Secular Bengal United against Hindu Imperialism resists Hegemony in Processions,
Meetings on Babri Mosque Demolition Day!Babasaheb`s Paranirvan Divas!
Palash Biswas
Leaders and supporters of 17 Left parties participate in a rally in Kolkata to protest against the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. Photo: Sushanta Patronobish.Thanks the Hindu.
I am not involved in a campaign to get back the Left as rulers of Bengal unless the Left represents all communities beyond identities in its leadership.But I am happy to see the united face of Bengal progressive forces to voice against RSS agenda of Hindu Imperialism.
As the Hindu reports:Calling for a unified fight against communalism, 17 Leftist parties took out a rally here on Saturday to commemorate the demolition of Babri Masjid in Ayodhya in 1992.
Leftist parties, such as the Communist Party of India (Marxist), Revolutionary Socialist Party, All India Forward Bloc, Socialist Communist Party of India (Communist), etc. participated in the rally, which originated at Mahajati Sadan, Chittaranjan Avenue in central Kolkata and ended in the Academy of Fine Arts in Rabindra Sadan area.
Terming the BJP as a hardcore communal party, Left leaders said the demolition of the mosque was an attack on India's unity and an effort to win the confidence of the Hindu vote bank.
The Left parties are the 'backbone' of a unified fight against communalism, leaders said.
Nevertheless,I am not against Mamata Banerjee either.I respect her as an empowered lady who may stand with the victims at any given time which no one in Indian politics dares.Just it is the irony that the lady leading from the front has been hijacked by a Mafia network and it is rather pity that the lady defends the Mafia with all her might since we the people voted in her as the Chief Minister of Bengal.She is also taking head on the RSS hegemony.
I am sure that RSS would not be able to Hinduize Bengal with Buddhist heritage and progressive near past.
The Bahujan samaj is also taking shape in Bengal as silver lining and all men and women from aborigine and indigenous agrarian communities were in the procession from Garia to celebrate Babasaheb`s Mahanirvan Divas.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee (Photo: PTI)
Blowing hot and cold, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday said that her party was ready to pursue the path of cooperation as well as confrontation with Narendra Modi government at the Centre.
"If they extend cooperation we will reciprocate with cooperation; if they adopt the policy of non-cooperation then we will also go for non-cooperation; and if they want to have a fight then we are ready to fight a battle," she said.
Addressing a rally on the occasion of 22nd anniversary of the Babri Masjid demolition, Ms Banerjee also launched a scathing attack against the BJP accusing the party of breaking mosques and vandalising churches.
The Trinamool supremo declared that she was ready to lay down her life to ensure that communal harmony is maintained in the state. She repeatedly accused BJP of inciting riots and declared that she would give the last drop of her blood to protect communal amity and peace in society.
This was possibly the first time in the past two decades that Ms Banerjee addressed a rally on the anniversary of Babri demolition thus clearing her desperation to reaffirm her secular and anti-BJP credentials.
Times of India reports from Ayodhya: Memories of the communal flare-up after Babri Masjid demolition have eclipsed the life and culture of Ayodhya for more than two decades.
For the past seven years, a local group is trying to re-invent the city's image and to revive the tradition of mutual tolerance and brotherhood through a film festival called 'Awam Ka Cinema'. Operating jointly in the hands of a Hindu and a Muslim, the film festival showcases cinema depicting patriotism and documentaries on untold stories of the region's common man.
It usually begins on December 19, the day revolutionary Ashfaquallah Khan was hanged in a jail in Faizabad and his comrade-in-arms Ram Prasad Bismil was executed Gorakhpur in 1927. In this way, the three-day festival celebrates close friendship of the two freedom fighters.
"The atmosphere of Ayodhya and its unique culture suffered a lot at the hands of the Ram Janmabhoomi dispute," said Shah Alam who is making a documentary on Ashfaqullah Khan. "Whether we accept it or not, ties between religious groups got strained. So, we took this initiative because cinema is one of the most potent tools to make one's voice heard," he added.
One of the documentaries produced by the group showed the journey of a cycle mechanic who worked hard to give his son quality education. The son also made his father proud qualifying the medical entrance exam. But before their life could change, the son was murdered during the period of riots. "The aim is to show that no one gains anything in disputes and communal flare-ups. Tragedies do not differentiate," explained Jugal Shastri.
It also made a documentary on Ayodhya's Hanuman Garhi Temple constructed by Nawab Shuja-ud-daulah. "The temple houses a masjid which is maintained by the mandir trust even today. This also profiles how Muslims contribute to the worship of Lord Hanuman through their handicraft, making clothes, selling puja prasad, and making khadau," said A K Sahu, a local resident who looks forward to the festival every year.
Group members added that mandir-masjid dispute has pushed many issues to the margin. "Our festival aims at bringing the focus on real issues such as jobs, health services and educational opportunities to the forefront of public consciousness," he stated.
The group organises similar film festivals in other places such as Mau, Jaipur, Bijnore, Banda, Kargil though Ayodhya-Faizabad remains the epicenter.
The organisation would also pay tributes to film maker Mani Kaul by showing his film 'Satah se Uncha Aadmi' which was screened in the Cannes Film Festival. 'Dharti Ke Laal' would be another film to be shown. Directed by Khwaja Ahmad Abbas, the film is about people stuck in the Bengal famine of 1043.
