Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Unmasking the Moist movement in India
Mr Azad, spokesperson of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), recently defended Maoist movement in India in an exclusive interview in "The Hindu". For those who are not familiar with history of communism or some factual news on the Maoist movements in India, may very well be impressed by soft spoken Azad. But once we start peeling off his augments, we would figure out Maoists are indeed misleading a lot of progressive Indians who are otherwise fed up due to prostitution of politics and corruption in India.
His interview is full of contradictions and if somebody is not aware of communist history or Indian constitutions, one can easily be mesmerized by his sweet talk. But behind the sweet talk, he left a pack of lies and self contradictions which can not be denied.
Firstly, he is claiming Maoists are in favor of democratic movements and want to join hands with progressive democratic fronts. Those who are familiar with history of communism-can ask this question point blank. What is the history of the democratic force which joined hands with Lenin, Mao,Castro? Were not they all killed or admitted to change their political view under gun point?? How does a Leninist speak of democratic force when Lenin dismissed elected socialists from the Constituent Assembly after losing in November, 1917 election? Similarly history of the progressive force which joined Mao also suffered equal dark history of brutal state oppression during cultural revolution. He wanted to showcase democratic face of the Moists! How can he do that when their Godfathers left such a brutal legacy of killing democratic movements and betrayal with progressive democratic force which joined hands with them during revolution?
Second point is practical consideration for cease fire. He is stressing on following Indian constitution. If that be it, then first condition would be simple- they have to surrender arms-because their arms are illegal. Chidarmbaram didn't ask more than this. So pointing at him for violating constitution would be backfiring argument.
Thirdly, on his defense of killing CPM workers, he made baseless comments. Many of the CPM workers may be oppressors but not all of them. Many of them were killed just because they were CPM workers. It may be a tit-for-a-tat for a party like CPM, which also does not believe in Human Rights but an eye-for-an eye is no way civilized norm. May be communists have a different meaning for the word "Human Rights" not understood by the mortal people like us.
Fourthly he supports all the separatist movement of India as struggle against imperialism and at the same time, he calls for patriotic Indians to support them. This is height of contradiction. Also for more clarity, an organization like JKLF, whom he is supporting for their anti-imperialist struggle, is not at all progressive-they believe in Sharia and all kinds of outdated misogynist social orders mandated in Islamism. Even in other day, I saw Kishenji supported Osama for anti-imperialism! So supporting Islamic radicals as anti-imperialist progressive, pro-people force is more than a raving fanaticism!
Finally, his defense of human right violation and opposing development process stands no merit. No development is perfect. Even Stalin industrialized Soviet by putting 5 million Ukraninians to starvation. It happens only at small steps. If he can not appreciate that, he can very well form a party and ask others to vote for him! His opinion does not justify gunning down the development process in the tribal areas. Also he distorted facts. In Lalgarh uprising started as a popular tribal movement. But these days, where ever there is a popular uprising, Maoists under covered as progressive democrats infiltrate the movement. We have seen how they worked in Nandigram and Lalgargh. Indeed, they are the ones who are insinuating democratic movements into an armed resistance for no valid reason when we do have a functioning democracy.
One should not be fooled by Mr Azad's interview and his sweet talk on his love for democracy. One can not love democracy and communism at the same time. Communism is anti-thesis of democracy and in order for somebody to claim himself to be both democratic and communist -either ignorance or hypocrisy should prevail at its best.
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
Simultaneous Release of Bengali Movies in North America

Dear Leaders of the Bengali Community and Organizations:
You no more have to wait six months to see that new Bengali movie! Nor will you have to suffer bad quality pirated DVDs from your local grocery store.
The newest and latest Bengali movies will now be released simultaneously in North America and be available in USA & Canada wherever we NRIs usually Buy, Rent or Download movies --- Netflix, Blockbuster, Best Buy, Target, Amazon, iTunes and many, many more retail and online outlets.
Through a revolutionary business model and exclusive arrangements, Databazaar Media Ventures ( http://www.databazaarmedia.com/ ), will make the above possible for movies that it undertakes to distribute. The first Bengali movie already to take this route and currently available for pre-order at all the above-mentioned outlets, is “Dwando” --- by national award winning director Suman Ghosh, starring Soumitra Chatterjee and Ananya Chatterjee. Releasing in early June will be “Beyond The Stars” ( Ekti Tarar Khonje ) from the team that produced “Antaheen”. There will be releases every month and community members are encouraged to sign up on DMV’s website to be notified of all upcoming releases.
For a longtime the Bengali community in North America has been deprived of new Bengali movie releases and even good quality DVDs for Bengali films never existed. Therefore the present drive by Databazaar Media Ventures will fulfill a long felt need of the Bengali community. Besides, these movies will also be available to the wider American audience that is interested in foreign films thereby opening up the international market for modern Bengali cinema --- an industry which is in dire need of increased revenue for bare survival. The Bengali film industry does need your help and this is your chance. As a community leader please send this email to your members and encourage them to order the new releases from Netflix, Blockbluster, Amazon, etc. Higher order flow will encourage Netflix, Blockbluster and others to carry more Bengali movies which in turn will also be available to the international market.
We request that you kindly circulate this news among your community members so that everyone can enjoy this new opportunity as well as help in the growth of the legendary Bengali film industry.
In appreciation,
VNN Bangla (http://www.vnnbangla.com/) : First online 24 hour Bengali Social News Media : Register and upload your news (text, html, youtube) in VNNBangla. It will publish your news automatically.
Join Bengali Film Review in Facebook:
Monday, March 8, 2010
Bengali Movies are now available on first day of release in North American Market
We are excited to share a community news.
Bengali Movies now will be available in North America on first day first show release through Netflix, Block Bluster and ITune. Oney Seal, CEO of DatabazaarMedia Ventures took initiative to make this possible so that North American Bengalis now can have easy access to new Bengali releases.
As you all know, we had to wait for 3-4 months after new Bengali release before pirated DVD becomes available in the Indian Groceries. We also shared painful experience of running bad Bengali DVDs which we could barely watch without any interruption. Hopefully those days are history now.
Dwando will be the first release available on 16th March ( movie trailer) . Acted by Soumitra Chatterjee, Koushik Sen and Ananya Chatterjee, Dwando is an ethical "love storm". You can also buy downloads from the sources listed below.
As an editor of online Bengali magazine VNNBangla( www.vnnbangla.com), I appeal to all of you to spread this email to your contacts. Please understand that distributing Bengali movies in North American market costs a fortune and unless we support this venture by ordering DVD in Netflix or renting it from Block Bluster we, the North American Bengalis will be the biggest loser because this venture is serving a long-time need of our community.
Yours sincerely
Dr Biplab Pal
biplabpal2000@gmail.com
www.vnnbangla.com
Elkridge, Maryland
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Sunday, December 27, 2009
Dialectic Materialism is outdated
The fundamental proposition of dialectics is that everything is in a constant process of change, motion and development. Even when it appears to us that nothing is happening, in reality, matter is always changing. Molecules, atoms and subatomic particles are constantly changing place, always on the move. Dialectics is thus an essentially dynamic interpretation of the phenomena and processes which occur at all levels of both organic and inorganic matter.
Further, he wants to defend:
"My dialectic method," wrote Marx, "is not only different from the Hegelian, but is its direct opposite. To Hegel, the life-process of the human brain, i.e. the process of thinking, which, under the name of ‘the Idea,’ he even transforms into an independent subject, is the demiurgos of the real world, and the real world is only the external, phenomenal form of ‘the Idea.’ With me, on the contrary, the ideal is nothing else than the material world reflected by the human mind, and translated into forms of thought.
The whole aspect of dialectic materialism is really funny. Time dependent quantum mechanics and General theory of relativity (GTR) that define the basic laws for the change- the evolution of material with time, have been discovered as a consequence of series of experimental discoveries. And not by following dialectic materialism, because it is too general and non-sense to a Physicist unless he is a devoted Marxist who is looking for physics in dialectic materialism like a devoted Hindu professor who looks for quantum mechanics in Veda.
The physics is all about evolution of any material ensemble that has its diffusion (non-steady, evolving or chaotic) and steady state behavior ( equilibrium behavior).
In that sense whole physics is dialectic materialism because it is all about motion and evolution of material ensemble! While this is true, what can be more nonsense than claiming that dialectic materialism is Physics? Just because Upanishad stated 'Sam Sarati Ati' -the material world is in a state of change always, we will conclude that Upanishad contains whole physics because it revealed core theme of physics like dialectic materialism?
Even in quantitative social evolution theory, scientists are using time dependent equations always-which means any social evolution is considered close to statistical mechanical model of molecular evolution (Pregonin). This development owes it root in theoretical development in statistical mechanics and not in dialectic materialism. Now, just because this evolution explains a society in motion and in equilibrium, will we say anything and everything that is happening in the social evolution is dialectic materialism?
Here is simple summery. Science developed its model of evolution in physics,biology and social sciences as a consequence of experimental observation. Philosophical thinking of dialectic materialism never influenced or inspired Newton, Einstein, Darwin or Heisenberg to discover their epoch making laws of science! It is the dedicated labor of experimentalists and force of production of capitalism that have forced the discoveries of modern method of science.
So our conclusion should be simple. Dialectic materialism is a completely unnecessary hypothesis for any modern research of any discipline. Anybody who is trying term any science as dialectic materialism, is politically motivated and is unwarranted.They are enemy of a free society. As we all know, such fraud of dialectic materialism killed 100M people in last century in the form of communism.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
To the critics of Indira Gandhi
While all of this is true, we need to analyze her actions and consequences with historical context and further view it with the personality cult of Indira which was built as an assimilation of ideas from the greatest leaders of the 20th century like Gandhi, Rabindranath, Krishna Memon and not to mention Neheru himself. She had witnessed the brutality of British police in India with sharp contrast to British liberalism in Britain, lived in austerity with great defiance of materialism inspired by Krishna Menon, Gandhi and Tagore and finally for the most part of the second world war, although bed-ridden for acute tuberculosis, she volunteered to help the wounded in the battle of Britain. She had first hand experience of savagery of second world war and imperial police storming into Neheru's house almost as a monthly affair. Growing up with the bitter experience of western materialism and teaching of eastern spiritualism by Tagore and Gandhi, she developed a profound liking for social benevolence as opposed to aggression and inhumanity perpetrated by western imperialism. Therefore, for the rest part of her life, we would find her as a fierce leader against American imperialism, Pakistani atrocities in Bangladesh and social menaces of Indian tradition. She championed social democracy by nationalizing the banks and other national wealth solely inspired by cause of social justice rather than any left leaning ideology-she had none.
It will be worthwhile to take deeper look into emergency in India. On June 26th, 1975, why was she compelled to sacrifice democracy of India? Remember she admitted her mistakes publicly in 1980 for imposing the emergency. But was that too bad of a decision? Was it solely motivated by the greed of power when Alahabad High Court disqualified her MP status and subsequently imposed a ban of six years for fighting in the election?
Decree of emergency suspending all the civil liberties was issued by president Fakhruddin Ali Ahamed by article 352 of Indian constitution as advised by Indira Gandhi on 26th June, 1975. Wikipedia version of the situation that led to the event of emergency is quoted below:
Raj Narain, who had been defeated in parliamentary election by Indira Gandhi, lodged cases of election fraud and use of state machinery for election purposes against Mrs. Indira Gandhi in the Allahabad High Court. On June 12, 1975, Justice Jagmohanlal Sinha of the Allahabad High Court found the Prime Minister guilty on the charge of misuse of government machinery for her election campaign. The court declared her election null and void and unseated her from her seat in the Lok Sabha. The court also banned her from contesting any election for an additional six years. Ironically some serious charges such as bribing voters and election malpractices were dropped and she was held responsible for misusing the government machinery, and found guilty on charges such as using the state police to build a dais, availing the services of an IAS officer, Yashpal Kapoor, during the elections before he had resigned from his position, and use of electricity from the state electricity department. Because the court unseated her on comparatively frivolous charges, while she was acquitted on more serious charges, The Times described it as 'firing the Prime Minister for a traffic ticket'. However, strikes in labor and trade unions, student unions and government unions swept across the country. Protests led by J.P.Narayan, Raj Narain and Morarji Desai flooded the streets of Delhi close to the Parliament building and the PM's residence. The persistent efforts of Raj Narain, was praised worldwide as it took over 4 years for Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha to finally pass judgement against Indira Gandhi. The ruling later became the primary reason for the imposition of emergency by Indira Gandhi. It also encouraged greater belief in the judiciary and democracy in India.
When you read the history like this, anybody will get into a convincing belief that Indira had no other reason but to save her chair and power when clearly she was deposed by ruling of Alahabad High Court. But in all fairness, did we ask ourselves the question, was that ruling so unsettling for her as we all may think? Sonia Gandhi is no prime minister of India and yet she is still Congress supremo, the most powerful politician of India. Indira would have stepped down very easily as PM and would have continued to be president of INC-would that had taken her out of power corridor? No way. Then when there was no reason to believe she would not have lost any control of power even by following High Court ruling of Allahabad Court, why did she impose emergency? Remember Supreme Court of India granted a conditional stay of execution on 24th June-2 days before the emergency. Therefore, she was not at all under constitutional crisis when she declared the emergency as the case was hanging in Supreme Court with a clear stay order. She would have fought and won easily given that the allegation was not good enough to unseat her from PM position although Supreme Court might have ordered re-election as she indeed violated the election laws in 1971 which she admitted in later years. Later in 1975 Supreme Court nullified Alahabad High Court order but since, it happened during suspension of democracy, we should not view that to be a perfectly neutral judgment.
Indeed, all evidences in hand suggest, it was not the lust for her power but for the fact Jayprakash Narayn almost brought India to a virual halt, Indira was forced to take a very unpleasant decision as patriotic nationalist. GDP growth was sinking to worst during 1973-1975 as opposition movement unleashed reign of strikes throughout the country and Indira observed "People tend to forget their duties but remember their rights ".
Last sentence was the clue. In 20th century all the great civil and communist movements fell flat on the face because of the fact that while fighting for the right of equality and civic liberties, those political systems ignored production and logistic need to be maintained , people need to be fed and jobs have to be generated. Else, the state would collapse. In West Bengal, I do believe we have achieved more social equality and removed caste barriers than other parts of India because of progressive Left Front Government but at the end, the state is simply collapsing because of what Indira said- Left Front government was more concerned about the political right of the people than make them aware of their duties. This resulted in a complete stagnation and virtual collapse of the state economy which has the highest number of registered unemployed youths and lowest median salary even for those who are employed.
Indira believed in Nationalistic Socialism and as it was true for other leaders of same ideology, national progress always outweighed democracy in their line of thinking. Indeed Indira was quite aware of this when she said "My father was a statesman, I am a political woman. My father was a saint. I am not." And she had courage to speak that because she was imbibed with nationalism "Even if I died in the service of the nation, I would be proud of it. Every drop of my blood... will contribute to the growth of this nation and to make it strong and dynamic"
And she looked back at JP's movement from two angles-first it was impediment and obstacle to national growth and secondly, she has been victimized by conspiracy of male politicians all over the India because guided by inherent male ego, they could not put up with the image of a strong woman. Therefore she said "All my games were political games; I was, like Joan of Arc, perpetually being burned at the stake."
So it is clear that she saw JP's agitation as danger to national growth as it can easily be cited by the GDP growth data during 1974-1975 when per capita GDP fell from $164 to $156 ! One of the rare year in the history of post Independence in which India achieved negative growth thanks to JP's call to shutdown the whole country! I don't think, Indira would have at all cared for her possible ousting from Indian PM position as she was well secured in the INC but such a cataclysmic failure of Indian economy thanks to JP's agitation had to be put to an end or else, India as a nation was clearly sinking. Remember she was able to reverse the trend of negative growth to highly positive one-in 1977 when India's per capita GDP roofed to $184! Almost more than 15% growth over 1976 which India would never achieve again even in the early years of vibrant neo-liberalism of 91-2000! While I would never advocate growth by sacrificing democracy but when India was sinking to nadir, people were losing jobs left and right, whatelse she would have done? And indeed emergency achieved what it was intended for-reversing the negative GDP trend to a very high positive growth which a poor country like India desperately needed to struggle against hunger and chronic unemployment.
So to all of her critics, I would speak what she spoke "There exists no politician in India daring enough to attempt to explain to the masses that cows can be eaten" . Yes, when such is the pathetic state of populism in the politics of India, we do need a leader like Indira Gandhi who would have courage to take unpopular decision for the sake of national interest.
Friday, October 9, 2009
Obama's peace Nobel: Another shame on Nobel committee
Imagine now what Obama has achieved in peace process. He is trying to appease people in Middle East, leaders in China and military bosses in Pakistan in last couple of months. Will that achieve in peace in return? Did Iran step back even an inch from its aggressive foreign policy towards Israel because of Obama's historic speech in Cairo? Did hamas stop firing rockets to Israel? Has Taliban shown any sign of cutting a peace deal when they bombed UN headquarter in Pakistan? He even dared to keep an appointment with Dalai Lama to appease the Chinese authority! This is as much about Obama's mettle for peace process.
I am not saying that he is not genuinely interested about peace. The question is- what he has finally achieved? Nothing so far in peace process and even if he would eventually achieve anything, it would take years before we can see its ultimate result. Kao was not given Nobel Prize in 1978 because nobody that time knew what would be the future of Optical Fiber.
Alfred Nobel's will stated that the prize should be awarded by a committee of five people elected by the Norwegian Parliament. Norway and Sweden were at that time still united, and with Sweden responsible for all foreign policy, Nobel felt that the prize might be less subject to political corruption if awarded by Norway. However Nobel's best desire could not save the peace prize falling in hand of irresponsible parliamentarians of Norway.
Therefore Mr President, I would request you to decline the Nobel Prize-your personal achievement is much more than a Nobel Laureate and therefore, by declining it you will save the honor of Nobel Peace prize as well as your integrity to be an intelligent state leader.
Sunday, October 4, 2009
বাংলাদেশ এবং ইন্দিরা গান্ধী
তার উত্তরে ইন্দিরা যে উত্তর দিয়েছিলেন, তাতে আমেরিকার মুখ সম্পুর্ণ ভোঁতা করে দিয়েছিলেন। বিশ্বের দরবারে প্রমান করেছিলেন বাংলাদেশের স্বাধীনতা যুদ্ধ নিয়ে আমেরিকা ও বৃটেনের দ্বিচারিতা।
আমার কাছে এই ইন্টারভিউটি একটি অনবদ্য মানব দলিল, যা জাতি দেশ ধর্মের উর্ধে উঠে মানবতাকে প্রতিষ্ঠা করে এবং মানবতা নিয়ে পাশ্চাত্যের মানুষের দ্বিচারিতাকে বেয়াব্রু বিচ্ছিন্ন করে।
http://www.politicoindia.com/newsreader.aspx?id=547