Today (April 13) marks the 101th Anniversary of Jallianwala Bagh massacre which still reminds everyone of Indian people’s struggle against colonial yoke and sacrifices made by the people in the course of that struggle. It had a profound impact on the course of the movement of Indian people’s freedom.
Jallianwala Bagh continues to remain relevant. Rulers subservient to imperialism came to power after its transfer in 1947. Their compromising approach kept Jallianwala relevant not only as a historic event of great sacrifice but also a reminder of what the people of the country had been struggling for and how that struggle was still unfinished.
With compromising giving way to open betrayal, ascent to power was of the forces who had worked in favour of colonial rule over the country and who had opposed every aspect of peoples’ agenda which came to the fore and got articulated and established in the course of the freedom movement. Anti-colonialism, democracy, secularism, social justice and federalism in their various aspects and expressions had been the driving forces for Indian people’s struggle for freedom. These also defined the contours of the new India struggling to be born.
Jallianwala Bagh was an open defiance of Indian people against the colonial rule, precipitated by repressive Rowlatt Act brought by colonial rulers to crush Indian people’s movement for freedom. It has entered the folklore of the courage and sacrifices of Indian people against colonial rule. Jallianwala Bagh was also a shining example of the unity of people belonging to all religions and social communities against the colonial rule. It was truly secular. Its secularism was based on common aspirations of Indian people. It was not Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs just tolerating each other but striving together for the freedom as one people and seeking a national destiny based on such unity.
RSS-BJP rulers of the day have been opposed to all that Jallianwala Bagh stood for. Rather they have made this opposition the cornerstone of their ascent to power. Rather they glorify their betrayal of the values of the freedom movement. That this could happen only because of compromising attitude on these issues of those in power earlier goes without saying. It is also a self-evident fact that this serves the interests of major part of the dominant sections of society.
RSS-BJP have not only increased the imperialist penetration of Indian economy, they are doing so shamelessly and brazenly. The recent decision to revoke ban on export of a drug which is being touted as useful in the treatment of Covid19 after a threat from US President is only just one more evidence of subservience of RSS-BJP rulers to imperialism. That this shamelessness and brazenness is not brought to the people owes also to the control corporate exercise over mainstream media. Serving imperialist powers has become a badge of honour for the rulers!
Jallianwala Bagh symbolized the unity of people of the country including those belonging to different religious persuasions. RSS-BJP are doing everything to destroy this unity completely and thoroughly. Their CAA-NRC-NPR project is to remove secularism from even the Constitution and to enshrine religious nation theory in its place.
The words of homage of RSS-BJP rulers for the martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh are mere lip service to camouflage the dagger they are thrusting into the ideals of Jallianwala Bagh martyrs.
RSS-BJP’s Hindu Rashtra represents rejection of all that martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh stood for. On this 13th April let us pledge to advance the struggle of the people for the India dreamt of by immortal martyrs of Jallianwala Bagh; the ideals for which they offered supreme sacrifice. Draw inspiration from Martyrs of Jallianwala to walk fearless on the road to overthrow the rule of elite opposed to ideals of freedom movement; for a New Democratic India.
CPI (ML)-New Democracy
April 13, 2020
