Category Archives: History

British M.P. supports the demand to return Kohinoor Diamond to India.

28 Tuesday Jul 2015

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Member of Parliament of UK, Keith Vaz has supported the demand of India for the return of the Kohinoor Diamond, which was taken away by the British during their regime in India. Indian origin Kenneth Vaz stated that he supports the demand and it is appropriate that the Kohinoor be given back during the scheduled visit of Prime Minister Modi to England in November 2015. The Kohinoor Diamond, stated to be the biggest in the world, decorated the throne of the Mughal Emperors.

Not only the Kohinoor, but the precious antiques and the historical memorials taken away by the British should be returned to India. These are part of the Indian history and should be with India.

Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru – The First Prime Minister of India

26 Tuesday May 2015

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51 years have passed by 27th May 2015 after the death of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru in 1964. As the First Prime Minster of India, he had to face many critical issues concerning the governance, the political legacy, international connections and so on. Some times it was felt that he was a socialist, but some other time he was almost a dictator. It was only natural since he was almost the undisputed leader.

The latest disclosure that he kept an intelligence watch on Subhas Chandra Bose and  his family etc. has opened a new debate on his role.

Although not connected with the assessment of Nehru or his government, I may narrate a small incident, when I could meet Prime Minister Nehru. He was visiting Tellicherry and a public meeting was arranged. It was in 1956 or ’57.  The security, black cats, Z category etc. were not at that time. I was working as a Teacher. I wanted to meet Nehru and get his autograph since I used collect such autographs. I tried to go near him, but the party leaders were not allowing. I had a small camera with me. (It was very rare for people to have camera during those periods. This was a camera gifted to me by a German pen friend. ) I pretended to be a press person and with the camera started taking photos. This way I could go near Nehru and get his autograph. When asked for the autograph he signed in the book smilingly.

There is no doubt that Jawaharlal Nehru was a charming personality. Probably, he was the best person to lead the country at that time. We can leave it to the historians to assess the same.

However ” Chacha Nehru” was a hero of the children. At the same time we had the unforgettable experience of the 1960 strike which was suppressed by the Prime Minister calling it “Civil Rebellion” and using all the brute powers of  the government. That also is part of history.

My respectful homage to Jawaharlal Nehru on his 51st death anniversary.

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20th May 1498 – The day and visit that was the starting point of imperialism.

19 Tuesday May 2015

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170px-VascodagamaVasco da Gama’s arrival at Calicut on 20th May 1498 was the starting point which helped the European powers like Portuguese, French and English colonialists to capture India bit by bit. Those who came in the guise of merchants, became the masters within two centuries. India changed in to a colony of the British – its biggest colony by the 18th century.

The sustained struggle for Independence and the favourable situation after the II World War saw India winning Independence of 15th August 1947.

The European powers consider the landing of Vasco da Gama a great day. But for India it was the starting point of losing their freedom.

 

Salutation to the Nurses who kept Aruna Shaunbag alive and nursed for long 42 years!

19 Tuesday May 2015

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It is nothing short of a miracle or the pinnacle of sacrifice and dedication. Three generations of nurses in KEM Hospital Mumbai kept their almost unconscious colleague Aruna Shaunbag alive for long 42 years , after a brutal  assault on her by a Hospital Ward Boy  on 27th November 1973. She died on 18th May 2015, mourned by not only the staff of KEM Hospital, but the entire humanity.

I salute the nursing community, who have once again shown that they are the real inheritors of the ‘Lady of the Lamp’.

19th May – Death anniversary of Comrades P.Sundarayya and E.K.Nayanar

17 Sunday May 2015

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It is very rare that the death anniversary of two great leaders falls on the same day. 19th May is one such day. Com.P.Sundarayya, the first General Secretary of CPI(M) and Com.E.K.Nayanar, PBM, CPI(M) and Chief Minister of Kerala for 3 terms, passed away on 19th May, the former in 1985 and the latter in 2004. Both of them were veteran leaders of the Communist movement, who sacrificed their entire life  for the toiling masses.

We pay our respect and homage two these two great sons of India on their death anniversary! They will always be remembered for their great contribution to the Communist movement and the society.

BJP Government moving towards a neo-fascist rule – Sitaram Yechury

10 Sunday May 2015

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I, along with my wife, got the opportunity yesterday, 9th May 2015, to attend a meeting at Delhi held in connection with the  70th Anniversary of the defeat of fascism. The II World War ended on 9th May 1945, after the Red Army of the USSR defeated nazi army, captured Berlin, the capital of Nazi Germany and hoisted the Red Flag there. It was in memory of this great victory that the meeting was held. There were a large number of people attending the meeting. Only Coms. Sitaram Yechury, General Secretary  CPI(M) and Sudhakar Reddy, General Secretary CPI addressed. It was a meeting arranged by CPI(M) and CPI.

Com. Sitaram Yechury accused the BJP and RSS of trying to bring in a “neo-fascist” system in the India replacing secular democratic republic of the country, “copying” what Hitler did 70 years ago.

“The rise of fascism required spreading hatred amongst majority against minorities. Hitler imbibed such hatred against Jews. Consolidating Aryans, he created the base for fascism.

“Similar process is being followed in our country. In the place of Jews, there are minorities.  BJP is spreading hatred against minorities and consolidating Hindus and playing  politics. This is a complete copy of fascism. They want to finish the democratic republic and bring neo-fascist system in present condition,” he alleged.

The comparison was very clear to the people present. I remembered something in this connection. For many years I had wanted to read “Mein Kampf”, the autobiographical manifesto, written in 1925 by Nazi supremo Adolf Hitler, before he came to power, in which he outlines his political ideology and future plans for Germany. The book was not available, since it was probably banned in India. All of a sudden on one day, I saw the book in the Railway Book Stall at Delhi. I purchased the same. It was after the BJP Government under Atal Behari Bajpaye has come for the first time. The ban on the book have been removed by the government. Naturally.

This is one more instance which connects the BJP Government with Fascism.

Start of the First War of Independence – 10th May, 1857

10 Sunday May 2015

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10th May 1857 is an unforgettable date in the history of Indian Freedom Movement. This was the day on which the Sepoys of Meerut started the revolt against the British, which heralded the First War of Independence, called ” Sepoy Mutiny” by the British. ( Indian Soldiers were called ‘Sepoys’ and Indians were called ‘Natives’ by the British.)

Hundreds of books have been written by the British as well as Indian historians on this great movement in which not only the Rajas, Sultans and Sepoys participated, but the common people also contributed their share. Though the rebels could capture Delhi and many important cities, they could not prevail and succeed against the better ammunition and military power of the British imperialism. The valour and sacrifice of lakhs and crores of people and their leaders like Rani Laxmibai, Tantia Topi, Begum Hazrat Mahal, Nana Sahib Peshwa, Kunwar Singh  and  many others will ever shine in the annals of Indian Freedom Movement.

India got Independence in 1947, within 100 years of the First War of Independence 1857. 67 years have passed after India got political freedom. But it is still to get freedom from hunger and  poverty for about 30-40%of its citizens. The rich has become rich, the poor, the poorer. It is high time for the  great struggle for freedom from hunger and poverty is to be fought. Are the people ready for the same?

 

Russia Celebrates 70th Anniversary of Victory over fascism

09 Saturday May 2015

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The 70th Anniversary of victory of USSR over Fascism was celebrated in Red Square, Moscow, Russia with thousands of people actively participating. A picture

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60th Anniversary of Bandung Conference remembered

25 Saturday Apr 2015

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Bandung (Indonesia), Apr 24 :The distance of 100 meters may not be that long but when over 90 world leaders including 22 Heads of State march in tandem to relive a 60-year old historical conference espousing human rights, sovereignty and equality, the occasion becomes momentous.

Delegates from nearly 90 countries today marched from 131-year old Hotel Savoy here to another historical location “Gedung Merdeka”, which had hosted the 1955 Bandung Conference in which 25 countries including India, under the then Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru participated.

The purpose was to commemorate 60th anniversary of the Bandung Conference and reiterate its values.

Gedung Merdeka (building of Independence) which has now been converted into a museum has laid out same chairs of dignitaries today which were laid out 60 years ago.

Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe were among the some leaders walking on the lane dotted with Dutch heritage buildings. (PTI)

 

Netaji Files should be decalssified and published.

16 Thursday Apr 2015

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The controversies and doubts regarding the death of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose have come up once again with the news that the family has been snooped for long 20 years by the Congress government.

It is utmost necessary that the classified files on Netaji should be declassified and released since a long period has elapsed after 1945 and the people of the country want to know what actually happened. The people has got a right to know the truth.