Com.Wilson’s election campaign took us to all those places and collectives where Com.Das set his imprint by his work as a communist and revolutionary working class leader. We went to Ganapathy Kal, more like a remote island detached from other places by a big lake, mountains and distance. This hilly and beautiful place has scenic vast expanse of tall green rubber trees to the extent eyes can see. People were reminded by the struggles of the people of this region against the private Rubber Estate owner and the police firing on workers in 80s. Our comrades led these struggles against the estate owners and the subsequent state repression.
Comrades involved in the campaign, cannot fully express the nostalgic feelings and memories when they met close comrades and fighters who have laid foundations for the party’s work in Kanyakumari and has been part of building it up. Yes, we met various close comrades who were part of the revolutionary upsurge and militant struggles of 70s and 80s. Some of them drifted away from the movement by the cross currents in these intervening years. It was a great pleasure to remind each other of those militant struggles, associated events, and barbaric attacks of the state against the legitimate struggles of the people who produce wealth from the nature. Invariably comrades and people whom we met brought back our memories again and again to Com. Das, of his leadership, determination, commitment and his hard and sincere work in the midst of diversions and betrayals in Communist movement and barbaric state attacks.
Com.Wilson’s election campaign took us to all those places and collectives where Com.Das set his imprint by his work as a communist and revolutionary working class leader. We went to Ganapathy Kal, more like a remote island detached from other places by a big lake, mountains and distance. This hilly and beautiful place has scenic vast expanse of tall green rubber trees to the extent eyes can see. People were reminded by the struggles of the people of this region against the private Rubber Estate owner and the police firing on workers in 80s. Our comrades led these struggles against the estate owners and the subsequent state repression. Many workers and people have fled the place due to number of false cases filed on them and many of them are still pending and active. Some of the affected workers have not returned to their families even today! Condition of the workers and people in this place has not changed much even today. They have only one or two buses a day that takes their young children to school and connects up people to other places. Surrounded by nature, faced with scant interest of the government to provide them any support and facilities, exploited by the rubber estate owners, they face many problems and hardships. People narrated their woes and conditions to our comrades during the election campaign. This gave us an opportunity to explain the nature of state and that we need to fight to establish the rule of workers and peasants.
We also went to Kothaiyar located in the midst of steep mountains and forests at a higher altitude. We visited Com.Das’ house and paid our respects at his grave. We were also delighted to see his dear family who treated us with fruits and high tea. Then we held a meeting at the Kothaiyar market place on the current political situation including elections. Over 2000 workers of Government Rubber estate have launched a strike agitation for the last few days demanding implementation of pay hike which has already been signed. We expressed our whole hearted support to their just struggle.
On our way back from Kothaiyar, we stopped at Ceylon Colony also located in the mountains. We discussed the way Indian and Srilankan states have been attacking and exploiting Tamil people of Srilanka. Before returning, we assured our full support to their ongoing struggles.
We came back from mountains, full of energy and held few street corner meetings at Kadayalu Moodu and Kaliyal. Educating the workers and people about the nature of the political system, discussing the history of communist parties in India, their betrayal to the cause of Marxism and Leninism, calling on the people to unite and fight for establishing their rule and campaigning for the Com.Wilson were all one integral and consistent political campaign without any contradictions or inconsistencies.
All people whom we met have listened to us with serious attention, understood our line and assured us of their full support and votes.