A correspondent of People’s Voice had the opportunity of participating in the youth camp organised by Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha at Hanumangarh in Nohar district between 23 rd and 27 th September 2006. The objective of the camp was to increase the political consciousness of the youth, to impart training in political activity and to learn about the problems of farmers and their struggles. Students and youth from working class localities in Delhi as well as school and college students from Nohar took part in this youth camp. The camp was organised through the joint efforts of Lok Raj Sangathan, CGPI, and local student and peasants organisations.

A seminar was organised on the first day of the camp, in which militant youth, peasants as also experienced village elders enthusiastically took part. A representative of Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha explained the objectives of the camp, following which presentations were made on the struggles of peasants, students and workers in Rajasthan. These were interspersed with revolutionary songs rendered by the youth, so that spirits were kept high. Comrade Hanuman Prasad, peasant leader, Comrade Hansraj, Comrade Om Sahu, Comrade Madan Bainiwal, Comrade Niyamat Ali, Comrade Manoj and Comrade Dhunichand were among those who shared their experiences. A documentary film based on the struggle of the Manipuri people against the Armed Forces Special Powers Act 1958 was shown and discussed.

The second day was indeed very interesting. The youth went to take a look at the Indira Gandhi Canal, after which they took part in the Kisan Mahapanchayat. They carefully listened to the accounts of atrocities committed on the peasants by the state government and police. After they returned to the camp, the film Amu based on the massacre of the Sikhs in 1984 was screened, and a political discussion organised.

On the third day, a symposium on the problems of the peasants and their struggles was organised. A cultural workshop was held after this, in which training in singing revolutionary songs was imparted and four short plays were produced and staged. Comrade Vinod of village Parlika gave a recitation of progressive songs, poems and shayaris. A discussion on the question “why is it necessary to organise to change society” took place in which the role of the youth was emphasised as also the need to organise workers, peasants and all the oppressed for the solution of major problems facing the country.

After this session, the youth went to see some of the sights of Nohar, on the occasion of the birthday of Bhagat Singh,