65th birthday celebration of Indian Pablo Neruda-Avtar Singh 'Pash' celebrated in Brampton

People’s Voice Forum –Brampton celebrated 65^th birthday of highly revered poet of Punjab, Avtar Singh Pash who was gunned down by Khalistani extremist on March 23^rd, 1988. He was only 37 when he took his last breath but his glory continue to grow leap and bound each passing years. Most of his poetry work has been translated in all major languages of India including English. At least three person presided over the informal meeting in the memory of Pash who has been directly associated with the legend poet.

Kulwinder Khehra; representing ‘Kalamo Da Kafila’ shared his memories with Pash and gave details inch by inch of the time spent with the poet. He recited his poem which he wrote after hearing the news of brutal murder of Pash. He connected March 23^rd, the day of Bhagat Singh’s martyrdom to the mindless murder Pash, narrating details that nothing has changed since 1931. Mr Khehra underlined the relevance of thoughts propagated by Pash that they will continue to gain attraction as long as the economic divide remains in the society.

Long associate of Pash, Comrade Lal Singh Bains shared his political experiences with the poet and said, we hardly see such level of political commitment as the Pash used to have, he had immaculate understanding to Marxism and his analysis of local and international political situation was tremendous. That was the real key to understand his poetry. He fought fearlessly for the landless peasants and workers and faced indiscriminate torture of the state head on.

Navkiran Sidhu from North American Rationalist Society also shared his meeting with Pash at Deshbhakt Yadgaar Hal, Jalandhar in a function and met him. He was astonished to see his simplicity and said, ‘Are you Pash? And Pash replied in his own funny way, ‘Why, Pash would have a tail on his back’? Navkiran Sidhu said, that he consider Pash sitting next to Bhagat Singh when the question arise about study, commitment and dedication for Indian socialist revolution.

Poet, Onkar Singh Preet, defined Pash’s poem on dreams and explained why dreams are important for any living society. A dreamless society or dreamless youths are nothing but dead.

Harparminder Gadri, shared his college hostel time memories when Pash along with his friend would arrive his room in the middle of night and start reciting poems, using kitchen utensils as his musical instruments. He said, Pash name and his work will always be a source of inspiration for working class and their struggle against capitalism and fight against imperialism.Gadri also said that revolutionary forces will not spare the criminals to bring to the peoples court justice who killed Pash. 

Surprisingly, People’s Voice Forum found out that it was first birthday celebration ever conducted in GTA in the memory of Pash and later resolved to carry on this event every year on September 12. Shamshad Elahee Shams conducted the event while CPC Brampton North candidate Harinder Pal Hundal, Prof Chanan Cheema, Sukhchain Dhillon, Mr Pushpender Singh Mundi, Sumeet Bains were amongst those who were present in the event. Famous singer; Baljit  Bains, sang Pash poem to enlighten the audience. Later, all participants enjoyed food and beverages which they brought along at the house of Harparminder Singh Gadri in Brampton.

‘Not Every Time’ showcased by People’s Voice Forum-Brampton

Just three days before when India was to stomp a pompous show to celebrate 50 years of Independence, 16 year old Kiranjeet Kaur was abducted, raped and buried in a field while returning from school on fateful August 12, 1997. She was a daughter of a Communist activist of a small village of District Barnala, called MahalKalan in Punjab, India. Euphoria for Independence turned into mayhem to strike with the hard realities of the ground where goons rule the roost. Apathy, in-cooperation of Police and local administration came forward to show its real face, disgruntled people, parents and fellow Comrades decided to form an Action Committee to fight insensitive administration and demand justice. More they get organized more nexus of political class, police, administration and goons united to suppress the agitated masses at the grass root level. More they tried to dissuade people to get justice, more peoples movement widen. A continuous mass struggle spread from village to District administration office to the State Capital Chandigarh where people reached to hold a rally and demand justice for Kiranjeet Kaur which has become a symbol of social equity, human rights, women power and democracy in general.

Meanwhile, the main accused of the case was murdered in the Court premises while appearing for court hearing turned the whole issue into opposite direction. Police, registered the murder and conspiracy case against three members of the Action Committee itself which was fighting for the justice for Kiranjeet Kaur. People knew these Police tactics to implicate leaders from the British era, so the whole movement now added with other features like fighting against corrupt practice of Police and Indian judicial system. People continue to throng district Administration offices in thousands and shouted ‘ Down with Indian Judicial System’. Courts were unexpectedly fast while awarding life terms to all three members of Action Committee but people’s fight remained unabated. Mahal Kalan movement became vortex to mobilize large section of women folks to demand social justice in a wider spectrum of Indian society which nurture patriarchal values in general and space is dominated by men in every sphere of life. Recently, people gathered to mark 18^th anniversary of this ongoing struggle on August 12, 2015 is the real story of “Not Every Time..” the documentary made by Daljit Ami, noted journalist, blogger, and activist of Punjabi media from India. He invested his years of labour to produce this documentary.

People’s Voce Forum, Brampton organized this event on August 30 at Loafer’s Lake recreation center where about 100 Bramptonian watched the documentary in pin drop silence atmosphere. Comrade Farah Malik, from Lahore, Pakistani Canadian was to introduce the work and contribution of Daljit Ami as a journalist and activist. Comrade Wilfred Szczesny who conducted the proceedings of the program and question answer session. Comrade Harinder Hundel, CPC candidate from Brampton North riding summed up the event while putting up the Canadian perspective, underling the need why we need a socialist Canada as an alternative to Harper-Tory’s conservative regime.      

Voice of dissent raised in Brampton against notorious Bill C-51

 Bramptonians expressed their deep anguish over proposed Bill C-51 and resolved to fight tooth and nail until this Bill is not withdrawn by the conservative Harper Government. They gathered at the office of local conservative MP Parm Gill’s office in Brampton at the call given by Communist Party of Canada. They were also joined by North American Rationalist Society Ontario, Indo-Canadian Worker’s Association, Environment and Human Right Activist etc.

 March 14 was declared a National Action Day to oppose Harper Govt’s bid to pass the draconian bill C-51 by a Coalition for Peace, that include left and democratic forces, civil society, legal community etc  throughout Canada.

Speaking on this occasion; Leader of the Communist Party Ontario Liz Rowley told the gathering that CPC was the first political party to oppose this bill outside the parliament where as NDP remained tight lipped for complete 20 days on this issue and castigated NDP for their stand on C-51 as they made it clear not to repeal this ACT in case they came in power. She said, every Canadian is protected by a habeas corpus that police cannot arrest anyone unless they convinced a judicial authority but C-51 will removed this hard earned habeas corpus once it become a law. She reminded the act of police atrocities during 1960s, 1970s when they came after political, trade union activists and notoriously burnt barns in Quebec. Now, Harper Government creating an atmosphere of fear amongst Canadian and proposed this bill C-51 in the name of saving Canadians but in fact, their intent is to muzzle all democratic, civil rights, human rights, environmentalist, and aboriginal leaders. She lauded the lone voice of opposition in the parliament Elizabeth May of Green Party. She called upon all like minded people to accentuate their fight against this anti people act and advised them to educate masses on this issue, write email/letter to local MP/MPP, phone them so that Harper Govt know that people are really against his politics of fear. She said, Canadian will never accept a police state, we know it and sure that Harper Govt would also know it. They want to win next election on this regressive politics but people will give a befitting reply to the Tories in next election.

Dr. Baljinder Sekhon, President of North American Rationalist Society said, freedom, liberty can never be compromised in any democratic country and expressed his apprehensions, that once C-51 came in force, Canada will become a Police State. Canadians will lose their hard earned democracy if Harper Government was allowed to make it a law. He reminded his experience of India, when Indian State turned Punjab province into a Police State and State machinery literally repressed civil and democratic rights of civilians in the name of fighting terrorism. He said, that his society will not sit silently and work hard in his community to educate them to protect human rights.

Surjit Sahota, Secretary of Indo Canadian Workers Association came down heavily on the Conservative Harper government since they are now trying to control Canadians by dictating them code of conduct. It’s a democratic right of any individual as what she or he has to wear? Surjit Sahota was referring to the latest remark of Harper when he suggested that certain community should not wear Hijab during citizenship oath ceremony. Sahota reiterated that ICWA has always been active to educate masses on issues of public interest and shall do its best to lead them in fight against this notorious bill C-51.

Wilfred Szczesny successfully conducted the proceedings of this event which was participated by environmental, human rights activist. More than 50 people showed up to the protest venue in very unexpected chilling weather. They also shouted slogans for about two hours, Down Down Bill C-51.     

Victory of working class is the only solution to women folks: resolves Rationalist Society Ontario- Brampton, on International Women Day

NorthAmerican Rationalist Society Ontario –Brampton put up a great show to mark International Women’s Day at Brampton Soccer center; more than fifty people attended the event which lasted more than three hours. The key –note presentation was delivered by Surinder Shokar   “How did women become second class citizen?”

Ms Surinder gave inch by inch details of human history and explained how the status of women was relegated to its present conditions.  She explained the phenomenon that at the start of human civilization, inhabitant of the planet was living in the collective mode of production and lived mainly on hunting. Women had the equal participation in human civilization and were an equally responsible productive force. There was no discrimination in that society, later greed for the private property and advent of state marginalized the status of women in the society. During the feudal state, women were treated like a property and completely deprived by her social, economic and political rights.

Industrial revolution in 1800s also used women force as a low paid workers and it was women who suffered most in newly industrialized nations with no rights, low wages, more work and extreme miseries. Present capitalist model has made status of women even more pathetic where her status is reduced to a mere commodity. Its men who decides who a woman should look? What should be the size of her body parts? What she should wear and what kind of fashion she must sport? Advertising industry has shamelessly done a great harm to the dignity of average women folk by branding her just a sexual object.

Surinder Shokar provided panacea for the complete liberation of women by advising a socialist mode of production. She said the problem of women folks cannot be solved without replacing the capitalist mode of production to socialist one. Drive for profit and greed is the real enemy of women liberation. She said; India, Bangladesh, China are the countries which are in the same phase of human history what European countries were during 1800s. Finance capital is exploiting their cheap labor for the sake of their profit. The present Capitalist system is consciously working in collaboration of its institutions such as Church, parliament, bankers to sabotage the unity and solidarity of working class.

Speaking on the occasion, rationalist leader Dr Baljinder Sekhon gave the detailed accounts of Canadian history when there was a time that even University of Toronto was not open for women to study medicine. A long struggle of working class has to wage to earn the voting right for women in USA and Canada, and people used to laugh at those women who went to cast their votes. He called upon the community to develop moral and social responsibility to empower women in their household affairs.

Communist leader Harinder Hundal welcomed the attendants in the event and emphasized for raising the political awareness of the masses. Discrimination against the rights of women folks in South Asian community is due to lack of political awareness. He said, only political aware person can understand the motives and meaning of the government policies. He came down heavily on the Harper Government who is bent upon to bring a draconian law C-51 to curb political rights of democratic, human rightist, environment activist in the name to countering home grown terrorism. A resolution was passed to oppose C-51 bill by voice vote and people showed their determination to put up a aggressive opposition to this notorious bill since they were reminded Punjab’s experience when Indian state repressed common people in the name of counter terrorism.

Speaking on this occasion, Shamshad Elahee Shams said that women rights were plagued in the human history the moment concept of private property raised its ugly head. Private property led the way to feudal system then slavery and finally capitalist industrial revolution enslaved women folks. He said, women liberation or emancipation cannot be implemented unless we remove the cancer of private property from our society. Women liberation can never be disassociated from the liberation of working class therefore it is mandatory to accelerate class struggle and win the battle against capitalist system in order to bring complete justice to the society. He said, Brampton is only 750 km far from New York, a historic city which is the birth place of International Women Day since 1909. He said; never mind that you are only 50 people sitting here while the population of Brampton is 433,000. Quality will always remain short supply in the society, but its Quality which paves the way for big changes in the history of human society.

Shams attacked so called great Indian culture which is anti-women to the core and pleaded to refrain from complex that they belong to the so-called Guru Nation of the world. Indians are the biggest hypocrites stock on the face of planet who nurtures feudal culture. We are most infamous nation for killing female child in the womb. We are most infamous for rapes in the world. We have a double standard for male and female child. Boy can bring his wife from other clan, caste or religion but if their daughters do the same thing, they will go to the extent to kill her. We have imported honor killings in Canada from South Asia which is ridiculous. It is high time to allow daughters to choose their own love. A society which does not allow their daughters to live according to their choice is nothing but tribal.  

Young famous revolutionary singer Baljit Singh sang enchanting songs in Punjabi, Samar Kaur enthralled with her beautiful poems and Sumeet Sahota shared her experiences as a trainee nurse with a focus on Sikh community practicing Indian culture to repress their household women. Ajmer Singh Randhawa, Harjeet Singh Bedi also entertained the people with their meaningful poetry.

Rationalist Baldev Rehpa, Amrit Dhillon, Surjit Sahota, Navkiran Singh Sidhu, Balraj Shokar, Sukhdev Singh, Comrade Balwant Singh were amongst renowned personalities who participated the event.      

Bramptonians reject Austirity in Health secotor : People's Voice Forum hold seminar "Health Under Attack"

 

Researcher and board member of Ontario Health Coalition Dough Allan said that globalization of finance capital since late eighties and early nineties has created havoc worldwide which accelerated privatization of public sector. Private Capital has targeted Health sector in a very systematic way and created a deliberated crisis so that hospitals and all related health facilities could be handed over to corporate. Liberals and Tories both have collaborated to create a mess in health sector, precisely in Ontario province of Canada.

He said that these changes started under social democrat’s regime. Provincial and Federal governments are consistently working to withdraw various medical facilities from public hospitals and shifting them to Private For Profit Hospitals where users has to pay hefty fees to obtain these medical facilities. The ruling class created a conscious atmosphere to defame workers unions so that they could implement all those anti people policies to benefit big corporates. He said, they tried to cut MRI and CT scan facilities from Public hospitals but they had to restore same services when Ontario Health Coalition and related unions resisted furiously against this move.

Dough Allan said, unfortunately Trade Union movement is not as strong as it used to be in 60s, 70s, and 80s, the offence of the Capital has to be confronted with strong Unions and Unions have to devise new strategies by combining their efforts with community. Trade Union has to find ways to relate its activities with the communities and create a broad mass support so that general masses and working people could be educated about the danger of massive privatization plan of the ruling elite.

Addressing the seminar, conducted under People’s Voice forum in Brampton on February 15 Shamshad Elahee Shams explained the economic scenario of Ontario which plays a vital role in Canadian economy. 38% population of Canada (33.48 million) resides in Ontario. 6.55 million people out of 12.55 million Ontario’s population reside in GTA area only . Ontario produces 37% ($695 billion) of the total Canadian GDP of $1.893 trillion. GTA is witnessing rapid growth of population which is over 9%, above from national population growth of 5.7%, overall growth of Ontario is expanding at the rate of 5.9% every year but Ontario is on the lowest in terms of what it gets in the name of services. 0% rise in Health Budget in last three years is a testimonial of the Government that they don’t want to carry social responsibility by the state. Over 18500 bed were cut from its public hospitals since 1990s. Public Hospital spending in Ontario is only $1372 in 2012 which is way less in comparison with New Foundlander $2519. Overall Public Health care in Ontario has reached to its dismal level, Ontario stand at eighth position in the list of Canadian list of ten province, an average Ontarian gets $ 3963 whereas New Foudlander gets $5399. Ontario is not getting what it deserves. He called upon people of Ontario to fight for their basic human right since health is state subject. No mature civil society can tolerate this passive attitude of government.

Community and communist leader Harinder Hundal explained in details by giving example of recently built hospital in Brampton when Govt. promised to give 600 bed hospital but ended up in 300+ beds only, cost of hospital was way exceeded from its budget projection but the result was disappointing. He announced that workers of Communist Party of Canada and other like minded organizations, Indo Canadian Workers Association, Rationalist Society of Ontario in particular will hold a demonstration on April 12 in Brampton to draw people’s and Government attention that people of Brampton will no longer tolerate austerity measures of ruling elite. We will teach them a lesson as the Greek did in recent elections.

Human right activist from Nepal, Govinda Shivakoti said there will be no difference between a third world country and Canada if the education, health and social welfare facilities are withdrawn. Canada became welfare state by the hard work and sacrifices made by working class, this hard earn achievement can not be compromised and accepted.

Political activist Harparminder Gadri gave his personal accounts and experiences how he is billed for some blood tests which were earlier covered with OHIP. Now people are made to pay for those facilities which were available to them for free. He said, even the sun glasses were covered in 1960s by OHIP but now vision care is left at the mercy of private clinics where people are forced to pay over $200 for their reading glasses. He said, Finance capital is on high horses since the demise of USSR, they have created havoc in every third world country. He cited examples from India where new economic policies of various governments at the center systematically destroyed government school system in order to pursue the interest of private school system. They have almost dismantled government hospitals which were very reputed in 1970s, 80s but health sector is left for private hospitals who are making money by mindless killing of the masses.

Shamshad Elahee Shams read out a memorandum also to be sent to Health Minister of Canada Dr Eric Hoskins and Health Minister of Ontario; Rona Ambrose, approved by attendees of the seminar. More than 37 people came to the venue, Brampton Soccer Center Room No 2 when temperature was –40, lowest in the month of February.  

Seminar: Health Care Under Attack Feb 15,2015

Dear Friends and Comrades,

We are witnessing a tumultuous time in Ontario which constitute over 38% population of Canada, housing more than 12.55 million people. Canadian population rose to 33.48 million in 2011 growing at the rate of 5.9% per year and the population of Ontario followed almost same national growth rate at 5.7%. GTA (City of Toronto, Region of Durham, Region of Peel,Region of York and Region of Halton) is the main stay of Ontario lifeline which growing on a rapid scale at 9% and house more than 6.55 million people, over 50% of the total population of Ontario. Projected population of GTA will reach to staggering figure of 9.4 million in year 2041.

Keeping in view the huge human resource of Ontario, its very pertinent to look into the provincial government policies about health care and status of Ontario vis a vis to other provinces of Canada on health care services and spending. Its a shocking fact that until 2014, Ontario witnessed 0% growth in its Health care budget since last three years. From 1990 over 18,500 hospital beds has been cut which is deepest cut in Canada. Public Private Partnership plan which was initiated in Ontario in 2001-2002 has proved to be a boon for private clinics as Auditor General of Ontario shockingly found out in his last year report that P3 has increased cost to $8 billion, whereas It has been a traumatic burden on the Ontarians, resulting long waiting time, poor services, unavailability of specialist and an economic hit as well.

One will be surprised to know where Ontario stands in comparison to other provinces of Canada in Health Care spending? Before coming to that point, let me tell you the economic contribution of Ontario in Canadian economy. GDP of Canada in 2013 was $1.893 Trillion (per capita income $53,870), Ontario’s contribution was about 37% (biggest) i.e. $695 Billion with an average per capita income below to the national average $ 51,340. Now look at the figures government spending of Ontarian's health which is lowest in overall Canadian provinces. Public Hospital spending, per person in 2012 in New Found land was highest $ 2,519 where this data for Ontario is only $ 1,372. Ontario stands on 8th position in the list of 10 provinces of Canada in terms of overall Public Health Care Funding, again New Found land top the list with per person spending $ 5,399 and Ontario way behind $ 3,963

Its a wake up call for all of us, to fight for a better and healthy future, not only for our future generations but for us too. Its time to tell policy makers that Health is a state subject and we demand for total health. We demand the removal of all private profiteering class which is being propped up at the cost of hard working Ontarians. Remember, if we did not fight today, we will face its dire consequences when we reach our retirement age. Don’t forget, average Canadian life is 82 years.

Please spare time for the seminar to hear more astonishing facts about deteriorating conditions of Health sector of our province, we shall definitely take this move to the next level by holding a protest demonstration on April 12 besides Civic Hospital located in Brampton.

Best Regards

Shamshad Elahee Shams

People’s Voice Forum