Skip to main content

Beyond Afghanistan: Rather than imperialist coloniser, world 'deserves' Vishvaguru India

Counterview Desk 

In response to a lecture by well-known Marxian scholar Vijay Prashad, who is director of Tricontinental, originally a Cuban journal which now seeks to serve what is considers as anti-imperialist causes across the world though its website thetricontinental.org, Chandra Vikash, convener, GAIA Earth Sansad, offers coordination between Tricontinental and those who advocate what he calls the "global indigenous" thrust.
Vijay Prashad during a recent talk hailed Taliban victory against "imperialism", and in his response, Vikash claims, those who have taken over are "a new and much reformed Taliban (students in Pashto language)", even as sounding a different note, "It is a time for all of us to introspect and reflect upon the world at large, with its multi-faceted crises and not just poverty alleviation."

Excerpts:

Congratulations on the people's victory at Kabul amidst another resounding defeat for the world's rogue and corrupt terrorist colonizer, illicit hegemonist, and capitalist bastion. Many more Saigon, yes, but one that we must not forget is the Turtle Islands itself, the occupied territory of the native Indians in that part of the world.
I equally well empathize over the grave injustices since the Saur Revolution, but as I am tempered by reality to believe that the justice we have got is not a perfect one, but a balanced one. As noted commentator MK Bhadrakumar has been writing -- it is a new and much reformed Taliban (students in Pashto language). It is a time for all of us to introspect and reflect upon the world at large, with its multi-faceted crises and not just poverty alleviation.
India, for instance, has no space for a Taliban-like force to overthrow an equally and in many ways far more corrupt regime backed again by the US. Even as it is causing glaring and crying inequality and injustice, with a vast number of people suffering in misery, hunger, malnutrition, poverty and loss of livelihoods, the realistic and balanced sense of justice guides us to set up a truly democratic world body called GAIA Earth Sansad (www.gaiasansad.org ), even if our objective is also to contain the puppet regime and its surreptitious masters pulling the strings.
This comes from an understanding of India being a civilization and not a nation-state. It holds a special place in the world as a microcosm of the whole world in containing its rich diversity and plurality that speaks in so many voices, not just within India, but as Indian diaspora, in almost every part of the world. No doubt that all indigenous people worldwide are called Indians. It is not merely a conjecture therefore that India/Bharatiya/Hindu is the classical, cosmopolitan and cosmological character of the global indigenous.
Encapsulated in thoughts such as Vasudhaiv Kutumbamak (World as Family) and Gaavo Vishvasv Matarah (Mother Earth or Gaia), is this openly held secret of how India is the nucleus or the natural centre of the world before it is brutally and then surreptitiously displaced from its position by Euro-Western Universalism that has with its fatal flaws of reductionism and mechanistic principles brought humanity to the brink of extinction in just under 400 years and needs to be stopped in its tracks from unleashing even further damage. 
Rather than an imperialist coloniser, the world needs and deserves India, once again as global thought leader or Vishvaguru. For more on Road Ahead for GAIA Earth Sansad, kindly visit this blog posThe motivation for this email comes from Vijay's talk recently at David Harvey's book launch, and the conversation that follows, which also helps to illustrate the above point. I wait to hear Vijay and Team Tricontinental perspectives on the same. Next is to invite you all on board of GAIA Earth Sansad and this special 'Call for Regional Coordinators' (details on the link).
How can Tricontinental with its underpinnings in the communist ideology and GES work together with our shared purposes? GES, which is a post-ideological people-led initiative aims to transcend present maladies to create a livable, equitable, just and sustainable world.
We are committed to collaborate with every organisation that is sincere, sane and sanguine in its purpose, vision and actions towards a holistic and harmonious world order, when humanity as a whole needs us together the most, against the vile, devious and diabolical forces of inhumane and murderous imperialism and capitalism.

Comments

Anonymous said…
I am not sure what Vijay Prashad is up to - I am shocked to see his, what seems to be, soft-pedaling on Imperialism. His articles post-Afghanistan-debacle have been tame.

Is this really the new Taliban? How can we tell so early?

How can one discount the fear induced in hundreds of thousands of Afghans, especially women, who worry for their lives. Are they all stooges of the US? All "westernized?"

Look at the Afghan refugee flows through Iran and Turkey - Turkey is now building a wall. As is Greece, and Lithuania, the latter to stem the flow of Afghans from Belarus. Who are these Afghans fleeing Afghanistan?

Of course, the Taliban has been making some right noises, now that the world's spotlight is on them, and they are supposed to be more media-savvy. But you think they are taking over Afghanistan to renege on their founding and guiding principles? Too early to tell.

True, one must not fall for the West's continous characterization of the Taliban as from the "Middle Ages" etc while always maintaining dialog with them.

Please refer to some Muslim/Islamic scholars on sites like Aljazeera who offer better and more informed/nuanced takes on the situation.

The jury is still out on this so-called Taliban 2.0 and their intentions. Let us not rush to judgement till then.

TRENDING

TU activist Anirudh Rajan, lawyer Ajay Kumar in custody: Wounded reputation of world's largest democracy?

By Vedika S*  Over the last few days, India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), known to be tasked with suppressing revolutionary, democratic, and progressive forces, conducted a series of raids across Haryana, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, and Delhi. Targets included human rights attorney Pankaj Tripathi, student leader Devendra Azad, and peasant union leader Sukhwinder Kaur. Lawyer and anti-displacement activist Ajay Kumar was arrested and taken to his home in Mohali, which was subsequently raided. He is now imprisoned in Lucknow as a suspect in the NIA's "Northern Regional Bureau (NRB) Revival case." 

RG Kar saga: Towards liberation from the constraints of rigid political parties?

By Atanu Roy*  There's a saying: "There is no such thing as a half-pregnancy." This adage seems particularly relevant when discussing the current regime of the Trinamool Congress (TMC). The party appears to be entrenched in widespread corruption that affects nearly every aspect of our lives. One must wonder, why would they exclude the health sector—a lucrative area where illicit money can flow freely, thanks to a network of corrupt leaders colluding with ambitious bureaucrats? 

India's 55.6% still can't afford healthy diet, yet food wastage a serious issue

By Vikas Meshram  According to this year's 'State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World' report, India has the highest number of malnourished people in the world, with a staggering 195 million affected. This report, prepared by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, was published jointly by five UN agencies, including UNICEF. The report also highlights a slight improvement in India's statistics: between 2004-06, the number of malnourished people in the country was 240 million. 

A Hindu alternative to Valentine's Day? 'Shiv-Parvati was first love marriage in Universe'

By Rajiv Shah*   The other day, I was searching on Google a quote on Maha Shivratri which I wanted to send to someone, a confirmed Shiv Bhakt, quite close to me -- with an underlying message to act positively instead of being negative. On top of the search, I chanced upon an article in, imagine!, a Nashik Corporation site which offered me something very unusual. 

Unwavering source of ideological inspiration in politics, life: Personal tribute to Yechury

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak  Sitaram Yechury was everyone's comrade. He lived his life in public like an open book of praxis. Everyone was familiar with his family background, student life, many talents, achievements, and political journey that defines his everyday life as a committed communist.  

Trailblazer in literary innovation, critic of Indian mythology, including Ramayana

By Harsh Thakor*  Ranganayakamma, commonly known as RN, stands out as a transformative figure in promoting Marxist thought, democratic ideals, and anti-caste principles through her remarkably clear and engaging writing style. A trailblazer in literary innovation, her works span a broad array of topics, from critiques of Indian mythology and revivalism to discussions on civil liberties, the Indian Communist Movement, and Maoism in China. 

'Abduction' of labour activist Anirudh Rajan part of a 'troubling trend': CASR

By Our Representative  The civil rights network Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) has issued a strong denunciation of the "abduction" of labour rights activist Anirudh Rajan, who was taken by state authorities on September 5, 2024, while traveling to meet his family. This incident is part of a troubling trend, as the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and various state forces have increasingly targeted trade union and democratic rights activists over the past year. 

'Void in Leftist landscape': Loss of Sitaram Yechury who had helped form INDIA bloc

By Vikas Meshram*  The passing of Sitaram Yechury has cast a profound stillness over leftist organizations across India. Renowned as a distinguished politician, columnist, economist, and social activist, Yechury was a staunch advocate for student rights and movements. His leadership skills became apparent early in his academic career, as he was elected three times as the president of Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU). Yechury also endured imprisonment during the Emergency period, underscoring his commitment to political activism. 

'300 Nazis fell by your gun': Most successful female sniper in history

By Harsh Thakor*  "Miss Pavlichenko’s well known to fame,  Russia’s your country, fighting is your game.  The whole world will always love you for all time to come,  Three hundred Nazis fell by your gun."  — from Woody Guthrie's “Miss Pavlichenko"