Marxist Dilemma

EDITORIAL
Posted on 2009-05-11
Peasant uprising in Singur and Nandigram against state repression has not only eroded the political base of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in West Bengal, it has also alienated the cultural activists and artists. Political history of the state is explicit how cultural activism has been an effective weapon for the artists, cinema actors and cultural workers to rouse the political consciousness of the poor or fight against the repressive designs of the state. In fact on most of the occasions they have been the torchbearers of the protest. After Singur and Nandigram episode in which nearly 16 peasants lost their lives they have turned the bitter critic of the state government.
Though the Marxist rulers talk of liberal values and human rights, the mouth organ of the party, Ganashakti, in a veiled threat to these activists mentioned that they were “under watch”. This action of Marxist government reminds of the Emergency days. How could a government which claims to be for the people peep into the personal and professional lives of these people? In fact the immediate provocation for the Marxist government has come from the play Bratyajoner Ruddha Sangeet (stifled songs of the outcast) which exposes the Marxist rule in the state. Significantly the play replicates the autobiography of a senior Marxist leader. What has created commotion in the Marxist circle is most of the characters are real life and are still alive and continue to dictate the Marxist politics and governance. The play has attracted the ire of the Marxist for yet another reason; introduction of the character of legendry filmmaker Ritwick Ghatak, who was a communist but a CPI(M) baiter.