Book Release function in Toronto, Canada – “Call of the Ghadaris – Revolution”

ThumbnailThe book “Call of the Ghadaris — Revolution”, published in Punjabi, Hindi and English languages by the Communist Ghadar Party of India was released on 17 September, 2017, at an impressive function in Toronto, Canada. This book is the product of rigorous research and a series of inner-party discussions carried out under the leadership of Comrade Lal Singh, General Secretary of the Communist Ghadar Party of India.

The book “Call of the Ghadaris — Revolution”, published in Punjabi, Hindi and English languages by the Communist Ghadar Party of India was released on 17 September, 2017, at an impressive function in Toronto, Canada. This book is the product of rigorous research and a series of inner-party discussions carried out under the leadership of Comrade Lal Singh, General Secretary of the Communist Ghadar Party of India.

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Speakers at the functionCall of the Ghadaris being released in Toronto on 17 Sept

The function, organized under the banner of Gadar Heritage Organisation was attended by people from all walks of life. The stage was decorated with the banner announcing the release of the book. There were also other placards hailing the revolutionary spirit and activities of the Ghadaris. The atmosphere in the meeting showed that more than a century after the Ghadaris formed the first Indian revolutionary party in 1913 and organised the revolutionary uprising in 1915, the words and deeds of these revolutionaries remain an example and source of inspiration for the present generation of patriotic Indians living in Canada. The Call of the Ghadaris has inspired and continues to inspire Indians in Canada to sacrifice their all, for the liberation of India from all forms of exploitation and oppression.

Iqbal Sumbal conducted the proceedings, which began with the release of the book in Punjabi, Hindi and English.

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Audience RightPeople attending the book release function in Toronto

Following this, many progressive leaders of the Indian community spoke about the relevance of the book “Call of the Ghadaris — Revolution” for the present generation.

The first speaker, Dr. Baljinder Sekhon, praised the systematic and thorough research carried out by the Communist Ghadar Party of India to produce this book. He elaborated on the cunning strategy of the British rulers to maintain their rule. This included their policy of “divide and rule”, of unleashing communalism and communal violence, alongside of brutal force to supress the struggles of the Indian people.

Onkarpreet, a well-known poet and playwright in the community, pointed out that the book is very timely and answers many questions about the Indian revolution. In particular he stressed the importance of developing the theory of Indian revolution by learning from our own historical past. He emphasised that for Indian revolution to succeed, it must be based on integrating the positive contribution of Indian political thought with the most advanced science of Marxism. This work makes us keenly aware that the Ghadar is continuing and our struggle is advancing. He concluded his speech by recited a couplet emphasising the need to vigorously participate in the revolutionary struggles.

Comrade Gurdev Singh said that the book “Call of the Ghadaris — Revolution” thoroughly exposes the lies that have been spread about the Ghadaris by the Indian ruling class and the imperialists. One such lie that has been deliberately propagated is that Ghadaris were illiterate and hot headed, who did not know any revolutionary theory and were driven only by their emotions. Comrade Gurdev emphasised that the book brings out that the Ghadaris were guided by the most advanced theory. They were united around a program of independence from colonial rule, accompanied by deep going revolutionary transformations. They put forth the vision of a United States of India, in which all the nations, nationalities and tribal peoples constituting India would come together in a voluntary union. Recognising the aspirations and national rights of the different peoples constituting India and putting forward the concept of United States of the India shows how farsighted the Ghadaris were.

Comrade Gurdev pointed out that another lie propagated to denigrate the Ghadaris was that both the Ghadaris and the Congress Party fought for the same aims and that only their methods were different. The truth is that the Congress Party represented the big capitalists and big landlords. It fought for some concessions for these exploiting classes within the colonial state set-up. Its aim was to replace the rule of the colonialists with the rule of the Indian bourgeoisie, while retaining the same oppressive colonial state apparatus. In contrast, the aim of the Ghadaris was to replace colonial rule with the rule of workers and peasants. They wanted to replace the colonial state with a different kind of state which was a complete break from the colonial state. The book brings out how that struggle between the two classes — the proletariat and bourgeoisie — and their opposite aims has been raging from the time of the Ghadaris till today. The call of the Ghadaris to all of us is to prepare for the coming revolutionary storms. All communists should unite and lead the politically united working class and democratic movements to replace old India with a new one.

Harbans Malhi said the book shows how the Ghadaris opposed and exposed the divide and rule policy of the British. He also said that from this book he had learnt that after crushing the Great Ghadar of 1857, the British rulers, through an order from Queen Victoria, banned the publication of all books about the 1857 Ghadar in order to extinguish all thoughts of Ghadar from the minds of Indians. Despite the worst kind of suppression the British could not eradicate the thoughts of Ghadar from the hearts of Indian people. Harbans Malhi noted that the backroom deal of the British with the Congress party and Muslim league in 1947 in the name of granting independence resulted in great harm to the people of India. The white sahibs were replaced by the brown sahibs while the same British colonial laws such as Defence of India act, Land acquisition act of 1894 and other draconian laws were retained.

Jarnail Singh Achharwal pointed out that the present rulers of India are distorting the true history of the Ghadaris and suppressing it.

Hardip Kaur congratulated the producers of the book for telling us how important it is that we should learn about the struggles waged by the Ghadaris. Revolutionaries may be small in numbers but their guidance is a very valuable torch for the people, she said. “Go to India and you will see how much rights you have. India needs a revolution”, she declared with passion.

Harbans from ’Srokaran di Awaz’ newspaper was the next speaker. He said that the people who don’t wage struggle can never appreciate the great contributions of the Ghadaris and the meaning of Ghadar.

Raj Virk pointed out that we used to hear in our childhood that Indians were not allowed to go to certain places and were discriminated against racially. We wanted to know more about that, and this book tells us about the struggle of Ghadaris against racism faced by our community.

In his concluding remarks, Iqbal Sumbal thanked all the participants. He said that Indian people have suffered enough. The time has come for us to achieve our goal of freeing India from all forms of exploitation and oppression. The struggle has been long and arduous. But revolutionary and patriotic Indian people have never given up the struggle. He emphasised that Ghadar Jari Hai, the Ghadar continues. He concluded by calling upon all like-minded and progressive people to come together and unite around the Call of the Ghadaris.

The book release function concluded in a warm and militant atmosphere, reflecting the great pride of the patriotic Indian people in Canada for their revolutionary heritage, the heritage of the Ghadar Party, and their determination to complete the mission of the Ghadaris to build a new India on new foundations.

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