Articles

Posted by: John Phoenix The historic farmers’ movement will complete one year on 26 November, 2021. In its nearly yearlong existence the movement has demonstrated the amazing potential of people’s power in an extremely adverse situation. Hundreds of farmers’ organisations representing a wide social and ideological spectrum have stuck together with unprecedented unity, indomitable spirit and collective discipline in the face of continuing provocations, demonising propaganda and orchestrated violent attacks. The all-India people’s conference held in the end of August in Delhi borders reflected not just the unity of the fighting farmers but also growing popular support for the farmers’ movement from different classes and sections of people. The 5 September Muzaffarnagar Mahapanchayat s...

Posted by: John Phoenix Fourteen months after the Modi government had bulldozed its way in Parliament to convert the widely resented farm ordinances-turned-bills into laws, the Prime Minister had to bow down to the unprecedented farmers’ resistance to announce a repeal of all the three contentious laws. It will be remembered as a historic instance when a courageous and tireless movement of the people brought a tyrannical regime to its knees and people’s power prevailed over the arrogance and brutalities of state power and the ruling elite. Narendra Modi chose the Guru Purab, the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak, the founder of Sikhism, to announce this U-turn, obviously with an eye on placating the enraged Sikh community and cutting the much feared losses in the forthcoming Assembly...

Posted by: John Phoenix The derogatory remarks made by then BJP national spokesperson Nupur Sharma against Prophet Muhammad seem not just to have triggered a global storm of protests but also what increasingly looks like a murky multi-layered plot in India. The refusal of the Modi government to act against Nupur Sharma in accordance with the law of the land and the attempt to dismiss her remarks as stray comments made by a ‘fringe element’ predictably generated considerable public anger and in many places across India, Muslims protested in large numbers. The Indian state resorted to bullets and bulldozers to crush these protests – while bulldozers were pressed into service in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh, opposition-ruled Jharkhand witnessed deaths and injuries in police firing. Thes...

Posted by: John Phoenix India’s anti-colonial struggle or, freedom movement, is a prolonged and diverse chapter in the history of India. It is a rich tapestry woven by myriad struggles that deepened and enriched the quest for a modern India. Immediate issues and contexts varied in different periods and different regions – struggles against landlordism and usury, against local kings, against caste and gender oppression and injustice, and for linguistic rights and cultural diversity, all added to the momentum and canvas of the freedom movement. Multiple modes of mobilisation and methods of struggle guided by a broad spectrum of ideologies from Gandhian and Ambedkarite to communist and socialist of various shades – all should be recognised as diverse strands of the grand narrative of ...