Mahapadav: Prominent Intellectuals Support Workers, Demand Action By PM

Over 50 well-known intellectuals, writers and artists have issued an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding that his government at the Centre intervenes to resolve their basic demands. Among those who endorsed the letter were writers Krishna Sobti, K. Satchidanandan and Githa Hariharan; classical dancer and activist Mallika Sarabhai; Bezwada Wilson of the Safai Karmachari Andolan; retd. Finance Secretary SP Shukla; retired DU professor Achin Vanaik; JNU professors Jayati Ghosh, CP Chandrasekar and Ayesha Kidwai; film maker Rahul Roy; and scientist Satyajit Rath, among others (see full list below).

This letter was issued on the third and final day of the Workers’ Mahapadav in which thousands of workers from across the country gathered at Delhi demanding immediate acceptance of their 12-point demand charter. It was read out at the mahapadav on 11 November and was acclaimed with thunderous applause and slogans by the fighting workers.

This event, largely ignored by the mass media, is a continuation of a struggle launched by 10 central trade unions and diverse federations of workers and employees that was launched in 2013 with a Workers’ March to Parliament. Subsequently, two all India strikes have taken place, in 2015 and 2016, the last one involving 180-200 million workers. The workers are demanding basic rights like better wages, social security etc. and also urging withdrawal of anti-people policies like labour law changes, privatization of public sector, etc. After demonetization and GST, unemployment has become a key issue as job-less growth has now turned into job-loss growth. The 4-month long campaign preceding the mahapadav has also focused on fighting against communal and divisive forces and in defence of minorities, dalits and adivasis who are facing attacks under Modi.

The government has failed to give any attention to the workers. The last serious round of talks was in 2015 where ludicrous proposals and posturing was on the agenda. The labour minister went through the motions of having discussion with trade unions on 7 November this year, but it was another farcical exercise.

Text of Open Letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi

We the undersigned concerned citizens strongly urge Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government, to immediately pay attention to the demands raised by workers of the country represented by 10 central trade unions and several all India federations of workers and employees. The workers have been agitating for several years for getting better wages and social security, for a universal PDS, for end to contract-work, for controlling price rise and for ending various policies hostile to people’s interests like privatization of public sector units, dilution of labour laws, etc. Living standards have fallen, joblessness and job insecurity has increased, and the country’s self-reliance is threatened by your government’s policies. Workers are the backbone of our economy and primary creators of wealth. Their continued neglect and marginalization, even as big industrialists and foreign capital receive largesse from your government is a betrayal of the public mandate given to you.

List of Signatories (in alphabetical order)

Abha Dev Habib, Professor, Delhi University

Achin Vanaik, Retd. Professor, Delhi University

Amit Sengupta, Peoples Health Movement

Anu Chenoy, Professor, JNU

Archana Prashad, Professor, JNU

Ayesha Kidwai, Professor, JNU

Benny Kuruvilla , Researcher

Bhupinder Chaudhry, Professor, Delhi University

Bezwada Wilson, National Convenor of the Safai Karmachari Andolan

Chanchal Chauhan, Writer & Retired Lecturer  Delhi University

Chandra Dutt, Director, COSTFORD

Chandrakant Patil, Writer and Poet

CP Chandrasekhar, Professor, JNU

D. Raghunandan, All India Peoples Science Network

Dinesh Abrol, Professor, ISID

Doodhnath Singh, Poet and Writer

Gautam Navlakha, Journalist

Geetanjali Shree, Novelist and short story writer

Githa Hariharan, Writer  and Editor

Indu Prakash Singh, Forum Against Corruption & Threats (FACT)

Jawrimall Parakh , Writer

Jayati Ghosh, Professor, JNU

K. Satchidanandan,  Poet and Critic 

Kalyani Menon Sen, Feminist Learning Partnerships

Kamal Chenoy, Professor, JNU

Kamala Menon , Secretary, Delhi Science Forum 

Krishna Sobti, Writer

Mallika Sarabhai, Classical dancer

Murli Manohar Prasad Singh, Retd. Professor, DU, Editor Naya Path

M.K.Raina, Theatre Director

Nayantara Sahgal, Writer

N.K.Sharma, Theatre Director

Prabir Purkayastha, Editor, Newsclick

Praveen Jha, Professor, JNU

Rahman Abbas, Writer

Rahul Roy, Professor, India Statistical Institute

Rahul Roy, Delhi Film Maker

Rajesh Joshi, Writer and poet

Ramdas Rao, PUCL

Rekha Awasthi , Writer & Retired Professor Delhi University

Satyajit Rath, Retd. Scientist, National Institute of Immunology

Saumyajit Bhattacharya, Professor, Delhi University

Shashwati Majumdar, Professor, Delhi University

Smita Gupta, Independent Researcher

Sohail Hashmi, Cultural Activist

SP Shukla, Former, Secretary, Finance, Govt. of India

Subodh Varma, Journalist

Sudhanwa Deshpande, Managing Editor, Leftword Books

Surajit Majumdar, Professor, JNU

T Jayaraman, Professor, TISS

T.M. Krishna, Carnatic Singer

Vidya Rao, Classical singer and writer

Vijay Prashad, Chief Editor, Leftword Books

Vikas Rawal , Professor, JNU