June 2015 – CPSTU Convention in Hyderabad on 22nd June. Meeting of AIBDPA HD District on 23rd June. Started from Bengaluru by flight to Hyderabad along with wife Pankajam on 21st. Reached at 14.40 hours. went directly to BSNL IQ. Comrades J.Sampath Rao, CS BSNLEU, Ramachandrudu, CS AIBDPA and other comrades came and made all  arrangements. On 22nd and 23rd attended the progammes which were arranged efficiently. Hyderabad is famous for pearls of all varieties. Wife suggested why can’t we purchase pearl neck laces for our dear grand daughters? Agreed. Mentioned to Com. Sampath Rao. He arranged some lady comrades to come with us. They took us to a famous jewellery shop. Many items of pearl necklaces. We selected 3 light rose coloured twin neck laces. Hard bargaining by our lady comrades and settled for about Rs. 33,000/-  Small bags also gifted to take the same. We were very happy, thanked the lady comrades, rushed to the IQ, packed suitcases and taxi to Kacheguda railway station. We were in time, got in Bengaluru Express. Train started in time about 19.00 hours. Had good sleep. Train reached Bengaluru about 06.00 hours early next morning.

Heavy rush for getting down at the railway station. I was standing in the corridor near the door, but I was pushed away and suit cases fell. After others, we both  got down. Hired an auto riksha, reached daughter’s residence. Wife  opened the suitcase, searched for the pearl neck lace to present it to grand daughter. Lo, there was no neck lace, not even a hint that the necklace was there. Although I was very sure that I had packed the necklaces in the bag from the IQ, I called comrades at HD to find out whether I had missed it there. They checked and told it is not there.

I went to the Bengaluru railway station and gave a written complaint to the Railway Police Force. They asked the details and filed FIR. I had taken the suit case with me and  showed them that though the lock was not broken and suitcase not opened, the position of the lock on the  zip was on one side of the suitcase, instead of the centre as I have put it. The police officer   then told me that it is a clear case of theft and showed me how the thief might  have opened it by a knife or so, probably in the train in the night or while getting down at the station. He also told that they might have planned the theft very meticulously, probably from the time of the purchase itself in Hyderabad watching us coming from the shop.  He said that if any information, he will intimate.

Next day day at noon I got a call from another railway station asking me some more details. But nothing later. I enquired the RPF again, no information they told. I understood that it was lost forever.  My wife was very upset. We were shortly going to London to meet my son and family and two necklaces were for the grand daughters there.

Lost is lost. But it can not stop us presenting pearl neck laces to my grand daughters. I spoke to Com. Sampath Rao and asked him to purchase similar necklaces and send it to me. Fortunately there was a meeting of AIBDPA AIC Reception Committee to be held at Tirupati on 6th July and I was invited to attend. Com Sampath Rao and some other comrades were also  coming. They purchased similar pearl necklaces at the same reduced rate and gave me the same at Tirupati.  I paid the money.

After returning to Bengaluru,  one neck lace was given to the grand daughter. She was happy.

On 12th July me and wife went to London. The other two necklaces were given to the grand daughters there. They were also happy. And we were happy. Then forgot about the loss. Why worry about things lost, when there are so many things to attend?

Red Salute to Com.M.K.Pandhe, the leading light of the working class, on his 9th death anniversary.

The life of Comrade Madhukar Kashiram Pandhe was completely dedicated to the working class and toiling masses. His active public life started from the student days. He became the Secretary of the Sholapur Students Union as early as in 1943 when he was only 18 years old. He joined the undivided Communist Party in the same year and also was elected as the Secretary of the city Committee of Sholapur.

Com. Pandhe was very active in the trade union front from the start. He functioned as the Secretary of AITUC in the 1960s. In the formation of CITU, he took an active part. Com. Pandhe was the General Secretary of CITU from 1990 and became its President from 1999 which he continued till 2010. In uniting the Central Trade Unions to fight against the anti-working class policies of the government, he took a leading role and was one its architect.

Comrade Pandhe was respected by the trade union leaders world-wide. Even though CITU did not affiliate with WFTU until its Congress at Athens in 2010, Com. Pandhe was treated as one of the top trade union leaders globally. His speech was heard with rapt attention in all the Congresses of WFTU.
Comrade Pandhe was elected to the Polit Bureau of the CPI(M) in the 16th Party Congress and continued as PBM till his death.

He was friend, guide and teacher to the trade unions of the Central, State Government employees and others. As the General Secretary of the All India Telecom Employees Union as also BSNL Employees Union later, I had the fortune to be in contact with Comrade Pandhe for a long period, who guided me and other comrades and taught how to strengthen the union and serve the workers to protect their interests. The BSNL Employees Union from its humble position became the biggest union in BSNL as also the only recognised and representative union within a short time. Comrade Pandhe had a big share in this growth.

Com. Pandhe was always available even to the ordinary workers. On each and every issue he could guide and advise comrades like us from his long trade union experience. His vast knowledge in the trade union and all matters was a special phenomena.

In forming the BSNL-DOT Pensioners Association as well as the BSNL Casual and Contract Workers Federation, he gave very valuable advice to us.
Even 10 days back befor his death, he took a class for the BSNL workers despite his failing health. He spoke in detail about the tasks on the trade union front for about one hour which was inspiring and most educative. He always stressed the need for the democratic functioning of the union. Many times he discussed about the failing health of BSNL and the need of the Unions to take initiative to improve the services to the people and strengthen the company. He pointed out how certain other PSUs improved after a steep decline.

At this stage, when we are remembering Com.M.K.Pandhe, the situation in the country is grave with pandemic Covid 19 spreading all over the world. The people all over the world are fighting against this epidemic. In our country, attacks are going on against the working class by increasing the working hours, reducing the gains achieved through continuous struggles. The memory of Com.Pandhe will give us strength and inspiration to continue our struggle.

Red Salute to Comrade M.K.Pandhe!

It was during my stay at Trivandrum as Circle Secretary of E.III Union. I used to come to Calicut as many times as possible, since my wife and small children at Calicut only.

That day I started for Calicut by Trivandrum Mangalore Malabar Express by sleeper coach. Just before train started a young Muslim couple boarded. Side berths. Family friends outside the window to send off. Wedding dress, heavy shining golden jewelleries  – neck chains, bangles, ear-rings – all indicated, a newly wed couple. Probably just after marriage. Train started.

Passengers like me were worried, but could not say anything since they were strangers and enjoying their journey, viewing outside scenery. Just before reaching Quilon, the train stopped in a very small station. It was almost 20.00 hours, the platform was dimly lighted. It was not a regular stop for Malabar Express.

All of a sudden, the girl cried with pain. The young man was running to the door and got down in the platform shouting ‘thief, thief’. We all went to the door. The young man was running towards the back side of the train to catch the thief. Yes, a person from outside the window has broken one or more chains from her neck, and ran away with it.

The train started moving. But the young man has not returned. All of us were worried. The girl started crying. She lost her chain. But where was her husband? We pulled the train-chain. Train slowly stopped. The young man came running back and boarded. The station master came and the matter was reported to him.

The thief has gone with the neck chain/s. Could not be caught. Then somebody spoke in general. The thief might have boarded from Trivandrum it self  and watched for a chance to snatch the chain. Going after such persons in darkness will be dangerous, since they may be daredevils, will be armed and will attack in order to escape. Everybody understood the seriousness of the situation. We all were very sad,  for the couple. It was not only  loss of chain, but much more than that immediately after a happy marriage.

It was a  lesson not only for the young couple, but for all of us.

The Central Working Committee meeting of E.III N Union held at Raipur, the capital of Chhattisgarh, from 5th to 7th April 2000 was very important organizationally as it took various decisions including to publish a Hindi journal by name BSNL Swar, prepare for the membership verification, participate in the strike on 11th May 2000 called by the National Platform of Mass Organisations and holding a Joint CWC of like minded unions.The CWC was inaugurated by Com.Basudeb Acharya M.P., who is always a well wisher of the union.

After a well attended Press Conference, we went to the Indian Coffee House which was nearby in the State Government building complex. Wherever I go on tour, our comrades take us to Indian Coffee House, where you will get south Indian meals, iddli-sambar etc. Though I am not very particular, the local comrades make it a point feeling that it is my choice. Of course there is the pleasure of meeting some Keralites and talking to them in Malayalam, since most of the ICH workers including managers are from Kerala. In almost all the India Coffee Houses you will see a big photo of Comrade A.K.Gopalan  on the wall with a garland. It has got a background. The Coffee Board which was running the Coffee Houses all over India, decided to close them. Com. AKG, then an M.P., took up the issue with then Prime Minister Shri Jawahar Lal Nehru and decision was taken to hand over the same to the workers. The workers formed co-operative societies and operated the Indian Coffee Houses efficiently charging only reasonable prices. I went to the Manager who was a Malayalee, spoke to him and some of the workers. One of them was from Calicut itself. Had tasty meals.

Then started to Delhi by train with other Delhi comrades including Coms. R.S.Chauhan, H.L.Makkar as also some other comrades going to Ujjain, Agra etc. At Nagpur Railway Station we got down for a cup of tea. When we returned, Com. R.S.Fauzdar, Circle secretary UP West, found that his suit case was missing. We all searched here and there, enquired with other passengers. But the suit case was gone. Stolen. There was some money  in the suitcase in addition to dress etc. When you are alone in a journey, you are careful to look after your luggage and other things. But when you are in a company, you become careless.

Com.Fauzdar was much worried. Others discussed together and found out a way. Some money was collected and gave the same to Com.Fauzdar for his own-ward journey from the station, though he protested. I had two suit cases with me. I gave one to him. At least we were able to console him, though his loss was much more. Still, it was only when getting down at Agra and parting from us that we could see a smile on his face, though a sad smile of embarrassment. I hope Com.Fauzdar will excuse me for narrating the story.