Mainstream Weekly

Are any socialists left in Indian politics? | Gopalkrishna Gandhi

Gopalkrishna Gandhi — 2021-05-21T23:58:33Z

Socialists were once austere, uninterested in personal power, free-spirited. The era is gone
October 13, 2020
Ab ke hum bikhare to khawabon mein miley/ Jaise sookhe hue phool kitabon mein miley (Scattering now, we may meet but in dreams/Like dried flowers found within books' seams) — Maqbool
Ram Vilas Paswan's death raises a pertinent question — are there any socialists left in Indian politics? This would make some wonder if he was indeed a socialist. A look at his career graph shows (…)

- 2021

Beginning Once Again — The CPI-M has a New Struggle Ahead

Gopalkrishna Gandhi — 2015-05-09T19:28:00Z

In times when political parties are led by supremos for seemingly endless durations, what a welcome contrast the Communist Party of India-Marxist has provided us!
Prakash Karat's being succeeded by Sitaram Yechury as the General Secretary of the party should tell all our parties something about the grace in relinquishing control and the solemnity of assuming responsible office within a democratic system. All formalities were gone through at the party Congress with due decorum and form as (…)

- 2015

Our Nation's Self-Enduring, Self-Correcting, Self-Renewing Impulse

Gopalkrishna Gandhi — 2009-08-19T08:00:10Z

The Constitution of India was made by the good for the honest. It is worked by the wise for the experienced. This marks a maturing of our Republic. It also tells us that the timber of our parliamentary functioning is being seasoned in varied waters.
Over six decades and 94 amendments after the people of India gave unto themselves that great enactment, it is not surprising that some feel: ‘Should we not take a re-look at the Constitution, it is quite old?'
Age is no weakness when the (…)

- August 2009

West Bengal Governor's Statement in the Wake of Events in Nandigram

Gopalkrishna Gandhi — 2007-12-11T15:50:10Z

The ardour of Deepavali has been dampened in the whole State by the events in Nandigram. Several villages in Nandigram are oscillating from the deepest gloom to panic. Large numbers of armed persons from outside the district have, it is undeniable, forced themselves onto villages in Nandigram Block I and II for territorial assertion. Thousands of villagers have consequently been intimidated into leaving their homes in villages such as Doudpur, Amgachi, Jambani, Simulkundu, Brindabanchak, (…)

- December 8, 2007

A Communist Rishi

Gopalkrishna Gandhi — 2007-12-03T16:03:17Z

I began a letter sent to Professor Hiren Mukerjee in December 1998 with the traditional ‘Pujya Hirenbabu'. I was not sure whether the veteran Marxist leader would like that worshipful form of address. Came the reply written in his distinctive hand: “You were right in guessing that I do not take kindly to being addressed as ‘Pujya', but of course I am grateful for the generosity behind it.”
There was no generosity operating there. I had just then read the remarkable text of his speech on (…)

- December 1, 2007