We base this response on a news report published in Madhyamam Daily (not read,
but was reported to us by our friends in Kozhikode) today. As per this report
P.Geetha, during a public speech has demanded governmental enquiry into 'night
vigil'. She also appealed Kerala society not to 'tolerate' such 'anarchists'.
She repeated the already circulating argument that the discussion on night
vigil has dampened the discussions on Chengara land struggle.
We are very happy to hear this public demand. Though we are not much bothered
by this mantle of 'anarchists' discarded on our backs, the baggage of 'ganja'
and alcohol it is filled with, is at times a bit heavy to carry. So it would be
good if those who are raising these accusations have solid evidence to base
them upon.
And another thing which made us happy is that the demand is made to the
'government'. If AIDWA took brooms and cow dung, P.Geetha is 'taking' state to
clear off the civil society of political adversaries. This is not in the least
surprising as Savarna hindutva and state have always been natural allies. Poor
AIDWA, they haven't yet learned the trick of sugar coating it in revolutionary
rhetoric.
Let us play a mind game. What will happen if 'Revolutionaries' like P.Geetha
assume absolute power? Who will be 'left' in Kerala?
Let us ask a very simple question to those who raise hue and cry over the
diminished importance for Chengara agitation.
nammude natile 'rashtreeya' budhijeevikal evideyayirunnu ithuvare?
.We attempted to make public protest out of the guilt that such an important
and massive agitation is being suppressed by the state, party and media. We
don't make tall claims as we feel that whatever we did was insufficient. Even
this 'we' is not an unchanging group, but individuals coming together in an
issue based/ programme based manner.
To list the activities we were part of till now..
1. Raising this issue in "KariNiyamaVirudha Convention" In calicut , November
1st.
2.Continued internet and media interventions by posting appeals and facts and
other issues connected with this agitation.Folloing this , Mr. Shaji gave a
Report in Thehelka which helped in attracting national attention on the issue.
3.A protest demonstration by Non CPIM forum for Democracy in IFFK in December
2007.. About 40 concerned people participated. K.Gopinath, J.Devika, Janaki,
Elizabeth,K.K.Baburaj et al participated.
4.Night Vigil in front of secretariate Trivandrum, in the context of agitators
resorting to suicide threat to ward off police action of eviction. About 40
concerned people participated. BRPBhaskar, Sanni Kapikkad and CSJayachandran
spoke.
5.Convention at Calicut Press Club auditorium ( convenors: Gargi, Raveendran
Op, Vidhu Vincent, Reshma R) subsequent to Night Vigil. A.Vasu inaugurated.
Civic Chandran, V.P.Suhara, A.K.Ramakrishnan, Subrahmanian, Sanni Kapikkad
spoke. A documentary on Chengara agitation was screened. An organizing
committee for national convention in Pathanam Thitta on April 25 consisting of
A.Vasu ( Chair Person), RekhaRaj, Elizabeth, M.B.Manoj (Convenors) was
announced.
6.Tried to engage public including CPIM sympathizers through various media.
At least these "ideal" activists with ancestry and pedigree could utter
Chengara while condemning Night Vigil. Instead of pouring oil into the CPIM
slandering campaigns against Chengara agitations, we hope they will show us the
right way in engaging politics.
We don't mind if we are untouchables to these puritans. All these small
overtures were attempted by us on mutual trust and respect. No protest is a
solo performance. Neither is Night vigil. One should at least consider the
whole sequence and context before condemning it in toto, if they are really
friends of Chengara struggle as they claim.
We all are thriving on the hyped myths about Kerala's public sphere and civil
society.
( We were sad to read in today's newspapers that Pinarayi Vijayan alleged CIA
connection to Chengara struggle in the esteemed presence of KNPanikkar and M
Mukundan, who mourn continuously over the shrinking of Malayali Civil Society)
Very minimal is actually happening out there. Let us wake up out of this
inflated myth
and form ourselves part of an emerging civil society, through solidarities
built between the marginalized among marginalized, outcastes, stigmatized and
"cultural untouchables".
Reshma Bharadwaj
DileepRaj
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