Discover your own model, Myrdal tells communists

Discover your own model, Myrdal tells communists

KOLKATA: There is no fixed prescription to turn around the beleaguered fortunes of the Communists in India, feels Swedish author, political writer and columnist Jan Myrdal. His comment comes in the wake of huge electoral setbacks the Communists have suffered in the past three years.

Speaking at an informal discussion with writer Mahasweta Devi at the Kolkata Book Fair, Jan - the son of social democrats and Nobel laureates Alva and Gunnar - said each country needed to evolve its own model instead of following a foreign one.

"Discover your own model instead of trying to ape the Soviet, Chinese or Latin American model," Jan said at the interactive session organized by Frontier Weekly, founded by poet and journalist Samar Sen.

"There are no easy solutions to major setbacks, no quick fix to resolve issues and escape from hard times. I cannot do crystal ball gazing or offer a prescription. All I can suggest is that a broad alliance or front can be formed. This is the crucial time to emphasize on practice and organization," Myrdal said.

Jan has lived in India, Iran, Afghanistan and the United States at varioustimes of his life. Two years ago, Myrdal had interviewed Maoist general secretary Ganapati.

Politically, Myrdal belongs to the far Left and has been an advocate of anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist causes. His influence on the political life of Sweden was most prominent during the 1970s, when he was one of the main intellectuals of the radical Left of the time, which culminated in the Vietnam War protest movement, of which he was a central figure.

Unlike many of his former supporters, Myrdal has maintained his views to this day. Though his direct political influence is less evident outside radical Left circles, he remains a notable figure in political and cultural debate and a popular author.

Mahasweta Devi, who spoke of her work with a denotified tribe in the Jangalmahal and described the abject poverty and lack of basic amenities like water, healthcare, sanitation and roads, said the hardships they faced on a daily basis could not even be imagined by someone not acquainted with life in Jangalmahal. "The problems in Jangalmahal cannot be solved from outside. To do so, one needs to integrate with the people," she said in reference to "the government's attempt to tackle insurgency in the area through firepower on the one hand and development blitzkrieg on the other".Swedish author, Left political writer and columnist Jan Myrdal feels there is no fixed prescription to turn around the beleaguered fortunes of the Communists in India. His comment comes in the wake of developments, controversies and disillusionment surrounding Communists in the country following electoral setbacks over the past three years.

Speaking at an informal discussion with writer Mahasweta Devi, Jan who is the son of social democrats and Nobel laureates Alva and Gunnar, said each country needed to evolve its own model instead of following a foreign model.

"Discover your own model instead of trying to ape the Soviet, Chinese or Latin American model," he said at the interaction was organized at the Kolkata Book Fair by Frontier Weekly founded by poet and journalist Samar Sen.

"There are no easy solutions to major setbacks, no quick fix to resolve issues and escape from hard times. I cannot do crystal ball gazing or offer a prescription. All I can suggest is that a broad alliance or front can be formed. This is the crucial time to emphasize on practice and organization," Myrdal said.

Jan has lived in India, Iran, Afghanistan and the United States at various times. Two years ago, Myrdal had interviewed Maoist general secretary Ganapati.

Politically, Myrdal belongs to the far-Left and has been a fervent advocate of anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist causes. His influence on the cultural and political life of Sweden was most prominent during the 1970s, when he was one of the main intellectuals of the radical Left of the time, which culminated in the Vietnam War protest movement, of which he was a central figure.

Unlike many of his former supporters, Myrdal has maintained his views to this day. Though his direct political influence is less evident outside radical Left circles, he remains a notable figure in political and cultural debate and a popular author.

Writer Mahasweta Devi, who spoke of her work with a denotified tribe in the Jangalmahal and described the abject poverty and lack of basic amenities like water, healthcare, sanitation and roads, said the hardships they faced on a daily basis could not even be imagined by someone not acquainted with life in Jangalmahal.

"The problems in Jangalmahal cannot be solved from the outside. To do so, one needs to integrate with the people," she said in reference to the government's attempt to tackle insurgency in the area through firepower on the one hand and development blitzkrieg on the other," he added.

Source :

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-29/kolkata/30675592_1_communists-jangalmahal-laureates


Maoist movement may end up as a bloody civil war

Swedish author and columnist Jan Myrdal - known for his close interaction with Indian Maoists since the '80s - admits that he is unable to gauge where the radical Left movement, led by CPI (Maoist) chief Ganapathy, is headed for.

"There is even a negative possibility...it could even end as a bloody civil war which they (Maoists) may not survive..." he says. Myrdal (85) had traveled to Bastar's core area two years ago, and interacted extensively with cadres and leaders, including party general secretary Ganapathy. His interview of Ganapathy was the last face-to-face interaction of a journalist that was published.

While giving an insightful account of his experience to TOI on Saturday, Myrdal's face fell for a moment as he blamed himself to some extent for the killing of Maoist leader Azad. "I have a bad feeling... partly responsible for the killing of Azad. We had mentioned what Ganapathy said about the ceasefire... Azad took it up and it is possible that the situation was used to trap him," Myrdal said in retrospect.

He is in India for the launch of his latest book, "Red Star over India", which is an account and his analysis of the visit to the Red zone in Bastar. Jan, the son of Nobel laureates Alva and Gunnar Myrdal, has penned over 80 books, including fiction and plays.

He stresses that he quit the Communist party since he felt that it has taken a wrong direction, but does not consider himself to be a "renegade." Is he a chronicler of the Maoist movement or a sympathizer? "I follow my father who insisted that a social scientist or writer cannot be unbiased. I am not an unbiased observer," is his common refrain.

Myrdal points out a potential area of tension between the atheist Maoist leadership and their constituency tribals and non-tribal farmers and rural folks, who are entrenched in religious and cultural rituals and customs.

No wonder, he says, the Red ultras are "very careful about religious shrines etc and on account of hurting local sentiments and they are trying to address the issue". "But, this could develop into an area of conflict in spreading the movement," he warns.

What does he perceive to be the way forward for the movement? The support of urban middle class that is sorely lacks, he says.

He has three tips for the naxals to woo the middle class: highlight human rights violations committed by security forces, inclusive development in rural areas and persist with social struggle in urban pockets.

Source :
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-05/india/31026621_1_maoist-leader-azad-maoist-movement-indian-maoists