Still not dead and buried: A rural Punjab move to keep alive the spirit of Naxalbari

By Harsh Thakor
There was a well attended and most lively meeting in memory of Thana Singh of around 2000 persons in Thana Singh’s village of Bhallai Ana in community hall in Muktsar on September 17th, with most encouraging participation of youth. It was a testimony that the spirit of Naxalbari is still not dead and buried with the audience literally reverberating the message of Naxalbari. In spite of every effort of the state to crush the naxalbari movement, it is not dead and buried, as we witnessed here. I was privileged to participate in the event.
The meeting began with the singing of the Communist International.
Speakers represented diverse sections of the Communist revolutionary camp. The clarity and focus of the speakers was impressive.They included Jaspal Jassi of Surkh Leeh, Mukhtiar Phular of Lal Parcham , Lakhwinder of Pratibadh and Professor Parminder Singh. They all underlined how Thana Singh had planted the roots of the massline and how today’s peasant movement or mass political movement flourishing had it’s base in Comrade Thana Singh’s efforts. Strong reference was made on Thana Singh’s role in establishing the Punjab coordination Committee, to defeat left adventurist line and in combating the rightist line of JP movement.
Leaders of BKU (Ugrahan) like Jhanda Singh Jethuke, Zora Singh Nasrali of Punjab Khet Mazdoor Union, Jagmel Singh of Lok Morcha and Ashwini Guddhaof Naujwan Bharat Sabha, Advocate N.K. Jeet of AFDR and Harjinder Singh of Moulder and Steel Workers Union,were also present. Zora Singh Nasrali, gave the introductory speech.Surkh Leek editor,Pavel Kussa,chaired the speeches.
Messages we read out from the Central Commitee of the CPRCI(ML), CPI(ML) New Democracy and Lal Pracham.
Professor Parminder Singh narrated the manner which as a schoolboy Thana Singh revolted against casteist discrimination. He recounted how he set a personal example by respecting and engaging in manual labour and never discriminating between mental and manual labour.
Muktiar Phullar spoke about how in day to day practical or ground work Thana Singh’s contribution, even surpassed that of late Harbhajan Sohi. From different angles, he viewed his work, highlighting how he struck a chord in important and diverse aspects.
Convenor Jaspal Jassi narrated from a historical perspective, how Thana Singh shaped the revolutionary movement, in every juncture. He asserted how till his last breath he defended the revolutionary massline and liberation.
Thana Singh’s daughter, Navraj, came on stage to narrate the unique aspects of her father’s life.
Resident of village, Gurbhagat Singh, thanked all the participants.
The main achievement of the conference was the unifying aspect towards New Democratic Revolution.Inspite of political differences; all speakers projected the essence of Thana Singh’s contribution.
Most impressive to witness participation of basic masses in programme of such a political nature likes poor farmers, landless labour ,women and village youth. Overall one of the most impressive Communist revolutionary gatherings, showing potential of many new roses to bloom.
What was possibly missing was representatives or messages from the Maoist trend in Punjab, which is of course divided, and activists from other parts of the Communist Revolutionary camp. Also hardly any presence of activists from other states of India.
---
Harsh Thakor is freelance journalist

Comments

Wave of disappearances sparks human rights fears for activists in Delhi

By Harsh Thakor* A philosophy student from Zakir Hussain College, Delhi University, and an activist associated with Nazariya magazine, Rudra, has been reported missing since the morning of July 19, 2025. This disappearance adds to a growing concern among human rights advocates regarding the escalating number of detentions and disappearances of activists in Delhi.

How community leaders overcome obstacles to protect forests and pastures in remote villages

By Bharat Dogra Dheera Ram Kapaya grew up in such poverty that, unable to attend school himself, he would carry another boy’s heavy school bag for five kilometers just to get a scoop of daliya (porridge). When he was finally able to attend school, he had to leave after class five to join other adolescent workers. However, as soon as opportunities arose, he involved himself in community efforts—promoting forest protection, adult literacy, and other constructive initiatives. His hidden talent for writing emerged during this time, and he became known for the songs and street play scripts he created to promote forest conservation, discourage child marriages, and support other social reforms.

‘Act of war on agriculture’: Aruna Rodrigues slams GM crop expansion and regulatory apathy

By Rosamma Thomas* Expressing appreciation to the Union Agriculture Minister for inviting suggestions from farmers and concerned citizens on the sharp decline in cotton crop productivity, Aruna Rodrigues—lead petitioner in the Supreme Court case ongoing since 2005 that seeks a moratorium on genetically modified (GM) crops—wrote to Union Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on July 14, 2025, stating that conflicts of interest have infiltrated India’s regulatory system like a spreading cancer, including within the Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR).

The GMO illusion: Three decades of hype, harm, and false hope

By Sridhar Radhakrishnan Three decades of hype, billions of dollars spent, and still no miracle crop. It's time to abandon the GMO biotech fairy tale and return to the soil, the seed, and the farmer. “Trust us,” they said. “GMOs will feed the world.” Picture a world where there is plenty of food, no hunger, fields grow without chemical pesticides, children are saved from malnutrition, and people live healthily.

Sandra Gonzalez Sanabria: An inspiring life from Colombia’s Amazonian valley

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* In the village of Héctor Ramírez, known as Agua Bonita, in La Montañita, Caquetá, Colombia, a vision of peace and renewal is unfolding. In the pre-2016 period, this would have been nearly impossible for outsiders to visit, as it was the epicenter of violent resistance against state oppression. However, after the Peace Accord was signed between the Colombian government and former revolutionaries—marking the end of a 70-year insurgency that claimed over 400,000 lives until 2025, including civilians, rebel fighters, and security personnel—things began to change. Visiting Agua Bonita during the Global Land Forum in Bogotá revealed a village of hope and resilience. Former FARC revolutionaries have settled here and transformed the village into a center of peace and aspiration.

Indigenous Karen activist calls for global solidarity amid continued struggles in Burma

By A Representative At the International Festival for People’s Rights and Struggles (IFPRS), Naw Paw Pree, an Indigenous Karen activist from the Karen Human Rights Group (KHRG), shared her experiences of oppression, resilience, and hope. Organized with the support of the International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL), the event brought together Indigenous and marginalized communities from across the globe, offering a rare safe space for shared learning, solidarity, and expression.

Activists allege abduction and torture by Delhi Police Special Cell in missing person probe

By A Representative A press statement released today by the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) alleges that several student and social activists have been abducted, illegally detained, and subjected to torture by the Delhi Police Special Cell. The CASR claims these actions are linked to an investigation into the disappearance of Vallika Varshri, an editorial team member of 'Nazariya' magazine.

India’s zero-emission, eco-friendly energy strategies have a long way to go, despite impressive progress

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent report released by OPEC’s World Oil Outlook 2025 has predicted that by the year 2050, crude oil would replace coal as India’s key energy source. Clearly, OPEC expects that India’s dependence on fossil fuels for energy will continue to remain high in one form or another.

Gender violence defies stringent laws: The need for robust social capital

By Dr. Manoj Kumar Mishra* The tragic death of Miss Soumyashree Bisi, a 20-year-old student from Fakir Mohan College, Balasore, who reportedly self-immolated due to harassment, shocked the conscience of Odisha. Even before the public could process this horrifying event, another harrowing case emerged—a 15-year-old girl from Balanga, Puri, was allegedly set ablaze by miscreants. These incidents are not isolated; they highlight a disturbing pattern of rising gender-based violence across the state and the country.

Search This Blog