M N Vijayan's statement

Posted by Gireesh Kumar
Wed Jul 16, 2003

A few days back, eminent thinker and Leftist, M N Vijayan made a statement. He said that Surveys are the tools of Capitalism. I was bit amazed by hearing this statement. Just to thwart capitalism, will he say that no one should conduct surveys? Statisticians will starve!

M N was in the limelight, recently, through his provocative statement. After Govindapillai, it seems, it was his term to go against the leadership. Anyhow, it's good that the stalwarts of communist parties are openly criticizing their demigods.

I haven't read his writings much. But I recall a statement made by him quite long back. " Mass can't think, Only an individual ". That's enough for me to revere this person.

Any thoughts?

Regards
Gireesh Kumar P
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Kalyan Kumar responds:

Dear Friends,

This refers to Mr. Gireesh's article on MN Vijayan. No doubt Vijayan is a highly respected intellectual and his views are always heard with the gravity it deserves.

The allegation appeared in Vijayan's journal "Padam" (lesson) that people's planning (janakeeya asoothranam)in Kerala was funded by CIA backed agencies has baffled CPM and understandably and has put it on the defensive. For a party like CPM, which always uses the label "CIA agents" to mar its rivals, this is something very nasty to bear with.

The charge gains substance and credibility, as it appeared in a journal, edited by a party intellectual who is also editing the CPM publication "Deshabhimani" weekly.

In his subsequent press interviews, Vijayan, while rubbishing the threat of defamation case by Thomas Issac MLA says "I have documentary evidence to prove my case". He even says CIA has the history of funding even those opposing it and he is least surprised
if the whole project was funded by them. Vijayan has also called for a thorough enquiry by the party (CPM) itself.

Clearly, CPM is confused on how to keep its intellectauls under leash. P. Govinda Pillai, recently showed some coverage and called EMS as Stalinist in outlook. He is now censured. What is Vijayan's fate, we still don't know.

One section of people is of the opinion that is in tune with the moral coruption of communists, as it happened in many communist countries, where a bunch of ruthless, corrupt bunch of laeders and their cronies dominate, subvert and manipulate the party within.

Yet another section of people believe it is the intellectual bankruptcy and loss of proper leadership, that is showing up, after EMS died. "But someting is rotten in Denmark". Let's hope for a new age Gorbachev to clean up the CPM, which its critics say is bigger than a multi-national corporation, with assets running into thousands of crores.

Regards,

G. Kalyan Kumar