Dear Editor,
I thank the editorial team of Ghadar Jari Hai, for carrying out a task of immense value. When I showed the issue to my wife she was thrilled. Coming from Karnataka, from where the stories have been taken in the Cover Story of last issue (Vol 6, Issue 2&3), she said she had heard these stories from her grandparents, but could not find them in books.
Dear Editor,
I thank the editorial team of Ghadar Jari Hai, for carrying out a task of immense value. When I showed the issue to my wife she was thrilled. Coming from Karnataka, from where the stories have been taken in the Cover Story of last issue (Vol 6, Issue 2&3), she said she had heard these stories from her grandparents, but could not find them in books.
The numerous micro stories narrated are like small pearls in the great necklace of Anti-colonial struggles in India, building the true unity of people of different regions, languages against the colonial rulers. These stories again underscore the fact that people of India never reconciled themselves to foreign rule, and were continuously raising the voice and arms to overthrow them, in numerous ways. In spite of the conspiracy – first by the British colonisers and later the Indian ruling classes, to suppress the struggle, and obliterate it from the minds of people, these stories continue to live deep in people’s consciousness. These are their own life stories, struggles of their brothers, sisters, friends and colleagues, who rose up against colonisers, with whatever means they had, with the confidence that their struggle, however small or big, will contribute to the liberation of their land and people.
As has been pointed out in the issues, these stories are not limited to any particular region, but are spread across the entire sub-continent. This is a stupendous work that needs active support and contribution from all patriotic individuals. The more these stories are publicised, easier it will be for the young generation to overcome the burden of the past and create a new future, that our martyrs envisioned.
Looking forward to the next issue.
R. Pravin, Nagpur
Dear Editor,
Ghadar Jari Hai,
On behalf of Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee, I congratulate you for your initiative in bringing out the new issue of Ghadar Jari Hai with focus on the centenary of Hindustani Ghadar Party. The new generations of our youth need to be educated about the philosophy & heroism of our forefathers who fought uncompromisingly for freedom from British colonial rule and to establish state based on the principles of Sanjhiwalta (Egalitarian) Society the story of their sacrifice can inspire the youth to carry on the fight for equality of rights, justice and freedom from want, then it would be a true memorial to the Ghadari Babas & Ghadar Movement. Then we can all say truly, “Ghadar Jari Hai!”
We offer our support to you and all comrades who are planning to celebrate the centenary of Hindustani Ghadar Party in different parts of the country and abroad, in various forms. We will be celebrating it in Jalandhar in November this year; and invite you all to participate in it.
Yours sincerely
Naunihal Singh
Coordinator
Ghadr Shatabdi Committee
Desh Bhagat Yadgar Committee,
Jalandhar
Dear Editor,
“Company Sarkar”, by Charusudan Kasturi, review of the book “ The Corporation that changed the world-By Nick Robbins”, in the last issue of GJH, gives a glimpse into the rapacious policies of the British East India Company in India. Within a few years of the company establishing control over Bengal, a devastating famine killed more than 10 million people. This was because the company i) increased land tax, from 10% to 50% of the produce ii) forced the destruction of food crops to make way for poppy cultivation for export iii) ordered the cultivation of indigo instead of rice and iv) forbid the “hoarding” of rice. This resulted in a massive depopulation of the province. What must have happened to these destitute people and which part of India did they go to as there were no urban manufacturing centers capable of absorbing this surplus population at that time? After the British Government took over the rule in 1858, the same policies were continued. K.Marx, writing from far away London, was scathing in his criticism of the British policies “The sudden increase in the demand for cotton, jute etc due to the American Civil War, led in many parts of India to a severe restriction of rice culture, a rise in the price of rice, and a sale of the producers old rice supplies. To this must be added the unexampled export of rice to Australia, Madagascar etc., after 1864-66. This accounts for the acute character of the famine of 1866, which cost the lives of a million people in the district of Orissa alone.” (Capital, Volume II, Chapter VI).
But what do we have now, after “independence”? Today large parts of Maharashtra face the worst drought in decades, which is devastating the lives of millions of farmers. But not everybody is at the receiving end. The money lenders make a “killing”, the rich peasants buy off the lands of the poor, the poor peasants who are driven off their lands flock to the cities in search of livelihood. They depress the already low wages of the workers even further and provide a source of cheap labour to increase the profits of the capitalists who employ them. Ghadar Jari Hai!
Yours Sincerely,
Mathew, Mumbai
Dear Editor,
I would like to express my appreciation for the topics chosen for publishing in the Ghadar Jari Hai Magazine with the title ‘Anti-colonial uprisings in Karnataka 1800-1860’. The Cover Story is of immense importance in understanding our past. It simply goes to show that 1857 was not a one off, spontaneous reaction, but that people had been fighting, and planning the overthrow of the British long before. I am also glad that you have chosen to publish stories relating to different parts of India, in this case about Karnataka. I do remember one of your previous publications carried a piece on “Nupi Lan – women’s war of Manipur”. It is this kind of rigorous and nonsectarian research and revelation we need more and more today.
From reading the pieces in the magazine one cannot help but feel that it is now becoming essential that we translate the written material of different regions and make it available in more Indian languages as well. We should share our regional experiences with the people of our country.
Thank you
D. Kanika, Kodagu