We now bring you the second issue of the magazine brought out by the D D Kosambi Research Foundation. Being a May Day issue, it has a number of articles on the working class, such as Adhiraj Nayar, MarazbanJal, SumitGhosh, Michael Roberts and Myself. It also has a number of articles on liberation movements like that of the Kurds, Nepal and the Philippines. As mentioned earlier, the viewpoints mentioned in the articles do not necessarily represent that of the editorial board, and any references to Trotskyism, Stalinism, etc, are, of course, those of the writer. In future articles, it may be better to avoid such terms. There may be differences over content, and that is to be welcomed and argued out basing on ground level data, research and logic; but terminologies like those mentioned above [or others], may bring unnecessary controversy, better avoided, at least in coming issues.
This magazine is open to all views, but they should be well-argued and researched, avoiding demagogy. We seek to encourage basic research articles and particularly welcome those from India or internationally. This issue also includes articles in Tamil, Telugu, Bengali, and Hindi. We welcome articles in Indian languages and, if possible, come with translations into English so that both may be simultaneously published. They should be accompanied by a brief introduction in English as to their contents. Articles in the regional languages help this magazine reach out to the basic masses in the various states.
The next issue is planned for the end of July on the occasion of the D D Kosambi’s birth anniversary. Do send in your articles by the end of June; with two months available, we hope for in-depth articles.
Kobad Ghandy
Editor of the Journal
D D Kosambi Research Foundation
May 1, 2024
Hinduism – From Mythological Fiction to Toxic Reality
Article By Sumanta Banerjee The Sangh Parivar is creating a lot of hullaballoo over the consecration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, claiming it as an assertion and restoration of Hinduism. It is also raising a hue and cry against a …
Lessons from the Liberation Struggles of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) Partiya Karkerên Kurdistanê
Article By Arnljot Ask Before I make a concrete evaluation on the strategy and tactics of the liberation struggle conducted by the PKK, I draw some brief general lessons from similar successful struggles I know globally : Both anticolonial struggles…
The Condition of Workers in the Hosiery Industry of West Bengal
Article by Sumit Ghosh According to the Department of Micro, Small & Medium Enterprises and Textiles of the Government of West Bengal, there are 18,500 hosiery units in the state [1]. In our state, large hosiery units outsource some work to…
As Media Continues to Expose Electoral Bond Issues, What’s Next?
Article By Arun Kumar (Retd. Prof. of Economics, JNU) The official agencies should by now have started to investigate and prosecute. Money donated by loss-making companies could be cases of money laundering. However, can the official agencies be trusted to…
Working Class in India
Article By Kobad Ghandy During my Tenugaht court hearing on Apr. 6th news began coming in of a massive Ammonia leak at the Bokaro Steel Plant just 30 Kms away. Reports said workers were fleeing left-right and center, panic stricken,…
Democracy As “TOP-DRESSING”
Article By Murzban Jal “Democracy in India is only a top-dressing on an Indian soil which is essentially undemocratic.” B.R. Ambedkar. “A soldier who disobeys an order to fire breaks the oath which he has taken and renders himself…
Worker’s Struggle For Unity in Manesar Industrial Area
Article by Adhiraj Nayar The registration of the Bellsonica Auto Component India Employees Union (henceforth, Bellsonica Employees Union) in the company’s plant in Haryana’s Manesar was cancelled by the Registrar of Trade Unions, Haryana on 23 September 2023. The reason…
The Tepid Twenties
Article By Michael Roberts The semi-annual meeting of the IMF and World Bank starts this week. The agencies and their invited guests will discuss the state of the world economy and the challenges ahead and present policy solutions. At least…
Restoration of Moral Authority
Article By Ram Karki (Partha) Immediately after joining the peace process in 2006, it was extremely important for the UCPN (Maoist) to hold a party congress that would have reviewed the past, analyzed the present, and charted a course into…
Reports from the Philippines Revolution
From their Newsletter ‘UPDATE’ No. 06 – March 31, 2024 The broad masses of Filipinos rejoice the 55th anniversary of the New People’s Army (NPA) as the beacon of hope for national liberation and democracy. The chronic crisis of the…
Brahminical Fascism in Culture: Trend or Fact
Article by MN Ravunni [This article is an abridged version of a paper presented at a VIRASAM Conference, both Porattam and VIRASAM are revolutionary cultural organisations] Unlike the early period of Congress rule under Nehru, we are in a very…
Electoral Bond: Raid, Questions Raised on Timing of Purchase of Bonds and Allotment of Contracts
Article By Raghavendra Rao (20 March 2024) The Supreme Court has asked the State Bank of India to provide all the information related to electoral bonds by March 21. This information also includes the alpha-numeric code, which will help in…
The Black Economy in India: `Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga’ a Non-Starter
Article By Arun Kumar (Retd. Prof. of Economics, JNU) The BJP’s rise to power was aided by Mr. Modi’s slogan in 2014, `Na Khaunga Na Khane Dunga’. An evocative slogan giving a personal guarantee of a strong leader. This was…
আইডেন্টিটি ও ক্লাস, পরিচয় ও শ্রেণির লড়াই কি এক সঙ্গে চলতে পারে?
ধীমান বসাক [In this essay, the author, Dhiman Basak seeks to capture the intersection of class and identity politics. Identity oppression is not only denigrating a group of people, it is also a way of extracting labor from the people…
’आजादी’ का ’अमृत काल’ और भारत की अर्थव्यवस्था का बढ़ता संकट
अर्जुन प्रसाद सिंह (Article by Arjun Prasad Singh) [In this article Arjun Prasad speaks of the state of the country and its economy after 75 years of Independence: He says it is cahrcterised by :(i) continuousy falling growth rate (ii)…
பேனா முனை, துப்பாக்கி முனை, அனு (PEN POINT, GUN POINT, ANU)
Article by By K. Manoharan (எஸ்.வி. ராஜதுரை) (Introduction to an Article in Tamil on Anuradha by Manoharan – It was first published in a Tamil monthly in April 2012 and was included in the collection of my articles published by…
బీజేపీ అరాచక పాలన, తిరిగి అధికారంలోకి వచ్చే అవకాశాలు?
Article By Vanaja Che Part I Brief summary in English Modi’s corrupt rule is being manipulated by the godi media as a great development. Such false narratives are innumerous. Hatred in the name of Hindutva is promoted as national unity,…
শ্রমিক অঞ্চলে দাঙ্গা — কারণ ও প্রতিকারের খোঁজ
সন্দীপ ব্যানার্জি [Working Class areas of Bengal are riot prone. This tendency is heard to have increased in the past few years. But what is the reality?If it is true, what is the root of it? Is it to destroy…
পশ্চিমবঙ্গের হোসিয়ারি শিল্পের শ্রমিকদের হাল-হকীকত
সুমিত ঘোষ পশ্চিমবঙ্গ সরকারের ক্ষুদ্র ও মাঝারী এবং বস্ত্র শিল্প দপ্তরের তথ্য অনুযায়ী এ রাজ্যে ১৮,৫০০টা হোসিয়ারি ইউনিট রয়েছে [১]। আমাদের রাজ্যে বড় হোসিয়ারি ইউনিটগুলো ছোট ইউনিটগুলোকে কিছু কাজের বরাত দেয়। তখন ছোট ইউনিটগুলো বেশিরভাগ ক্ষেত্রেই পিস প্রতি মজুরীর ভিত্তিতে…