How the Left was tempered

Follow us:WhatsappFacebookTwitterTelegram.cls-1{fill:#4d4d4d;}.cls-2{fill:#fff;}Google NewsOn the day of the election counting Brinda Karat, CPI(M)'s first and only woman politburo member came for a live discussion on CNN-IBN. Before she went on-air, she said that the anchors should be clear and precise about what they ask. Good point given the kind of stupid questions that are asked on television. Her request was conveyed to the anchors. Earlier in the day in another live discussion on CNN-IBN she was asked if V S Achutanandan would be the front-runner for the post of Chief Minister in Kerala. Mrs Karat appeared irritated over the question. What she tried to say in her reply was the CPIM is not like other political parties. It is a sin to think about the idea of a frontrunner in the CPIM. The party is above everything and above everyone. Individuals do not matter in the CPIM. It is always the collective voice that finds the solution. In short it was the quickest lesson on discipline within the CPIM. Almost like the Rough Guide to Communism. Unfortunately the lesson came from someone who is relatively new in the CPIM, who represents West Bengal in the CPIM Rajya Sabha seat without even being a resident of that state and well like some of her predecessors unfortunately appears to be the way she is--selectively rude and contemptous of the media.

These are traits that are not new within Marxist leaders. But when these traits overtake the leaders' personality it seems that somewhere there is something really wrong and non-intellectual about the CPIM. Buddhadeb Bhattacharya, for one, was extremely rude when he was the Home Minister. But soon, he changed himself and started listening to people like a true and sincere politician, not an aspirational, overnight Marxist. Jyoti Basu was an extremly rude person. But Mr Basu could afford to be rude. He could afford to have that I really don't give a damn attitude. Unfortunately there are leaders within the CPIM with no political experience on the ground who think it is their well within their right to be rude. And unfortunately these unfortunate spots ( read leaders) within the CPIM have been responsible for " historic blunders" within the party.

The CPIM talks about the free press, free media. Remember Glasnost? One of Mikhali Gorbachev's policies introduced to the Soviet Union in 1985. While in the West the notion of Glasnost is associated with freedom of speech the main goal of this policy was to make the country's management transparent and open to debate, thus circumventing the narrow circle of stooges who previously exercised complete control of the economy. Unfortunately when it comes to the facing the 'stupid media' ( stupidity being defined by the Marxists ) they want to dictate to the them what questions they should be asked. They also want to give a quick lesson in Marxism. Which is always welcome but not if it is coming from aspirational Marxists, who talk about the collective voice but forget to remember how they react in public (hugging and jumping in joy) like any other political creature when they get something. (like getting elected to the politburo)

Well, for some of the Marxists in Delhi it might not be their fault. The CPIM headquarters in New Delhi for example has a front-office that exactly reflects this attitude of contempt and rudeness to all reporters and visitors. Of course, for regular beat reporters they have been able to work out a different equation. But 'standing on ceremonies' is something that the CPIM office is known for. It is also probably something that comes with Marxism, its discipline and its collective voice.
It should also be right to recall the idea of apparatchik. It is a Russian colloquial term for a full-time, professional functionary of the Communist Party or government i.e., an agent (from "chik" - agent) of the governmental or party "apparat" (apparatus) that held any position of bureaucratic or political responsibility, with the exception of the higher ranks of management. Basically it is a term used to describe croonies, the yes-men and the yes-women. It's an idea that has stayed on with the Marxists ever since the days of the Soviet Union. It's widely spread in West Bengal. And it's something that actually suppresses the collective voice within the party. The collective voice Mrs Karat is talking about.
According to the Wikipedia, the modern meaning of Weltschmerz in the German language is the psychological pain caused by sadness that can occur when realising that someone's own weaknesses are caused by the inappropiateness and cruelty of the world and (physical and social) circumstances. Maybe the CPIM leaders in Delhi have realised the cruelty of the world and maybe that is why when asked stupid questions about frontrunners and government posts they react violently.
About the AuthorArijit Sen Arijit Sen reports from Northeast India. He was at NDTV before joining CNN-IBN in 2005. Arijit began journalism in December 1999 with The Edit page of...Read Morefirst published:May 13, 2006, 14:14 ISTlast updated:May 13, 2006, 14:14 IST
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