NEWSLETTER

October to December 2021

LOKAYAT - forum for a new world!

We meet again, at the turning of the tide.

The last three months have been a time of hope for all those who are fighting for a just and equal world. At home, we have witnessed a historic victory – farmers have forced the strongman of Antilla and Wall Street to repeal the three laws intended to stamp the seal on the corporate takeover of India’s farms.

Seven seas away, in Chile - the original laboratory of modern day “Company-Raj” - the people have secured another historic victory. After ushering in a new constitution free from the legacy of corporate strongman Pinochet - built by a new, democratic, constituent assembly – they have elected a young president of socialist leanings. In Honduras a democratic woman has won the presidential elections by a record breaking margin, despite all the dirty tactics by a US backed opposition.

The ultimate victory for democracy and equality may be far away, but the tide has turned yet again.

With this hope we welcome the new year. The following is a brief overview of the scores of activities we carried out from October to December 2021.

Continued support to the farmers’ struggle
and a jubilant conclusion

On 4th October, the Shetkari Bachao Kruti Samiti Pune organised a protest condemning the cold blooded murder of farmers at Lakhimpur Kheri.
On 11th October the ruling alliance in Maharashtra declared a state-wide bandh in support of the protesting farmers. The samiti welcomed this strike and participated in the protests that day.

Finally, on 19th November, when the Prime Minister announced the repeal of the farm laws, the samiti organised an impromptu celebration at the Mahatma Phule statue, Pune Municipal Corporation.

Hundreds of people took to the streets in these protests, in solidarity with the farmers. We were present in full strength in all solidarity protests.

Celebrating the ideas of our founding
mothers and fathers

2^nd October: Birth Anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi

On Gandhi Jayanti, Kafila and Pune City-District Congress Committee organised a street cultural program – Mazbooti Ka Naam Mahatma Gandhi (Toughness, thy name is Mahatma Gandhi) – at Goodluck Chowk in Pune. Music, dance, poetry and audio-visuals – all combined into a beautiful presentation about the essential message of Gandhiji – be not afraid to face injustice. The program was preceded by garlanding the statue of pioneering freedom fighter, the largely underrated G.K. Gokhale, near Fergusson College.

14^th November: Birth Anniversary of Lahuji Salve

On November 14th Lokayat Nagari Samiti celebrated the birth anniversary of another pioneering but unsung hero of the freedom struggle – Lahuji Vastad Salve. “Lahu Baba”, as Mahatma Phule called him, had taught wrestling to the young Phule. Eventually, he became a staunch Satyashodhak and an active supporter of womens’ education. With the Angamehanati Kashtakari Sangharsh Samiti, we organised a commemorative procession in the old city, from the historic Lahuji Taalim (Lahuji’s arena) to Phule Wada.

16^th November: Birth Anniversary of Tipu Sultan

On November the 16th we celebrated the birth anniversary of Tipu Sultan with a local citizens’ groups in Lohia Nagar. With a talk and a short film screening, we highlighted the Mysore Tiger's contribution to the resistance against the British East India Company and refuted the communalisation of history done by fundamentalist forces, especially with Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and Tipu Sultan.

26^th November: Constitution Day

On Constitution Day, 26th November, Lokayat Nagari Samiti organised “Sanvidhan Melavas” (Constitution Fairs) on two street corners in vastis. Gokhale Nagar market and the busy Ganj-Peth market. In this unique campaign we use interactive art exhibits and games to convey the values of our Constitution – liberty, equality, fraternity, secularism and social justice. One stall also explains the directive principles and its economic implications through a simple interactive game. All these games are easy to play for people of all ages and social backgrounds, yet are quite thought provoking. Many people of the vastis, out shopping for daily neccessities, stopped by the stalls and participated enthusiastically.

28^th November: Death Anniversary of Mahatma Phule

On the 28th of November, in memory of Mahatma Phule on his death anniversary, we organised a day long reading session on Phule-Ambedkar books and concluded the day with a screening of Bharat Ek Khoj’s episode on the Phules and a discussion. It was well attended by young students.

6^th December: Death Anniversary of Dr. Ambedkar

On the morning of 5th December, Lokayat Nagari Samiti organised a visit to Babasaheb Ambedkar Memorial Museum near Symbiosis. Thirty activists, including students, youth, autorickshaw drivers visited this museum which houses a diorama and photo exhibition of the important events of Dr Ambedkar’s life – as well as his personal memorabilia. Seeing Babasaheb’s chair and table, the plates and spoons with which he ate and the empty suit which hangs in this museum, brought home to us a realisation of his essential humanity.
On the same evening we held a public program - “Babasaheb Ambedkar – Beyond the Textbooks” - a presentation with song, video and talk – showing how Babasaheb exemplified his slogan “Educate, Organise, Agitate”. The same discussion was also held in Lohia Nagar by Lokayat Nagari Samiti.
On 6th of December, Lokayat Nagari Samiti as well as Kafila organised performances of Bhim-Gatha in the streets as well as in the Buddha Vihar at Gokhale Nagar, Pune. We are happy to share that this year’s Bhim-Gatha was performed by a team of new activists, and the street program really helped boost their confidence.

Celebrating 75 years of Independence –
united state-wide campaign flagged off

Various organisations and individuals who believe in the Constitution and its values have come together for an 8-month long campaign to spread awareness among the people, especially the youth, about the values of our freedom struggle and the importance of our Constitution, and the assault on these by the Modi Government. This campaign was flagged off with a state-level convention on Sunday, 19 December 2021.
Among the many organisations in this campaign are -
• Rashtra Seva Dal
• Adivasi Ekta Parishad
• Vidrohi Sanskrutik Chalwal
• Lokayat
• Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti

The convention commenced by paying homage to freedom fighter Umaji Naik at the spot where he was hanged by the British and continued throughout the day at Savitribai Phule memorial hall. Among the speakers were Vaharu Sonawane, Arjun Dangle, Dr Ram Puniyani, Irfan Engineer, Dhanaji Gurav, Ganesh Devy and Ulhasdada Pawar. More than 400 people, from 11 districts of Maharashtra, including activists representing more than 50 organisations attended the convention. As an organisation from the host city, we played a key role in organising this convention.

District committees have been formed in Mumbai, Pune, Nasik, Sangli, Kolhapur and Ahmednagar and have commenced organising programs in their areas. The first program in this series was jointly organised by left and democratic organisations in the Gargoti taluka of Kolhapur district on 12th December. On the night of 12th December 1942, seven freedom fighters who laid down their lives during a daring raid on Bhudargadh prison in Gargoti. In their memory, mashal marches were organised from the martyr’s native villages to the martyrs’ memorial in the town. This was followed by a cultural program that went late into the night. Our activists also participated in this program.

The streets are alive

Street Campaigns against Fuel Price Hike and Systematic Casteism

Fuel price rise and inflation are breaking the back of the working class. Through regular street campaigns, we have conversations with common people and try to expose the reasons behind these economic crises. Over the last three months, we carried out six such campaigns – including one against systemic casteism and one about the climate change crisis. Quite a few people have joined us as new volunteers from these campaigns.

Street Campaigns against Voilence on Women

Under the aegis of Abhivyakti, we organised campaigns on the social causes of violence against women, almost every single week. We carried out these campaigns not just in public places frequented by the middle class, but also near slum areas, and the response by the people is encouraging, signalling a beginning of change in attitudes even among the working classes. Young people from the bastis where the Lokayat Nagari Samiti works themselves made placards decrying violence against women. In October, we also participated in a joint candle-march against the brutal killing of a teenage girl in Pune by a jilted lover with numerous progressive organisations.

Back to college after the COVID-19 hiatus

After nearly two years, with the resumption of in-person classes in colleges across the state, students have returned to city campuses in large numbers. We were invited to conduct eight programs over the last two months of this year. It felt wonderful to address students again through lectures and documentary screenings.

The topics discussed included climate change, gender equality and the Constitution. The eagerness of the youth to discuss and understand social issues has not been dulled by the pandemic. Young people are introspecting and asking questions. Another ray of hope.

Programs organised by Abhivyakti

Monthly Meetings

In these meetings, all volunteers of Abhivyakti gather for a discussion or some activity, aimed at increasing knowledge as well as planning some activities for the next month.
In October we discussed the UP Population Control bill and the fascist and patriarchal politics behind it. In November we discussed the issue of chronic anaemia and other socially induced healthcare issues among Indian women. In December we presented an overview of laws which are meant to protect women from injustice and exploitation.

Activities with women and young girls in Slums

In association with Sakhi Saheli Mahila Mandal, of Tadiwala road, Pune, we organise regular discussion with working women. In November and December, we discussed the high incidence of anaemia among women in our country and also its origins in patriarchy as well as the need for and improved universal PDS to provide nutritious food to all. For those women who wished to take up the issue of PDS at the local level, we organised a workshop, more than 30 women attended.
In the Wadarwadi area, we organised a screening of The Great Indian Kitchen – an incisive documentary which talks about the unpaid labour that women provide to each household. The audience comprised of young women – students and young workers who found it very enlightening.
An informative session on the biology of the female body was also conducted by our women activists for girls of this area.

Active support to the democratic alliances against the fascist juggernaut

14^th - 18^th November: Jan-jagaran Yatra

Jan-jagaran Yatra against unemployment and price-rise due to the pro-corporate policies of the Modi government was organised in various districts of the state by the Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee. In solidarity, we sent a small team to participate in this campaign in Vidarbha. From 14th to 18th November our team campaigned in Wardha, Sevagram and 10 villages in Bhandara district.

Series of street campaigns

Constitution Day was celebrated at Khajina Vihir in the heart of old Pune through a Sanvidhan Melava – organised jointly by Lokayat and Pune City Congress Committee. We also organised a series of corner-meetings in Kasbah Peth on the issue of price-rise and unemployment.

9^th December: Lokshahi Bachao Sabha

Lokshahi Bachao Sabha was organised by the city Congress committee in Pune. The sabha was addressed by popular youth leader Kanhaiya Kumar. Our Kafila team set the tone of the sabha with their performance of songs of revolution and the freedom struggle.

24^th December: Cultural demonstration against
genocidal appeals in “Dharm Sansad”

On 24th December, we jointly organised a cultural protest outside Sambhaji Udyan against the recent so called Dharm Sansad in which Hindutva ideologues raised genocidal slogans against minorities. Various democratic organisations participated in this. Numerous passers-by stopped their vehicles and joined the sabha and declared their support. Certainly, the common Hindu of this country is not a Hindutva-vadi fascist.

A festive season of ideas

We always strive to give a new meaning to our traditional festivals, and also celebrate those traditions which represent the progressive stream of Indian culture - through Kafila - our cultural front. This festive season was no exception.

Navratri

Abhivyakti activists participated in the all-women Garba-Dandia celebration organised by Shaheen Friends Circle of Tadiwala road.
The cultural origins of Navratri are steeped in productive agricultural practices, which were all pioneered by women during the dawn of history. All these are also deeply connected to the indigenous people. Today, this history is being forgotten in a storm of commercialisation and Brahminisation. As a small effort to remember the true origins of Navratri, Abhivyakti organised a discussion.

Christmas

We celebrate the prominent festivals of all religious communities as our own – this is a hallmark of the syncretic culture of India. Under the Modi government, we have witnessed an upsurge of communal politics, with Hindutva groups openly trying to break the unity of the people by communalising festivals. We challenge this politics by celebrating all these festivals on the street and appealing to the common people to join in. This Christmas we celebrated with carols and sweets at Fergusson College road and scores of people joined in.

The struggle for an improved and universal Public Distribution System continues

After a short break for Diwali festivities, we resumed the campaign to ensure PDS grain to all. Five door-to-door campaigns and six corner-meetings were held in slum areas to collect complaints of local people. We organised the citizens to take up these complaints with the zonal ration offices and follow them up. Two such zonal offices were visited.
In addition, meetings were held to create awareness of the need to struggle for a policy level change and universal provision of rations, removal of income caps.
As a result of these efforts of the people organised under the banner of Lokayat Nagari Samiti, we succeeded in securing rations for 17 families which had been excluded earlier.
On 23^rd December, we held a gathering in Lohia Nagar, with the help of Rabbate-Millat Committee. Residents of Lohia Nagar who were actively involved in the whole process shared their experiences. Presiding over the sabha, Nitin Pawar, leader of unorganised sector unions, said that universal PDS for all, including not just cereals but all essential foodstuffs is an essential part of our “right to life with dignity” and that any government under the Constitution of India must provide it.

Rickshaw Panchayat Pune Pimpri Chinchwad marches on with renewed vigour!

The Panchayat is Pune’s biggest auto-rickshaw union. It is led by veteran socialist leader Baba Adhav (president) and Nitin Pawar (general secretary). A team of our activists works closely with all activities of the Panchayat.

In this span of three months, Rickshaw Panchayat of Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad filed numerous legal notices against finance companies and their recovery agents for harassing drivers and assaulting them. A press conference announcing these actions was also held.

Kothrud and Warje area rickshaw drivers organised a Self-Respect Conference in November. Six organisation meetings were held and more than 130 drivers attended this conference. They freely spoke about their problems and plans were made to collectively resolve those problems. This was a very important step towards building the initiative of union members and democratisation of the union.

Union members, assisted by our activists, held three outreach meetings in various parts of the city, for those drivers who were unable to attend the aforesaid conference.

As various rickshaw-stands celebrated Datta Jayanti in December, Panchayat activists attended many of these celebrations and took the opportunity to share the recent successes of the Panchayat and talked to drivers about unionising.

Rickshaw Panchayat does not limit itself to auto-rickshaw drivers’ issues, we are equally concerned about the society at large. In October, rickshaw drivers participated eagerly in a workshop for the universal PDS campaign. For the second year in a row, Constitution Day was celebrated at major rickshaw stands in the city. Drivers publicly read the Preamble of the Constitution and re-iterated the long standing demand for a comprehensive social security cover for all unorganised labour. The Panchayat distributed stickers explaining various provisions of the Constitution, and many drivers stuck these inside their vehicles – providing their fares with a crash course in citizens’ rights on every ride!

In response to the exorbitant and unjust hikes in traffic violation penalties, under the Motor Vehicles (Amendments) Act 2019, passenger and small goods transporters have unitedly formed a committee under the chairmanship of Dr Baba Adhav. On 23rd December, this committee organised a protest outside the office of the regional transport commissioner. More than 800 small transporters took part in this protest.

New  on Youtube

Gar ho sake to ab koi shamma jalaiye

Na hindu khatre me hain, na musalman

Manusmriti dahan

Maza Bheem male bhetato bai

Social media activities

We continue to regularly make progressive content on social media. This month as well we targeted issues of petrol, diesel & gas price hike, privatisation, caste inequality, Gender & Economic crisis etc.

Volunteer for poster making activity if you are interested.
Contact us if you want to host our program on your channel.

Contact: Shubham: 99673 75492

Fill this form to join us:

Lokayat, 129/B Erandwane, opposite Canara Bank,
Law College Road, near Nalstop, Pune.

Rishikesh : +91 94235 07864 | Shakuntala : +91 98502 54679