India- SALUTE THE DEBT LIBERATION RALLY OF THE BHARATIIYA KISAN UNION EKTA (UGRAHAN) ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY ON MARCH 8TH IN BARNALA IN PUNJAB

-WHICH   SHIMMERED THE LIGHT OF LIBERATION OF THE BROAD PEASANTRY AND THE EMANCIPATION OF WOMEN FROM THE CLUTCHES OF SLAVERY FROM FASCIST FORCES...IT APPEARED AS THOUGH A HUGE STORM HAD BROKEN OUT IN THE VENUE AT THE GRAIN MARKET IN BARNALA.

A report from India-

By Harsh Thakor
One of the greatest events in the history of revolutionary movement of Punjab took place at Grain market in Barnala district commemorating International Women's day on 8th March which I was privileged to witness—25000 peasants shimmered the torch of liberation today in Barnala fruit market to extinguish the forces of darkness in Bku ugrahan karza mukti rally like a huge army. Venue resembled a stormy ocean or a huge flame encompassing the whole venue—Tribute to painstaking work, revolutionary democratic functioning and massline practice of Bku ugrahan who are arguably the strongest landed peasant organisation in the revolutionary camp in the entire nation. An event I will never forget which could rank amongst the best ever in history of Punjab writing a new chapter to the glorious history. Most significant event in light of the spate of thousands of farmers suicides in recent months and government policies representing the very anti-thesis of any progressive development plan—An approach that resisted economism with great methodology to build class organisation and an example to the communist revolutionary camp as a whole. Their experience was an abject lesson to everyone about how building a movement was not only about undertaking political propaganda but building genuine mass political struggles against enemies like money lenders, politicians, corporates, landlord elements, etc. Arguably no peasant organisation of the landed section in india amongst revolutionary forces can stage such a big mobilisation or practice massline. to this extent—It was virtual proof that the struggle of the peasantry of the BKU(Ugrahan)pursued a genuine revolutionary path and were not practicing economist trend. In the view of journalist Neel kamal no peasant organization has built such a sustained peasant movement in Punjab today challenging the autocratic policies or is such a scourge in the eyes of the of the administration as the BKU (Ugrahan) No organization as consistently at grassroots level educated and mobilized peasantry in Punjab against the anti-people state policies as the Ugrahan group. True agricultural labour had a different periphery of demands and could not participate on the same plane as here with the landed peasantry but nevertheless the landed peasantry particularly the poor section is an ally of them. Half of the 25000 participants comprised of women which also speaks volumes of the work of the peasant organization. With intense concentration the participants heard the speeches and vociferously shouted slogan son the conclusion on each of them like lightning and thunder burning in their hearts. I was most impressed with how the speeches dealt with al the pesant and women’s problems at their very root and dialectiaclly related the problems faced by women with that of the broader peasant movement.

Other organizations of the landed peasantry like BKU -Dakaunda and Kirti Kisan Union attended the All India level peasant rally which even if mobilisng broad peasantry was tailing behind the ruling classes.

The rally was chaired by Shingara Singh Mann, secretary of the Bathinda district of the BKU(Ugrahan). The speakesr included president Joginder Singh Ugrahan,Secretary Sukhdev Singh Khokri, Head of women's wing Harinder Kaur Bindu and Navsharan Kaur daughter of the legendary revolutionary playwright Gursharan Singh. At the conclusion a 15 min cultural programme was staged organized by Amolak Singh of Punjab Loksabhyakara manch with the theme of debt problems faced by farmers.