The spirit of the Ghadri babas continues to inspire Indians in Canada

A colourful festival called the Ghadri Mela took place at the Rose Theatre in Brampton, Toronto on November 16, 2008. The program consisted of revolutionary songs, theatre, poems and speeches focusing on the martyrs of our anti-colonial struggle and lessons for Indians today. It was organized by the Ghadr Heritage Organization, along with the sponsorship of the Desh Bhagat Sports and Cultural Society.

Following Nirmal’s welcoming remarks, Kulwinder, cultural secretary of the Ghadr Heritage Organization, explained the purpose of the Ghadri Mela. It is to pay homage to our martyrs who fought for dignity and rights, and to learn from that experience to deal with the problems facing us today. He referred to the economic problems in Canada and elsewhere, including cut backs on social services, bail-out of big banks while working people are left to fend for themselves in the face of job cuts and falling access to housing.

Respected communist activist Comrade Gurdev emphasized that the dreams of the Ghadrites have not been fulfilled. Majority of Indian people are living in inhuman conditions while the big capitalists and the political elite are aligning themselves with the imperialist powers, including the US, to achieve their own imperial aims.  The claims of the bourgeoisie that market oriented reforms will solve the problems of the economy have been thoroughly exposed by the deep crisis that has engulfed the capitalist world. He concluded that only communism can save India and lift our people out of their inhuman conditions.

Dr. Raj Mishra, speaking on behalf of the Association of Indian Progressive Study groups (AIPSG), warned the people about the growing danger of war in South Asia, which the big powers are preparing. He pointed to the American plan to mobilize Canada and NATO to strengthen the occupation of Afghanistan and enter Pakistan militarily, all under the pretext of hunting down terrorists. He appealed to the people of South Asia, to fight against making Asia the centre of another World War.

Professor Varyam Sandhu highlighted the sacrifices made by our martyrs. In particular, he highlighted the example of Kartar Singh Sarabha, whose 93rd anniversary of martyrdom coincided with the date of this Ghadri Mela. He spoke of the sacrifices of people from his village, Sur Singh Wala in Amritsar, from where two of the Ghadrites were hanged by the British rulers. He spoke against the distortion of history by the British colonialists and by the Indian state, including the labeling of patriots as terrorists, or as atheists, robbers and bandits.

A play called ‘Gatha Kale Paniyan Dee’, written and directed by Harikesh Choudhri of Lok Kala Manch, Mulah Pur, was enacted as part of the Mela. This play depicted the struggle of anti-colonial fighters inside the prison at Andaman and Nikobar Islands. It effectively communicated the message that the independence of India has not led to the end of the colonial legacy. It showed that brown-skinned rulers occupied the seats vacated by the British rulers, while keeping in tact the system of plunder and instruments of oppression of the toiling masses. The play concluded with the powerful call for another Ghadr in the 21st century.