My Hearty Greetings to all – Id-Mubarak.
Id-Mubarak
15 Friday Jun 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
109th Birth Anniversary of Com. EMS Namboodiripad
14 Thursday Jun 2018
Posted in Obituary, Tributes
13 June 2018 is the 109th Birth Anniversary of Comrade EMS Namboodiripad, former General Secretary, CPI(M), first Chief Minister of Kerala and one of the most respected ideologue of the Communists. His political life extending about eight decades were closely interlinked with the growth and progress of Kerala. A voracious reader, comrade EMS also wrote many books, articles, reviews, pamphlets etc. which have now been compiled and published in 100 volumes. It is a valued treasure.
He was closely connected with the P&T Trade union movement and attended many conferences of the union, including the All India Conference of the AITEE Union Class III held at Thiruvananthapuram in 1994, where I was elected as the General Secretary of the union.
His strictness for time and timely completion of any work is well known. This I have seen myself. Once I have the opportunity to travel with him from Calicut to Mangalore, where he was to address a meeting of NFPTE. He was continuously writing and by the time we reached Mangalore, he put the same in a cover, wrote the address and told me to post it immediately so that it will reach Chintha next day itself.
An interesting incident also happened. While addressing the meeting at Mangalore Head Post Office on the day, he saw the photo of Babu Tarapada Mukherjee, pioneer of the P and T TU movement, fixed on the wall and asked whose photo it is. When I mentioned that it was the photo of Babu Tarapada, Union leader, he smiled and commented: ‘ so, you have your union leaders’ photo in the Post Office also.’ I mentioned to him also that since there are no place in many Post Offices for holding meetings, we usually hold the same in the office,after office hours.
In his nearly seven decades of public life and revolutionary activities, E.M.S. Namboodiripad left an indelible imprint on the progressive and working class movement of the country. As a young man, he became active in the social reform movement against caste. He left college in 1931 to join the freedom struggle and was jailed in the satyagraha movement. From then on wards, he played an important role in the Congress movement and was one of the founders of the Congress Socialist Party in Kerala. In 1934 he became the all India joint secretary of the Congress Socialist Party. It is in this period that E.M.S. while leading the Congress Party as General Secretary of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Party became acquainted with Marxism. He was one of the five members who formed the founding group of the Communist Party in Kerala in 1936. E.M.S. Namboodiripad represented the coming together of the two streams, the anti-imperialist and the anti-feudal struggles, which laid the foundations for the development of a powerful communist movement in Kerala. He was one of the key proponents of Aikya Kerala which led to the formation of Kerala as a unified linguistic state.
E.M.S. Namboodiripad was first elected to the Madras Provincial Legislative Assembly in 1939. As an important leader of the fledgling Communist Party he donated the proceeds of his landed property to the Party. He went underground building the Party in crucial periods between 1939-42 and 1948-50. He was elected to the Central Committee of the Communist Party of India in 1941. He became a member of the Polit Bureau of the CPI in December 1950 and later its Secretariat. He became General Secretary of the united CPI in 1962.
In 1957, after the state of Kerala was formed in the first elections in 1957, the Communist Party won a majority and E.M.S. Namboodiripad became Chief Minister of the first elected Communist ministry in India. It was the EMS ministry which initiated the path breaking land reform legislation and other democratic measures, till the ministry was dismissed undemocratically in 1959. E.M.S. Namboodiripad became Chief Minister of Kerala again in 1967 heading a United Front ministry till 1969.
E.M.S. joined the leading group from the united Party who formed the CPI(M) and was elected to the Central Committee and the Polit Bureau of the Party at the Seventh Congress of the Party in 1964 and he continued to serve in these positions till his death.
E.M.S. Namboodiripad was elected the General Secretary of Central Committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in 1977 and he led the Party in this capacity till the 14th Congress in 1992 when he stepped down due to ill-health. His leadership in rallying all the Left, democratic and secular forces was invaluable.
E.M.S. was a brilliant Marxist theoretician. He made outstanding contributions to the application of Marxism-Leninism to Indian society and in working out the strategy and tactics of the Indian revolution. His vast body of writings bear the mark of an original and creative mind which mastered the dialectics of Marxist theory. His writings on land relations, Kerala, society and politics and his writings on Marxist philosophy, literature and history — mark him out to be one of the most influential communist thinkers of the country and the world.
E.M.S. Namboodiripad was a rare example of a Communist leader who hailing from a traditional landlord family graduated to become the foremost leader of the proletarian revolutionary movement. He spent three years in jail and six years underground. His was a life of sacrifice and simplicity. He set an example which has inspired tens of thousands of communists all over the country. In Kerala he was a legend in his lifetime
We cherish his memory and our close association with him.Red Salute to Comrade EMS!
Air India – Instead of disinvestment / sale/ privatisation, upgrade and strengthen the National Carrier.
14 Thursday Jun 2018
Posted in General
The Modi government is selling PSUs, one after another, to get some paltry amount as also to benefit the corporates to increase their assets and profits. It is almost as the PSUs are gifted
to private considering the total asset value of the PSU, its bank balance, huge area of land in prime cities etc. But the corporates want the prices to be reduced further more. The fact that no corporate was there for purchasing 76% shares of Air India, underlines this trick.
Instead of disinvestment, sale or privatisation, what is required is to modernise Air India, streamline the functions, take the employees and workers in to confidence and stop the favouritism to private airlines. It is nothing less than a national crime to sell, the pride of the nation, ‘the temples of modern India’ as the first Prime Minister called the PSUs, to the greedy corporates for increasing their profits. The huge bills due by the central government for using the AI by the Ministers, high level officers etc. should be paid immediately.
The political parties and trade unions have a responsibility to ensure that no more PSU is closed or sold or disinvested during the last one year period of the Modi government.
No Railway Coach Factory at Kanjikode, Palakkad – Railway Minister ignores Kerala
14 Thursday Jun 2018
Posted in General
Ignoring Kerala development is the agenda of the Modi Government.
The latest in this series is the statement of the Railway Minister Piyush Goyal that the central government has no immediate plans for construction of the Railway Coach Factory at Kanjikode, Palakkad, which the state government was demanding for a long time and where some initial work had already started.
The justification for the present decision as per Railway minister is that there is no dearth of railway coaches and adequate facilities are already there for the construction of coaches. It is clear that this is a lame excuse to shift the factory to some other states.
Com.M.B.Rajesh, M.P., has taken the issue with all seriousness to the central government.
Global Warming is a warning for the world.
14 Thursday Jun 2018
Posted in General
Several investigations have found out that the continued and increased global warming has become a threat to the mountains and mountains of icebergs in the Antarctica and some of them have started drifting in to the sea. This will mean that they will move again and will start melting which will raise the sea level all over the world submerging the entire coastal areas. It is estimated that since 1992, Antarctica has lost three trillion tonnes of of ice. Oceans are rising by 0.13 inches every year at present. It may increase if the global warming increases and if the massive glaciers of West Antarctica float away and melt, the water may rise up to 11 feet, which will be a big disaster.
But despite all these valid information, US and other developed countries are reluctant to reduce their greenhouse gas which is much higher than the developing countries. They are trying to put the onus on the developing and poor countries. To avoid a catastrophe, all the countries should jointly plan and act for the future generations. (With inputs from The Hindu)
We remember you Com. Kunhanandan!
14 Thursday Jun 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
We remember you Com. Kunhanandan!
It was two years back on this day, 14th June 2016, that you left us, after the fatal disease caught up with you. All were under the impression that you were improving, but fate decided otherwise.
Since your entry in the P and T Department, you have become an active worker of the union and within a few years became a beloved leader of the workers. You were sincere to the core and was never hesitant to express your opinion and point out mistakes, whenever and wherever they occur. Despite family responsibilities, you were always in the front of the activities and struggles. I still remember the various struggles and strikes with your great contribution. I remember your coming to Delhi and staying in the union office helping the CHQ in its most difficult times.
After retirement from service you have taken the responsibility of leading the AIBDPA, the organisation of the retired employees of BSNL as also that of CGPA, the Central Government Pensioners’ Association. Till you vacated the post in the last All India Conference of the AIBDPA due to ill health, you were the All India treasurer. I still remember our discussion at Tirupati AIC when I insisted to you to continue the post and your inability to do so. In fact, at that time I did not have an iota of information that you were not well. It came to my knowledge, when you became seriously ill and was hospitalized.
After retirement from service, you took up many responsibilities as part of your political commitment and earned the appreciation of the people in your area.
Whenever I came to Kozhikode from Delhi, you came to my home either alone or with your son and we had frank discussions. After AIBDPA formation, you took initiative in strengthening it. Kozhikode comrades still mention about the passion with which you wholeheartedly met all and strengthened the organisation.
Of course, you gave similar importance to the family. Your children seemed to be your close friends. Your close attachment to the family is never forgotten. Amidst busy engagements also, you found time to take the family for tours to many important places in India. You were a guide to many friends who wanted to go on tour.
Your life was never wasted. You have greatly contributed to the welfare of your family friends, comrades and the organisation.
We still remember you Com. Kunhanandan, as if you are amongst us. Your life continues as an inspiration for all of us, your family, friends and comrades!
Conspiracy hatched to privatise Air India – 100% share will be sold instead of 75%!
13 Wednesday Jun 2018
Posted in Uncategorized
Despite strong protests from the Central Trade Unions as also the service associations, the government offered 75% share of Air India to corporate. But no private company showed interest in buying this historic PSU, well knowing that the government will come down to their terms.
What was feared has become reality. The government has offered all the 100% shares now for sale. Let us see the Tamasha, but we have to oppose and defeat the move.
Banks reduce NPAs through ‘write off’ of loans
13 Wednesday Jun 2018
Posted in General
The Central government, SBI and the PSU Banks are in for severe criticism for the NPAs (unpaid loans), mainly by the corporates. It has reached more than Rs. 7 lakh crore. It is reported in the press that this NPA is coming down. This is completely bogus news. The government and Banks are stating now that the NPA is being reduced than from last year. T0 reduce the NPA, what the government had did was that it wrote off the unpaid loans. Fine remedy! The corporates need not pay back and they can take more loans. The Central Govt is doing all these thing only to help the corporates and harass the people.
Kerala LDF Government Marches Ahead (13) – Record Appointments
13 Wednesday Jun 2018
Posted in Kerala LDF Government
During the last two years the Kerala Government has appointed 70,000 persons through Public Service Commission and created 13,000 new vacancies. Compare this with the Central Government who have reduced lakhs of posts and instructed ban of creation of new posts. Lakhs of vacancies exist in essential service like Railways. The number of employees in central government has been reduced by more than 3 lakhs during the four year period of Modi Government.
In the state PSUs also new appointments are being made. Abut 14 PSUs, which were in loss during the UDF Government have been made profitable during the Pinarayi Government.
Central and State Govt. Employees to strike on 15th November 2018
11 Monday Jun 2018
Posted in CG Employees
The Convention of the Confederation of CG Employees and workers held at Hyderabad on 10th June has unanimously gave a call to organise a One Day Strike on 15th November 2018, demanding scraping of Contributory Pension Scheme and other 10 point Charter of Demands. The All India State Government Employees Federation (AISGEF ) has also declared strike on the same day.
Main demands are Scrap Contrbutory Pension System and implement Old Pension System for all , honour assurance given by Group of Ministers regarding increase in Minimum Pay & Fitment Formula, Stop Outsourcing of Govt functions and contractorisation , Grant Equal Pay for Equal Work , Settle 10 points Charter of demands etc.
It is a welcome decision. The PFRDA and introduction of PF pension instead of defined statutory pension to central and state government employees have discriminated the new workers. This is not acceptable.
All support and solidarity to the struggle.
VAN Namboodiri's Blog 