----- Forwarded Message ---- From: P.Koshy <[email protected]> To: CK VISHWANATH <[email protected]>; C.K. Vishwanath <[email protected]> Sent: Wed, 1 December, 2010 6:53:27 PM Subject: Zacharia Interview ful Zachariah and civilisational VALUES Oman Tribune, 1 December 2010 http://www.omantribune.com/index.php?page=leisure_details&id=4300&heading=Oman%20Mirror Kerala communists don’t have any contemporary know-how, nor are they bothered to acquire any. Their economics is skewed and their financial policies are outdated, writer Paul Zachariah tells Anita Joseph Paul Zachariah, maverick writer, social critic, commentator and thinker par excellence whose uncompromising stand on many issues has courted controversies in no mean measure, was in Muscat recently. In a no-holds barred interview with Oman Tribune, Zachariah spoke at length on his writings and the evergreen subject of Kerala politics. According to him, the ruling Communist party in the state needs a rude awakening from its self-imposed cocoon of corruption and self gratification. Excerpts: What is your mission, as a writer? I write both fiction and non-fiction. In my fictional writings, I basically deal with language and its intricacies. It is my constant endeavour to be as original as possible in my works, in content, thought and language. In this sense, I don’t like to imitate myself, or someone else. So each time I write a work of fiction, something totally new is born, and even the language undergoes a renewal. As for my non-fiction works, where I contribute columns and analytical pieces in newspapers, my aim is to generate insight and if possible light a spark within the decision makers in the country, to help them see things in a more positive light. I can say that when I write non-fiction, I write for upholding secular, humanistic, democratic and civilisational values. How do you view controversies, as a writer who is no stranger to them? Controversies are not new to me and don’t bother me at all. They are just hype and speculation which exist within the realm of the print and audio visual media. But if I feel that these controversies are giving birth to a series of lies and more lies, then I feel compelled to stop it and fight it tooth and nail. As a thinker, how would you describe the state of the Marxist party in Kerala today? An evaluation of the party, in my opinion, has to take place from the point of view of what it has and has not done, in the last four plus years that it has been in power. When you look at it in this sense, I can only say that the Marxist Party has been an unmitigated disaster. It has not been able to create any inroads into the future for the people. There are so many things it could have done, but did not do. Take for instance, the crucial railway line between Trivandrum and Ernakulam, some of which is still a single line. The party has not even been able to acquire land from nearby and revamp this line. There was a time when one never associated this party with any kind of corruption, but now, sad to say, the party has become corrupt to the core, like any other party. And I, like millions of others, are disappointed and disillusioned that democracy has degenerated to this level. What kind of change has to happen within the party? That is not for me to say. Yet, change if any, has to come from within. First of all, the party needs to get a clear grip on contemporary issues and problems, and not get stuck to ancient slogans and high sounding concepts that are as good as dead in today’s times. The party is still living in the past and shutting its eyes to the issues that plague the state today. They don’t have any contemporary know-how, nor are they bothered to acquire any. Their economics is skewed and their financial policies are outdated. Again, the party needs to de-link itself from the various trade unions associated with it for the sake of a smooth public life, unhindered economic activity and all-round development. There exists an unholy nexus between the trade union members and government employees at all levels. Excess trade unionism has penetrated to all sectors of the economy and trade union members are pampered and allowed to get away with whatever they want, in return for financial support. Due to this painful nexus, no constructive work ever gets done. This has to stop and the party has to learn to exercise greater control over its trade unions, especially the head- load workers as well as the government employees & their respective unions. Then again, the party has to find a way to creatively utilise the funds allocated to the state by the central government. What the present state government does now is to create bogus projects in the name of the party, and eat up the allotted funds. All this must stop. How would you describe the moralistic posture being adopted by the Marxist party? I would say that the Left Democratic Front (LDF), which is a constituent of the Marxist Party, shares all the vices of the conservative Malayalee groups in Kerala, across all religions. These groups form the majority in the state and so it is easier for the party to work in tandem with their likes, than to adopt a radical stance and alienate them. That would mean losing their grip on power. The party is not bothered about individual rights or freedom, and in any case, individual liberty has never been part of its agenda. Simply put, to stay in power, they don’t want to hurt the sentiments of the conservative majority in the state. What is the future of these so called secular forces in the state? Like I said before, until and unless these forces learn to accept the state and the country as progressive entities and get rid of all archaisms, they will die a premature death. They have to be keen to learn and re-orient the way they look at the world. -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Green Youth Movement" group. To post to this group, send an email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/greenyouth?hl=en-GB.
