NEWSLETTER

April & May 2023

LOKAYAT – Forum for a new world!

On rocky paths, under stormy skies, through shadow,

We see our way clearly, feet never faltering.

For Bhima’s Torch burns bright.

And the darkness flees.

- Shahir Wamandada Kardak

Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar believed that merely enacting a constitution and passing laws was not enough to establish freedom, justice, equality and fraternity; we must awaken the social conscience. In our society, that means constantly striving to motivate people – to give up their caste privileges, to treat men and women equally, to build friendships across caste and religious boundaries, to collectively pressure governments to promote equal opportunities and provide a good life to all. We consider this to be the meaning of the way illuminated by Bhima’s Torch.

Paying tribute to Babasaheb on his birth anniversary and remembering the sacrifices of the workers of the world on the occasion of May Day, we continue our efforts to reach out to and organise all sections of society. The following is the combined report of our activities conducted in April and May 2023.

Celebrating Ambedkar Jayanti

On the occasion of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Jayanti, various fronts of Lokayat organised a range of activities:

• Day Long Bookstall: On 14^th April, we set up a bookstall near Babasaheb’s statue near Pune Collectorate. The stall ran from early in the morning until the evening. It featured works of Babasaheb as well as other freedom fighters and social reformers, along with books about various social and political issues. While promoting this literature among those who had thronged to pay their homage, our activists engaged in a dialogue with them about the state of the country and the need to organise.  Some of those whom we met soon joined us as volunteers.

• Babasaheb Ambedkar and Women’s Rights: A public talk by Lokayat’s Alka Joshi was organised by our womens’ wing, Abhivyakti as part of its monthly meeting in April. The talk highlighted Babasaheb’s largely unsung contribution to women’s rights and was followed by a stimulating discussion with the audience, which comprised many young students.

• Sanvidhan Melava: This is an exhibition which increases awareness of the core values of our Constitution through games and interactive art exhibits. We have been organising this Melava in various vastis (slums) and colleges for the past five years, and it continued to evolve and improve. This year, Lokayat Nagari Samiti in association with local Mitra-Mandals organised the Melava in four vastis in south Pune.

Summer Camps for Children

Lokayat Nagari Samiti and Jawahar Bal Manch (JBM) [a new wing of the Congress that works with children] organised a series of one-day summer vacation camps for children in May. Four camps were organised in local schools and public halls with the support of Mitra-Mandals and local residents. Between 30 to 50 children participated in each of these camps, from various areas like Ganj Peth, Angarsha Takia, Wadarwadi, Maharshi Nagar, Tadiwala Road and Ganesh Peth. 

Volunteers of the JBM conducted various activities to stimulate the curiosity and creativity of the children, such as:

• Understanding scientific principles through everyday objects;

• Collective games, music and dance;

• Creating art from trash;

• Singing patriotic songs.

The camps were followed by meetings with the parents. The parents were not just happy, but keen to see such activities happen on a regular basis. It was also encouraging for us to notice that children were promoting the camp among their friends.

Lokayat Nagari Samiti Campaign:

“Ration for All”

For more than a year we have been running a campaign demanding:

• A universal and improved Public Distribution System (PDS) as a right and,

• Provision of rations to all entitled families who are not receiving them.

So far, we have succeeded in getting new ration cards sanctioned for nearly two hundred people.

The Nagari Samiti organised two house-to-house campaigns in the last two months in Shivajinagar and Peth (old city) areas. This time we also prepared and used a folk-theater form called Batavani in the campaign.

We organised the concerned people and met with the local PDS officials. As a result ten more families shall be receiving their fair share soon. This sustained campaign has also compelled incumbent corporators in these areas to initiate similar campaigns.

Regular activities by Abhivyakti

The Myth of Love Jihad

Fascist forces have constructed a fake issue of “Love Jihad” and have been promoting it aggressively, most recently through the movie - “Kerala Story”. In Lokayat's weekly meeting on 14^th May, we had a good discussion on the facts of the matter and exposed the true reasons for this propaganda – it is a distraction from increasing poverty and unemployment as a result of the Modi government’s pro-billionaire policies. All participants found the discussion quite enlightening.

In addition we also organised a discussion on the effects of the National Education Policy 2020 (NEP) on girls’ education.

Abhivyakti Campaigns in Solidarity with Women Wrestlers

Indian women wrestlers - who have brought glory to the country on the international stage - have been struggling for justice for the past several months. The government is shielding a man accused of sexually abusing the wrestlers, including a minor. While the new building of the nation's highest democratic forum was being inaugurated, a peaceful and democratic protest of the wrestlers was crushed under police jackboots.

We protest against this outrageous and shameful conduct of the BJP government and demand strict legal action against the accused.

In solidarity with the struggling wrestlers, over the month of May, we organised:

• Eight campaigns in vastis and public squares throughout Pune. Many young people joined these campaigns.

• A public screening of critical news coverage on the issue in Shivajinagar.

• We participated in the protest march organised by Congress and opposition parties in Pune city.

We are going to continue this campaign until justice is served. We appeal to you to contact us if you wish to participate.

In addition to the above campaigns, we also organised a campaign on the effect of NEP on girls’ education and another on the social causes of violence against women.

Participation in Campaign to

Save Vetal Tekdi and the Rivers of Pune

Cities should prioritize livability by ensuring clean air, water, affordable housing, comfortable public transport, and green spaces. However, the construction-automobile-petrol lobby opposes this vision, and Pune's municipal authorities who are beholden to this lobby are promoting destructive development projects. These include construction of a road and tunnel through the Vetal Tekdi hill, a vital forest and water reservoir of Pune city, and the cutting of thousands of trees on the Mula-Mutha river front for concretisation in the name of "beautification." Citizens of Pune have organised powerful movements over the past few months against these projects. Lokayat has extended active support to these movements.

In the last two months we took an active part in the Vetal Tekdi Bachao Kruti Samiti and contributed to organising the following:

• A public seminar, at which activists Dr. Sushama Date, Pradeep Ghumre and Rushal Heena spoke on the environmentally destructive nature of the project, and also discussed alternatives. Around 150 citizens attended this seminar.

• 7 campaigns in parks, tekdis (hills) and other public places.

• Active participation in the citizens’ march against the project – we contributed to the rally with our songs and slogans and marched with the thousands of people amidst an unseasonal downpour.

• Celebrating Maharashtra Day (1^st May) on the Vetal hill with songs and poetry.

• Participation in a cleanliness drive on Vetal hill.

Besides these, Lokayat also organised:

• A documentary film screening and discussion on public transport and building of cycling friendly cities.

• 3 door-to-door campaigns in Janwadi – where the proposed Vetal Tekdi road project will end up displacing homes.

Many of our activists participated in the “Chipko” March against the “River Front Development” project.

Tuka Mhane (Says Tuka)

A Celebration of Warkari Thought

The ideals of the Indian Constitution are not foreign in origin – as Babasaheb Ambedkar often reminded people. They are rooted in the centuries-long democratic, rational and egalitarian tradition of India called the Shraman Parampara. The early Charvakists and Buddhists, Basavanna, Kabir, Nanak and the Warkari movement of Maharashtra - all upheld and promoted this Shraman Parampara. This tradition still lives among the people and is a bulwark against fascist forces, who seek to establish the monopoly of political Hindutva on our tradition and culture. Those who stand for the Constitution must preserve and popularise the essence of this tradition.

We have made a humble beginning in this direction. Our cultural wing Kafila, with guidance from progressive Warkari kirtankar Shyamsundar Maharaj Sonnar, developed a short cultural program titled 'Tuka Mhane' based on the “abhangas” (verses) of Sant Tukaram, in which we sing the abhangs and explain their meaning. This hour-long program uses a fusion of traditional and modern tunes, along with various musical instruments. Our team performed this program at a gathering of warkaris at Alandi. The palkhis carrying the Paduka of Sant Tukaram Maharaj and Sant Dnyaneshwar Maharaj is scheduled to arrive in Pune on June 12. We plan to perform 'Tuka Mhane' in various public places in the city before, during and after the Warkari pilgrims come to Pune on June 12. More updates on this in the next newsletter.

Work with the Rashtriya Mazdoor Sangh (RMS)

The RMS is an umbrella union of unorganised sector workers active in Pune. Lokayat activists are actively working with RMS to strengthen the union and help raise the political consciousness of its activists.  In April-May, Lokayat activists actively helped the RMS conduct the following activities:

• Held a victory celebration for the 250 contract security guards who got work orders from the PMC through a successful agitation by the union.

• Successfully registered around 50 domestic workers on the E-Shram online portal.

• Organised meetings of union representatives in 12 areas of the city. In the meetings, information about minimum wages, legal rights, bonus, ESIC cards etc was shared. Security guards, cleanliness workers and gardeners employed on contract with the PMC participated in the meetings.

Remembering the History of May Day

On the occasion of International Labour Day on May 1, Lokayat Nagari Samiti held a small documentary screening and discussion with local workers in Ganj Peth about the history of workers’ struggles and the significance of May Day. The participants, all unorganised workers, shared their experiences and spoke about the dire need to unionise.

Hath Se Hath Jodo  Abhiyan

The results of the Karnataka elections show that the electoral machinery of the fascist BJP can be defeated, despite its media monopoly, money power and communal propaganda. This would require Congress workers to work hard at the grassroots to expose the BJP’s pro-corporate agenda. The Congress leadership has been initiating several programs that require Congress activists to reach out to people on a wide range of issues. Lokayat activists have been actively helping the Congress in this effort.

The Congress has launched the Hath Se Hath Jodo Abhiyan – a door-to-door campaign explaining to people the anti-people economic policies of the BJP, that have led to backbreaking inflation and spiralling unemployment. In April, Lokayat activists helped Congress activists conduct this campaign in three areas of south Pune.

The Congress also organised a Kopra Sabha (street corner meeting) demanding the Modi government answer the serious questions about the lapses and oversights which supposedly led to the deaths of soldiers in the Pulwama terror attack. We participated in this too.

Paigam-e-Aman: Celebration of Fraternity on Eid-ul-Fitr

It has been the Indian tradition for people from different communities to celebrate festivals of all faiths together in the spirit of fraternity. That is why Lokayat has been taking the initiative to mobilise various secular groups and jointly organise a public celebration of Eid every year.

On 29^th April, a cultural program was organised on the footpath outside Sambhaji Garden by Maratha Seva Sangh, Bhim Army (Bahujan Ekta Mission), Mulnivasi Muslim Manch, Unique Foundation and Lokayat in association with Arvind Shinde (Pune City District Congress President), Mohan Joshi (Vice President, MPCC) and Adv. Abhay Chhajed (Secretary, MPCC) with special assistance from Deccan Police Station and Pune Police Region 1. Kafila – our cultural wing performed poetry and songs spreading the message of peace and brotherhood. A large gathering enjoyed the program; several had come after receiving our invitation on social media, and several passerbys who had come for a stroll in the park or were just passing by joined the program spontaneously.  At the end of the program, all us shared the delightful Sheer Khurma prepared under the direction of one of our activists. For many, it was the first time they celebrated Eid!

On 30^th April, Lokayat and the constituent parties of the Mahavikas Aghadi celebrated Eid at Lady Hawabai school in camp. The program was attended by all leaders of the Congress, NCP and SS(UBT). Lokayat activists presented an enthralling cultural program on the occasion, followed by short speeches by several leaders.

The response and appreciation for both programs reaffirms our faith that our collective unity will continue to prevail over efforts to divide people.

Social media activities

We continue to regularly publish progressive content on social media. Among the issues we raised this month were 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.

Fill this form to join us:

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

Rishikesh : +91 94235 07864 | Kalyani : +91 83900 28617