to Kolkata along with some of the leaders there viz. Mihir Dasgupta, Animesh Mitra, AdhirKumar Sen, Saibal Sen Gupta, Om Prakash , Biplab Das and others and sought advice. 

His memory will always be a great inspiration to the working class !

Red Salute to Co. Sisir Bhattacharjee on his 7th death anniversary !

The Indian Railways were started 162 years back, on 16th April 1853, and the first train was introduced between Victoria Terminus (Bombay) and Thane.  (The Telegraphs were also introduced on the same day). During the last one and half century, it has grown as the fourth largest railways in the world after USA, Russia and China. It has got tracks of more than 11,500 kms with about 8000 stations.

The Indian Railways have become an important part of the lives of Indian people connecting them with their friends and relatives all over India. It is the cheapest mode of journey for the common people.

But the recent plans of the government for privatisation and PPP in Railways don’t augur good for the future. Instead, the government should try to construct fresh tracks, improve the services and provide more facilities in the railways. It is a national treasure and the biggest provider of jobs. Don’t  jeopardise its future as in the case of Air India and BSNL. The workers in the Railways has a pivotal role to play in strengthening and improving the railways.We have to save railways from the present crisis.

The Telegraphs played a crucial role for more than one and half century, but after the introduction of telephones its importance lost gradually and after introduction of latest technologies, it has almost lost relevance. It is continuing only as a nominal service at present. But the great contributions telegraphs have given to the people will ever be remembered.

B T RANADIVE ( 19.12.1904 – 06.04.1990).

B T RANADIVE ( 19.12.1904 – 06.04.1990).

Today, 6th April 2025, is the 35th death anniversary of Com. B. T. Ranadive, unparalleled leader of the working class and one of the first PB Members of CPI (M). He was the founder President of CITU.

Com. B T R, like many others jumped in to the independent struggle, despite the chance of high academic career. He was elected as General Secretary of undivided CPI. He was jailed several times during independance struggle. He organised workers strike in Bombay in support of Royal Navy Mutiny and also P & T Strike in 1946, which are treated as part of Independance Struggle.

I had the opportunity to meet him several times and also get guidance from him on issues connected with trade union activities.

On our request he agreed to inaugurate the Circle Conference of NFPTE to be held at Calicut. But due to a crucial meeting of the Central Committee of CPI(M) he conveyed his inability to come, but assured that he will send an article to the Conference Souvenir instead, on issues which he wanted to present in his speech. The article was received well in time. It was an extra ordinary inspiring article, which was not only printed in the souvenir, but also in many other union journals.

Another instance also I remember. A top leader of the union in a committee meeting was critical of my organising several local struggles on local issues. BTR intervened and appreciated our line of conducting local struggles, which was a great inspiration for future struggles.

Red Salute to Com. BTR on his 35 th death anniversary!

V A N 06.04.2025

All reactions:

B T RANADIVE ( 19.12.1904 – 06.04.1990).

Today, 6th April 2025, is the 35th death anniversary of Com. B. T. Ranadive, unparalleled leader of the working class and one of the first PB Members of CPI (M). He was the founder President of CITU.

Com. B T R, like many others jumped in to the independent struggle, despite the chance of high academic career. He was elected as General Secretary of undivided CPI. He was jailed several times during independance struggle. He organised workers strike in Bombay in support of Royal Navy Mutiny and also P & T Strike in 1946, which are treated as part of Independance Struggle.

I had the opportunity to meet him several times and also get guidance from him on issues connected with trade union activities.

On our request he agreed to inaugurate the Circle Conference of NFPTE to be held at Calicut. But due to a crucial meeting of the Central Committee of CPI(M) he conveyed his inability to come, but assured that he will send an article to the Conference Souvenir instead, on issues which he wanted to present in his speech. The article was received well in time. It was an extra ordinary inspiring article, which was not only printed in the souvenir, but also in many other union journals.

Another instance also I remember. A top leader of the union in a committee meeting was critical of my organising several local struggles on local issues. BTR intervened and appreciated our line of conducting local struggles, which was a great inspiration for future struggles.

Red Salute to Com. BTR on his 35 th death anniversary!

V A N 06.04.2025

All reactions:

Government of India has once again given a very big concession to Vodafone Idea. Instead of collecting Rs.36,950 crore amount as dues from Vodafone Idea, government of India has accepted shares from that company. This Rs.36,950 crore is spectrum payment dues, to be paid by Vodafone Idea to government of India. Already in 2023 also, Vodafone Idea could not make payment of Rs 16,333 crore, for which, government of India accepted shares from Vodafone Idea. Vodafone Idea is not a government of India company, but still, the government of India is showing unlimited kindness for that company. Presently, government of India has invested totally Rs 53,283 crore in Vodafone Idea and is having a share holding of 48.99%. In fact, government of India is the biggest share holder in Vodafone Idea now. Vodafone UK, which is the original promotor of  Vodafone Idea, is having only 16.1% shares now. However, the beauty is that, government of India, which is having 48.99% shares in Vodafone Idea, is not having any control in the Management of that company. Government of India is not having even a single director in the Board of Directors  of Vodafone Idea. Complete management is with the minority share holders. This is how people’s money is being handed over to big corporates by Modi sarkar.

[Date : 01 – Apr – 2025] Courtesy BSNLEU