NEWSLETTER | December 2022 and January 2023 |
|
| LOKAYAT - forum for a new world! |
|
|
|
Dear friends, January was so busy, we could not publish the December 2022 newsletter on time. So, we have combined the December and January newsletters.
As we begin a new year and reflect on the year gone by, let us recall the vision of Mahatma Gandhi and Babasaheb Ambedkar for the Republic of India.
On the eve of independence, while struggling to unite warring communities, Gandhiji said that the republic shall be one in which “we all will live together”. He envisaged a republic where villages and peasants would be decision makers. Babasaheb, in his first speech to the Constituent Assembly, called upon us to leave aside slogans and words which frightened people and to unite for the future of all Indians. In his final speech to the same assembly he sternly warned that if we continued to deny equality in our social and economic life for long, we would put our political democracy in peril.
In the 73rd year of our republic, the vision of Bapu and Babasaheb is under dire threat. Poverty, hunger, are at horrifying levels, inequality is at an all time high and institutions of democracy are being assaulted from all sides by an alliance of a greedy corporate oligarchy and a determined fascist force.
In this situation, we must resolve to put aside organisational differences and join the mammoth effort to save our republic. This is the spirit with which we welcomed the new year. |
|
|
|
6th December – Mahaparinirvan Diwas |
|
| Remembering Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar |  |
| On the occasion of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar’s Mahaparinirvan Diwas, we held various activities:
We delivered a talk “Babasaheb Beyond the Textbooks” in a local college. The talk emphasised that Babasaheb’s concern was for all Indians and was not restricted by caste. The talk was followed by a stimulating discussion with students. We arranged a visit to the Ambedkar Museum on SB Road for students of the nearby schools and colleges. We walked them through the various exhibits about Babasaheb’s life and struggle, highlighting the important points. Seeing Babasaheb’s personal effects – such as books, pen, clothes and even his violin – brought us closer to the human being behind the legend. We organised a book stall at Dr. Ambedkar’s statue near Pune Collectorate from early morning till evening on Mahaparinirvan Diwas, selling literature about Babasaheb’s life and struggle as well as our own publications on current social and economic issues. The purpose of this stall is not to sell books but to have a dialogue with the hundreds of people who come to pay their respects. |
|
|
|
Participation in Vidrohi Sahitya - Sanskriti Sammelan |
|
|  | After a pandemic-enforced hiatus of two years the annual Vidrohi Sahitya Sanskriti Sammelan (Literature and Cultural Convention of Dissidents) was held at Sane Guruji Smarak in Pune on 10 and 11 December. Lokayat contributed to the decorations, cultural activities and group discussions at this convention.
Among the numerous progressive bookstalls at the conference was our bookstall, where we sold more than a thousand books on various social and political issues, and interacted with hundreds of people. |
|
|
|
Regular Street Campaigns on Social and
Economic Issues |
|
|  | Lokayat organises weekly street campaigns on various issues in public places, especially youth hangouts and college campuses. In December and January we organised:
Five campaigns against violence on women. The campaign drew a good response from sensitive youth, both girls and boys. Five campaigns against inflation and unemployment. We find that most people are angry at the rising violence against women but unconscious of patriarchal values which pervade society, including in themselves. Also, ordinary people are greatly anguished by the rising inflation and unemployment. But most of them are victims of propaganda and unaware of the pro-corporate policies responsible for creating the economic crisis. Our experiences during these campaigns underscore the need to expand the reach of our campaigns.
We appeal to you to contribute a couple of hours a week to join the campaigns! |
|
|
|
Street Play for Girls Education by Abhivyakti and
Lokayat Nagari Samiti |
|
|  | Our rulers pay lip-service to Savitribai Phule but in practice, implement policies that cut funding for education and scholarships for girls, especially from the downtrodden sections. Latest statistics show that these policies, combined with deep rooted patriarchy, have resulted in a sharp drop in women’s participation in school and college education as well as in the labour force.
Abhivyakti has prepared a musical street play stressing the importance of educating girls – exhorting both parents and the state to change their attitude. We prepared, rehearsed this play in December and performed it in two vasti (slum) areas of the city. We also performed it on 3 January, Savitribai Phule Jayanti.
All the performers in the play are volunteer activists from the vastis. Along with the message, the crowd greatly appreciated our creative use of kitchen utensils as musical instruments.
We will continue to perform this play in the coming weeks. Do get in touch if you want to watch or participate. |
|
| Regular Activities for Women and Girls by Abhivyakti |
|
|  | In addition to campaigns, Abhivyakti conducts regular activities for women and girls to develop their leadership and other latent qualities. This month we organised -
A film screening on combating child sexual abuse for students and teachers of a local girls’ school, followed by a session on self defense by Abhivyakti’s own martial-art expert! Three Sunday morning sports sessions for girls from the Wadarwadi vasti. In December’s monthly meeting we held a discussion on the Constitution and the rights of women. |
|
| Abhivyakti Performs “Mulgi Zali Ho” |
|
|  | This play was written by the womens’ movement in the 1980s and is still quite relevant because patriarchy still prevails. We prepared and performed this with a new team this year, on two occasions.
14 January at Lokayat Hall, Pune. More than 50 people attended and it was followed by a discussion. 28 January – for the students and teachers of Sharada Vidyalaya, Pune. The play was greatly appreciated, women could relate to it and many were teary eyed. |
|
| Lokayat Nagari Samiti Campaign for
Universal and Expanded PDS |
|
|  | Under the existing Public Distribution System (PDS), the Central government is only fulfilling a very small part of peoples’ daily needs. On the one hand, the Centre has announced that the rations distributed through the PDS (5 kg per person) will now be given free, the Modi Govt. has saved people the princely sum of Rs. 10 to 15 a month. But at the same time, it has also announced the discontinuation of PMGKAY rations (additional 5 kg per person), which means that the poor will have to buy their additional foodgrain requirements beyond the 5 kg given to them through the PDS from the open market at rising prices, which means they will be forced to shell out a few hundred rupees from their pockets.
What we demand, in accordance with our Constitution and human rights, is that the government implement a universal PDS and that rations include at least pulses and oil in addition to cereals. Lokayat Nagari Samiti organises campaigns and discussions on this issue. In December and January we organised -
Three house-to-house campaigns in different working class areas of Pune. In the campaigns we create awareness about the demand for Universal PDS. We also teach the locals how to check their ration entitlements through their cellphones and avoid being cheated by the local shop. For those who are not receiving their share of rations, we collected complaint forms.
A public meeting of all complainants was organised. The issue was discussed in detail. We will soon be collectively submitting their forms to the local officials. |
|
| 100 days of Bharat Jodo Yatra |
|
|  | On 17 December, to mark 100 days of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Pune City District Congress held a mini Bharat Jodo padyatra at Fergusson College road in Pune city. The march started after paying homage to freedom fighter and 'Gandhi’s Guru', Gopal Krishna Gokhale at his statue and ended at the Police ground. It was attended by hundreds of people, including the descendants of GK Gokhale. Roughly half the marchers were young – a most heartening sign. More than a thousand people read the pamphlets that our activists distributed, bearing the message of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. |
|
| Pune Bandh Protesting Remarks Against
Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj |
|
|  | To protest the slew of insulting remarks made by various BJP politicians against People’s King - Chatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, opposition parties, social organisations, as well as organisations representing all castes and communities organised a huge bandh in the city on 13 December. The local merchants’ associations also joined the strike and closed shops in all major markets. Along with this general strike, a mammoth silent march was also taken out by all the participating organisations through the heart of the city.
We lent our full support to the bandh and participated in the protest march. To spread the true message of Shivaji Maharaj among the people, we also campaigned in various areas of the city for two days before the bandh. Kafila, our cultural wing also performed ballads (powadas) on Chatrapati Shivaji written by Vitthal Umap and Wamandada Kardak. Through our campaigns we appealed to people to remember the pro-people, pro-farmer policies of Maharashtra’s beloved king and remind our current rulers of their duties. |
|
| Kafila Celebrates Christmas in the Spirit of
Peace and Unity |
|
|  | The inclusive spirit of our country is on full display during its festivals. There has historically been a tradition of people of all communities celebrating all festivals together. Even in these times of supercharged communal politics, numerous corners of India have kept this tradition alive. Lokayat has endeavoured to strengthen this tradition of ‘mili-juli sanskriti’ in our little way by celebrating festivals on the streets and spreading the message of peace and unity.
Kafila, with the support of city Congress leaders Abhay Chhajed and Mohan Joshi, organised a public celebration on Christmas evening at Fergusson College road. Beginning at the Kalakar Katta (artists’ corner) we performed carols at seven spots on this crowded road, distributed cakes and sweets, and appealed to people to remember that the message of Christ was very similar to the message of our Bhakti and Sufi saints, whose central tenets were of peace, unity and concern for the poor of the Earth.
The enthusiastic participation of common people in this program gave us a new hope for the new year – that howsoever hard the fundamentalists try, they have not been able to break the the bonds of unity across communities among our people, only a very small minority has got communalised. The darkness shall pass, the people shall bring a new dawn. |
|
| Lokayat Nagari Samiti in support of
Rashtriya Mazdoor Sangh |
|
|  | Rashtriya Mazdur Sangh (RMS) is an umbrella union of numerous unorganised sector workers, the bulk of them being contract workers employed in various services of the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC).
In December, meetings of workers from various sectors were held in each ward. Some meetings to address the specific problems facing security guards and PMC vehicle drivers were also held. Lokayat activists worked closely with RMS workers and organisers to strengthen workers’ participation in these meetings. On 2nd January 2023, more than 150 security guards of various PMC establishments held a symbolic day-long fast outside the PMC headquarters, demanding release of pending work orders. The fast culminated in a meeting with the guardian minister for Pune in presence of the Municipal Commissioner and the release of work orders got underway. Two of our activists participated in the fast. On 8th January the Women’s Wing of the RMS was inaugurated. The inaugural program was held at Congress Bhavan. In the weeks that preceded the program, eight meetings of local union branches were held in the city and the purpose and scope of the wing was discussed. Hundreds of female union members were encouraged to participate in the women’s wing. The program was a success, more than a hundred women took part. In the inaugural function, our team performed the play Mulgi Zali Ho and also put up some interactive exhibits on gender equality and economic issues. Organising hospital workers– Throughout the month of January, RMS organised meetings of contract workers in hospitals to understand their issues and to encourage them to start union chapters in their respective workplaces. Our team worked closely with the union leadership in reaching out to more than 200 workers, across more than 50 hospitals. They held more than 30 meetings with workers in different hospitals. |
|
| Remembering Savitribai Phule |
|
|  | On the occasion of Savitribai Phule Jayanti – 3rd January, Lokayat Nagari Samiti organised numerous activities in parallel, including -
A song program in Minatai Thakre vasahat. In the Peth area, a door-to-door campaign promoting girls’ education: People received this campaign warmly and more than a hundred households put up Savitribai-Fatimabi stickers on their doors in support of educating girls. In Shivajinagar, a public screening of an episode of Bharat Ek Khoj which depicts the struggle of Jyotiba and Savitribai Phule was organised.
|
|
| Hath Se Hath Jodo Abhiyan Begins |
|
|  | As the Bharat Jodo Yatra reached its conclusion, it was clear that Rahul Gandhi has realised that the challenge before the Congress and the country is far bigger than winning the 2024 elections. The challenge is to build a party steeped in Gandhi–Nehru ideology, the ideology of the Constitution, that would work hard at the grassroots, among the common people, especially the most marginalised sections, explain to them the divisive, sectarian, pro-corporate anti-people nature of the BJP–RSS ideology and programme, and enthuse them to become politically active to realise the India of the dreams of our country’s freedom fighters that are enshrined in the Constitution. That is precisely what Rahul Gandhi and the Bharat Jodo Yatra are seeking to do.
In this spirit, the Congress has launched a Hath Se Hath Jodo Abhiyan across the country, as a follow-up of the Bharat Jodo Yatra. In Maharashtra, the inaugural program of this campaign was organised in Pune. Lokayat is lending its full support to this campaign.
The abhiyan involves going door to door and having a dialog with common people about the issues they face. In January, activists of the Pune city Congress along with Lokayat activists organised four door-to-door campaigns. In each campaign, around a hundred households were visited. Pamphlets were distributed, Rahul Gandhi’s open letter was read out along with the “Chargesheet against BJP Govt”. Issues like rising prices, unemployment and even local civic issues were discussed. Many people welcomed the campaign and stuck the Bharat Jodo stickers on their doors. Participation of local Congress activists was enthusiastic.
We sincerely hope that this campaign will soon spread all over India with local Congress units taking the initiative and that progressive activists everywhere, who had joined the Yatra enthusiastically, will lend their support with the same energy. |
|
| |  | We celebrated our 73rd Republic Day with various activities-
We campaigned outside a prominent college, right after the early morning flag-hoisting, and met many students. We discussed the current state of the country with them, especially the dire state of youth unemployment. A few of them also volunteered for our future activities. Lokayat Nagari Samiti organised an interactive exhibition “Sanvidhan Melava” in Shivajinagar. The exhibits in this event educate people about Constitutional values through games and simple activities. Hundreds of people visited the exhibition. We organised a Film Festival - “We the People” at Shikshak Bhavan on the evening of 26th January. More than 40 people attended this festival. Documentaries on the history of the Constitution, the 1952 elections and the current state of our democracy were screened. |
|
| Remembering Mahatma Gandhi on his
75th Martyrdom Day |
|
|  |
On 29th January, Lokayat activists participated in the Padyatra organised by All India Professional Congress from Pune station to the Aga Khan Palace. Kafila performed a one hour songs program at Shaheed Babu Genu garden in Navi Mumbai, organised by Anil Kaushik Social Foundation (Anil Kaushik is the District Congrss President of Navi Mumbai. More than 400 people listened to the message of Gandhiji and the freedom struggle through this program. We also organised a day-long “reading camp” of the writings of Mahatma Gandhi. In this activity, people come together with various books written by and about Gandhiji, followed by a discussion. It received a good response; some parents brought their children, college students and teachers also participated. |
|
|
|
|  | मनुस्मृती दहन |
|
|
|
| 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 | Shakuntala : +91 98502 54679 |
|
|
|
|
