Bernard D'Mellow on Naxalbari reviewed by Harsh Thakor

PLEASE TAKE THE TIME TO WATCH THIS VIDEO - BOOK LAUNCH OF INDIA AFTER NAXALBARI : UNFINISHED HISTORY BY BERNARD D'MELLOW

 
HAIL THIS GREAT WORK BY BERNARD D'MELLOW ON INDIA POST-NAXALBARI WHICH WILL CARVE A PERMANENT NICHE AMONG THE BOOKS ON THE IMPACT OF AN EVENT THAT SHAPED THE DESTINY OF INDIA MORE THAN ANYONE 

I recommend everyone to read this classic book TITLED "India-50 years after Naxalbari" by Bernard D'Mellow that most analytically assesses the impact of Naxalbari,the Maoist movement and emergence of Fascism in India

It does ample justice to the genuine revolutionary movements of India particularly that of the Maoists and most illustratively and vividly describes the ruthlessness of capitalism in India and the hypocrisy of secularism and democracy

In great detail he summarizes how dictatorial or autocratic the Indian state has behaved and how the rights of Dalits and minorities have been trampled.

He explains how Fascism can permeate even through the parliamentary system incorporating bourgeois parliamentary institutions of power and political parties.

Arguably there were flaws on his describing India as backward capitalist instead of semi-feudal as well as underestimating potential of Protracted Peoples War.

Nevertheless he has virtually devoted a chapter doing justice to the great achievements of the Maoists and the mass organization sled by them.

Also highlighted the importance of Ambedkar and importance of studying caste movement.

He has revealed great originality in his thinking.A great piece of research from a historical point of view.Professor Manoranjan Mohanty very accurately described how authoritarian the state was becoming when even compared to emergency period and contrasted the Indian and of semi-feudalism landlordism to that of pre-Socialist China.

He also summed up the impact of the Naxalbari movement on all walks of life.

John Mage of Monthly review in great detail explained how 

The Nazis stole the Reichstag soon after gaining power threw parliamentary means and made an analogy with the current BJP govt. and it's ideology.

He narrated the similarity with how the 5 intellectuals were branded as plotting against the prime minister.A well attended meeting for the book release '50 Years after Naxalbari' was launched at Press Club Mumbai.

It was chaired by Stephen Rego ,a former leader of Nuajwan Bharat Sabha in Maharashtra.

It was addressed by Bernard de Mellow,Professor Manoranjan Mohanty and John Mage

It concluded with a good question and answer session.Although only about 70 people attended it was qualitatively an event of great relevance when fascism is at it's helm.