ELECTRONIC VERSION PRINT COPY NOT AVAILABLE

Volume 54 No. 6 Organ of the SOCIALIST UNITY CENTRE OF INDIA (COMMUNIST) Subscription Free November 1, 2020 Founder Editor-in-Chief : COMRADE Distributed via Internet LongLong LiveLive Epoch-MakingEpoch-Making NovemberNovember RevolutionRevolution AndAnd ItsIts ArchitectArchitect GreatGreat ComradeComrade LeninLenin “The liberals have always said that bourgeois parliamentarism destroys classes and class divisions, since the right to vote and thethe rightright toto participateparticipate inin thethe governmentgovernment ofof thethe countrycountry areare sharedshared by all citizens without distinction. The whole history of Europe in thethe secondsecond halfhalf ofof thethe nineteenthnineteenth century,century, andand thethe wholewhole historyhistory ofof thethe Russian Russian revolution revolution in in the the early early twentieth,twentieth, clearly clearly showshow how how absurd such views are. Economic distinctions are not mitigated but aggravated and intensified under the freedom of “democratic” capitalism. Parliamentarism does not eliminate, but lays bare the innateinnate charactercharacter eveneven ofof thethe mostmost democratic,democratic, bourgeoisbourgeois republicsrepublics as organs of class oppression.” (V(V II Lenin,Lenin, ‘Marxism‘Marxism andand Revisionism’,Revisionism’, pp 36)36) Call of Secretary Comrade on the eve of 103rd anniversary of Great November Revolution Dear Comrades to earn maximum profit, perpetuate maximum economically, politically and culturally that it could You are quite aware that the 103rd exploitation of the laboring people by running their provide jobs to all, abolish unemployment-hunger- anniversary of the Great November Revolution is grinding wheel of oppressive machine crushing begging, nationality and ethnic conflicts, remove approaching at a time when, on the one hand, not the lives of billions. inequality between men and women and provide only people of our country but the entire world Scientifically analyzing long back, Great Marx cheap essential articles, freedom and democratic population are still in the grip of the unending and Engels had danger of Covid-19, which has already claimed forewarned the lives of the lakhs of people and, on the other inevitability of this hand, further intensification of unprecedented disastrous outcome of recession has made almost more than half of the capitalist economy and world population retrenched, unemployed pushing called upon the workers lakhs of people to starvation and death. of the world to unite to In a word, entire mankind is faced with an organize revolution, and unprecedented crisis. It is evidently clear that replace capitalism by first wide spread of this dangerous virus and loss of phase of communism, i.e. so large a number of human lives could have been socialism. checked if imperialist-capitalist rulers had acted Great Lenin and promptly going beyond their profit- making Stalin got this mission economic interest and provided adequate materialized by organizing healthcare by curtailing ever increasing military November Revolution budget. and build up, for the first It is also known that economic recession and time in human history, a society free from all class rights to working people, free education and its associated problems are inevitable outcome of exploitation and oppression, a socialist society medical care for all etc. Further, this socialist the imperialist-capitalist economy, where based on concrete application of Marxism- country proposed to abandon arms production and capitalists, monopolists, multinationals, in their bid Leninism which became so much developed Contd on page 4 Make Success 26 November All India Strike Called by Ten Central Trade Unions including AIUTUC and Various Employees’ Federations against anti-working class, anti-peasant policies of Modi government PAGE TWO NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PROLETARIAN ERA Ethics and capitalism Truth Eludes the Bourgeois Liberalists

The all-out crisis of capitalism further thrives on ‘profit without responsibility’ and ‘the held as the only reliable agency for generating aggravated by the Covid-19 Pandemic has market does not provide protection against wealth. Between 1945 and 1970, West European pushed the advocates and admirers of capitalism exploitation, it has no ethics or soul.’ Capitalist countries going by Keynesian ideas, apparently into a still more severe crisis. They are in a fix. greed has killed millions with cold indifference. Is experienced prolonged periods of economic They can neither deny the truth, nor admit it. greed in capitalism not a vice then? Picking up growth with a so-called welfare system for They can neither ignore Marxism-Leninism, nor instances from other walks of life, some experts citizens to be sustained by taxes. dare to accept it. What they end up doing, often allege that during the present Covid-19 pandemic, But during the 1970s, even those apparently turns out to be a funny and pathetic mix-up of corporate hospitals are now ‘perceived by many welfare-oriented Keynesian prescriptions started contradictory scribbles. as businesses that are only interested in cash to crumble. The experts could not but admit this For instance, one noted columnist starts from flow’ where ‘chances of surviving a viral attack end, which was inevitable, but they accepted it with Adam Smith regarded as founder of bourgeois are directly proportionate to the size’ of the a heavy heart. The results were: declining growth economics in the 18th century. From Smith, he patient’s bank balance. (Free market is great but rate, stagflation, shoddy nationalisation and lays down ‘simple tenets’ of capitalism, namely not when a patient’s survival depends on it in ascendance of unscrupulous global financial pursuit of self-interest, division of labour and free , 27 September 2020). intermediaries, that is preponderance of usurer trade and asserts that pursuit of and furthering Is it not greed then a vice? capital playing havoc in the stock markets etc. All self-interest is a basic human instinct (Capitalism Greedy or not, vicious or virtuous, the these continued and aggravated, despite much- and Ethics by G Bhattacharjee in capitalist world was overjoyed with the debacle of trumpetted austerity measures, pushing the masses Kolkata, 20 September 2020). And then those the socialist countries. Their advocates noted into more and more privation, on the one hand, and subscribing to the same view proceed to say that “After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Francis privatisation as well as swelling the monopolists’ profit, or ‘call it greed’ emanates from this basic Fukuyama triumphantly proclaimed .... humanity wealth, on the other hand. Capitalism has become instinct. It is the primary driver of all economic has reached the end of history .... Western liberal ‘morally bankrupt’: so do the experts and activities ( italics added). In capitalism, economic democracy ...the final form of human advocates say, obviously admitting another reality. activities are motivated by the ‘yearning for more government”. (Bhattacharjee , ibid) But again To come out of that bankruptcy, to get rid of profit’, because capitalism thrives on ‘profit’. It the reality stands in their way. So they had to the tax-barriers which they had once created is in capitalism that ‘higher greed begets higher admit that the utopia of Western liberal themselves for the sake of development of profits’. And then comes the conclusion that in democracy, meaning bourgeois democracy in capitalism and which had subsequently become capitalism that ‘yearning for more profit is not capitalist countries, has turned into ‘a thorns in the necks of the capitalists by that time, a vice’. So, greed is not a vice then. cannibalizing dystopia of unfettered greed and capitalism floated the doctrine of globalisation as spiralling inequality’. Even Pope Francis in his the catchword by the end of the 1980s. It shifted Material base of ethics and morality latest encyclical, that is in his letter to the the focus from ‘unsustainable’ state welfarism to History teaches us that inexorably nature and Bishops, had to admit that the Catholic Church deregulation, accompanied by ‘disruptive society are law-governed. Naturally, it is true in doctrine which justifies ‘war as a means of economic reforms’, ‘restraining the the case of capitalism as well. Here the very legitimate defence’ was no longer viable. He Government’s role to only a facilitator’, that is motive of production or the basic law is to earn further criticized the ‘perverse global economic pushing the governments to the back-seat, and maximum profit. This profit accrues by way of system’ because it enhances discrimination. But ‘relinquishing control of production’ back to the appropriation of surplus labour power by the such denigration of capitalism throws their own private sector, even handing over crucial service capitalists owning the means of production. This existence at stake. So, some of these critics and public welfare sectors, like education, health profit hunt generates inequality and deprivation. tried to compensate by saying that capitalism and such other vital ingredients of human life and And as we know, spiritual production is is capable of generating ‘mass prosperity’. That society, to the private operators as newly opened determined, shaped and patterned by material means, inequality or discrimination could favourable ground of profit-hunting. But even production so, the inherent inequality and engender and be balanced by mass prosperity. A by piggybacking on technological revolution and deprivation in the economic base of capitalism is queer proposition indeed! What is the reality? We globalisation of the markets to satisfy unending also manifested in its superstructure or sphere of shall come to that later. greed, the nemesis of the economic meltdown of mental production including the concepts of 2007-09 could not be prevented. This once again ethics and morality. It means that capitalism Reference to history without recognition of pointed to the ‘inherent flaw of capitalism sans thrives upon the unjust appropriation of surplus historical reality ethics’. This was what the experts could labour of workers, rather the entire toiling In course of these twists and turns, the flag- conclude. The globally integrated economic order masses, it lives its lavish life based on depriving bearers of capitalism decide to refer selectively to soon started collapsing on itself. and discriminating the working people and history. They could not ignore the Great usurping what is due to them. That is why, Marx Depression of the 1930s and hold the ‘failure’ of Turn of events during Covid 19 prove once elaborated that the struggles of the working laissez faire capitalism as a cause. But was it baffling for ‘balancing’ columnists class are never fight for some wage increase, or not the reality that by the time capitalism had got It was during this collapse that the Covid 19 comfort or some such things. The kernel of all into the Great Depression, it had crossed the pandemic came. Even the columnists who hitherto those struggles lives in the fight for regaining the stage of laissez faire long back and had been eulogized free market as great could not but self-esteem, for fighting against the injustice, for entrenched into the stage of monopoly and even allege that during this pandemic, survival and standing up against any deprivation and its highest and moribund stage of imperialism? bank balance were directly coupled. As apologists discrimination. The question of ethics and morality Monopoly, market crisis, finance capital, of free market, such columnists had to put forth need be judged on the anvil of this understanding. international trusts and cartels, imperialism and the argument that ‘when you call a hospital imperialist greed for global supremacy had ‘corporate’... it is a business... a good business Inability to grasp the basics leads to riddle developed long before that. will always look after the interests of its The Statesman columnist referred above The experts or columnists had to again admit shareholders’. So ‘the hospital is doing nothing recognizes capitalism and also agrees that it thrives that ‘Keynesian welfarism’, a new post-war immoral in providing beds to only those who can on profit. But he fails to or avoids recognizing how panacea, was evolved to save capitalism in the afford to pay’. But then they infer that in a profit is generated. And thus creeps in the ideas of face of challenging achievements of socialism. As ‘global medical emergency over which one has no basic instinct, greed etc. to explain profit. The advocates of capitalism, they also elaborated that control’, no ‘one should be made to choose failure or non-recognition of the very origin of profit Keynesian theory had emerged strongly, between possible death and seeing his or her life’s leads such writers to a riddle. emphasising social democratic principles of savings vanish in days’. Once they say free Reality draws him to say that capitalism regulating the market, which was held and is still Contd on page 5 PROLETARIAN ERA NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PAGE THREE In ‘Democratic’ India, Honest Journalism is under Attack In a parliamentary debate in autonomy of the media, more and reported by it in the recent period. that be. While delivering the 2020 1787, on the opening up of press more control of moneybags over not The Editors Guild of India said it BG Verghese Memorial Lecture on reporting of the House of Commons only mainstream media, both print was dismayed and concerned over ‘Preserving and Protecting of Great Britain, Edmund Burke, a and electronic, but newly emerged the “vindictive manner” in which our Fundamental Right to Protest’ member of that House, attributed social media networks as well. government and its administrative organised by the Media Foundation, the term ‘Fourth Estate’ to the press Alongside, driven by its sinister class agencies have acted against truthful Former SC Judge Madan B Lokur (news media). The three wings of necessity to misrepresent facts and journalism recently. In another said that one of the worst forms of any capitalist state with a suppress truth so that the murky incident, Jammu and Kashmir curtailment of the freedom of parliamentary democracy in place face of dying capitalist system, the authorities have sealed the Srinagar speech is charging a person with are the legislature, executive and various misdeeds of those at the office of The Kashmir Times, one sedition. “Authorities found various judiciary with their respective helm of power and the surfeit of of the region’s oldest and most ways of ‘weaponizing’ it to curb free delineated jurisdictions. The term aberrations, deprivations, deceptions, prominent English-language press as well”, he added. It is also ‘Fourth Estate’ was used to view the injustice, and repression, do not , on 19 October last. pertinent to recall that the Madras status of news media or press as a surface. So, the ruling monopolists “Today, Estates Department locked High Court had in October 2018 fourth branch of parliamentary have been trying in every possible our office without any due process made a strong case in favour of democracy. The concept stemmed way to gag the voice of truthful of cancellation and eviction… freedom of the press and media, from a belief that the media’s journalism which seeks to unravel Vendetta for speaking out! …How observing that “India is a vibrant responsibility to keep common truth, promote transparency, expose peevish!,” twitted Anuradha Bhasin, democracy and the Fourth Estate people informed of the ongoing reckless abuse of power by the executive editor of the . is indubitably an indispensable happenings and developments in the members of the ruling dispensation Regretting the incident, The part of it. If the voice of the various fields was essential to the as well as aforesaid three wings of Kashmir Editors Guild (KEG) said in Fourth Estate is stifled in this healthy functioning of democracy. the bourgeois state machinery a statement that “In the last 10 manner, India will become a Nazi Since information is the key, the and protect fundamental civil and years, successive regimes have State, and the hard labour of our informed citizens, considered democratic rights of the common created a very unpleasant history as freedom fighters and makers of sovereign in the founding principles toiling people.That is the reason that far as operations of the media in our Constitution will go down the of parliamentary democracy or in capitalist India, attack on free Kashmir is concerned. Preventing drain.” bourgeois democracy were expected media, which once was viewed as a circulation of newspapers, to play their due role in governance staple of democracy, is so glaringly blacklisting the newspapers from Arm-twisting tactics to bully of a republic by voicing their desires manifest. getting government advertisements media into submission and opinions based on facts. But First of all, with most of the in Srinagar and Delhi, and Next is the rising attack on the those were the days of rising media houses now being owned by interrupting negatively in the routine journalists and camera persons of capitalism and period of putting in the monopoly houses, they have operations have adversely impacted the media houses. A few days back, place adequate ‘check and become an instrument of the the media. These are in addition to Sidhique Kappan, a contributor for a balance’in governance in ideological apparatus of the the issues that reporters face on a popular Kerala-based website, and parliamentary democracy, the ruthlessly oppressive ruling daily basis while gathering three others who had gone to political superstructure of capitalism. capitalism. Hence, an unwritten information.” Many other TV Hathras, UP, to cover the horrific The role of the press or news media censorship on news reporting is channels as well as news magazines rape and murder incident of a 19 was thus perceived to be a part of getting in-built in the system. With like NDTV, the Quint, Citizen and year poor dalit girl were arrested in the process of this ‘check and dominance of corporate barons over Caravan have been cuffed with Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura over balance’. With passage of time, media houses, journalism, considered frivolous cases reportedly filed just alleged links with an organization following the inexorable law of to be an ethical communicative to embroil the targeted media in which the Yogi Adityanath-led BJP social development, degeneration of practice in a healthy democracy, as endless litigation that they could ill government of UP wants to be capitalism premised on exploitation well as the freedom of press so afford or to enable the law banned. KN Ashokan, editor of a of man by man and hence the eulogized once as the “Fourth enforcement officials to turn up in popular website inherent inequality in it became more Estate”, is now in thraldom of pursuit of obscure cases with a view Azhimukham, who worked with Mr and more pronounced. Obviously, money power. Secondly, many news to harassing and intimidating the Kappan told: “He is a contributor systemic erosion of democratic agencies known for authentic concerned media houses. “We are with our website. As far as my values and subversion of the circulation of updates of happenings facing a dozen defamation cases knowledge goes, he does not have proclaimed codes of parliamentary in the real world are either being from some of India’s most powerful any such links …He informed us democracy also began to take place dwarfed or banned. Just the other businessmen in which they are yesterday (Monday) morning that in tandem. When capitalism reached day, Prasar Bharati, the Public seeking Rs 11,450 crore, or $1.5 he was going to Hathras. After that the stage of imperialism, the highest Service Broadcaster of the country, billion worth of damages! Read the we were trying to reach out to him, stage of development in the decided to end its present list, it’s a who’s who of the but we could not. We got to know beginning of the twentieth century, it subscription with Press Trust of government’s backers: Industrial about the detention from reports.” lost all its progressive role, turned India (PTI) and United News barons like Gautam Adani, Anil The Kerala Union of Working utter reactionary and corrupt and ofIndia (UNI), two reputed news Ambani and Subhash Chandra, BJP Journalists (KUWJ) has filed a posed a stumbling block before agencies whose feeds are valued as MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar, Hindu habeas corpus petition in the social progress. From then onwards, authentic not only in the country but spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravishankar Supreme Court against the arrest of the barest precepts of parliamentary also abroad. Sources in the Prasar and BJP president Amit Shah’s son, Sidhique Kappan. In Manipur, a democracy are being trampled Bharati board are reported to have Jay Amit Shah”, said Siddharth journalist has been sent to prison for underfoot. Now, the very term told that the decision was taken to Varadarajan of The Wire in his a year under an administrative order democracy in dying capitalism has rationalise the Doordarshan (DD), Reuters Memorial Lecture in for allegedly using harsh language in become a mockery— with merely the government Television network, February 2019. In fact, growing a Facebook video that was critical its facade stripped of all its essence, and All India Radio’s (AIR’s) resort to legal means – sedition law, of the prime minister and the state remaining. “expenditure on news agencies”. the Official Secrets Act, Strategic chief minister. A TV journalist was But a section of the media is of the lawsuit against public participation recently arrested in Odisha on Assault on freedom of media opinion that PTI has incurred (SLAPP) suits etc. – as well as charges of circulating an obscene This brief introduction has been displeasure of the Prasar Bharati, many other extra-judicial means are video, which OTV, his employer, has considered necessary to understand or for that matter, the central reported to be used as a way of alleged to be a ploy to target the the socio-historic cause behind government, because of some of the penalising individuals and media who journalist for his work exposing systematic curtailment of the “discomforting” news covered and refuse to fall in line with the power Contd. on page 4 PAGE FOUR NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PROLETARIAN ERA Journalism Legal and extra-legal overkill being used to intimidate journalists and subvert autonomy of media Contd. from page 3 are threatened with legal notices and first ascertaining the true factual relegated to the back, if not dropped some wrongdoings of the BJD-led other forms of bullying the moment position from the separate altogether. Also, sometimes artificial state government. The Editors’ there is an ‘uncomfortable’ report. mechanism provided by the central sensation is created over some Guild believes that such actions Extra-legal pressure on media government”. Also, just before the inconsequential incidents or topics so threaten, as well as undermine the agencies and journalists who try to announcement of the nationwide that people’s attention could diverted independent functioning of the media remain out of the clutches of lockdown, the prime minister from the real issues. These all are organisations. This kind of legal and regimentation perpetrated by the reportedly called upon the owners done to comply with class dictates extra-legal overkill has also been capitalist state and its servitors is on and editors of the mainstream print and class desires of the ruling used across the country to arrest the rise. It bears recall that World and electronic media of the country, monopolists thereby militate against and intimidate ordinary citizen-critics Association of Newspapers and who control most of the news the very ethics of journalism. – individuals who would otherwise News Publishers, the global coverages at the national and be celebrated as ‘citizen journalists’ organisation of the world’s press, in regional levels, and asked them to Victimizing the journalists and who use social media to voice a detailed report some years ago support government efforts to It is not uncommon for individual sharply critical, or satirical, views slammed the pernicious practice of combat the pandemic and also reporters and columnists to be against the ruling “abusive allocation of government advised them to present “positive subject to death threats either. Even establishment. Two English dailies advertising to reward positive news” related to COVID-19. Plainly the journalists who dare to honestly with their ground-level investigative coverage, and punish critical put, they were advised to abide by bring out the truth are also wiped out reporting (one of which is known for coverage is doubly pernicious, as the official narrative and present by the establishment and its its investigative news stories) taxpayer money and public wealth is information as provided to them by hirelings. Gauri Lankesh, a covered the plight of the migrant used and abused to promote partisan the government about COVID-19. courageous editor in Karnataka who labourers in suddenly clamped Covid or personal interests”. This, it said, is Which media houses would follow was a staunch critic of the doctrine 19-induced lockdown with more nothing but “soft censorship”. India government diktat rather than of Hindutva and communal politics empathy. Many others also is no exception to this malevolent investigating the real state of affairs, was gunned down two years ago attempted to show the disastrous practice. unless they have associated allegedly by a Hindu fanatic reality following the abrupt decision The governments are found to business interests? This reveals how group.”I was told in May 2017 I to impose lockdown. But they all be not ready to listen to any rational the “Fourth Estate” is “honoured” in had to kill someone to save my faced the wrath of the government. criticism. In fact, the central capitalist India. Likewise, it is often religion. I agreed”, confessed the Many journalists are denied access government sought a direction from seen that a large section of accused who pumped in four bullets to specific information or simply the Supreme Court on 31 March mainstream media gives inexplicable into Gauri. Shujaat Bukhari, editor- barred from entering certain offices that “No electronic/print media /web priority to and extensive coverage of in-chief of Rising Kashmir, who in the pursuit of their professional portal or social media shall print/ trivial issues while important news wrote in 2018 that prime minister duties. Many media managements publish or telecast anything without concerning people’s interest are Modi’s “emphasis on development alone goes against the past and present reality of Jammu and Call of Comrade Provash Ghosh Kashmir, and does not hold any Contd. from page 1 similarly this counter revolution people are undaunting, brave, promise unless the political nature of end all colonial occupation and wars. also provided more rich struggling. They desire change, but the conflict is accepted”, was It helped freedom movements and experiences, as shown by Great they do not have any revolutionary assassinated in busy Lal Chowk liberation struggles of all colonies Marxist thinker Comrade Shibdas ideology, higher culture, organization area of Srinagar in 2018. Citing and semi-colonies. It played a heroic Ghosh, to guide future working class and leadership. So, crying need of Bukhari’s killing as a sign of ‘falling role in defeating the menacing revolution. the hour is to develop and strengthen law and order’, the BJP withdrew fascist forces in the Second World Now, world situation is very revolutionary working class party itself from the Jammu and Kashmir War to save the mankind. horrifying and pathetic. World armed with Marxism-Leninism- coalition government with PDP of In fact, when entire Western imperialism-capitalism is in death Shibdas Ghosh Thought in all Mehbooba Mufti. The onus of killing capitalist civilization was engulfed by bed, but not yet dead as no social countries to implement the historic was passed on by the ruling quarters complete darkness, this new system dies automatically. It is message of Great November to three members of ‘militant outfits’ socialist civilization emerged as a almost like a rotten, putrefied, Revolution. who straightaway denied any dawn in the Eastern horizon which decomposed carcass spreading In this backdrop, it is our historic involvement. Then the police killed not only became a hope of all stench in every walks of life. duty, as revolutionary fighters of the one alleged culprit and the case was oppressed people of the world but Thus, economically, ideologically, SUCI (Communist), the party closed. But the question still remains was also hailed by all great humanist politically and morally, capitalism is founded by Great Marxist thinker as to how could three militants personalities of the Western and pushing the entire humanity towards Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, to armed with assault rifles manage to colonial countries. complete ruination. Defenders of consolidate and expand our Party in go undetected in the busy area, It is a matter of great tragedy in capitalism, hired bourgeois politicians the country, organize and intensify which was bubbling with Eid history that after serving humanity and economists, being afraid of class and mass struggles based on festivities? How is it that police for few decades this new civilization another socialist revolution, labouring higher revolutionary ideology and security cameras and CCTVs had was destroyed and again capitalism day and night to find a remedy to proletarian culture and thereby either been moved or were not was restored there by counter- save the dying patient. But they are inspire, educate and help proletariat functional? The police itself arrived revolution engineered by internal groping in darkness in vain. of other countries. This is the call of at the scene after more than 20 hidden enemies in connivance with On the other hand, there are the 103rd anniversary of the Great minutes. Who was the person external imperialism which took the surging waves of mass protests November Revolution to us. seen in footage recorded by advantage of certain serious which are being ruthlessly crushed With Revolutionary Greetings onlookers stealing the pistol of mistakes and deviations of the post- by fascist capitalist regimes Provash Ghosh Shujaat’s bodyguard? Many such Stalin leadership. But as the fall of everywhere. More they are ruthless General Secretary, questions remain unanswered even Paris Commune provided and ferocious in suppression, more SUCI (Communist) today. experiences enriching Marxism and are outbursts of mass discontents 48 Lenin Sarani A new study in the last five guided November Revolution, defying all onslaughts. Oppressed Kolkata 700013 Contd on page 7 PROLETARIAN ERA NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PAGE FIVE Ethics and capitalism Queer proposition of inequality or discrimination being balanced by mass prosperity in capitalism Contd. from page 2 capitalism is ‘the only economic system that has prosperity. Knowledgeable as they must be, are market is ‘still one of the best ways to organise proved to be capable of generating mass they not acquainted with the enormous statistical production and distribution’ while again they hold prosperity.’ As said before, Pope Francis held data, global or of any imperialist-capitalist ‘it is a completely different story if the market freedom as the villain. Others suggest a country, including India, which show how the businessman has a better chance at surviving the more radical redistribution of wealth and income staggering bulk of national wealth is pandemic because he has financial resources’. appear necessary for capitalism to survive. They accumulated in the hands of a miniscule of See how one is baffled if unaware of the truth. wish businesses will continue to make profits but population, the monopolists? There are also Pope Francis in his encyclical, referred to would share a substantial part of it for the welfare global data on hunger index. Do those indicate above, wrote : “The fragility of world systems in of society, enabling us to reconcile the individual mass prosperity? Or, is capitalism, in reality, the face of the pandemic has demonstrated that objective of living with little with the social generating the most disturbing inequality and not everything can be resolved by market objective of moving towards a higher goal based mass poverty? The columnists suggest a more freedom.” He even suggested reforms to the on ethics, morality, trust and justice. radical redistribution of wealth and income and extent of rejecting the concept of an absolute even rejection of absolute right to property for right to property for individuals. Referring to Marx but not giving social purpose and common good. If it be so, There were others, too, suggesting reforms, recognition to Marxism would it remain capitalism? And whom do they such as the British economist Paul Collier who In this vortex of arguments and contradictory address for more radical distribution of wealth? concluded : ‘Capitalism needs to be managed, counter-arguments, the authors even had to take Who listens to it? Are they not aware that not defeated’ by integrating it with an ‘ethical recourse to Marx. They say : Capitalist during this lockdown, when people have been state’, ‘ethical firm’, ‘ethical family’ in an production demands continuous expansion of losing life and livelihood, when a blank future ‘ethical world’. Neglect of their duties towards capital in order to produce more and make ever has been staring at their face with unimaginable society and even their employees has earned more profits, we recall the earlier comment job-losses and consequent suffering, the leading universal contempt for capitalism as a synonym ‘higher greed begets higher profits’, leading to monopolists of this country and elsewhere have for greed, selfishness and corruption. The what Marx had called “the epidemic of over- not failed to increase their wealth manifold? Do corrosive force of the market has progressively production”. To prevent recession and other they expect that the monopolists, the super-rich, undermined the family, the business firm and the disastrous consequences that would follow would be ready to pay any heed to their ‘pious’ state — ‘the organising structures of collective inevitably, artificial demands are created in crisis- suggestion of living on little? Are they asking life’. So Collier inferred, ‘We need an active torn market, for products we do not actually need, the devils to listen to scriptures? On the state, (playing) a more modest role; we need the by promoting consumerism. True, but is it the contrary, will not their suggestions turn out to be market, but harnessed by a sense of purpose whole truth? Let us withhold elaboration for the salt rubbed into the wounds of the already securely grounded in ethics’. The ethical bounds present. Only we add that the same writer brings bruised and battered masses? Will those who of society will be determined by the alignment of out his ingenious suggestion. He thinks, if the build helipads on the roof of their palatial our personal needs to societal needs. Elsewhere enforced lockdown has taught us one thing, it is residence be content with as little as needed for some other author concluded, ‘It is wrong to that we need very little to survive and to add survival? Marx could find mention with the issue create a situation where a pandemic hits substance and quality to our lives, in consequence of ‘over-production’, which, according to these everyone, but some have a better chance at the environment becomes more sustainable and columnists, leads to recession and then remedial surviving it.’ With excerpts from the parable of Nature rejuvenates. In our suffering and feeling course suggested is artificial stimulation through the Good Samaritan, Pope Francis highlights its of helplessness before a tiny virus, we have learnt consumerism. Partial truth! The main artificial lessons of charity, kindness and looking out for the importance of empathy: this is what the writer demand and market, as well as consumption to strangers as ‘the basic decision we need to realizes. And he reiterates: Despite all its keep the market moving, is created by the make in order to rebuild our wounded world’. corrosiveness, capitalism’s power to create mass military-industry complex which fosters more There were other variants. Pronouncing that the prosperity remains undisputed. So he calls for a and more militarization of economy that has ‘process of creative destruction’ is ‘the very new social contract, for ushering in a world where become the trademark of all capitalist countries process that gives capitalism its astonishing happiness, joy and harmony, climate, environment nowadays, big or small. That is why capitalism, dynamic’ and thus equating destruction with and Nature will be reckoned as more fulfilling in this stage of imperialism, inevitably generates dynamism, the same author comes down to objectives of life. war, local, partial, regional or on a bigger scale. conclude : The active state must support the The wars consume stockpiles of arms, clean the victims to this process. A just society must be Whirlpool of confusions and contradictions market to make it artificially ready for more based on ‘reciprocal obligations’ between So this is how the advocates-admirers of investment and production in defence production. members of the family, the larger society, capitalism wade through arguments and counter- Industry produces new arsenals that soon between business firms and their employees and arguments, presenting, as said before, blunt accumulate into over-produced stockpiles. The also between nations. It must restore its ethical contradictions. Or, at best, they miss the point cycle thus goes on. And so the authors find that foundations to prevent corrosion from inside. The that they may sincerely be searching for truth, ‘capitalist greed has killed millions with cold Covid19 crisis has given the state an but they see the world with a particular ‘inertial’ indifference’! Let us recall what great Lenin overarching, almost dictatorial authority. It world outlook, an outlook they have inherited had observed a hundred year back: ‘needs to be restrained’. But it is a mere pious from the system which is causing them pain and “Imperialism, on the other hand, i.e., wish! The decadent capitalism of these days, if urging them to seek the truth. So they wish to monopoly capitalism, which finally matured we use their term, lives on the ‘process of suggest changes or reforms within the ambit of only in the twentieth century, is, by virtue of creative destruction’. Yes, it is the destruction of the existing system itself. They call for its fundamental economic traits, distinguished all human creativity, machine, science, values, restraining the over-arching state. Do they not by a minimum fondness for peace and society, even destruction of nature upon which see how the governments of different capitalist freedom, and by a maximum and universal the capitalism boastfully claims ‘creation’ of countries, for instance of India, are bringing development of militarism.”1 their new world order, their haven of wasteful totally and shamelessly anti-people measures wealth, lavishness and consumerism. But their including legislations and policies taking Marxism-Leninism provides the world process takes its toll. advantage of the pandemic? Who will restrain outlook to know truth The authors have to admit that capitalism whom? They express anxiety at the So the honest advocates and admirers of today is making people lead ‘anxious lives’ in discrimination and disparity in the society. At the capitalism, liberal bourgeois humanists in political divided societies. Yet they cherish hopes that same time, they hold that capitalism brings mass Contd on page 6 PAGE SIX NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PROLETARIAN ERA Ethics and capitalism Dying capitalism trying to stave off endemic crisis through increasing militarization of economy Contd. from page 5 these mentalities and attitudes in society.” 2 proclaimed by the “democracy” of the parlance, hover around the truth, but cannot locate These are not mere words from Comrade capitalists and the thousands of real it or do not acknowledge it. They do not have the Shibdas Ghosh, one of the eminent Marxist limitations and subterfuges which turn the vision, the world outlook to ferret out the truth. thinkers of the day and the founder General proletarians into wage slaves. It is precisely Had they possessed it, they would have seen : Secretary of SUCI(Communist), the revolutionary this contradiction that is opening the eyes of “...greed, meanness or the mentality to exploit party of India. These are the products of a the masses to the rottenness, mendacity and did not grow in society because the inherent comprehensive world outlook based on science hypocrisy of capitalism.” 1 good in man had been eclipsed by satan. ... it and history. This is Marxism- Leninism. It was only after the emergence of an provides answers where liberal bourgeois thinkers Reality corroborates analysis of great exploitative social system, that is, only after the and columnists grope in the dark. Marxist authorities appearance of the material condition in Right now, overwhelmed by the abject Today, nearly two centuries after Marx and society necessary for exploitation, that satan annihilation of ethics-morality, the sincerest of Engels wrote those words, the same bourgeoisie did appear in man’s mind. It was not greed that sincere persons cry for ethics, for social good. has turned totally reactionary. A century after created the exploitative social system, rather, it And way back, in 1848, Karl Marx and Lenin spoke of how its ‘rottenness, mendacity was the exploitative social system which begot Frederick Engels wrote in the “Manifesto of the and hypocrisy’ is exposed to the masses, the greed in man.” Communist Party”: “It (The bourgeoisie- P Era)) system the bourgeoisie runs, that is capitalism, “.... In spite of the primitive stage of mental has resolved personal worth into exchange has not only got into the imperialist stage, it has development and behaviour and constant tussles value, and in place of the numberless reached total decadence. So what the great and fights, the mentality to exploit or the mentality indefeasible chartered freedoms, has set up authorities of Marxism had to say about that class to extort profit by exploiting the labour of others that single, unconscionable freedom — Free and its system have run further into rot. Today the did not grow in the primitive clan society. Human Trade. In one word, for exploitation, veiled system stinks. As Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, society did not witness such mentality till stable by religious and political illusions, it has elaborated, “…whatever be the political theory, property, which could be preserved and increased, substituted naked, shameless, direct, brutal if its practice does not infuse moral strength was created, or so long as the method of exploitation. The bourgeoisie has stripped of and if it does not reflect a higher cultural engaging man’s labour for continuous its halo every occupation hitherto honoured standard then in whatever lofty words its development of production and extorting profit out and looked up to with reverent awe. It has theoretical essence may be couched, it is of it was not found out.” converted the physician, the lawyer, the merely an empty facade, a lifeless body. Just “With the creation of stable property and priest, the poet, the man of science, into its as a corpse has inevitably to be disposed of, introduction of cattle breeding and agriculture paid wage labourers. The bourgeoisie has so also if one clings to it out of attachment, it in society, which for the first time could torn away from the family its sentimental veil, will, in its putrefied state, spread stench and engage human labour for production — at the and has reduced the family relation into a be harmful for all people in society. ... early stage of development of such production mere money relation.” This is what ethics Remember, if a political ideology or a — there was constant contradiction between means to capitalism. The liberals may rest! And movement cannot rouse moral strength or scarcity of production and constantly growing this should provide a lead to their question “ elevate the cultural standard of the people, human necessity which, in fact, led to the idea ...we need to ask ourselves what kind of society then that is surely harmful and has become of exploitation.” we want to build in the future. Do we want to absolutely obsolete.” 2 “... Whereas the savages of the clan build a society where we value human life only The earlier the advocates and admirers of communist society despite tremendous want did in terms of bank balance?” There is no question capitalism turn to these simple truths, the easier it not know how to exploit, yet today’s civilized of building such a society in future. Their free will be for them to realize why after wandering men, the humanists ... are failing to free market society, that is, capitalism has already about in search of truth, they come down to some themselves from this mentality to exploit, from provided mankind with such a society which such baseless conclusions which they themselves greed and meanness – their pious wishes, they tend to abhor. would never have wished for. ideals and exhortations for the same Coming forward into history when capitalism [Quotation references- 1. The Proletarian notwithstanding. Why ? The very capitalist had entered its decadent imperialist stage, the Revolution and Renegade Kautsky, 2. The social system – the capitalist mode of great leader Lenin said : “Even in the most Cultural Movement in India and Our Tasks : production and production relation is the root democratic bourgeois state the oppressed speech by Comrade Shibdas Ghosh on 26 May cause of all sorts of oppression, tyranny, masses at every step encounter the crying 1969 in Bengali, first published in May 1970 and social injustice ... continually giving birth to contradiction between the formal equality in English version in August 1982.] SC ex-judge Lokur : Sedition law being ‘weaponised NEW DELHI: Former SC Judge Madan B lethal cocktail” of use and misuse of law is being with sedition. “A common citizen who says Lokur on Monday lamented that laws are being used to impact adversely the liberty of all those something is charged with sedition. Already 70 misused to curb free speech and cited who dare to speak up. He said the law is always cases of sedition have been seen this year,” he “weaponization’ of the sedition law, “abuse” of to be interpreted objectively, but but of late, said. prohibitory orders and “blanket” shutdown of the subjective satisfaction has taken over and the “Fundamental right to free speech is Internet, which impacted individual liberty. and the consequences are unpalatable. The extremely important for any civilised democracy,” Delivering the 2020 BG Verghese Memorial former apex court judge was especially critical of Lokur said adding that authorities are obliged to Lecture on ‘Preserving and Protecting “weaponizing” the sedition law, “abuse” of ensure that the that the laws are not twisted, our Fundamental Right to Protest’ organised by prohibitory orders and blanket shutdown of the misused or abused in such a manner that citizens the Media Foundation, Lokur said, “One of the Internet. get deprived of their liberties. worst forms of curtailment of the freedom of Justice(Retd) Lokur was delivering the 2020 He advised the “establishment” to understand speech is charging a person with sedition.” He B G Verghese Memorial n “Preserving and tbat “the people of this country mean well and as said the SC had laid down the sedition law clearly Protecting our Fundamental Rights—Freedom of in any democracy, there are bound to be different and cogently in 1962, yet authorities found various Speech, Expression and the Right to Protest”, points of view”. ways of “weaponizing” it. At a webinar on ‘Freedom of Speech and “These must be respected, otherwise, the Observing that law is being misused to curb Judiciary’ last month, Lokur had said suddenly fabric of our society might disintegrate...,” he free press and speech, the retired judge said “a there are a lot of cases where people are charged said. (Times of India 13 October 2020) PROLETARIAN ERA NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PAGE SEVEN Journalism If voice of Fourth Estate is stifled, democracy is mocked Contd. from page 4 Mumbai police have claimed to and illegal acts. vindictive power by the executive years has revealed that there have have busted a mega TRP scam in If a vested interest in creating are dwindling rapidly. Given the been more than 200 serious attacks the city. It has come to the fore that artificial social polarisation is systematic manner in which one on journalists in the country in the three media houses were allowed to prevail in mainstream institution after the other has been period between 2014 and 2019. It manipulating TRPs by bribing media, the negative effects on undermined in India over the past also reveals that attacks on women owners of the buildings or houses society could be as broad as that of five years – the CBI, the RBI, the journalists reporting from the field where ‘TRP’ barometers (a specific misinformation spread through social Election Commission, the CAG, the have increased over a period of technology to capture viewership of media. Many wild claims or UGC, even the judiciary – it is time.The targeted attacks on women a channel or programme, similar to motivated feeds either on TV news possible that the system of checks journalists covering the Sabarimala cell phone towers on many rooftops) or in print media cause immense and balances will see further temple entry were sustained and were installed. Among the three harm to society as people at large erosion. If journalism, instead of vicious. As many as 19 women networks involved in the scam, the gulp such distortions and twists as taking up cudgels against this rotten journalists were attacked as per the big name is Republic TV, a media truth. More broadly, hate-ridden system opts to capitulate to the study. Conclusion of the study was: house founded in 2017, which is programming which are on the rise power that be, it will be hard to “The perpetrators for the killing of known for its pro-BJP pro-Sangh in recent period endangers social think of a silver lining when an all- journalists and the attacks on them Parivar leaning and airing TV shows harmony, especially in a diverse, pervading gloom and doom is casting have got away with their attacks, constricted with open loud partisan multicultural country such as India. its ominous shadow. It is the creation aided by poor or indifferent police sparring and theatrics to establish But regrettably, one powerful and of strong bondage between readers- investigation. Often, law enforcers that anyone who “breaks Hindu influential section of the media has viewers-right-thinking citizens- disbelieve the claim of the journalist, traditions” and criticizes the present already crossed over to the dark truthful journalists and conscientious families or colleagues of killed ruling dispensation is “anti-national”. side, and is actually complicit in the analysts which alone can work as journalists that the reason for the Nationwide Broadcasters Affiliation ruling establishment’s design with a bulwark against vicious attacks and attack was not due to some (NBA), in the last six months alone, view to scoring both in earning attempt to subvert autonomy of personal dispute or corrupt practice is reported to have sent over 20 dominance in the industry and media and impede circulation of on the part of the journalist.” letters to the Telecom Regulatory making fabulous financial gains. proper information. It is heartening With journalism and journalists Authority of India (TRAI) chairman that disdaining all threats, now being attacked more in opposition to Republic TV’s What could be silver-lining in intimidation, life risks as well as aggressively than ever before, India occupying a number of ‘logical this all-pervading gloom and offer of material incentives in has fallen to 138th place in the Press channel numbers (LCNs)’ in doom exchange of showing undue favour Freedom Index put out by Reporters violation of the TRAI laws that This is in a nutshell the spectacle to the ruling quarters, that a section Without Borders. In 2019, The restrict a TV channel to just one of the “free Press’ in India that of media houses, reporters, Committee to Protect Journalists had LCN or slot on a cable or DTH many political leaders sickeningly cameramen, news editors and placed India, for the 12th time, on its platform. By giving a slip to law, subservient to ruling capitalism, bloggers are making a laudable list of countries with worst records Republic TV thus considerably often boast of. If journalistic ethics effort to keep the countrymen of bringing to book the killers of enhanced its TV score factors. is to be upheld, the honour of being abreast of the correct news, journalists. That showed how NBA President has even gone to the called “Fourth Estate” is to be necessary informations and truthful impunity for violence against the extent of alleging that “the treasured and fast waning representation of facts. As fearless media-persons has become corrupted, compromised, irrationally democratic values and practices are crusaders against all guile attempts deeply ‘entrenched’ in the system. fluctuating data is creating a false to be rescued and restored, the to convert the esteemed profession narrative on ‘What India Watches’ media fraternity ought to overcome of journalism into a greedy privilege- Other trickeries to promote and has been putting pressure on our all lure of the lucre, of spruced up seeking business, and committed to media pliant to the members to take editorial calls that prominence, and fight for uphold the cause of people and establishment run counter to journalistic values and establishing truth. Today, when society they are the torchbearers of As we have said above, both ideals.” But what actions have been capitalism is enmeshed in a growing “Fourth Estate”. Our appeal to commercial interestas well as taken by TRAI on such complaints insolvable crisis endemic of the these torchbearers is that they give pressure of compliance with are not known. system, it is on a mission to corrupt maximum coverage to the news of directives of the ruling party and the Another phenomenon and pollute every walk of life mass movements against various state, has made the media sector dominating media coverages for long pending which it cannot prolong its anti-people policies of the being dominated by the giant is “Paid News”. Last year, decadent moribund existence. government and conscious corporate houses in the country Cobrapost, a small portal, ran Alongside, it is determined to ideological-political-cultural struggles now. Besides moulding public footage of a sting operation it destroy rational thoughts and an initiated to rouse people along opinion in favour of the ruling conducted on a range of large and analytical bent of mind and instead correct line against the capitalist dispensation, the corporate media is small media companies where its anchor itself in distortion of facts order which, along with other things, also after reaping hefty financial reporter posed as a “godman” who and travesty of truth. At such a time, are trying to smother journalistic gains even if that necessitates wanted ostensibly programmes governments servile to ruling ethics. dispensing with all scruples. Latest which sing paeans for a particular capitalism are seen to discard [References: example of that is the ‘TRP’ scam. religion to be used to build support democracy and freedom and prsindia 16-11-2011, law.yel.edu 22- TRPs (Television Rating Points) are for the ruling BJP and polarise embrace autocracy and despotism. 11-16, medium.com@ubuntuFm 02-12- viewed as measure of acceptance voters on the basis of religion. The In such a situation, honest fearless 17, Times of India 16-06-18, 03-12-18, 18- of a TV show or channel by the camouflaged sting operator also journalism has a historic role to play 10-20, 19-10-20, 20-10-20, The Diplomat audience. If TRP is found to be high, showed willingness to pay cash for as a platform for objective 23-01-19, thesun.co.uk 30-07-19, The Wire 07-03-19, 13-06-19, 14-06-19, 02-08- it is construed to be a mark of larger this. Only two of the two dozen information and critical-rational 19, 29-10-19, 26-12-19, Quartz India 12- viewership. More viewership means media houses approached showed discourse that would enable people to know the truth and be in pursuit 03-19, Economic and Political Weekly more inflow of advertisement him the door. The rest were only too Vol. 55, Issue No. 16, 18 April 2020, The of correct remedial action against revenue. Naturally, many media happy to engage with him. Since New Indian Express 06-10-20, NDTV 06- houses owned by the monopoly such ‘paid news’ is subject to threat the ills and evils tearing their life and 10-20, 09-10-20, newslaundry 16-10-20, houses in connivance with the of regulation of, cross-media livelihood into pieces day in and day Times 16-10-20, 21-10-20, The bourgeois governments want to holdings etc., one cannot rule out out. Print 15-10-20, 19-10-20, Indian Express anyhow jack up TRPs of their tacit approval of the ruling party and In India, the checks and 17-10-20, enewsexpress 20-10-20, channels and programmes. Now the government behind such unethical balances on the exercise of Livelaw News Network 2020.] PAGE EIGHT NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PROLETARIAN ERA Latin America — A Huge Surge of People’s Protests Latin America is seething with military tribunals deal with the cases country. This protest snowballed into peoples uproar. In October 2019, anger. Problems of people, in all of crimes by police. a greater movement against thousands of people rallied in aspects of their lives, are increasing Amidst all these odds the silver government austerity drive to cut Mexico, Peru, Guatemala, El manifold. These problems are not lining in the dark clouds of vitiating down spending for people’s welfare. Salvador, France, Spain, Chile, arising due to Covid 19 pandemic socio-political atmosphere has been The government’s dismissive Brazil, Bolivia, Honduras, Colombia, alone. Even before the arrival of this the spurt in people’s protests. attitude toward Covid-19 has Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay and deadly virus, this region was facing Students and youth are playing sharpened already polarized Costa Rica in solidarity with the slowdown in economy affecting commendable role in the street environment. A survey showed that street protests in Argentina millions of common people. These battles. Another matter of immense protests were up by one third in the demanding an end to the killing of problems in fact led to mass protests significance is the ever-increasing first three months of the pandemic women, misogyny and sexual last year which shook the entire number of women participating in compared to the preceding quarter. violence. Latin America. This year the these movements. In Colombia, similar police In Ecuador last year, left-leaning problems are even graver and in In Chile, lockdown protests brutality leading to death of several students and common people reaction to it, larger number of escalated to street demonstrations in protestors sparked outrage. Students successively pressurized their suffering people are hitting the defiance of quarantine in mid-July. at the National Pedagogical government to restore gasoline streets. There were multiple grievances: University in Bogotá had occupied subsidies. Recently, defying Though protests are taking place poor administration of the “Food for university campus demanding lockdown, people marched in protest cantering round this or that issue, the Chile” initiative, a buckling health cancellation of university fees. Most against government’s cut to jobs and fact is that it is an outcome of care system, and demands that used to work in the informal salaries. Last year, 4 out of 10 people’s accumulated discontent people be allowed to withdraw part economy to make ends meet. people had a full employment. Now against the mounting problems of their pensions (to which the In Mexico, hundreds of women with the pandemic the job market wreaking havoc in their life. government had formally agreed). hit the streets on International has collapsed. Unemployment, price rise, social and The Chilean security forces are Women’s Day protesting violence Last month, the UN Economic economic inequality, rape and again being criticized for human against women and demanding right Commission for Latin America and murder of women, corruption, rights violations. They raped, to life without being abused and the Caribbean and the World Health scandals, high handedness of police tortured, blinded and run over people decriminalization of abortion. In Organization projected the regional -administration, human rights and threw a protestor off the bridge Mexico around 10 women are laying economy would contract by 9% this violation etc. are prompting the into a river. These were the same down their life every day on an year — adding 18 million people to people to take to the streets. police force responsible for human average confronting police brutality. unemployment rolls. Through devious methods, rights violations following mass Systemic killing of women is “The fallout from the pandemic different bourgeois governments in protests in 2019, which left 30 happening since several decades is going to worsen basic inequalities the region are trying to curb the right people dead and more than 100 and it has been so severe that it led and act as a catalyst for further of people to protest. Using corona blinded by rubber bullets. Chile and to the coining of the word unrest,” the group’s Latin American pandemic as an excuse, they are Columbia, which are confronted with feminicide as a socio-legal term for analysts wrote in June. “An trying to stifle democratic institutions the problem of increasing economic the deliberate killing of women, and escalation of unrest is inevitable, and prevent social movements. inequality, are raising the demand, its codification as a serious crime. while the question over its intensity Police are unleashing a spate of which range from pension reforms Panama saw a wave of protests lingers on.” violence in the name of protecting to health care reforms. few months ago, largely by the poor It is a positive sign that people law and order. Some of the Latin In Brazil, over 3000 reportedly and jobless complaining that income are realizing that their governments American countries have the highest died in police operations during the support promised by the government are not trustworthy when it comes to rates of police killings in the world. first half of 2020. A metro fare hike, was not reaching them. Medical protecting their interest. But at the The levels of violence and extra- which has since been cancelled, workers there protested shortages of same time they should also realize judicial killings are shocking to say sparked nationwide protests last staff and equipment, as they did in that these protests can be taken to the least. Levels of crime against week which have left hundreds Mexico. its logical culmination only when women in Latin American countries injured. More than 1,400 people The deep recession in Argentina these are led on the anti-capitalist are also among the highest in the have been arrested — 614 in with a debt of more than 100 billion lines by a correct revolutionary world. Instead of criminal courts, Santiago and 848 in the rest of the dollars foreign debt has sparked leadership. TMC-led miscreants vandalize Party bookstall in Moipith, Overcoming all odds posed by Covid 19 local people continued the stall upto 9 pm. These thinking masses at large. pandemic and strictly maintaining health cowardly acts on the part of the ruling party Comrade Chandidas Bhattacharjee, West protocols, our Party took initiative to carry have been widely condemned by one to all and Bengal State Secretary, SUCI(C), in a statement out ideological campaign by organizing the revolutionary audacity of our comrades issued on 24 October vehemently condemned the bookstalls throughout the state during the festive received praise and appreciation from right- attacks and threats. season. But regrettably, on 23 October, the book-stall at Nagenabad in Moipith, South 24 Parganas district, was vandalized by a group of miscreants belong to ruling TMC who had earlier brutally killed Comrade Sudhangshu Jana, District Secretariat Member of the Party two month back. But the local comrades and poor common people of the area stood up courageously and rebuilt the stall and resumed selling books. Similarly, a bookstall at Budge Budge Bawali area in the same district, the TMC-led ruffians threatened that no stall would allowed. They even went to the house of the Party Local Secretary, a veteran comrade, and warned that the stall should be closed after 5.30pm. But there Vandalized stall at Moipith, South 24 Parganas Re-built stall at Moipith also, the comrades with the help of enraged PROLETARIAN ERA NOVEMBER 1, 2020 PAGE MIME A Glimpse of the Latest Position of Horrific Hunger, Starvation and Malnutrition in India “India has ranked 94 among 107 themselves to the appalling diet very substantial subsidy, but what is our villages and slums are not nations in the Global Hunger Index scenario in rural India are low often missed in the discussion is that assured of a daily wage or income 2020 and is in the ‘serious’ hunger wages and the significant structural the amount of subsidised wheat (or which can be sufficient for just the category. Experts have blamed poor problems facing India’s agricultural rice) which is provided lasts only for food budget. implementation processes, lack of sector, the paper posits. In spite of about 12 days in a month and for the A farmworker too would earn effective monitoring, a siloed costs of diet increasing in the period remaining 18 days, wheat has to be less than this in many states. A approach in tackling malnutrition and between 2001 and 2011, the authors purchased at the market rate. If it is construction worker may get a little poor performance by large states. of the paper write that rural wages poor quality, contaminated wheat, as less or a little more, but employment Latest paper, titled Affordability of have also increased in that time. often happens in ration shops, then will be available for only 15 days or nutritious diets in rural India, “However, in absolute terms after cleaning subsidised wheat my less in a month on average. For this arrives at the conclusion that nutritious diets in 2011 were still last for only 9-10 days in a month reason, it is not the wage rate but ‘malnutrition is endemic in India,’ expensive relative to unskilled and for remaining days (over two- the average income per day which based on information on rural food wages, constituting approximately third) wheat (or rice) has to be matters and this is generally less price and wages gleaned from 50-60% of male and about 70-80% purchased at the market rate. than the household food budget. the 2011 National Sample Survey. of female daily wages” of Hence we have to carefully When both husband and wife The writers use this data to arrive MGNREGA workers. consider the actual impact of together then, of course, household at “the least cost means of The paper finds that considering schemes involving subsidised and income increases but often wages of satisfying India-specific dietary the number of dependents in free food on hunger and female workers are lower without recommendations…and assess the average rural household and other malnutrition. Here various aspects any rational basis. affordability of this diet relative to non-food expenses, “45-64% of the of this issue are examined. Keeping in view the low and male and female wages for unskilled rural poor cannot afford a nutritious The food budget is only part of recently decreased incomes of labourers.” In spite of the fact that, diet that meets India’s national food- the total budget of all essential working-class people and also the “in 2015-16 some 38% of preschool based dietary guidelines.” (Quoted needs. The total budget for all large numbers of people affected by children were stunted and 21% from The Wire dated 18-10-20 and essential needs maybe twice the adverse weather conditions, we were wasted, while more than half dated 18-10-20) food budget in a village or thrice the should not lower our guard against of Indian mothers and children were “In the past, the beneficial budget in a slum. It can be more or hunger and malnutrition. Wider anaemic,” the paper finds that impact of food subsidy has been less, depending on several efforts to reduce these issues should “surprisingly few” discuss the role frequently overestimated. There is circumstances and how we define still continue to get high priority”. of diets, particularly the affordability no doubt that providing wheat at Rs essential needs. However, the (Quoted from an article by Bharat of nutritious diets in India. 2 per kg instead of the market rate important point to note here is that a Dogra in The Wire dated 10-07- Among stiff problems that lend of around Rs 30 per kg involves a significant percentage of people in 20) North-East in the vortex of movement against anti-people policies

Agartala, Ttripura

Darrang, Assam

AIDSO, Ttripura protesting against MBBS fee hike

Sonitpur, Assam Cachar, Assam RNI No. 13932/67 PAGE TEN NOVEMBER 1, 2020 P. R. No. KOL / RMS /145 / 2019-2021 Movements across the states against anti-people, Party Book Stalls in various parts of anti-worker, anti-peasant policies and price rise, West Bengal during the Autumn festival fee hike, crime against women etc.

Delhi against various anti-people policies, price rise, New Education policy etc.

Kolkata

Sonipat, Haryana, signature campaign by AIDSO against anti-education policy Shyamanagar, North 24 Parganas

Bhopal - AIDSO and AIMMS protest against growing crime on women Observance of Martyr Pritilata Day in Agartala, Tripura

North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri

All India Kisan Khetmazdoor Sangathan (AIKKMS) in a statement issued on 26 October 2020 extended whole-hearted support to the All India Strike call on 26 November by the ten central unions and different employees’ federations against anti-working class anti- peasant policies of Modi government Budge Budge Bawali, South 24 Parganas EDITOR-IN-CHIEF : PROVASH GHOSH Edited & Published by Asit Bhattacharyya from 48 Lenin Sarani, Kolkata 700 013 and printed by him at Printers and Publishers Private Limited, 52B, Indian Mirror Street, Kolkata 700013. Phone : 2249-1828, 2265-3234 E-mail : [email protected], [email protected], Website : www.sucicommunist.org