On the situation in Nonadanga – Pamphlet by Uchched Pratirodh Committee

Karnataka – Campaign against the US Water Trade Mission to India

Fact Sheet on Operation Green Hunt

Mumbai – November 3 Protest Against Adarsh & Other Land Scams

IPT on Land Acquisition, Resource Grab, and Operation Green Hunt – Resource documents

Kolkata – CESC contract workers on strike

Kolkata – Lalgarh Convention, October 12

National Action Week – “GODAMO KE TALE KHOLO” : September 22-28

Getting to know the Second Green ‘Revolutionary’ Ruler-Corporates!

Pamphlet of Matangini Mahila Samiti in protest against the charging of Debalina Chakrabarty with UAPA

Delhi Rally for Justice in Bhopal, 24 Jun

Adivasis, Mining and Monopoly Capital: Issue 18 of Update Booklet

Click here to read Update publication, Issue 18, on Operation Green Hunt [PDF, English, 79 pages] »

Contents

Introduction 1
Adivasis in Central and Eastern India 7
Adivasi People and Forests 11
Mad Rush for Mining and Adivasi People 18
Exploitation: Economic and

Read this article »

Public Meeting – Indian State’s War on People and the Assault on Democratic Voices

Organized by Forum Against War on People 3PM-8PM, 24TH APRIL 2010 Gandhi Peace Foundation, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg, ITO, DELHI SPEAKERS Randhir Singh, Justice Rajender Sachar, PK Vijayan, Madan Kashyap, Sumit Chakravorty, Varavara Rao, Neelabh, B D Sharma, S A R Geelani, Aparna, Darshanpal,  Arundhati Roy, Ravinder Goel, Karen Gabriel, N Venuh, Kalpana Mehta, Kabir […]

Read this article »

Krishak Committee pamphlet against Operation Green Hunt

On the eviction of slums in Kolkata: A leaflet

Click here to read leaflet [PDF, Bengali] »

Feb 15 2010. From the Brihottoro Kolkata Khalpar Basti Uchhed Pratirodh Committee (Greater Kolkata Slum Eviction Resistance Committee), an organisation resisting the eviction of slums in Kolkata.

Read this article »

Sanhati Publications

sanhaticover.jpg

Read this article »

South City Projects, Kolkata: A montage of anti-people activities

Click here to read booklet on South City Projects Kolkata Ltd. [PDF, Bengali] »

This booklet, published in Bengali by the Forum Against Anti-People South City Projects, traces the activities of South City Projects, a real estate giant in Kolkata [company logo: Live the way the world does]. This literature is a part of the South City page at Sanhati.

Included is a collage of leaflets and news pieces dating back from 2002 to the present.

Read this article »

Press Statement of the Citizens’ Expert Committee on BT Brinjal

West Bengal – More than fifty polluting sponge iron factories

Lokayat group, Pune: Literature and activities

The Lokayat group is an activist forum based in Pune, India. As part of an effort to collect activist literature and feature various local efforts from all over the country, we are bringing our readers some material from the group, as well as an account of their recent activity. -Ed.

Read this article »

Update newsletter: Aspects of Indian agriculture, land reforms, and imperialism

Published in June 2006, this issue of Update studies extensively studies aspects of Indian agriculture and the Land Reform Programmes of the State.

Contents: Chapter 1: (a) Landholding patterns among rural households (b) Landholding patterns among SC, ST, and other social groups (c) Irrigation pattern by operational holdings and area operated (d) Irrigation pattern by social groups (e) Landless agricultural labour households (f) Unemployment and underemployment in agricultural labour households (g) Earnings and wages of agricultural labour households (h) Expenses and consumption Chapter 2:
Land reforms and imperialism

Click here to read Update Newsletter [PDF, English] »

ShramikShakti Newsletter: June-July 2009

Editorial – Now is the time to start working for a true alternative
(i) For changing policies, and not only change government – Form Coalitions, Prepare (ii) How can Sunderbans be saved ? (iii) Lalgarh – Terror of Joint Forces

(iv) The gift of Congress after winning elections – (a) giving sanction to 9 SEZ-s (b) indication to dismantle public distribution system (c) disinvestment of public sector

(v) Are people’s representatives really representing the people ? (vi) Issue : Self-analysis of CPI(M) after elections (vii) Struggle in Peru for water-land-forests (viii) Bhandarkhali – Story of stopping Aila (ix) Big capital in retail : the Metro model (x) Turbulent May in the western world (xi) Lok Sabha 2009 elections – manifesto of Trinamul Congress (xii) Hindmotor – Real estate development on factory-land (xiii) Titagarh Lumtex – Victory of the struggling workers (xiv) Tea Gardens – 10 lakh workers have lost work

Click here to read ShramikShakti, June-July 2009 [PDF, Bengali] »

Crossed and Crucified: Parivar’s war against minorities – A PUCL and Kashipur Solidarity Group report

After the killing of Laxmanananda Saraswati on 23 August 2008, a Hindutva-led pogrom against Dalit Christians started in the Kandhamal district of Orissa. Till now, according to official reports, 39 people have been killed. Nearly, 50,000 people have been hounded out of their villages, their houses have been gutted and their belongings have been looted.

This report, prepared by PUCL-Bhubaneshwar and Kashipur Solidarity Group, has tried to document the systematic targeting and hounding of the Adivasi and Dalit Christians in the Kandmahal region. In the process, the report also provides a glimpse of a long running conflict in that area, which has been used by the dominant forces such as the state, its policies and institutions, institutionalized religion and the Oriyas (who are the caste Oriyas), along with other players.

Click here to read Crossed and Crucified [PDF, English] »

Policies on industrial land and the burgeoning real estate scam: A Nagarik Mancha study

This document by Nagarik Mancha discusses the policies of West Bengal government regarding land belonging to industries and the conditions of workers in West Bengal. The first part talks about the infamous 14Z amendment to the West Bengal land reforms act which has allowed the West Bengal government to sell back “leasehold” land to the owners of industries as “freehold” land such that the land can be used for the rejuvenation of the industry. What has actually happened is that the land has been sold off for real estate development and the industry has been closed down. The case at Hind Motors is an example (the earlier case of Usha and South City was the prototype of this process). Biggest land scam in the history of West Bengal going on.

The second part takes a close look at the issues pertaining to workers that have been included in the CPI(M) election manifesto (a total of 30 lines in the 32 page manifesto of a “communist” party!) and the reality of the condition of workers in West Bengal.

Click here to read this article by Nagarik Mancha [PDF, Bengali] »

ShramikShakti Newsletter: January 2009

(i) After the Mumbai attacks – again the war mongering
(ii) Israel attack on Gaza – condemnation across the world
(iii) Lalgarh : New Phase of Struggle
(iv) Results from the 18 day strike in jute mills
(v) Attack on worker by South City Mall owners – the fight for dignity of Shambhu Singh
(vi) Editorial on anti-terrorism bill
(vii) Lalgarh : attempt to entrap struggle by bureaucratic manouvers
(viii) Obama’s victory is US presidential elections
(ix) Corporate scam – Satyam exposed
(x) Land acquisition for airport at Andal
(xi) The struggle of workers of Lumtex Jute Mill
(xii) The crisis in world capitalism
(xiii) Greece erupts in struggles
(xiv) Workers occupy factories at Chicago

Click here to read ShramikShakti, January 2009 [PDF, Bengali] »

Sponge Iron Industries in Bengal and Community Devastation – A Nagarik Mancha Study

This report from Nagarik Mancha studies sponge iron industries in regions like Purulia, Bankura, Birbhum, and West Midnapur in Bengal – the areas traditionally regarded as “less fertile”. Cutting across districts, it finds liquid waste, uncontrolled effluents, and groundwater depletion wreaking havoc on the lives of local communities, with WBPCB merely a silent spectator. Amongst many examples are the Lodha Sabars displaced in Gajashimul, Jhargram, after promises of jobs have gone unkept; and migrant workers in cement factories and sponge iron units across the state working in hazardous conditions. Most importantly, the study discerns an emerging contour of local resistance.

Click here to read Nagarik Mancha report on Sponge Iron industries [PDF, English] »

ShramikShakti Newsletter: May 2009

(i) No UPA, NDA, Third Front – Need for a principled political alliance
(ii) Our country : unemployment, agrarian distress, wage decline
(iii) Building industries in closed factories : CPI(M)’s false propaganda
(iv) Struggles continue : Lalgarh, Pashupathy Factory, Lumtex Jute Mill, Infogen, Kalyani Paper Mill.
(v) Regional parties’ greed for power
(vi) Jobs at the chemical hub ?
(vii) Collage of posters

Click here to read ShramikShakti, May 2009 [PDF, Bengali] »

ShramikShakti Newsletter: March 2009

(i) Infogen – Owner flees with salaries pending
(ii) MKP organises rally against imperialist globalisation
(iii) Truth about Satyam
(iv) Gorkhaland movement – recent developments
(v) Editorial – Lok Sabha Elections
(vi) Hooch tragedy – who is the real culprit ?
(vii) Road blockade by workers of National Jute Mill
(viii) Public meeting at Lalgarh – People’s Committee proposes agenda for development
(ix) Buying rice at fair price
(x) Analysis of interim budget
(xi) What do the tax collectors eat ?
(xii) Struggle in Nepal reaches crossroads

Click here to read ShramikShakti March 2009 [PDF, Bengali] »

Chinton – A magazine of Marxian enquiry

The April 2009 issue of Chinton contains two political commentaries and analysis of Nepal (by Prashanta Ray and Biswajit Hazra) and a theoretical piece on Marxian thought (by Deepak Bakshi).

Click here to read Chinton [PDF, Bengali] »

Report on India’s first airport city (Andal Airetropolis) from Adhikar

This study on the Airetropolis project in Burdawn district, Durgapur sub-division of West Bengal has been published by a local group called Adhikar, based in Asansol.

Andal, in West Bengal, is going to be the site of India’s first Airetropolis – a private airport city at a cost of 5 billion dollars and based on 3500 acres of land. The city will be owned by the Singapore’s Changi International Airport, and constructed by Bengal Airetropolis Project Limited. Notice for the project was served according to Section 4(1) from the Burdwan Collector’s Office. Various newspapers printed the notice between December 11-21, 2008.

In the first phase, initiative was taken for the acquisition of 2362.84 acres of land, and the notice called on any person associated with the land to come forward and raise objections. But the notice wasn’t circulated or publicised through the Panchayats in the villages. As a result, many people do not know about the notice. Even as authorities from Singapore claim that they have spoken to the land owners multiple times.

Land to be acquired in the first phase includes the following villages under (1) Andal Block: Andal, Tamla, DakshinKhanda, Ukhra, Khandra, Moyra, Bhadur, Dhupchuriya and (2) Faridpur Block: Amloka, Bhangori, Arati, Patshaora. These belong to Burdawn district, Durgapur sub-division.

Click here to read booklet on Andal Airetropolis from Adhikar [PDF, Bengali] »

Tribal Peoples Committee of Purulia district hold meeting for basic rights in solidarity with Lalgarh

On 22nd February, 2009, the Adivasi Moolbasi Janashadharan Committee (Tribal Peoples Committee) of Purulia district in West Bengal held a meeting for basic rights and in solidarity with the movement in Lalgarh. Pictures and a charter of demands are given.

Read this article »

Comprehensive documentary from Canvas on monopolistic aggression in retail, Bengal

Canvas Documentary on Big capital monopoly in retail, Bengal [Google Video, 47 mins, Bengali]

This documentary covers the continuous conversion of industrial land into real estate, and the monopolistic assault on retail in Bengal that threatens to render countless workers jobless. Contents: (1) Interviews with small traders, analysts, and activists (2) South City Mall (3) Barrackpore Nonachandanpukur Bazaar (4) Save Park Circus Market Committee (5) Panihati retailers (6) Gariahat hawkers (7) Bolpur retailers samiti (8) Voices against Metro Cash and Carry

Booklet on the Bengal and Indian government’s new agricultural policies

February 6, 2009

This booklet on the government’s new agricultural policies has been written by Subhendu Dasgupta and published by Nagarik Mancha.

Farmers do not want to remain farmers, they want to leave agriculture and become workers. Agriculture is a “backward” issue, industry is the vehicle to the future; emphasis has to be reduced from agriculture and placed on industry. In West Bengal, we do not need to worry about food and crops. In these currents of thought within the government of West Bengal, we find the broader policies of the central government – the national agricultural policies. There is great parity of thought on agriculture, between economic powers within and without; between political powers at the center and in the state. We will start with the central government’s agricultural policies, and end with the Bengal government – in the middle we will explore the ideas pushed by multinational consultancy groups.

Click here to read Sarkarer Notun Krisi Niti [PDF, Bengali] »

Naihati industrial region, Bengal – closed factories, vulnerable workers, affected society

From Save Naihati Industrial Region Manch (Naihati Shilpanchal Bachao Manch), Nov 2008

Click here to read report [PDF, Bengali, 7MB] »

Fact-finding report on Jindal SEZ in Salboni, West Bengal

From SEZ-Birodhi Prachar Manch. Dec, 2008

Click here to view video [Bengali, Google Video]

In Salboni, West Midnapur district of Bengal, the Jindal Group is building a SEZ on 4877.44 acres of land. According to the State Government and JSW Bengal Steel Limited, the SEZ is being built on totally arid land. And that the land has been given joyfully, spontaneously, in return for which the Jindal Group has provided adequate compensation and promises. The job of this team was to probe the veracity of these claims, the socio-economic effect of the purported SEZ on the local population, and its environmental implications.

Click here to read fact-finding report on Salboni SEZ of Jindal [PDF, Bengali, 7MB] »

ShramikShakti November 2008

Contents: (1) Court declares CPIM members as Tapasi Malik’s murderers (2) Kanoria Jute Mill workers on the path of struggle after a long time (3) Rice Mill workers getting organized in Bolpur (4) Agricultural workers in Bengal – an exploited class (5) Government TB hospital sold for Re. 1 (6) Kandhamal, Orissa – the Sangh Parivar stokes communal flames (7) Salboni – the Jindals convert plant to SEZ, adivasis protest (8) The Tata-Singur deal (9) Poultry farmers in Arambag in the face of monopolistic capital (10)

Click here to read ShramikShakti, November 2008 [PDF, Bengali] »

SEZ News magazine

Contents: (1) A brief report from Himachal Pradesh (2) POSCO in Orissa: an economic scam brewing? (3) Letter from KSEZ occupied area (4) Goa: how the battle was won (5) Aqaba, Jordan: Special place or Special Zone?

Click here to read SEZ News magazine, April 2008 [PDF, English, 0.6 MB] »

Matongini Mohila Samiti: Newsletter, September 2008

Matangini Mahila Samiti is a group of female students of Jadavpur University, formed in the wake of the Nandigram massacre. Its members were harassed in June 2008 on charges of having Maoist links.

Contents: (1) The nuclear deal: America, India, the CPIM, and where we stand (2) Three daughters of Nandigram (3) CMZ: the destruction of coastal livelihood and environment (4) The Gorkhaland Movement (5) Mahamaya Jagchhe: a mother looks back at the June arrest of Matongini members on Maoist charges

Click here to read Matangini Newsletter, September 2008 [PDF, Bengali, 2.9MB] »

Booklet on anti-people history of Tatas: SEZ-birodhi Prachar Manch

The SEZ-birodhi Prachar Manch is an anti-SEZ watchdog in Bengal. This booklet in Bengali, produced in 2008, dispels certain myths about the Tata corporation.

Contents: (1) Tata’s role in Indian economic and foreign policies (2) Aiding killer Union Carbide in Bhopal (3) Tribal land grab and oppression (4) Environmental pollution (5) Tata’s old history: (a) supporting British imperialism (b) export of opium to China – the origin of Jamshedji’s wealth (6) Exploitation of workers at TISCO (7) Peoples movements against the Tatas

Booklet on the anti-people history of the Tatas [Bengali, PDF, 1.7 MB] »

Leaflets from FAMA on Nov 10 rally, Metro Cash and Carry, and a letter to Mr. Gandhi

A leaflet on Metro Cash and Carry: the license to operate in Bengal – its provisions and consequences »

Rally against monopolistic capital on Nov 10, 2008 – a leaflet »

A letter to Gopal Krishna Gandhi on the effects of big capital in retail »

FAMA or the Forum Against Monopolistic Aggression is fighting against the entry of big capital in retail in Bengal and India, and the consequent dispossession of millions of small traders, their employees, people employed in transportation, storage, etc.

Booklet from FAMA on entry of big capital in retail in Bengal and India

FAMA or the Forum Against Monopolistic Aggression is fighting against the entry of big capital in retail in Bengal and India, and the consequent dispossession of millions of small traders, their employees, people employed in transportation, storage, etc. This booklet, produced in 2008, provides a comprehensive introduction to the subject.

Contents: (1) Introduction: Entry of monopolistic capital in unorganised retail in Bengal and India (2) Why unorganised retail is a profitable vista for big business (3) The international experience (4) A summary of the present situation of unorganised retail in India (5) How the present situation is changing with the entry of big capital (6) The myth of job creation and the contraction of employment (7) Predatory pricing: customers take a hit (8) How agriculture will be affected: an increase in farmer suicide? (9) The new culture of consumption (10) Adverse effects on the environment (11) The hypocrisy of Parliamentary parties (12) Conclusion: comments on the struggle ahead

Click here to read booklet on monopolistic aggression of big capital in retail [PDF, Bengali, 3MB] »

Niyamgiri, Orissa: Mass Convention Against Supreme Court Verdict allowing Vedanta mining

On August 11 2008, India’s Supreme Court gave the go-ahead for two huge and controversial mining projects (companies: Vedanta and POSCO) in the eastern state of Orissa. Dongria Kondh tribespeople say their livelihood will be destroyed. The on going peaceful and democratic peoples’ movements in the state have been shocked by the fact that one of the main pillars of our democracy, the judiciary has joined the sides of the corporations who are desperate to grab the resources that has been sustaining the life of millions of peasants, tribals, fishermen and forest dwellers only to maximize their own profit.

Read this article »

ShramikShakti Newsletter: September 2008

Contents: (1) 22 workers laid off in Hindmotors as the management strike back (2) Walmart and retail in Bengal (3) Small shopowners protest in Bolpur (4) The historic food movement: 1959 and 1966 (5) The story of the Tatas (6) Workers spend 77 days in jail in a Left-governed state: a personal account (7) Resistance against Dow Chemicals advances in Mumbai (8) The Indo-US Nuclear deal – by Samik Chakraborty (9) A look at Nepal’s political trajectory

Click here to read ShramikShakti September 2008 [PDF, Bengali, 1.6 MB]

ShramikShakti Newsletter: August 2008

Contents: (1) Loomtex mill in Titagarh: imprisoned workers released after sustained resistance (2) Agricultural labourers win struggle for wage raise in Dignagar, Burdwan district (3) Hindmotors: the conversion of factory land for real estate (4) The government’s policies are responsible for price-rise (5) 1945 document of undivided CPI: a demand for independent Gorkhaland (6) Gorkhaland movement and national self-determination – by Samik Chakraborty (7) Flooding in lower Damodar Valley – who is responsible? – part 2 (8) Resistance in Barackpore Nonachandanpukur Bazaar against eviction (9) Floods in Potashpur (10) Solidarity gathering in Kolkata for Nepal’s revolutionary struggle (11) Mineline Engineering in Behala: casual workers fight against illegal activities of owner (12) Egypt in the grip of workers protests (13) International politics on the Tiber issue

Click here to read ShramikShakti [PDF, Bengali, 1.6 MB] »

ShramikShakti Newsletter: June 2008

Contents: (1) Loomtex Engineering Jute Mill in Titagarh: workers imprisoned on false charges (2) My experience of the Nepal Elections – by Kushal Debnath (3) Searching for the reasons behind price-hike (4) National Jute Mill Extra Casual Workers Forum calls convention in Sakrail (5) Economic progress and job creation – a discussion, Part 4 – by Chandan Debnath (6) Lower Damodar Valley flooding – who is responsible? (7) The Panchayat system caught in the tightening noose of capital – an analysis by Shankar Das (8) “Mexico’s other border: illegal migrants to U.M by Cynthia Gorney (9) Baburam Dewan – a fading story (10) The people of Tibet resist China

Click here to read ShramikShakti, June 2008 [Bengali, PDF, 1.6 MB] »

Anthropology of a Genocide – Vedanta and tribal movements in Central India

A study by Felix Padel and Samarendra Das, 2006

Contents: (1) Introduction (2) Vedanta Resources and the fight for Orissa’s Bauxite Malis (3) Social structure of a company – DFID, DTI, VAL, Vedanta Resurces (4) The question of development – social structure of a tribal community (5) Commemorating Kalinga through Steel (6) The civil war in Bastar

Click here to read Anthropology of a Genocide – Tribal Movements in Central India [PDF, English] »

Coastal Zone Regulation to Coastal Zone Management: A Booklet

Click here to read booklet on Costal Zone Regulation and Coastal Zone Management [PDF, Bengali, 8MB] »

Rajarhat township – cries of despair behind a facade of development

This booklet details land acquisition in Rajarhat, West Bengal – a place which faced the onslaught of development much before Singur and Nandigram moved such debates into wider circles. As a place which has witnessed the terror of development, Rajarhat township is perhaps unique.

Click here to read booklet on Rajarhat land acquisition [PDF, Bengali] »

Shramik Istahar: April-May, 2008 issue

Contents: 1. The murder of worker leader Ram Parvesh Singh at CESC and the state of the unions 2. False police cases, political arrests, and the bail of Mithu Ghosh 3. Nandigram: Police – CPIM nexus cannot be the last word 4. Food price increase – a summary and future directions 5. Chidambaram;s farmer debt-waiver: implications 6. Aspects of global warming 7. Condition of workers in SIPCOT, Gummidipoondi

Click here to read Shramik Istahar April-May 2008 [Bengali, PDF, 250 KB] »

Tumi Maharaj Sadhu hole Aaj! – Real estate land-acquisition in HindMotors

Leaflet from Gana Udyog

B.L.R.O. Srirampore: I won’t commit this to paper. However, there is one set of rules for common people, another for the Birlas. I can’t do much from my chair. We are servants who obey government directives. Decisions come from much higher up.

(1) Land-acquisition in HindMotors for real-estate: A Timeline
(2) Background

Read this article »

Nandigram during the Panchayat Elections 2008: an SSC leaflet

Click here to read leaflet [Bengali, PDF] »

Click here to read English version of leaflet »

Bondimukti Committee members arrested for protesting political arrests

Bondimukti Committee members protesting against political arrests were attacked by police and have been fasting at College Square, Kolkata, from May 6 2008 in protest.

Read this article »

Panchayat Poll ’08: A Preliminary Discussion on Strategies

Nothing can remain the same all through. The masses of rural toilers were summing-up the past experiences on their own and has been feeling betrayed by the party that once the masses themselves enthroned. The feeling of despair was giving rise to wrath. The first sparks of rural spontaneous outbursts were seen in only four or five villages in 2004, and in 2007 it surfaced again more widely in various districts of West Bengal apparently against the corruption of party–govt (including panchayat)–rural bigwigs. Also we saw the Singur-Bhangar-Haripur-Nandigram during 2006 and 2007, where the villagers united to fight govt-party-police-admin nexus attempted to grab land for foreign and native capitalists. In many of these struggles we saw the almost same trend (albeit weakly) that is being witnessed among the workers, i.e., unity of the rural masses irrespective of or cutting across their former party affiliation or adherence, their dissociation from old established parties spontaneously unsettling the power equation of the villages, doing things and achieving feats which they themselves would have thought to be ‘impossible’ few days before, taking the rein of their own fight and organisation themselves, rebelling against the agonising life, etc. This is an important phenomenon that must be kept in mind before thinking of the tasks ahead of the rural toiling masses in the ensuing panchayat polls.

Click here to read Krishak Committee leaflet [PDF, English, 10 KB] »

Leaflet from Shramik Sangram Committee: The right to struggle and organise is under attack

May 3, 2008 rally

This leaflet from the Shramik Sangram Committee and the Krishak Committee is an appeal to protest, on May 3, 2008, against the attack on the right to struggle and organise in West Bengal. This comes at a time of concerted attacks on civil liberties and cultural activities. In particular, it speaks of the arrest of Mithu Ghosh on the pretext of Maoist connections.

Click here to read leaflet from SSC and KC for May 3 2008 rally [PDF, Bengali] »

The Panchayat elections and self-empowerment of the rural poor

This is a translated version of a leaflet from the Krishak Committee (KC), written and distributed at the advent of Panchayat elections in West Bengal. The Sharamik Sangram Committee (SSC), a small fraternal organisation of the Krishak Commitee, leads the union at Hindustan Lever.

Read this article »

POSCO booklet, leaflet, map from Kolkata rally – February 2008

An analytical booklet on POSCO [PDF, Bengali, 262 KB]

Leaflet of anti-POSCO rally in Kolkata, February 2008

Map of POSCO

Anti-POSCO rally and program in Kolkata

February 13, 2008. Kolkata: A rally from College Square to Utkal Bhavan (an office of the Orissa govornment) took place and was followed by a mass-deputation in Utkal Bhavan against the proposed POSCO project in Jagatsingpur district, Orissa. The program was organised by 18 organizations. After a demonstration in front of Utkal Bhavan the protesters conveyed their solidarity to the POSCO movement in the form of a memorandum to the government of Orissa. The authorities at Utkal Bhavan received the memorandum on behalf of the government of Orissa. Afterwards, anti-POSCO activists including Biswajit Roy shared their experiences with political organisations and human rights activists at the Indian Radical Humanist Associations Hall in a discussion called Posco Ebong Tar Protirodh. Activists involved in the protest movement against illegal and extensive stone quarrying in Asansol and Birbhum were also present to express their solidarity to the people of Orissa and speak about the conditions in the regions where they work.

The 18 organisations which organised the program were: APDR, Chhatra-Chhatri Sanhati Mancha, Little Magazine Samannay Mancha, Lok Seba Sangh, Nandigram Ganahatya Birodhi Prochar Udyog, Sahanagarikder Jukta Mancha, Hawker Sangram Committee, TASAM, USDF, NAPM, Sanhati Udyog, PaschimBanga Khetmazoor Samiti, Ganamukti Parishad, Janasangharsha Samiti, West Bengal Gandhi Peace Foundation, Bondi Mukti Committee, West Bengal Government Employees Union, and National Fishworkers Federation.

Read this article »

Study on Closed and Re-opened Tea Gardens in North Bengal

By Anuradha Talwar, Debashish Chakraborty, Sarmishtha Biswas

This study, dated September 2005, was conducted in the wake of the crisis in the tea industry in the Doars between 2002-2004.

Contents: (1) Conditions in re-opened gardens – wages, ration, hours of work, occupational health and safety, drinking water, electricity, housing, transport for school-children, medical facilities, creches, maternity benefits, fringe benefits, latrines and urinals (2) Conditions in closed and abandoned gardens (3) Workers’ dues – tabled by tea estates, categorized under provident fund, gratuity, salary, and total dues (4) Opening agreements (5) Likely non-viability of plantations (6) Role of unions – CITU, UTUC, INTUC, WBTGEA (7) Role of government (8) Plantations Labour Act, 1951

Click here to read study on closed and re-opened ta gardens in North Bengal [PDF, English, 400 KB] »

ShramikShakti Newsletter – January-February 2008

Contents: (1) SEZs stopped in Goa (2) CPI(M) exults over the Nano (3) BJP in power in Gujrat and Himachal – effects on state and national politics (4) Dankuni – huge land acquisition plans (5) Civil society, Karl Marx, and the CPI(M) (6) Economic development and employment generation – a debate (part 2) (7) Vote-based front or unity of struggle? (8) Pollution of drinking water – in search of the source (9) Singur and the High Court verdict (10) Ganashakti‘s hypocrisy (11) GM crops – agricultural science meet in Bolagarh (12) Bolagarh – lessons from the polls (13) Movement in Kandi – protests against corruption in public distribution system and cal for permanent flood resistance measures (14) Benazir’s death and contemporary Pakistan (15) HindMotors and the recent elections

Click here to read ShramikShakti January-February 2008 [PDF, Bengali, 612 KB] »

ShramikShakti Newsletter, December 2007

Contents: (1) Brutal assault on Adivasi tea-garden workers in Assam (2) The 29th November attack on Anti-Posco Movement (3) Buddha at it again – says he’s wrong (4) An interview with Avash Munshi of SSKU on the upcoming elections at Hindmotors (5) On Taslima Nasreen (6) Economic development and employment generation – a debate (7) Nandigram and the Nuclear Deal – an understanding between Congress and CPI(M) (8) Nandigram’s effect clear in Rail Union Elections (9) Cancel SEZ, Posco go back! – ShramikShakti’s interview of Abhay Sahu (10) Nandigram will hold its head high – an eye-wtiness report from the relief camps (11) CPI(M) attacks peaceful anti-acquisition rally in Birshibpur (12) Under U.S. supervision – whither Pakistan? (13) France – workers go on unprecedented strikes

Click here to read ShramikShakti, December 2007 [PDF, Bengali, 720 KB] »

Leaflet from Maitree, a women’s rights network, on Nandigram

Maitree had taken the responsibility of campaigning for a day, on Friday, 7th December, 2007, at the temporary structure being called Dharna Mancha (in the Metro Channel, Kolkata). The following leaflet was distributed there. Several Maitree members took part in a 24 Hour fast, including Madhuchchanda Karlekar, Anuradha Kapoor, Swapna Banerjee, Saraswatidi, and Saswati Ghosh. There was also a mass collection of signatures condemning the violence, on a canvas. Other programmes of various kinds were also organized. A candlelight vigil was held in the evening. Cultural programmes and speeches were interspersed throughout the day.

Read this article »

ShramikShakti Newsletter – November, 2007

Contents: (1) Nandigram is bloody once again (2) The Supreme Court on land acquisition in Punjab (3) Ration riots in West Bengal (4) Historic rally in Kolkata (5) Food Shortage in India and Genetically Modified Crops (6) Anti-SEZ convention in Kolkata arranged by the MKP – a report (7) Is Sensex growth an indicator of the country’s progress? (8) Maoists leave government in Nepal – which way now?

Click here to read ShramikShakti – November, 2007 [PDF, Bengali, 629 KB]»

Paid back in the same coin: A montage of posters of the historic rally on the 14th November

collage.jpg

14th March was the turning point of Nandigram struggle. Remembering that bloody day, a historic rally was organised on 14th November at Kolkata from College Square. No organizational banner was there. The central theme of the rally was “Stretch your hand to the attacked people of Nandigram”. Common people registered their hate and anger for the autocratic rulling party of West Bengal. They overflowed the city streets with thousands of militant yet silent protests.

Some Posters:

14th_michhil3.jpg 14th_michhil1.jpg 14th_michhil2.jpg 14th_michhil4.jpg 14th_michhil5.jpg

Pictures of the rally (courtesy: Nagarik Mancha)
nagarik-1.jpg dsc05439.JPG dsc05443.JPG dsc05460.JPG dsc05481.JPG click here for more.

Pictures from those who were a part of history that Kolkata witnessed that day:

Picture courtesy Indranil Ghosh Dastidar:
atgaaadywf5fzs2xr3mob1w-dpmmyxgxefoaf06a98wni6mgawmkqv2qisnfdljbs5lde0rgorhjz8fpsmldx3uxmvgfajtu9va9coiteauq0ju4s_mydeekx8hyyq.jpg atgaaadxtbjc5kggjfmwjye7mresxdogcczqbbqy5ylktnlwzkvhhwy0bzsjofmnw4bjcypsxzgr1szmo3-logre695uajtu9vanbaubepsttb-l-wjd4ezkspkq_g.jpg atgaaadudyhtwae1gr4o4ejcmxu_vrehr90ignz6-vfgnf79×0ux270xgp866bibpizpjzpws87wmuvqoqolkn2b8asaajtu9vcmfdyqfwb8gxysmfnbsx9g3gxnma.jpg atgaaadtdbhkfpm0zjopovvdoio6p86gsjt0y6j5scyqcertfbwwbggqb8ruw-koa9rixbfhtqjj_anzoluineunkdp5ajtu9vaidbzmldlp0_z7wxhyllpufvuulw.jpg atgaaadpgamwi1g9xwujchxkomaxwqzuis7wxo6zl8ghw3tng0yrxktcqc3v77cpbytvpfay63ocqmgftuyefycmyflwajtu9vbzudt6gyyi8ekcxp45fkhbzjzd7a.jpg atgaaacrbb-kyggpf6kqlmybd1nxnz0ygoszx75m5taektsve9bc_bzmpw3tlvguldu7hbf8pxu6vdo3v16aazmvsncwajtu9vbfoamwqtgi4lb3invpbqryr1xtta.jpg atgaaacesp_3utpw3h_xxwk9drrraunqcwkeekglykqklaqi3gjmjurluzoaa3×9swye7cl1dnvxupqmma_ksdyzbfhqajtu9vdhb2yvcsweb8pculgrennf17m8qa.jpg atgaaacdjzzgb6rjenk0fkwgsniwyss949wfg6gxureha180qdk8kr60qsw77wd-snncwdc-bkosqjlfuj486wyetm_9ajtu9vbvytc2nr3-wu5aqzvh8jmaz014pq.jpg atgaaacaibe1w_obmshwd9dfeum2043hdwv7q4o7dz4zekimsku5m1vy0qb_ig3owp3p2q490z2oaeela0gye3soodmdajtu9vc732q_kgrbxf1tdgmao4h3i_5_kg.jpg atgaaac3glkb0orf-nrm7qhlwuh2zyrvlbkykhvfbcctd8iyo__ndbbtmiksjjpf5vlncmb61lomxnorr1a-jjdhxpnnajtu9vdzvbqk_wbheaokj4ghfppawpj2rw.jpg atgaaabmyit-gicmmnk_kjxe314rujd3vf2c0cppbgq87fwmwsca1lrolfy28m0qrms5owfz3pfwn2xrmk5qup7662goajtu9vaddcckdogt-uaknlv7rquvklqg1g.jpg atgaaab74sy06nqdrmdyd7a4gmjepi-rmdiaeootnnaortobrvpmfgiv_rikzc2-jmde8xfnyh50rlg9nlcwnnbjvnnfajtu9vdnbny18ylsflevr_omp7uwugqcpq.jpg atgaaaavcvwird6p1gu9_bdoo3ifiitnd6tetqvkd1dlr8t0rcbtxp8jbfx8i36oucdzc_fkoaetrtxdp_xdmixl-l0pajtu9vckt9-cvcpc576wz-rzc9jkyht_6q.jpg atgaaab_dln_muovgmmia79vandqelxg2tazxvttjpzizgztvjtv5iq1vjcqj97k8×4fv3qqr9zlzidjm94lukcqowp9ajtu9vdrc9aym8aetemgw5sb7_wqmjkagw.jpg atgaaaan0tqau7vet03rc2b8uoymg0vt5iskjhn_prh92dzdcedzygntvdxiiyteyh4yqpwzdqhih6cnhpqcwn0ymdthajtu9vdupcubgsqjizwqvlpf2wjjxkuhua.jpg michhil-7.jpg michhil-9.jpg michhil-8.jpg michhil-11.jpg michhil1.jpg michhil6.jpg michhil4.jpg michhil2.jpg michhil5.jpg michhil3.jpg michhil-12.jpg atgaaadsx2dwbbwnkfge5c1ck_tqdzgarwdsv_-4ox1f3gnjnsu7svufqzro7xaf561suyjwzhxcmrnybh5ecgqqkne5ajtu9vdid9fzmr_dn8jifwqhktevylclqw.jpg michhil-10.jpg

Picture courtesy Maroona Murmu:
michhil11.jpg michhil21.jpg michhil31.jpg michhil51.jpg michhil41.jpg michhil111.jpg michhil12.jpg michhil8.jpg michhil9.jpg michhil10.jpg michhil7.jpg michhil61.jpg

Picture courtesy Kunal Chattopadhyay:
ku2.jpg ku3.jpg ku4.jpg ku31.jpg ku12.jpg ku11.jpg ku5.jpg ku13.jpg ku1.jpg ku14.jpg ku21.jpg ku10.jpg

ghare phirechhilo jaaraa – posters on Nandigram

“ghare phera” “hiroshimaa nay, nandigram.”

ghare_phera.jpg hiroshimana.jpg

Saviors of the world

Click here to view

MKP Booklet on SEZ – A critical look at the SEZ Act

This booklet from Mazdoor Kranti Parishad covers the following :
(1) How the SEZ Act was created – the international and national backdrop
(2) SEZ Act 2005 – the most important of its 58 sections and SEZ Rule 2006 – the most important of its 77 rules
(3) Critically examining the sections and rules – (i) Section 5 ( examining generation of additional economic activity, promotion of exports of goods and services, promotion of investment from domestic and foreign sources, creation of employment opportunities, development of infrastructure), (ii) Sections 11, 12, 20, 21, 22, 23, 46, 51, 53 – the powers of the Development Comissioner in an SEZ, and colonial parallels (iii) Sections 26, 27, 32, 50 – exemptions, drawbacks, and concessions to developers and entrepreneurs, and what it means for social and rural programs (iv) Rule 11(10) – allotment of SEZ land for non-business purposes – real estate profits and promoters (v) Rule 44 – Contract farming for agricultural SEZs – what it means for the farmer and the seed company
(4) SEZ, and the stance of the BJP, Congress, and CPI(M).
(5) West Bengal SEZ Bill 2003
(6) Alternatives

Click here to read MKP’s booklet on SEZ [PDF, Bengali, 290KB] »

Documents from the National Anti-SEZ Convention in Kolkata, Oct 1-2, 2007

These discussion documents were presented from MKP during the national anti-SEZ convention in Kolkata, Oct 1-2, 2007.

Click here to read first document [PDF, Bengali, 66KB] »
Click here to read second document [PDF, Bengali, 75KB] »

Poster – National Anti-SEZ Convention: Oct 1 2007, Mahajati Sadan. Arranged by MKP

mkpconvention.jpg Click here to view poster with program details [JPG, Bengali, 60KB]

ShramikShakti Newsletter – September, 2007 issue

ShramikShakti September 2007 issue covers pieces on : (1) NREGA struggles led by MKP in Aushgram, (2) Beating back Reliance Fresh, (3) the Chemical Hub at Nayachar and the Dow Chemicals nexus, (4) The Kalyani Industrial Area – revisting a disastrous industrial foray, (5) Bauria, Mathkal, Hindwar Industries Workers Movement, (6) The Indo-US Nuclear deal (7) MarichJhapi – the history that cannot be forgotten.

Click here to read ShramikShakti [PDF, Bengali, 2.5 MB] »

Shilpayon – Rupkatha aar Bastob (Industrialisation – Fairytales and Reality)

By Dipanjan Rai Chaudhuri

This extensive analytical booklet covers the following – (1) A study of China and its economic liberalization post 1980, evaluated not by dollars invested but by the detailed statistics of jobs created (2) Popular resistance to growing inequality in China, and its effects (3) Tracing the history of SEZs in West Bengal, and its present state (4) An evaluation of the popular equation big capital investment = job creation in the light of Falta, Haldia Petrochemicals, and other examples (5) A summary of foreign capital in Latin America (6) Exploring job-creating industrialization and “alternatives” (a) The need for small industries (b) Who will take care of heavy industry? (c) The farmer forms the market (d) Not Fascist force, but working with the consent of the people.

Click here to read Shilpayon – Rupkatha aar Bastob [Bengali, PDF, 265 KB] »

Caterpillar and the Mahua Flower: Tremors in India’s Mining Fields

As multinational conglomerates walk away from Orissa and Chhattisgarh with state blessings to prospect for resources under the earth, the original custodians of the land, the Adivasis, find that their homes and livelihoods are being bulldozed to make way for industries. While the lavish lifestyles and expensive tastes of mining moguls is chronicled in minute detail, the struggle of the Adivasis seldom gets the attention it deserves. This book endeavors to illumine the dark corners of India’s mining corridor.

Contents : (1) Iron in the Soul – Roger Moody (2) “Agya, What do you mean by development?” – Felix Padel and Samarendra Bose (3) No Man’s Land – Alok Prakash Putul (4) Road to Perdition – Aman Sethi (5) The Base Alchemist – Roger Moddy (6) How Green was my Mountain – Neeraj Agarwal (7) Under a Black Sky – Ranjan K Panda (8) Forgeries in Steel : We also make Poverty – Ashly Hinmon (9) Never say DAE – Xavier Dias (10) Nero’s Children – Amit Raja, translated by Rahul Rajesh (11) Full Monty, Please! – Umesh Nazir, translated by Rahul Rajesh (12) Defying the Juggernaut – Bhigneswar Sahu (13) Fifth Columnists? – Kedar Mishra

Click here to read Caterpillar and the Mahua Flower [PDF, 849 KB] »

Shramikshakti Newsletter – Workers struggle in Sakrail, Gaurishankar Jute, Chadmoni – SEZ in Ranihati

This August, 2007 issue contains (1) an analysis of the Haldia elections (2) the proposed SEZ in Ranihati (3) struggle in National Jute Mill, Sakrail (4) struggle in Gaurishankar Jute Mill (5) Chadmoni Tea Gardens – an update (6) A stocktaking of the Hindmotors movement (7) the CPIM and Bidhan Chandra Ray (8) from Nandigram to Khammam (9) Taposi Malik and the CBI

Click here to read Shramikshakti [Bengali, PDF, 2.8 MB] »

Chronicles of a Struggle – Booklet on Kashipur, Kalinganagar – The tribal struggle for survival

By Achyut and Vidya Das. Courtesy : Agragamee

(1) The Kashipur anti-mining movement (2) Globalization and Genocide (3) Kalinganagar : a first impression report.

“This small booklet is an effort to highlight the courage and endurance of tribal people as they make desperate bids to survive against an inhuman paradigm of “globalisation”. We hope that a time wil come, in the near future, when ancient wisdom will once again be valued and we will learn to live together, and not on the destroyed and forgotten histories and identities of our brethren, the tribal people of this country.”

Click here to read Chronicles of a Struggle [English, PDF, 1.6 MB] »

Chemical Hub – Ek Nihshobdo Ghatok (A Silent Killer)

From Platform publications, 45 Beniatola Lane, Kolkata 700009

The government of West Bengal has decided to build a chemical hub in the aftermath of Nandigram – the only question right now is where. This article analyses the effects of such a plan. Topics covered include the experience of other countries with chemical industries ( Brazil’s Valley of Death, Japan – the Minamata Disease), the bloody histories of chemical corporations such as Dow, and the effect on the environment and public health.

Click here to read article [Bengali, PDF, 23 pages] »

Self Help for Slow Learners : A True Story

Click here to read article »

Leaflet from Bandi Mukti Committee – calling for unconditional release of Binayak Sen, Sumit Sarkar, Amitava Bhattacharya, and other Hindmotors Workers

The government of West Bengal is, of course, no exception. From 2000, several thousand people have been arrested on political grounds – among them are Sushil Ray, Patit Paban Haldar, Probodh Purokayastha, Tom Adhikary, Milton Barman, Harsha Bardhan Das, Bansi Badan Barman, and others. In North Bengal, numerous Kamtapuri and Great Cooch Bihar activists have been jailed on false charges. 29 members of SUCI and 11 people charged with Maoist connections are currently serving life in prison. Recently, the State arrested a number of activists associated with the Hindmotors movement. Swooping down late at night, the police arrested SSKU leaders Amitava Bhattacharya, Subhendu Biswas, and six others as they continued their hunger-strike. Sumit Sarkar was arrested simply for participating in the resistance, and sent to Midnapur Jail. In this context, we should remember that Sumit Sarkar had been arrested a few years ago, with his wife and newborn baby. He was kept in jail for over an year.

Click here for Bengali Leaflet page 1[PDF, .6 MB]
Click here for Bengali Leaflet page 2[PDF, .6 MB

Below for English:

Read this article »

Introductory Booklet on SEZs prepared by Citizens’ Research Collective, New Delhi

This booklet answers basic questions such as What is a SEZ, Why SEZs, How many SEZs, What has been the experience with SEZs so far, Will SEZs create jobs. It looks at the attendant displacement and loss of livelihood, the features of the emerging new corporate-city-state, and the immense usage (upto 75%) of SEZ land for real estate. It ends with a look at the many faces of resistance to neoliberalism, like the Coca-Cola Virudha Samara Samiti, Muthanga Forest Land Struggle, protests against land acquisitions for the Bangalore-Mysore highway and mining in the Krishna river by the Reliance Group, the Dalit struggle for Gairan under the Jameen Adhikar Andolan, struggle against Reliance Gas lines in Maharashtra, the 26 Gaon Bachao Sangharsh Samiti fighting SEZ in Raigad, etc.

Click to read booklet on SEZ [PDF, 2.88MB]

Leaflet from IFTU, AICCTU, Amco Sanhati Committee, National Tannery Bachao Committee, IndoJapan Steel Employees Union, etc.

Wages to survive on, work for workers, factories on industrial land – That is what we demand.

After IndoJapan Steel closed down, workers of the factory tried all through the 1990s to get the Minister to agree to a workers cooperative. They walked down countless michhils, sent many appeals. They didn’t want money – they simply wanted legal assistance from the government. These workers, who aspired to build an examplary workers intiative were converted into vagabonds. Their attempt at surviving with dignity, having control over their lives died a death in the hands of government apathy, and today the machinery has been dismantled, sold off in auction, under the protection of police. Workers have not received their 16 crore rupees in dues.
Click here to read page 1 in Bengali [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Click here to read page 2 in Bengali [PDF, 1.4 MB]
Below for English:

Read this article »

Fact-Finding Report on POSCO Project in Jagatsinghpur, Orissa

A strong people’s resistance has been going on in the parts of Jagatsinghpur district of Orissa against a steel plant and captive port proposed in the area, since July 2005, a month after the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) regarding the project was signed between the Government of Orissa and Pohang Steel Company Limited (POSCO). This fact-finding team (19-22 April) had the following objectives : to get an insight into the concerns being raised in relation to the project by the affected communities, to understand the steps being taken by the authorities concerned to address these issues, and to assess the processes that have taken place in the last two years in relation to the project.

Click to read Report [PDF, 13 pages] »

Read previous updates on state terror in Jagatsinghpur, and sign petition.

An APDR publication in Bengali – Land Acquisition in Singur, A Rights Perspective

This publication from APDR collects many documents related to Singur and Nandigram, as well as a detailed timeline. Included are fact-finding reports on the death of Rajkumar Bhul (7 pages), the original protest letter from his father Dwarikanath Bhul, a fact-finding report on Singur dated December 8th (17 pages), original Government and Tata notifications and press releases on land acquisition, APDR responses and letters, and the text of the Land Acquisition Act. Also included is an analytical piece by Amitdyuti Kumar (33 pages).

Click to read publication [PDF, 56 pages] »

Discussion Forum in Panjab University on SEZ and Nandigram – Press Clippings

Arranged by friends of Chhatra Chhatri Sanhati Mancha, Panjab

The meeting was held on April 17, 2007, in Panjab University. It was attended by around a hundred people. All the four speakers – Prof. Sumit Sarkar, Sumit Choudhury, Vaskar Nandy, and Sukhdev Singh — spoke with spirit and substance. Sardara Singh Mahal could not attend as he was unwell. The news was carried by as many as 8 newspapers of the city (English, Hindi, Punjabi put together). In this part of the country land and agriculture is an extremely emotive issue.

Click here for Press Clippings [PDF, 7 pgs] »

Petition from Little Magazine Somonnoy (group of more than 150 little magazines from Bengal)

This is to share our concern with you over the developments happening in this state in the name of industrialization, resulting in massive land-grabbing and eviction of farmers from the fertile lands. Especially, the murders at Singur and the genocide at Nandigram have broken our hearts and made us panic-stricken. We vehemently condemn these incidents and demand for severe punishment of the culprits. We would request you to intervene at your capacity, at the most, to book these murderers so that such incidents never occur in future.

Read this article »

Assorted leaflets from Sanhati Mancha, graffiti from Jadavpur University – following Nandigram massacre

This is the story of that night. The night of 14th March. The CPIM call a local 12-hour bandh after the end of “Operation Nandigram” during the day. In this remote area, where people don’t come out after dark anyway, why would they call a bandh? During the day, as we had watched the police attack unfurl in all its fury, shivered in terror as we heard that perhaps sixty people had been killed, we could never have imagined that the most horrifying episodes, the most brutal events had yet to unfold.

Read the leaflet – page 1 [JPG] »
Read the leaflet – page 2 [JPG] »
Read the leaflet – page 3 [JPG] »

And now? After 14th March, after this massacre, do we not understand what Narendra Modi did in Gujarat? Have we not seen world (bank) capital, flowing out of constricted first world markets and jumping hungrily into the third world, with its allure of “industrialisation” – have we not seen what it translates to?

Sanhati Mancha Leaflet [JPG] »

Even after the massacre of Nandigram – those of you who have chosen not to choose sides – I leave behind a rifle. Kill yourself if you can.

Graffiti in Jadavpur University [JPG] »

Medical Team report in Bengali, Poster from MCDSA

Report of Team of Doctor’s visit to Nandigram

On March 18, 2007, a group consisting of Sramajibi Swathya Udyog, Dr. Bhaskar Rao Janaswasthya Committee, Peoples Health, Janaswasthya Adhikar Mancha, Peoples Right to Health, and MCDSA (represented by six doctors, three junior doctors, three nurses and two health workers), visited Nandigram, Sonachura and Gokulnagar to treat people injured in the police firing of March 14th.

Click here to read latest report in English

Read their Report in Bengali- Page 1 [JPG] »
Read their Report in Bengali- Page 2 [JPG] »

Poster from MCDSA: Singur to Nandigram, Bangla will be Vietnam

Friend,
Nandigram is bleeding again. After 7th January, 14th March. The so-called “peasant-workers loving” Left Front snuffed out more than a hundred lives with their murderous police force and army of cadres. Their crime – they protested, they protested against the government’s advertisement of “development and progress”. Not for petty electoral games – they protested to save their land, their homes, their food, clothes, and the fundamental right to live.

Click here to read poster [JPG] »

Then Came the End of Beliefs – Pamphlet from students in JNU

Source : Anandaroop, Anil, Banojyotsna, Bodhisattva, Jeet, Kaustubhmani, Oeendrila, Sanjukta, Sukanya, Upal

Then came the end of beliefs. In our half-reached, quarter-dreamt, woken-in-between, little-believed and broadly accepted CPI (M) parenthetic lives. Development in Nandigram is now measured as the investor-friendly space between the legs of nine year old girls.

14th March. Nandigram. 100 people mowed down. Firing squads replicated.

Read this article »

Poster of Sanhati Mancha (announcing Mahamichhil), 2 posters of PDSF

In Protest of Nandigram Massacre – unite for Mahamichhil on
24th March, 1:30 p.m. , Deshbandhu Park. We invite people from every
stratum of society, and every social organisation to join us in solidarity.

Chhatra Chhatri Sanhati Mancha

Click here to see poster 1 [JPG] »
Click here to see poster of PDSF 1 [JPG] »
Click here to see poster of PDSF 2 [JPG] »

Leaflet from Chhatra Chhatri Sanhati Mancha, December 18th, 2006

The following is a leaflet announcing the first convention of the Chhatra Chhatri Sanhati Mancha, December 18th, 2006. Around 300 students from more than a dozen organisations attended the convention in Students Hall, near College Square. Speakers included Subhendu Dasgupta, Srijan Sen, representatives from all participating groups, and a number of other intellectuals. This was also the day Tapasi Malik was murdered in Singur. After the convention, hundreds of students organized into a spontaneous march down College Street, thundering slogans against the State.

Click here to read page 1 [JPG] »
Click here to read page 2 [JPG] »

Leaflet from Chhatra Chhatri Sanhati Mancha, December 28th, 2006

A leaflet from the Chhatra Chhatri Sanhati Mancha, December 28th, 2006. Around 250 students marched down Central and Southern Calcutta, carrying posters, shouting slogans, distributing leaflets. 84 were arrested near Hazra crossing. Spirits remained high, with arrested students shouting slogans from within prison vans.

Click here to read [JPG] »

Leaflet from Paramanu Chulli Birodhi Committee, Haripur.

A leaflet from the Paramanu Chulli Birodhi Committee, published by Sukumar Bhuyia, from Haripur – the site of the proposed nuclear power plant. Points discussed include the real cost of power plants (fighting State propaganda that it is cheap), the fact that power plants are expensive to keep functional (combating the myth that long-term costs are low), the real amount of coal reserves as quoted by the Geological Survey of India (fighting the popular myth that coal reserves are low and dwindling), the hazards of nuclear power (against the propaganda that it is actually safe), etc.

The leaflet ends with a passionate call to join the struggle against nuclear power in Bengal, India, and all over the world.

Click here to read page 1 [JPG] »
Click here to read page 2 [JPG] »

Leaflet from Teachers and Scientists Opposed to Mal-development

A leaflet from the Teachers and Scientists Opposed to Mal-development, published by Prof. Meher Engineer. Among various points, this leaflet busts the myth that the Tatas are a responsible corporation and their company would contribute to local development. It argues that land acquisition by large corporations is a brutal process and the only index is the profit of the company.

Click here to read page 1 [JPG] »
Click here to read page 2 [JPG] »
Click here to read page 3 [JPG] »
Click here to read page 4 [JPG] »

Appeal from MASUM (human rights organisation) on police violence, Feb 4, 2007

On 4 th of February 2007 nearly 150 villagers of Beraberi and adjoining villages under Singur Police Station assembled near the fences erected by the administration as acquired for Tata motors. The protest was a peaceful one and led by Krishi Jami Rakha Committee. When the protestors assembled at the fence at about 10.30 AM to lodge their protest and shouted slogans, a large number of police bodily resisted them.

Among many protesters, Amitabha Bhattacharya, Sudip Sarkar, Partha Chakraborty, Ajoy Das, Becharam Manna, Ganga Das, Kabita Bag, and Mamata Manna were beaten, some with serious head injuries. Anuradha Talwar of the Right to Food Network was arrested.

Click here to download the leaflet [PDF] »

Special Bulletin from Mazdoor Kranti Parishad (MKP), December 2006

Articles include : a discussion of Singur and the Posco project, and why the MKP is fighting – by Biswajit Hazra, an introduction to SEZs, a call for solidarity against the brutal murder of Tapasi Malik, an article explaining that farmers of Singur hadn’t given their land (opposing State propaganda that farmers had spontaneously sold their land) – by Amrita Poira, and the two sides of “development” – “Oder Unnoyon, Amader Unnyon” – by Kushal Debnath.

Click here to download the booklet [PDF] »

Bikalpa : A publication from PDSF

A publication called Bikalpa from Progressive Democratic Students Federation (PDSF), edited by Amit, published by Sourav.

Articles include: The role of students in the movement against land acquisition (by Arijit), A summary of the movement in Nandigram (by Parag), Data analysis of land acquisition in Singur ( by MunMun), A discussion of nuclear power plants and their implications ( by Somnath), and an open letter to Tapasi Malik.

This publication came out soon after 11 students including Jishnu Dasgupta and Parag were arrested during a peaceful rally near Alimuddin Street. Many other students were beaten. Arrested students were kept in jail for a number of days.

Click here to download the booklet [PDF] »

Analytical booklet on government policy : In the Clutches of Development – Singur, Nandigram

“Unnayoner J(N)atakole Singur, Nandigram…” ( In the Clutches of Development – Singur, Nandigram…) – a booklet by academics and intellectuals.

Includes articles by Pinaki Mitra “Singur, mithye bolchhe Sarkar” (Singur – The Government is Lying), Shakti Das “CPM-er unnoyon dorshone Marx(bad)” (Marxism and the CPM’s Philosophy of Development), Anindita Sanyal “Shilpayan : Bhobishyoter bhittihin swapno” (Industrialisation : The Utopia of the Future).

The first article contains detailed data analysis of the nature of land acquisition and peasant “consent” in Singur, “compensation” by the government, and an analysis of the prospect of creation of new jobs by the Tata plant there.

The second article critically examines various slogans of the State such as “Agriculture is our foundation, Industry is our Future”, “Industry is needed for the uplift of peasants”, “This model of Industrialisation will create jobs, reduce unemployment”, “If we don’t give Corporations what they want, they will go to other States”, and “This is not the time for revolution, but for bargaining with world capital”.

The third article contains detailed discussions of the nature of industrialisation and its relation to jobless growth.

Click here to download the booklet [PDF] »

Booklet by female activists : Singur Movement : Our Thoughts, Our Resistance

SINGUR ANDOLAN : AAMADER BHABNA AAMADER PRATIBAD
Edited by : Emancipation Publication

A compilation of articles by women intellectuals and artists. Articles range from detailed analysis of land acquisition in Singur, the nature and personalities of the struggle, to an interview of 80-year old activist Saraswati Das.

Includes pieces by Poushali Thakur, Saraswati Das, Tanika Sarkar, Minakshi Sen, Sarmistha Chaudhuri, Prathama Bandyopadhyay, Aparajita Mukherjee, Sudeshna Chakraborty, Shaoli Mitra, Miratun Nahar, Bolan Gangopadhyay, Taslima Nasreen, Saswati Ghosh, Chandreyee Niyogi, Sumita Das, Krishna Bandyopadhyay, Ishita Pain, Barnali Pain, Rajasri Mukhopadhyay, Jolly Bagchi, Chandana Mitra, Anindita Sanyal, Anuradha Deb, Chaitali Sen, Soma Mukherjee, Jashodhara Bagchi, Nandini Dhar, Susmita De, Neha Hui, Munmun.

Poems by Maitreyi Chattopadhyay, Swapna Ghosh, Susmita Bhattacharya, Swapna.

Interviews with Mahasweta Devi, Jaya Mitra.

Click here to download the booklet [PDF] »