04 Sunday Mar 2012
After V.I.Lenin, Joseph Stalin is considered as the leader who build the USSR and made it strong in all respects. But decades after his death on 5th March 1953, he is treated by many as a despot who destroyed every body who opposed him.
On his 59th death anniversary, the debate goes on about his role. But one thing is sure that his role in building the Soviet Union can not be ignored. In making the USSR a great power, Joseph Stalin’s contribution is praiseworthy.
28 Tuesday Feb 2012
Posted in BSNLEU, P&T TU History
On 22nd of March 2014, BSNL Employees Union will be completing 13 years. Formed on 22nd March 2001 at the National Convention of Telecom Employees at Visakhapatnam, called by the progressive unions in the newly formed BSNL, BSNLEU during the last 13 years have grown to become as the biggest union. It was the only recognised and representative union in BSNL since the second Membership Verification in 2004 to 2013, till it took initiative for grant of recognition to a second union also.
During the last 13 years of its existence, BSNLEU has been able to achieve two wage agreements for the employees, a new Promotion Policy as also many other achievements. It has taken the lead fight against disinvestment and privatisation and stopped the government from selling its share. It has taken initiative in forming the Joint Action Committee/Forum of the Associations/Unions of Executives and Non-Executives which has organised many struggles and strikes to save BSNL and improve its services as also on the demands of the workers. The workers have rallied around BSNLEU due to its sincere and committed functioning. It took initiative in forming the organisations for the Pensioners (AIBDPA) and Casual, Contract Workers (BSNLCCWF) and jointly fought for settling their issues. BSNLEU has also done its due role amongst the PSU Unions.
Another achievement of the union is the purchase of a new union office building at New Delhi at Shadipur area. The building has been purchased and was inaugurated on the BSNLEU Day, 22nd March 2012. The purchase could be made only due to the whole hearted support of the members throughout the country. The purchase was made by the balance amount in the union accounts and a loan of Rs. 1.5 crore from the bank. CHQ has called for further donations and we are sure that the members will donate generously again to repay the loan. By purchasing the building within 2 years of taking the decision in the Thiruvananthapuram All India Conference, CHQ has been able to fulfil the long cherished dream of the BSNL workers.
We have been celebrating the BSNLEU Day every year by organising some social service like blood donation camps, helping the poor school children by donating uniform and books, kambals and dresses to the poor and old etc. I have no doubt that our Branches/Districts will continue this social service this year also on the BSNLEU Day.
BSNLEU has grown to the present position only with the wholehearted support of our members and well wishers. We thank them and congratulate them ! Let us observe the BSNLEU Day in a befitting manner.
27 Monday Feb 2012
Posted in History, Uncategorized
Today, 27th February 2012, is the 82nd anniversary of the Martyrdom of the great revolutionary and freedom fighter Chandrasekhar Azad.
Chandrashekhar was born on July 23, 1906 in Jhabua district of Madhya Pradesh. During his stay in Varanasi for study he was highly inspired by the Non Cooperation movement of Mahatma Gandhi. He actively participated in the movement for which he was sentenced to fifteen lashes at the age of 15. When the magistrate asked his name, he said his name as ‘Azad’. mother’ name as ‘Bharat Ma’ and father’s name as ‘Swadhin’. Consequently he was called Chandrasekhar Azad. He was the Commander of the ‘Hindustan Socialist Republican Association'(HSRA) which was formed to fight for the freedom of the country. Martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and many other young men were part of this revolutionary army who were fearless and organsied many attacks on the Britishers. The British were really afraid of these revolutionaries. They wanted Azad to be captured and killed. But it was not easy.
Unfortunately, Azad was betrayed and police was informed about his whereabouts. On 27th February 1931 he was surrounded by the British Police in Alfred Park, Allhabad. He compelled his companion to save himself before the police arrived. Standing alone, he fought bravely with the police to the last. When he was dead, it is told, that there were more than two dozen bullets on his body. The British were so worried about the reaction from the people that they even completely cut and rooted out the tree where Azad fought against the British and was killed.
Chandrasekhar Azad became a martyr at the young age of 25 fighting for the country. He was one of the bravest and fearless revolutionaries, who till the last, fought the British and was an inspiration and icon for an entire generation of youth.
Red Salute to Chandrasekhar Azad on his 82nd Martyrdom day!
24 Friday Feb 2012
Posted in History
The Birth Centenary of Comrade P.Sundarayya, the builder of Communist Party and movement in South India and the supreme commander of the historic Telengana struggle and the beloved leader of the toiling masses will be observed from 1st May 2012 to 1st May 2013. Comrade Puchhalappalli Sundarayya was born on the 1st May 1913. His entire life was spent to serve the people. He was the first General Secretary of the CPI(M). He was a Member of Parliament. His simplicity is well-known. His Birth Centenary Celebrations will naturally focus on his service to the people of this country and to the communist movement.
15 Wednesday Feb 2012
Posted in P&T TU History
Comrade N.J. Iyer was one of the stalwart leaders of the P and T Trade Union movement and the General Secretary of the All India RMS and MMS Union Class III for long period. He continuously fought against the revisionist line of Com. Om Prakash Gupta and was the leader of the progressive section of the P&T workers along with Comrades KG Bose, Adinarayana and others. He converted the RMS union a militant union and gave leadership to many valiant struggles of the Central Government employees. His simple life, high ideals and no compromise with the reformists and vacillators was appreciated much. I had very close contact with him for more than 40 years. He vacated the post of General Secretary for the next generation and lived at Nagpur, his original place after vacating the union post. Till his death, he continued close contact with the organisation. He passed away on 13th February in 2000.
On his death anniversary, I pay my respectful homage to him. Red Salute to Com.N.J.Iyer!
10 Tuesday Jan 2012
Posted in Obituary, Tributes, P&T TU History
Comrade K.K.Tiwari, former Financial Secretary of the AIRMS &MMS Union Class III and later working in the AKG Bhawan passed away yesterday ( 9th January). The cremation was also took place yesterday itself. Many old friends and comrades participated.
Comrade Tiwari was a committed and dedicated leader. It was Comrade N.J.Iyer, veteran P&T leader and then General Secretary of the AIRMS&MMS Union, who brought comrade Tiwari to the All India position in the All India Conference held at Allahabad in 1980. He continued in the post till his retirement. He fully deserved the same.
Only two days earlier, I met him at AKG Bhawan while taking food in the canteen. We exchanged greetings. I enquired about his health also. He was happy to hear that the BSNLEU has purchased a building of its own. I never thought that we will not be meeting again. Yesterday again when I had gone to the AKG Bhawan, there I got the sad news that comrade Tiwari is no more. As soon as I got the information, I sent SMS to our common friends intimating the sad news.
My respectful homage to the departed leader. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family, friends and comrades.
02 Saturday Jul 2011
Gold, silver, priceless stones and artifacts and antiques worth more than Rs. 30,000 crores have been found in the secret vaults of Shri Padmanabha Temple, Thiruvananthapuram when a team appointed by the Supreme Court opened the same. All the newspapers are full of details about the same.
The question is this? What is going to happen to these treasures? Who will be the owners? And who will safeguard their safety?
01 Friday Jul 2011
The beloved POst Card has completed long 132 years. Even after all the latest communications like mobiles, fax, Internet etc. have arrived, the poor people in our country still depend upon the Posts for their communications. And the Post Card is the cheapest. There is no need for paper or separate stamp for the Post Card. With 50 paise Post card you can communicate in few worde what you want to convey to your friend or relative.
I do not know what was the price of the Post Card when it was first introduced on 1st July 1979. It might have been very less. Even after a century it is only 50 paise. The Department of Posts is incurring heavy loss on each card that is purchased and posted. But still it can not stop it because it is the committment to the poor people.
I remember two top political leaders of the country at this juncture ; Comrades EMS Namboodiripad and C.Achutha Menon, both former Chief Ministers of Kerala and leaders of the CPI(M) and CPI respectively. I had the opportunity to write them letters on some issue which I do not remember now. But within four-five days, I got reply from both. In their own handwriting, they have replied in Post Card. It was a great lesson for me in many ways.
Let the Post Card continue with its lowest prices for the poor people of this great country.
25 Saturday Jun 2011
Posted in History
The new generation born during the last three decades did not have the bitter experience of the Draconian Emergency declared by the Indira Gandhi Government on 25th/ 26th June 2011. It is 36 years since the Emergency was declared.
The Indira Gandhi Government was under attack for its anti-people measures. The brutal suppression of the 22 days Railway strike in 1974 was an indication of what was to come. In between, the Allahabad High Court cancelled the election of the Prime Minister Indira Gandhi to Parliament. And on another side, Jayaprakash Narayan’s movement started which grew in to an avalanche churning the entire country. Indira Gandhi did not see any way to meet this challenge and declared National Emergency in the midnight of 25th/26th June, arresting all opposition leaders, trade union functionaries and others who were opposing the congress regime. BJP, CPI(M) and all other oppositions were the main targets.
The emergency prohibitted and suppressed all kinds of protests and democratic rights of the people. The newspapers were gagged. Without screening by the government censors, no paper could be published. Meetings, demonstrations – all were prohibitted.
I was in the train along with a few other comrades going to Delhi from Kerala to attend a Convention of the Central Government Employees and Workers to chalk out agitation programmes on the urgent demands of the workers. On alighting at New Delhi Railway Station we found that there were a large number of police personnel and there was complete silence and hushed voices only. Some comrades from Delhi came to us and told that National Emergency has been declared by the Government and it is not safe to stay where our accommodation was arranged. We were taken to the residence of comrade Jyothirmoy Basu, CPI(M) leader and Member of Parliament at that time. He had already gone underground to escape from arrest. After reaching there, our comrades told about the explosive situation under the draconian emergency. We were told not to go outside,for the fear of being arrested. Comrade Jyothirmoy Basu came in the night about 03.00 AM or so, took out some dresses etc. and left through the back-door by which way he had come.Later he was arrested and
However, I went to No.4, Ashoka Road,which was the bunglow allotted to Comrade A.K.Gopalan, M.P. I met Comrade Narikutty Mohanan there who was the Delhi correspondent of Deshabhimani. Incidentally at that time a call came from Ernakulam Exchange.There were no mobile phones at that time.Even STD was not available.Every trunk call was to be connected by Exchange only. It was fortunate that Comrade K.Prabhakaran, well known P andT leader called at that time. Since all press news were completely barred and communications through telephones and fax were all censured there was no opportunity for Narikutty to give a report to the Deshabhimani in Kerala. When Prabhakaran contacted I asked him to connect Deshabhimani and Narikkutty gave detailed report about the declaration of emergency the list of the arrested leaders and other information. And in the next day Deshabhimani, all the news came with photoes of the arrested leaders and a strong editorial. I was told later that Narikkutty was taken in to custody and questioned, but the police could not find how the news reached Ernakulam Deshabhimani, because there were no records of fax, trunk call etc.
On 28th I walked through the Rafi Marg on the side of which is the Mavlankar auditorium where the CGE convention was to be held next day. The entire area was cordoned and a large number of police were there.The convention was already banned and the leaders were compelled to cancel it. So the first taste of emergency for me was in Delhi only.
Later, so many leaders of CGE movement were arrested and put in jail till the end of emergency. Com. Prabhakaran was one among them. I was taken in to custody twice during the emergency and questioned a whole night.
In the General Elections in 1977, the Congress was routed out. For the first time in India a non-congress government came in to power consisting of almost all opposition parties which won with thumbing majority. The Shah Commission which was appointed to enquire in to the Emergency excesses gave a true picture of what the nation and the people suffered during the Emergency.
No Indian wants a recurrence of that draconian Emergency.
22 Wednesday Jun 2011
Posted in History
Adolph Hitler, with his Nazi leaders and the mighty invincible army attacked the young USSR on this day in 1941, 70 years back. After conquering the nearby states, he turned his war machine towards Soviet Union. That was the day he started digging his own grave.
Nazi army moved fast conquering city and village one after another. But the entire people of towns and villages either shifted to interior places or turned to guerilla warfare. The army factories and manufacturing units were all shifted back to places where Nazis have not reached. The Nazi army even reached to Moscow, the capital of USSR. More than 27 million soviet men and women lost their lives in defending the country.It was here that the pitched battle started, street by street, inch by inch. The young Soviet Union might not have the arms, ammunition and the mighty war machine Hitler has got, but the determination and sacrifice of the Soviet army in pitched battle started pushing the Nazi army backwards inch by inch literally. Nazis had to retreat with big losses.
The rest is history. Nazis had to retreat and retreat. After years of terrible fight, on 2nd May 1945 the Soviet Army utterly defeated Hitler and after capturing Berlin, the capital of Germany, hoisted the Red flag on the Reichstag. HItler committed suicide. Japan was also defeated shortly. Thus the second world war came to an end.
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