In Defence of Marxism

On September 9, 2007 a conference of Kashmir Marxists was held at Kotli in Pakistani held Kashmir. The conference was attended by a record 800 comrades from almost all the districts of Pakistani-held Kashmir including about 40 female comrades, which is an amazing result considering the relatively short period of time the Marxists have been working in this region.

From beginning to the end, it was a marvellous event. The night before the conference started and at the end of the conference two highly enthusiastic rallies were held. The morale of comrades, particularly, that of the youth, was very high and had to be seen.

Caravans from different districts had started arriving already on September 8. Red flags flying over the different wagons marked the nature, direction and destination of the travellers. When these caravans reached villages or towns the comrades raised revolutionary slogans.

When all the comrades had gathered at the assembly point, a rally was led out onto the streets at about 11pm. The marchers held torches and carried red flags in their hands. It was really a bewitching scene where the revolutionary zeal and commitment of the comrades was expressed through highly radical slogans: "Inqalab, Inqalab, Socialist Inqalab," [Revolution, Revolution, Socialist Revolution] and "Jab Tak Janta Bhoki Hea, Yeh Azadi Jhoti Hea", "Kali Raat Javey hi javey, Surkh Savera Aavay hi aavey."

The rally started off from Lorry Adda and ended at Shaheed Chowk, covering a distance of about half a kilometre. There comrade Naveed Latif delivered his welcome address to the comrades after which the rally dispersed.

The conference started the next day at 11am. It comprised of two sessions, one on "The present world situation, Crisis in the subcontinent and the Kashmir Issue" and another on "Organization". The first session was chaired by comrade Shorida. Before comrade Lal Khan started his lead off, comrade Adil read out messages for the conference from different countries. They were from comrade Alan Woods, Rob Sewell, Comrade A.R. Shaheen (member Lok Saba, India) Comrade Yousaf Taregami (state secretary of CPI-M in Indian held Kashmir) and Nirmala Desh Pandey (Deputy Speaker Rajia Saba, India). The comrades welcomed these messages with thundering applause.

Then comrade Lal Khan took to the stage and laid bare the contradictions, crisis and helplessness of the ruling classes in his usual calm and lucid manner. He also explained that given the present social, political and economic crisis and the fragility of the states of India and Pakistan, no viable solution to the Kashmir issue was possible. On the other hand, a mass revolutionary movement can not only solve the issue but can also prove to be a starting point of the sub continental revolution.

After the lead off other comrades contributed to the discussion. Among them were comrade Raja Ejaz, Rehana, Wasim, Shakoor, Javed Chaudry, Zaheer, Zahid and comrade Shoaib Sham. Then once again comrade Lal Khan rose to speak. But now an altogether different Lal Khan spoke, no longer calm, but passionate, thundering and roaring, answering different questions and exposing the betrayals and crimes of the traditional leaderships. For a few minutes, the comrades listening to him could get lost and absorbed in what he was saying. Then there came a loud burst of applause. He said that the conference shows that we have been able to build what can be called a base for the forthcoming revolution. But, he emphasised, it is only a beginning. We must expand our base and must expand it in the minimum possible time. When the comrade ended his speech there was a standing ovation with a loud round of applause for about two minutes.

The second session started after the lunch break at 3pm. It was chaired by comrade Naveed Latif, while comrade Yasir Irshad gave the lead off. He recounted the achievements of the organization in Kashmir and also pointed out the weaknesses which we need to overcome. Other comrades also spoke. Among them were, comrade Gulbaz, Ajmal, Zaheer, Rashid Sheikh and Saeed. Then the regional committee slate was presented which was approved with a unanimous vote. Then comrade Shorida summed up the session. The conference ended with the singing of the "Internationale" at about 4.30pm.

Then again the jubilant and enthusiastic comrades led a rally out onto the streets, under the banner of the BNT (unemployed youth movement) from the conference hall to Shaheed Chowk, the busiest point in the city. Comrades held red flags and raised revolutionary slogans. At the end of the rally different comrades addressed the rally which now had turned into a public gathering. Those who spoke at this event were: Naveed Latif, Sohail Rafique, Shoaib Sham and Amjad Shahswar. They demanded free education, jobs for the unemployed youth or Rs. 5000 unemployment allowance.

Overall it was a really remarkable conference and we hope that it will prove to be a milestone in the revolutionary history of the sub continent.

• Beginning of decisive struggle of Pakistani working class (September 10, 2007)