Author: K A Shaji
Publication: BJP Today
(The New Indian Express, Kochi, July 3, 2000)
Date: August 16-31,
2000
The revelation of some
'stark truths' about the CPM by an SFI leader through the pages of a special
souvenir brought out by the federation's Sulthan Bathery St Mary's College
unit, has caused a flutter in the CPM circles of Wayanad.
The three-page essay,
drafted by P V Sunu, editor of the souvenir, has forced the CPM district
leadership to cancel its release. SFI sources told this newspaper that
their attempt to publish the magazine, expunging the controversial remarks,
also failed as its printing had already been completed.
Sunu, who pin-pointed
the Marxist ideology as a Hob-son's choice, made a scathing attack on the
Communist theory in toto and found fault with the day-to-day functioning
of the CPM, through the essay. The party, which found a jaundiced eye in
Sunu, also directed its student wing to conduct an immediate inquiry into
the circumstances which led to the publication of such a 'retrograde propaganda
material'.
A piece by noted Malayalam
writer, K L Mohana Varma, published in the magazine, accuses the CPM of
making shady deals with casteist parties in order to retain supremacy in
the State politics. Varma also ridicules the alleged lumpenisation of the
party, especially in Kannur and Kasargod districts.
Another irritant for
the party bosses is a sarcastic quote in it from O V Vijayan's novel Gurusagaram
denigrating the contributions of Lenin has been displayed prominently.
In his controversial
essay titled 'Communism: Dream, Ideology and Implementation', Sunu observes
that the Indian Communists are apprehensive of the resurgence of Marxism,
like their Christian counterparts, who are dreading the Second Coming of
Jesus Christ. Cruelty, impudence and betrayal are the 'study class' materials
of the CPM now, instead of ideals, discipline and revolution, the student
leader observes.
He opines that the CPM
leaders are overseeing revolution through 'foreign cars and air-conditioned
houses', while the poor headload workers and toddy tappers are contributing
to the party fund from their meagre earnings, expecting an immediate blooming
of '100 flowers'.
Notwithstanding all the
teething troubles, the party of the 1930's and 40's of Kerala stood for
certain values including ideological clarity, probity in public life and
commitment to the poor man's cause, the essay says. The present leaders,
living in ivory towers, have lost almost an the positive aspects of that
tradition, Sunu adds.
Praising Michael Gorbachev,
who presided over the dismantling of the USSR, the essay says that the
last Soviet President actually made an attempt to give a human face to
the otherwise aggressive Marxist philosophy.
Another essay in the
magazine, titled 'The relevance of Left parties in the Indian politics',
by C G Dinesh Kumar also denigrates the style of functioning of the CPM.
He accuses the party of using its cadres as mere tools for the promotion
of certain leaders, who are occupying prime positions in the party.
The district leadership
of the SFI, which permitted the publication of the magazine, is now in
hot waters. Its St Mary's unit is yet to remit the printing cost to an
offset printing house at Sulthan Bathery. Meanwhile, the advertisers are
demanding copies of the magazine.
