1857 War of Independence, Loot of Resources and Nationalism

True nationalism and patriotism can only be based on freedom from foreign loot and Liaqat Ali stands tall as a symbol of Indian peoples’ struggle against the East India Company which looted and carried away Indian riches to England. He is an inspiration for struggle today against WTO and World Bank conditions, which are ruining agriculture and small business in order to help the corporate. These were some of the views expressed by the speakers in a seminar on the revolutionary Liaqut Ali. A report.

Speaking at the seminar on ‘Role of Nationalist Patriot, Liaqat Ali in 1857 War of Independence and Loot of Indian Resources by MNCs’, Prof Lal Bahadur Verma, KS Anandi, Dr. Ashish Mital, Ramji Rai, Sudhanshu Malviya and Prof. AA Fatmi amongst several others decried the handing over of farm land, rivers, forests, minerals to MNCs and their increasing penetration in Indian markets. This loot they said is leaving India deeply impoverished, with high tax and debt burdens on people, their development obstructed and increasing amount of profits and black money being stashed abroad. Starvation and suicides by peasants highlight the crises today.

The speakers said true nationalism and patriotism can only be based on freedom from foreign loot and Liaqat Ali stands tall as a symbol of Indian peoples’ struggle against the East India Company which looted and carried away Indian riches to England. He is an inspiration for struggle today against WTO and World Bank conditions, which are ruining agriculture and small business in order to help the corporate. The British not only cut off thumbs of Indian artisans, like the WTO/ World Bank they imposed adverse taxation to undermine trade of Indian goods.

They said that while Indian rulers are fomenting communal divisions and attacking on minorities to divide and rule, 1857 War stands out as a shining example of peoples’ patriotic unity, cutting across religions, to fight the foreign exploiters.

They asserted that nationalism cannot be based on any one religion and denying equal rights to dalits, backwards and women to develop. It has to be based on increasing peoples’ income and development and peoples’ control over resources and markets.

They also highlighted the anti lagaan basis of 1857 War against taxes imposed by the British and feudal kings. High input costs, low crop security, debts and suicides are common to both periods.

Several organisations presented songs and recited poems. A call was issued to conduct a series of these programs throughout the year. The program was presided by Zia ul Haq, Prof RC Tripathi, Khursheed Naqvi. Prof Sri Ballabh, Padma Singh, Dr. Nidhi Misra, Avinash Misra, Saheblal Nishad, KK Pandey and others were present. Manoj Tyagi conducted the proceedings.

The main organizers are Azadi Bachao Andolan, PUCL, CFD, PWA, Jan Sanskriti Manch, Aarohi, Parivartan Sanskritic Manch, Dasta, Disha Chatra Sangathan, AISA, Bhagat Singh Chatra Morcha, PDSU, Stee Mukti Sangathan, IPF, Shehri Garib Sangharsh Morcha, AIKMS, AITUC, AICCTU, IFTU, CITU, AIUTUC, AIPF, Pragati Vahini and others.

Pic from Net.