Opening the curtain

1. Using Past to Win the Present: Peasant Revolt, Political Parties and the Print Media in Leftist West Bengal Abhijit Guha Department of Anthropology Vidyasagar University West BengalIndia “… many indeed most, of the symbols that are politically significant are overtly nonpolitical. Often, the less obviously political in form symbols are, the more efficacious politically they prove to be.” Abner Cohen (1979) Opening the curtain • An upsurge of activism appeared among the political parties during 1998-99 centering around Medinipur town to celebrate the 200 years of an adivasi revolt, popularly known as ‘Chuar Bidroha’ • Two major political parties of West Bengal, the CPI (M) and the Congress participated in the celebration, later other parties like the Jharkhand party joined in the ritual • The Bidroha is a lesser known chapter in the history of adivasi revolts in India • The leaders of the Congress and the CPI (M) made sincere efforts to symbolically associate them with this armed agrarian revolt • The centre stage of the drama was set in and around an old temple located in a rural setting near Medinipur town which was visited by the heavyweight leaders of both the political parties

2. Act one: becoming non-political • A large committee was formed by the Congress to celebrate the Bidroha which started around 1765 • The committee consisted of Congress leaders but the presence of former freedom fighters and a history researcher was highlighted both by the political leaders and the print media to prove the non-political character of the committee • This committee demanded to the state and district administration • Inclusion of ‘Chuar Bidroha’ in the school level textbooks in history • Formation of a tourist spot in the locality where the ‘Bidroha’ took place • Establishment of a museum to commemorate the 200 years of ‘Chuar Bidroha’ • Erection of a statue of Rani Shiromoni who was one of the leaders of the adivasi revolt • To counter this political attack by the opponent, the CPI (M) also formed a large celebration committee consisting of school, college and university teachers • Both the political parties used commercial newspapers heavily but not their own party organs in order to avoid political labels on their activities

3. The structure of the drama • Showing of strength by the political parties as they do during election campaigns • Public lectures by the state level leaders of the parties • Attacking the opponents by well known and much used rhetoric • Attempts to demonstrate moral commitments to the historic ‘Chuar revolt’

4. Reaching the high points of the drama The performance of the political ritual occurred through three stages: (i) initiation, (ii) high point and (iii) closing • In the initiation phase, the Congress party gave the stimulus by placing the demands, which was taken up by the other major actor of the drama, viz. the CPI (M). During this phase both the actors started to organize large public meetings, formed committees and published leaflets and future programmes • During the second phase, Congress and CPI (M) organized tours and visits of the heavyweight leaders in Karnagarh, which was one of the centres of rebellion. The Jharkhand party appeared in the scene and criticized the CPI (M) by using the platform of the Congress • In the third phase, political parties left the stage and the West Bengal government constructed a tourist lodge in the name of the legendary leader Rani Shiromoni. The demand for a local train in her name was also placed during this phase

5. Narrative of a political ritual masked under academic cover: the description of a description • 22.02.1999 A 95 member committee was formed by the CPI (M) to celebrate the bicentenary of ‘Chuar Bidroha’. It was announced that anyone could be a member of this “Historical Committee” by paying a subscription of Rs.10/- only • 01.03.1999 A 121 member committee was formed by the Congress for the celebration of the ‘Bidroha’. Some freedom fighters were included in the committee • 09.03.1999 The CPI (M) led committee organized a meeting which was termed as seminar. The heavyweight leaders toured Karnagarh and the media covered the tour with photos and literary description.

6. 10.03.99---29.03.99 Visits, tours and public meetings by the CPI (M) leaders continued and the criticism of Congress and the BJP was also made. At another level the CPI (M) leaders placed demands to the then BJP government at centre on the payment of homage to ‘Chuar Bidroha’.

7. 07.04.99---08.04.99 The State and District level Congress heavyweight leaders started their tours, seminars and public meetings almost in the same fashion as had been done by the CPI (M). Criticism of CPI(M) is also made. During this period a Jharkhand party leader entered into the stage and criticized the use of the derogatory term ‘Chuar’. • 06.12.99 A number of elected women councilors of Medinipur demanded a local train from Medinipur to Kolkata under the name of Rani Shiromoni--- the legendary leader of the ‘Bidroha’.

8. A brief walk into the past • The first wave of the Bidroha took place around 1765 not in 1799 as fixed up by the contemporary political parties of West Bengal • The early uprisings of the Bidroha broke out not in Medinipur but in places now in the Jharkhand state • The year 1799 was important for the British colonial administration for two reasons: (i) Rani Shiromoni was arrested on 6 April 1799 and (ii) by the middle of June 1799, the colonial administration got the upper hand in suppressing the rebellion.