CPM Pays Glowing Tributes to Comrade Sundarayya on 40th Death Anniversary
Speaking on the occasion, Venkataswamy said Sundarayya was not only an active participant in India's freedom movement but also a valiant leader in the Telangana armed peasant struggle against the oppressive Nizam regime, through which nearly 1 million acres of land were redistributed to the poor. He praised Sundarayya as a model leader who donated his own land and wealth for the upliftment of the society and chose to live a simple life, even opting to travel to Parliament by bicycle during his tenure as an MP.
Venkataswamy noted that despite holding constitutional positions, Sundarayya never indulged in luxury and always focused on raising people's issues in legislative forums. He highlighted how Sundarayya debated policies based on their impact rather than making personal attacks, turning Parliament into a true platform for the discussion of public issues.
Born into an upper-caste family, Sundarayya stood firmly against untouchability and caste discrimination, organizing temple entry for Dalits and community feasts to promote equality. A keen observer of social change and government policies, he continuously worked to awaken the masses and bring them into progressive movements.
He strongly believed that natural resources like land and water should belong to the people and advocated for decentralization of wealth, championing land rights with the slogan 'Land to the tiller.' Venkataswamy called on the people to draw inspiration from Sundarayya and be ready for continued struggles to build an egalitarian society free of economic, social, and political inequalities.
CPM district committee members Uppair Narasimha, Majjiga Anjaneyulu, Vishnu, Bhaskar, Veeresh, Krishna, Naresh, Ram Anjaneyulu, Kothapalli Narasimhulu, and Singotam among others participated in the event.
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This ideological foundation that shared minority status automatically translates into mutual solidarity forms the conceptual bedrock of today's "Jai Meem Jai Bheem" movement. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Access all TV channels anywhere, anytime Techno Mag Learn More Undo During the tumultuous partition period, Mandal emerged as a key Muslim League leader, instructing his SC followers to vote for Pakistan's creation. When communal violence erupted across Bengal, Mandal toured extensively, urging Dalits to refrain from retaliating against Muslims, arguing that both communities were equally victimized by oppression. His rhetoric of unity and brotherhood convinced hundreds of thousands of Dalit Hindus to remain in East Pakistan (now Bangladesh), trusting in the Muslim League's promises of equality and protection. The Muslim League's courting of Dalit support was strategically calculated. Recognizing that SC comprised significant voting blocs in Bengal and other regions, Muslim leaders crafted elaborate promises of social equality, economic opportunity, and political representation. They painted Pakistan as a progressive state where caste hierarchies would dissolve and merit would triumph over birth-based discrimination. These assurances proved to be sophisticated political deceptions designed exclusively for electoral gain. THE BRUTAL REALITY OF BETRAYAL The promised land of equality swiftly transformed into a nightmare of persecution. By 1950, Mandal found himself compelled to resign from his ministerial position and flee to India. His resignation letter to PM Liaquat Ali Khan, dated October 8, 1950, documents horrors that constitute one of the 20th century's most underreported genocides. The systematic nature of the atrocities was particularly chilling. 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AMBEDKAR'S PRESCIENT WARNINGS BR Ambedkar had anticipated this catastrophe. In seminal works including 'Pakistan or the Partition of India' and 'Thoughts on Pakistan', he warned that Muslim politics was fundamentally communal in character, willing to accommodate Scheduled Castes only as long as they provided political advantage. Ambedkar's analysis proved tragically prescient, aligning perfectly with Mandal's eventual experiences. Ambedkar understood what Mandal fatally overlooked: the religious and cultural values of Dalit and Muslim communities were so fundamentally divergent that genuine equality and coexistence represented nothing more than dangerous political illusion. He cautioned Hindu Dalits that regardless of how extensively Muslim leadership performed brotherhood theatrics, they would ultimately treat Dalits as "kafirs" or "jimmi" (infidels) deserving no consideration in an Islamic political framework. 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These philosophical differences, rooted in fundamentally different worldviews about individual rights, social progress, and cultural values, make genuine partnership impossible. THE PATH FORWARD Contemporary India must acknowledge that sustainable Dalit progress and security will emerge through self-reliance, education, political awareness, and organizational power not through alliances that history has repeatedly proven catastrophic The "Jal Meem Jal Bheem" concept and its practical applications have historically manifested as Scheduled Caste humiliation, identity destruction, and existential annihilation. Therefore, as we commemorate Partition's suffering, let us resolve to make decisions based on historical facts and collective experiences, remaining free from emotional sloganeering and vote bank-driven narrow politics. Jogendra Nath Mandal's experiences and Dr. Ambedkar's warnings teach us that Scheduled Castes will never achieve security, social justice, and dignity from hands that have historically deceived them through religious fanaticism, appeasement, and vote bank politics. This represents not merely historical interpretation but guidance for present and future generations. Those who ignore history's lessons are condemned to repeat its most tragic chapters. (Writer is UP BJP's General secretary, Organization) Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
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