14th AIYF Conference
Socialism is the Only Way of Life: Bardhan
C. Adhikesaven from Jalandhar
Kartar Singh Sarabha Nagar (Jalandhar): The four-day Conference of the All India Youth Federation (AIYF) began here with a bang on September 28, 2010. Communist Party of India (CPI) general secretary A. B. Bardhan inaugurated the conference at Desh Bhagat Yadgar Hall, with his inspiring speech amidst thunderous applaud and sky-ranting slogans of the red volunteers. AIYF national president P. Sandosh Kumar presided over the meeting after which the massive rally began.
In his valedictory speech, Bardhan pointed out that September 28 was the 103ird birth anniversary of great revolutionary Comrade Bhagat Singh and we remember his sacrifice again and again. Alongwith him, we pay homage to his comrades, Rajguru and Sukhdev who were martyred along with him. They laid down their lives to free the country from the shackles of British imperialism.
The CPI veteran leader recalled the sacrifices made by Kartar Singh and the heroes of Komagata Maru on whom the youth of this country take pledge.
He deplored others who want to take advantage in the name of the martyrs. These people are those whose fathers and forefathers ruled the country and have been occupying the seat of power. Now their successors want to capture the power in the name of martyrs.
Bardhan said, ‘We salute the martyrs for their uncompromising struggle and sacrifices. We follow the path shown by Bhagat Singh.’
It is not only by the charkha spinning that we got Independence. We attained freedom through great sacrifices made by the freedom fighters and martyrs, he said.
Lamenting the country’s condition after the independence, Bardhan said, ‘After 63 years of freedom, there are still unresolved problems haunting the poor people, though the capitalist world is also suffering from crisis after crisis.’
The UPA-II has made promises of economic growth and takes pride at 9.5 per cent growth, but does it percolate down to aam aadmi? The growth is only filling the coffers of a few. Government’s own report says that 78 per cent of country’s population, which is about 90 crore out of 120 crore just live on Rs. 20 a day, said Bardhan.
After the UPA-II took over, the prices are skyrocketing irrespective of the tremendous pressure and hardships faced by the common people, said CPI leader.
Praising the role played by AIYF, he said the grand old organisation has kept up its struggle for employment but youth are still deprived of government jobs. More than 1.70 lakh jobs are lying vacant in Railways. There is neither any programme nor policy on the part of the government regarding this. There is no employment for the educated youth and working hands. A large number of youth migrate from city to city and state to state in search of jobs creating ecological and economical imbalance. They migrate because the government is unable to provide employment to them in their own city or state.
The people of this country want Commonwealth Games that would help enhancing our influence and power in the international arena. But what was the role of the government? It says it had already spent Rs.77,000 crore. But stadiums are still unequipped, said CPI leader. There has to be introspection by the organizers and the government after the games are concluded.
Attacking the Maoist violence in the country, Bardhan said since they have sophisticated weapons, some people bend before them and also praise them. But the question remains why should one adopt the line followed by Mao in China, asked CPI leader and said that during Mao’s period there was no parliamentary system and no democratic norms and lines. But today in India we have parliamentary system, he said.
What is revolutionary in dragging innocent people and a few policemen from their homes and killing them, asked Bardhan.
Bardhan quoted Bhagat Singh as saying, ‘Violence and non-violence is not my tactics. I threw the bomb in the Assembly to open the ears of Britishers who were making black law.’
About corruption, Bardhan said that it is spreading like cancer and AIYF cadres must fight against it since it is a part of capitalism. In capitalism the gap between the rich and the poor will widen. One crisis would pave way for another crisis. Socialism is the only way of life.
About the red AIYF volunteers who were in the rally in large number, Bardhan said, ‘Red is revolution. Revolutionaries only follow the path shown by Bhagat Singh.’
While concluding his speech, Bardhan called the youth to come to the battleground to search out a new way of development and progress and build a new India.
AIYF national general secretary K. Murugan, CPI national council member Jagroop Singh, former AIYF president and organizing committee convener of the 14th Conference, Preethipal Singh and former AISF president Joginder Dayal addressed the huge gathering.
K. Murugan declared that country’s first Left organization is none other the AIYF. The youth organization is in the forefront to struggle for education for all and employment for all. In this situation the 14th AIYF conference is a milestone.
AIYF leader recalled the successful programme of ‘Save India and Change India’.
He said that martyrs did not sacrifice their precious lives for the freedom the country alone, they aimed to lead the country towards socialism that would provide equality to each and every Indian.
Dr. Joginder Dayal said that the youth ahould try to change the country’s political and social conditions. Our ideology is sharper than any warmongers’ sophisticated weapon of today.
World Federation of Democratic Youth president Dieogo Viero from Portugal, Hardev Arshi (former CPI MLA), AIYF national secretary Mahesh Rathi, national vice president Gautam Rai, national secretary Ishwaraiya, and national vice president D. Lenin were present on the podium.
There were Martyrs’ torches brought from five historic places, from Bhagat Singh’s birthplace Hussainiwala received by K. Murugan and P. Sandosh Kumar, from martyr Udam Singh’s birthplace, received by Kasmira Singh and Paramjeet Singh Dabha. Bant Singh Brar former AIYF president received the torch from Amritsar. A. B. Bardhan, Palllabh Sen Gupta, secretary, International National Department and CPI national executive member and Dr. Jogender Dayal, CPI national executive member received the Jallianwala Bagh torch from Jallianwala Bagh.
In between the speeches there were cultural activities of singing revolutionary songs and choreography like Fansi, (execution) that enthralled the gathering.
Jagroop Singh revealed how people of Punjab have contributed money and energy towards the AIYF conference. He lauded their role.
The red sea of volunteers, with those in red shirts, girls among them outnumbering boys, marched through nook and corners of the city that turned into a red sea of humanity.
The bystanders on both sides of the road enthusiastically watched the impressive and longest rally of more than 20,000 young people.
Bands and bursts of crackers created a festive mood. Throughout the 12-kilometer route, the girl AIYF cadres marched alongwith men raising slogans. It took about two hours to reach at least one point.
Among the girls, there was Poonam, a red volunteer from Amritsar saying that Bhagat was her leader. She is a school strudent and AISF activist believing in study and struggle both.
In the present context, she said the role and responsibility of girls become greater. To bring more and more young people, there has to be mobilization of youth by door-to-door campaign.
Gurnam Singh and Bajjeet Singh, dedicated to the revolutionary cause, claim that they would even die to safeguard the country’s unity and integrity by fighting against the communal elements.
The star of the attraction was a one and half year old child carrying his doll on his back. He is Surya Chandra from Andhra Pradesh. He can identify Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara from the large number of portraits.
