During the Chinese revolution, progressive forces of the world lent every possible support to it. At that time, it was widely believed that most of the Chinese people consumed opium and were always in a stupor. Additionally the country’s economy lay totally shattered. It was said that the people in China went to the market with a bag full of currency notes and returned with a pocketful of goods. It was the Communist party and its dynamic leader Mao-Tse-Tung who were trying to give a new life to the Chinese people. After the conclusion of the 30-year revolutionary march a new government assumed power. The progressive and liberal people all over the world celebrated the epoch making event. The Chinese revolution aroused great hopes among the people who were still struggling to free themselves from the clutches of imperialists. They expected (now People’s Republic of) China to help them if not materially, at least morally.

After China became a People’s Republic, Jawaharlal Nehru, among world’s eminent leaders, extended a warm welcome to the new nation and saw it as a symbol of resurgent Asia. In order to fortify our friendship with China, Nehru sent a goodwill mission to that country. The delegation was led by Tapasvi Sunder Lal and among others consisted of Shakir Ali Khan, who was popularly known as Sher-e-Bhopal and R. K. Karanjia, the editor of Blitz. While the people of China were struggling, India sent a medical mission to China under the leadership of Dr. Kotnis. Later a film was made on the services rendered by Dr. Kotnis and his team members. The film titled Doctor Kotnis Ki Amar Kahani became very popular. Nehru did everything possible to consolidate our friendship with China. “Hindi Chini bhai-bhai” became a very popular slogan both in India and China. Nehru thought that both India and China could jointly work for the creation of a new world. For many years, the US and other Western countries refused to recognise the existence of Communist China. Nehru did a lot to secure an appropriate position for China in the comity of nations.

He insisted that China should be invited to the historic Bandung conference. Both India and China agreed that ‘Panchsheel’ should guide the relations between the two nations. But various liberation movements of the world felt disappointed when the People’s Republic of China refused to play the role which Soviet Union had played after the establishment of socialist regime there. Soviet Union aided liberation movements, including the South African movement against apartheid and the Palestinian movement.

Besides liberation movements, the Soviet Union also helped newly liberated nations to build their economic base. Nehru continued to help China but issues relating to border disputes alienated the two countries. Not only with India,China also had border disputes with other countries including Vietnam. And the day came when China and India came face to face in 1962. It seems that China nearly abandoned Communist ideology and devoted its entire energy in turning the country into an economic power. In my opinion China’s war-like postures and the 1961 communal riots in Jabalpur (Madhya Pradesh) shattered Nehru completely. Nehru might have lived longer but for the war with China and Jabalpur communal riots.

China established communist regime with great socio-economic ideals but it soon abandoned them and turned into an ultra nationalist country. On the other hand, Nehru continued to uphold high ideals. Gandhi, Patel and many other Indian and world leaders considered him a visionary. He always favoured a peaceful solution of disputes between nations, and was prepared to sacrifice narrow interests of the country for that. He was bitterly criticised by opposition parties after an outbreak of violent clashes with China. One well-known Member of Parliament called him a traitor while participating in the Lok Sabha debate on the Chinese aggregation. I know the name of the MP but I am not mentioning his name because he is no more.

Not only did China betray us but it also joined hands with Pakistan which was an ally of the US and a totalitarian country. There is evidence that during the armed conflict between India and Pakistan in 1965 the Chinese leaders did everything possible to add fuel to fire and later even tried to sabotage the Tashkent meeting. 

Like Nehru, Prime Minister Modi also tried to develop friendly relations with China and like Nehru he must be feeling betrayed. But let the opposition avoid using the unparliamentary language which they used against Nehru. At this hour let us collectively face the crisis and we can analyse pros and cons of the situation after normalcy returns. 

*The author is a veteran journalist and political analyst.

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The post From Mao to present appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Image: Indian Express

On the last day of the budget session of the Madhya Pradesh Vidhan Sabha on March 24, Comptroller and Auditor General of India demolished the claim of the BJP ruled state government that Madhya Pradesh has ceased to be a "Bimaru Rajya".
 
The report which was tabled in the house pulled up the state government on two major counts. The two issues relate to health care, particularly in rural areas and various factors pertaining to the Vyapam scam. 
 
In a major embarrassment to the Madhya Pradesh government, CAG has punched holes in the implementation of National Rural Health Mission (NRHM). 
 
A newspaper reporting CAG's comment about health care said that it has caused a major embarrassment to the state government. Normally CAG reports are only tabled in the Vidhan Sabha but this time CAG report was released at a press conference. 
 
The report found state government's claim about health care in rural areas hollow and baseless.
 
The central audit revealed financial irregularities and misappropriation of central funds for the project. The Centre gave Rs 5,269.70 crore to the state in the last fiscal year to revamp rural healthcare but the state failed on a host of key parameters.
 
Infant mortality rate (IMR) in the state was 51 per 1,000, live births and maternal mortality rate (MMR) stood at a shocking 221 per 1,00,000, way higher than the national average (40 and 167 respectively). The report said the shortfall in providing maternal, child and reproductive healthcare services resulted in the failure in achieving targets.
 
Out of 93.72 lakh pregnant women registered for ante-natal care during 2011-16, only 52.51 lakh (56 per cent) were registered within first trimester of pregnancies and 19.44 lakh (21 per cent) pregnant women did not undergo three check-ups. As a result, well-being and the progress of fetal growth could not be ascertained in such cases.
 
HIV testing of 47.27 lakh and VDRL testing of 60.34 lakh pregnant women were not conducted.
 
As many as 28 per cent women were discharged within 48 hours of delivery in public institutions, says the report, and only 35.21 lakh (55 per cent) mothers received post-partum check-up between 48 hours and 14 days after delivery due to the "apathetic attitude of service providers", it adds.
 
Against 93.72 lakh registered pregnancies during 2011-16, there were only 69.83 lakh deliveries. The case of missing deliveries may have an impact on the skewed sex ratio of 52:48 at birth in the state.
 
There was shortfall of 16-21 per cent in targets set for child immunisation against seven vaccine-preventable diseases due to lack of awareness among parents and failure to mobilise women/ children by the administration, the report points out. Out of 69.25 lakh live births, only 39.30 lakh (57 per cent) infants were provided hepatitis B vaccine due to lack of storage facilities.
 
The State did not achieve the targeted total fertility rate (TFR) due to under-performance in family planning programme, says CAG. Against 3.03 lakh male sterilisations planned during 2011-16, only 0.83 lakh (27 per cent) were performed. Female sterilization was a shade better at 43 per cent and 22 per cent of target (minilap and post-partum). There was a 42 per cent shortfall in distribution of contraceptive pills and 49 per cent in condoms.
 
The CAG has also severely criticised the Shivraj Singh Chouhan government on a string of "irregularities" concerning Vyapam — from the government's alleged "dual stand" and how central auditors were stopped from accessing its records to "arbitrary appointments" and alleged lack of financial accountability. 
 
The report has ignited a political storm in Madhya Pradesh where the Vyapam scam is still a raw wound for the government and a soft target for the opposition.
 
"While the MP government disowned and distanced itself from Vyapam, on the other hand it was in full control of the examination board for all practical purposes… The shadowy control (on Vyapam) has led to a situation where there was severe erosion in the credibility of exams conducted by board," CAG observed in its latest report for 2015-16.
 
In a scathing remark, the report points out that the state government" did not take any remedial measures" by framing rules/regulations to prevent irregularities even after the Vyapam scam.
 
While the government seemed numbed by the report — no one was willing to give a comment — Congress seized the opportunity. Leader of Opposition Ajay Singh said, "This is a very damning report. The Shivraj Singh Chouhan BJP government now stands fully exposed."
 
The CAG has recommended that the state government investigate cases of irregularities in appointment of officers to the board and hike in pay of officers. It also suggests Vyapam be brought to the level of a public service commission/staff selection commission.
 
The appointments of director and controller were made by "systemic subversion of rules", resulting in undue favour to certain individuals, it says. Dr Yogesh Uprit and Dr Pankaj Trivedi were appointed to these posts directly on orders of the then minister "in contravention of the rules".
 
The delay in establishment of statutory Board, "defeated the purpose of providing greater authority and credibility" to the Professional Examination Board in Madhya Pradesh. The state legislature passed the Vyapam Act in August 2007 but the government established the statutory board under this Act only in March 2016 — after a delay of more than eight years.
 
Recruitment examinations for state-level posts were transferred to Vyapam in April 2003 in an "unprecedented manner", the CAG report says. There was no augmentation of manpower/established system to handle the new function. This hampered conduct of examination by the board.
 
Conduct of recruitment examination — a primary function of the government to ensure free and fair recruitment to its own services, which was till now being conducted by PSC/government departments — was "jettisoned in favour of an institution that was neither statutory nor independent, nor functioned under well laid out regulations", it points out. This went against well established judicial and constitutional pronouncements, it says.
 
The state government did not take any remedial measures by framing rules/regulations to prevent irregularities even after Vyapam reported some cases of irregularities in conduct of examination.
 
There was no evidence that the government ensured the integrity of IT-based system used in the examination conducted by the board. Early on, the government decided that the audit would not be entrusted to CAG as it was presumed that the 'AG was very busy'. AG was not consulted in the matter.
 
The fund of the board was kept outside government account and it was not subjected to budgetary control of the legislature. The board, however, had no hesitation in transferring Rs 13.75 crore fund to other organisations for activities not connected with Vyapam. (IPA Service)
 
 

The post CAG report demolishes claim of Chouhan government, exposes major lapses in healthcare, Vyapam appeared first on SabrangIndia.

The investigation about the activities of these groups was yet to complete when the state received yet another shock. A blast took place on a Bhopal-Ujjain passenger train injuring 10 persons. However it is yet to be confirmed that it was a handiwork of the Islamic State but it sends a message that the terrorist groups find Madhya Pradesh a convenient place from where they can continue their activities.

The blast in Bhopal-Ujjain Passenger train has emerged as a big challenge for the state police. It is being described as the first terror attack in the state and is being linked with the incident of SIMI under-trials escaping from Bhopal central jail and later getting killed in an ‘encounter’.

 According to sources in the police, the case is being probed from all angles, including the possibility of the involvement of SIMI in it. Home minister Bhupendra Singh Thakur, while talking to the media said Ujjain had been the hub of SIMI activities and the possibility of SIMI’s involvement in the blast could not be ruled out.

The police were apprehensive that after the encounter, SIMI might go for revenge. The intelligence wing of the police was getting inputs that SIMI might strike after SIMI activist Safdar Nagori and 11 others were convicted by an Indore court.

The ATS is trying to find out from where the explosives used in the IED were procured and also whether explosives were being stockpiled in the state for mounting a major attack. The police are questioning suspects. Some persons have already been arrested from Piparia in Hoshangabad district and raids are underway at other places in the state. The police have also activated their informer network.

Madhya Pradesh, known as an island of peace, is fast becoming the centre of activities of terrorist organisations. The investigative agencies are yet to find out the persons who helped the SIMI under trials escape from jail. Many persons have been arrested from different parts of the state for allegedly being part of an ISI spy ring. The blast has only confirmed that the terrorists are spreading their network in MP.

Further, two important developments have again confirmed the impression that Madhya Pradesh has been a favoured place for extremist activity. One such development relates to the conviction of Devendra Gupta, Bhavesh Patel and Sunil Joshi in the 2007 Ajmer blast case. Among the convicted person Sunil Joshi belonged to Madhya Pradesh. He was murdered in highly mysterious circumstances. It was claimed that the conspiracy of Ajmer blast case and also of Samjhauta Express was hatched in Madhya Pradesh.

On October 11, 2007, a powerful bomb went off on the congested premises of the Ajmer Dargah during iftar at around 6.14 pm, killing three people and injuring 15 others.

The case was initially investigated by the anti-terror squad of Rajasthan, which found that a group of people linked with a radical Hindu outfit allegedly carried out the blasts at Ajmer Dargah and Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad on May 18, 2007.

The attacks were supposed to be in retaliation against the attacks on the Amarnath yatra in 2002, Akshardham Temple in Gujarat and Raghunath Temple in Jammu.

The Rajasthan ATS claimed that the explosives used and the modus operandi in the blasts in Ajmer and Hyderabad were similar. Police recovered an unattended bag at the site in Ajmer, which had an unexploded bomb and two SIM cards, which gave them vital clues.

"The court has found that Devendra Gupta, Bhavesh Patel and Sunil Joshi, conspired to carry out attacks at Ajmer Dargah. The court also found that it was Bhavesh Patel who planted the two bombs," public prosecutor Ashwini Kumar said.

Another important judgement related to Madhya Pradesh was announced in Indore sentencing 11 SIMI activists for life. Those convicted include Safdar Nagori and his brother Kamruddin Nagori. Both Nagori brothers hail from Ujjain, a holy town Madhya Pradesh

Special CBI judge BK Paloda convicted all 11 for sedition, collecting arms, ammunition and explosives with the intention to wage war against the nation and for being active members of a banned terrorist outfit. Nagori was the general secretary of SIMI when it was banned.

"The judgement was delivered to 10 of the 11 accused through video-conferencing, as they are lodged in Sabarmati Jail in Ahmedabad and are being tried there for the Ahmedabad bomb blasts," public prosecutor Vimal Mishra said. Only one of the accused – dental student from Karnataka, Munroz – was in the Indore court with his father and started weeping after hearing the verdict.

Those convicted include Safdar Nagori, his brother Kamruddin Nagori, SIMI's Karnataka unit chief Hafiz Hussain, Kerala-based SIMI leader Shivli, his brother Shaduli, Ujjain-based Amil Parvez, Karnataka doctor Ahmed Baig and Munroz, Kerala-based Ansar and Khandwa-based operative Kamran.

Safdar Nagori, a native of Ujjain, is a former general secretary of SIMI and is accused in many other terror cases. In July 2014, he was acquitted in a case of provoking communal tension in Madhya Pradesh.

The CBI court observed that the actions of the SIMI members proved they had no faith in the government of India and they were indulging in activities which are not only against the unity and sovereignty of India, but also harmful to all humankind. "Although the accused are citizens of India, but in this situation, their conviction and punishment is unfortunate and sad" Judge Paloda said in the order.

MP anti-terror squad had arrested all 11 of them and two other SIMI operatives – Khalid Akhtar and Shami – in March 2008 from a flat above Fafur Khan's bakery in Indore's Sanyogitaganj area. During interrogation, the accused admitted to running a training camp near Choral, some 40km from Indore, where explosives and SIMI literature were seized. Khalid and Shami were convicted separately in 2012. Khalid was gunned down after the Bhopal jailbreak on the day after Diwali last year.

Ujjain where train blast took place, which nurtured SIMI outfit Nagori also, hit the headlines when a Hindu fanatic RSS functionary Kundan Chandravat announced Rs. one crore bounty for beheading Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

It is worthwhile to find out why Ujjain and its surrounding areas provide fertile land both to the Hindu and Muslim extremists.
 

The post What makes Ujjain a fertile breeding ground for both Hindu and Muslim extremists appeared first on SabrangIndia.

Image: Asian Age
 
The embarrassment must have been even more acute because this spy ring was being allegedly run by some persons who had connections with outfits closely connected to the RSS. Further, this spy ring was busted on the very day (February 10) when Dr. Bhagwat lashed out at ISIS at a programme in a town in MP. To quote, Dr. Bhagwat said that ISIS is a threat to humanity; They are killing innocents and there seems to be no solution to the crisis.
 
In a major breakthrough MP Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) busted an international call racket used by ISI agents to spy on India's military operations. The spy ring facilitated calls from and to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, bypassing legal channels.
 
At least 40 'Simboxes' (Chinese-made gadget that holds multiple SIM cards) and 3,000 SIM cards have been seized from eleven suspects, including a brother of a leader of the BJP. They were arrested from Bhopal, Gwalior and Satna. They have all been booked on charges of waging a war against the country. Officials expect more arrests soon.
 
The suspects were involved in espionage, money laundering and fraud, says the MP police. MPATS chief Sanjeev Shami, who led the operation, said that more people including those working with telecom majors are on the radar and would be soon put behind bars.
 
Besides the crime of spying against the country, the racket has also led to massive loss to the telecom department. "They were running a parallel telecom exchange, enabling cross-border handlers posing as senior Army officers to call up military personnel posted in Jammu and Kashmir and dig out details of operations, deployment and installations," said Shami.
 
The MPATS team was working 24×7 in coordination with central agencies for the last two months. While three people were arrested from Bhopal, five were arrested from Gwalior, two from Jabalpur and one from Satna district.
 
MPATS officials have seized several pieces of Chinese equipment, including mobile phones, laptops and data cards. Calls made via internet were sent to these SIM-boxes which redirected the illegal VoIP traffic onto mobile networks.
 
Immediately after the arrest State Congress also claimed that one of the 11 arrested for espionage racket in Madhya Pradesh is also the close relative of a BJP corporator from Gwalior.
 
Speaking to reporters, state Congress president Arun Yadav said, "One of those arrested from Gwalior, Jitendra Singh Yadav is the brother-in-law of BJP corporator from ward number 58 of Gwalior, Vandana Satish Yadav."
 
The Congress leader alleged the family of Vandana Satish Yadav is closely associated with Union minister for rural development Narendra Singh Tomar and state minister for urban administration Maya Singh. "The ATS should investigate this angle of the closeness of accused Jitendra Singh Yadav's family with top BJP leaders and the role they played in the ruling party," PCC chief said. 
 
Later some more names having connection with the Sangh Parivar came to the light one such name was that of Ashish Singh. The moment Ashish Singh's name became public it triggered a Twitter war between Congress and BJP.
 
While senior BJP leader Kailash Vijayavargiya praised the state police for busting the racket, AICC general secretary Digvijaya Singh sparked controversy by stating "none of the ISI suspects was a Muslim". "I congratulate chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and Madhya Pradesh Police for this special achievement against terrorism and its perpetrators in any form must be crushed," tweeted Vijayavargiya.
 
Digvijaya took a dig at Prime Minister Modi and his supporters by tweeting, "ISI agents arrested in Bhopal do not have a single Muslim. One of the suspects is a BJP member. Modi's supporters must think of it."
 
Congress leaders then released some pictures, alleging that one of the suspects, named Dhruv Saxena, was district convener of the IT cell of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM). Some pictures showed Saxena at BJP programmes accompanying top BJP leaders, including the CM, Vijayavargiya and Bhopal BJYM president Anshul Tiwari.
 
BJP countered that anybody can take a selfie with top leaders and can join the party’s membership drive. State BJP chief Nand Kumar Chauhan said, "I don't know Dhruv and neither is he a member of the party. I congratulate ATS for the arrests. Digvijaya Singh's tweet is aimed to vitiate communal harmony in the state."
 
"A picture cannot corroborate connivance of any leader with a criminal or anti-social element. People take photos with top leaders and sometimes join public and party functions to take advantage. But this does not indicate any association," said Anshul Tiwari.
 
Home minister Bhupendra Singh eulogised Shivraj Singh Chouhan for "his efficient leadership leading to breaking the network of ISI in the world".
 
"The most powerful action against terrorism in India is being taken in Madhya Pradesh. First, police killed SIMI terrorists after a jailbreak and now the law enforcing agency unearthed the ISI network," he told reporters in Sagar.
 
Facing flak over allegations that Dhruv Saxena, one of the suspects arrested in the ISI spy ring bust is a BJP member and office bearer of the party IT cell, BJP went to great pains to distance itself from him.
 
BJP state Chief Nandkumar Singh Chauhan has denied the charge that spy racket has exposed Bhagwa Atankvad (saffron terrorism).
 
"We have nothing to do with Dhruv Saxena. Absolutely nothing, he was not a member of BJYM. One can take a photo with anybody, a leader or a minister. There is no method to find out who is standing beside me now, for instance," Chauhan said, when asked about the pictures of Dhruv with senior party leaders circulating on social media.
 
On the statement given by Dhruv's mother Rajni Saxena that her son was working for BJP, Chauhan said, "Her statement is not true; there was no connection, not at all."
 
The BJP state unit issued a new list of its Yuva Morcha and state IT cell office-bearers claiming the party has nothing to do with those arrested in the ISI spy ring case.
 
BJYM district head Anshul Tiwari has released a list of district office-bearers where Dhruv's name is not included. Asked about allegations of intelligence failure by police and ATS, Chauhan said ATS has done a "remarkable job".
 
Supporting Nandkumar's statement, BJYM state head Akhilesh Pandey also claimed that morcha had released a statement denying any involvement with Dhruv Saxena. "Rajesh and Anshul Bhadoria is IT cell in charge and they have denied that Dhruv was a member of the cell," clarified Pandey.
 
The government is trying to find out how come Dhruv Saxena managed to get a picture clicked with chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. It is alleged that besides, Dhruv, two more suspects Jitendra Thakur and Mohit Agrawal have BJP connections in Gwalior and Bhopal.
 

The post Links of ISI with BJP members allegedly Exposed: CM Shivraj Chouhan in a Political Soup, MP appeared first on SabrangIndia.

चूंकि इस क्रांति ने एक नए राजनैतिक, आर्थिक समाज की नींव डाली थी इसलिए दुनिया के सभी निहित स्वार्थों ने एक होकर इस क्रांति को ध्वस्त करने का षड़यंत्र रचा। परंतु उनके इरादे सफल नहीं हुए और सोवियत क्रांति का लाल परचम लहराता रहा।

इस क्रांति की देन क्या है? सर्वप्रथम एक ऐसे समाज की स्थापना जिसमें किसी भी व्यक्ति के विरूद्ध धर्म, जाति, लिंग एवं अन्य किसी मनुष्य द्वारा बनाए गए भेदभाव की दीवारें पूरी तरह ढहा दी गई थीं। स्कूलों और कॉलेजों के दरवाजे सभी के लिए खोल दिए गए थे। मुझे अनेक बार सोवियत संघ की यात्रा का अवसर मिला। मैंने वहां के अनेक स्कूलों को देखा। मुझे बताया गया था कि स्कूलों में बच्चों को इतना अच्छा वातावरण मिलता था कि वे छुट्टी होने के बाद भी अपने घर बड़ी मुश्किल से जाते थे। बरसों पहले एक अमरीकी पत्रकार सोवियत संघ की यात्रा पर गए थे। यात्रा के बाद उन्होंने एक लेख लिखा जिसमें यह कहा कि कौन कहता है कि सोवियत संघ में संपन्न सुविधाओं से प्राप्त एक विशेष वर्ग नहीं है। ऐसा वर्ग है और वह वर्ग है बच्चों का। यदि स्वर्ग की कल्पना वास्तविक है तो सोवियत संघ की शिक्षा संस्थाएं और खासकर छोटे बच्चों की शिक्षण संस्थाएं उनके लिए स्वर्ग के समान हैं।

आम तौर पर मनुष्य को स्वास्थ्य सुविधाओं पर अपने बजट का बहुत बड़ा हिस्सा खर्च करन पड़ता है। हमारे देश में तो इस समय अस्पतालों में इलाज कराने का अर्थ स्वयं को दिवालिया बनाना है। सरकारी अस्पतालों में इलाज ठीक से नहीं होता है और प्रायवेट अस्पताल अनापशनाप फीस लेकर लोगों को लगभग नंगा कर देते हैं। परंतु सोवियत संघ में सभी को समान रूप से स्वास्थ्य की सुविधाएं प्राप्त थीं। न सिर्फ स्वास्थ्य की सुविधाएं वरन वहां पर काम करने वाले डोक्टरों को भी अद्भुत सुविधाएं दी जाती थीं। सोवियत संघ में बीमार पड़ने का अर्थ मौत को निमंत्रण देना नहीं होता था। इस समय दुनिया में शायद ही कोई देश ऐसा होगा जिसमें महिलाओं को 100 प्रतिशत सुरक्षा प्राप्त हो परंतु सोवियत संघ ऐसा देश था। बलात्कार की घटनाएं लगभग शून्य थीं। दो बजे रात को भी एक महिला सार्वजनिक सवारी से यात्रा कर सकती थी। इसके अतिरिक्त सोवियत संघ में वहां की महिलाओं को वह अधिकार दिया गया जो उस समय तक दुनिया के किसी भी देश की महिलाओं को नहीं था वह अधिकार था वोट देने का अधिकार। उस समय तक अमरीका में भी महिलाओं को वोट देने का अधिकार नहीं था। दुनिया का सबसे बड़ा प्राचीन प्रजातांत्रिक देश ब्रिटेन में भी महिलाओं को मत देने का अधिकार नहीं था। इन दोनों देशों में महिलाओं को वोट करने का अधिकार 1920 में मिला। जबकि सोवियत संघ की महिलाओं को क्रांति होते ही वोट का अधिकार दे दिया गया। यह अपने आप में एक क्रांतिकारी कदम था। द्वितीय महायुद्ध के दौरान सोवियत संघ के दो करोड़ लोग मारे गए। युद्ध के बाद जिन महिलाओं ने संतान पैदा की थी उन्हें राष्ट्र की संतान माना गया और पूरे देश में उन्हें यह महसूस नहीं होने दिया कि उनके पिता अब इस दुनिया में नहीं हैं। मनुष्य को सुख और सम्पन्न जीवन बिताने के लिए मनोरंजन की भी आवश्यकता होती है। सोवियत संघ में मनोरंजन भी सबकी पहुंच के भीतर था। किताबों की कीमत इतनी कम रखी जाती थीं कि जिन्हें वहां का प्रत्येक नागरिक खरीद कर पढ़ सकता था। सोवियत संघ के निर्माण के तुरंत बाद वहां के सर्वोच्च नेता लेनिन ने यह घोषणा की थी कि हम कभी किसी के ऊपर युद्ध नहीं लादेंगे। वर्ष 1917 में जब सोवियत क्रांति हुई थी उस समय तक दुनिया युद्ध की विभीषिका से जल रहा था। लेनिन ने अपने को युद्ध से अलग कर लिया और दुनिया में शांति स्थापित करने के लिए बहुत महत्वपूर्ण कदम उठाए।

शांति को स्थायी बनाने के लिए जर्मनी के शहर बर्लिन में एक सम्मेलन हो रहा था। उस सम्मेलन में सोवियत संघ का प्रतिनिधित्व वहां के विदेश मंत्री कर रहे थे। सम्मेलन के दौरान एक रात्रि भोज रखा गया था। इस भोज के निमंत्रण पत्र में यह लिखा हुआ था कि डिनर सूट में आइए। यह बात सोवियत संघ के विदेश मंत्री को पसंद नहीं आई और उन्होंने इस मामले में लेनिन से परामर्श किया। इस पर लेनिन ने जवाब दिया कि यदि शांति हासिल होती है तो पेटिकोट पहनकर भी जाना पड़े तो जाओ। सोवियत संघ के हर नागरिक को शांति के प्रयासों से जोड़ा गया था। वहां के प्रत्येक नागरिक से शांति स्थापित करने के प्रयासों के लिए आर्थिक योगदान लिया जाता था।

मुझे वहां दो बार विश्व शांति सम्मेलन में भाग लेने का अवसर मिला। वहां की जनता जिस गर्मजोशी से शांति सम्मेलन में आए लोगों का स्वागत करती थी उससे यह महसूस होता था कि वहां के लोगों को शांति में कितनी दिलचस्पी थी। दुनिया के अनेक देशों ने बरसों तक सोवियत संघ को कूटनीतिक मान्यता नहीं दी थी। जैसे लगभग 60 बरसों तक अमरीका ने क्यूबा को कूटनीतिक मान्यता नहीं दी थी, उसी तरह अमरीका ने सोवियत संघ को बरसों बाद राजनीतिक मान्यता दी थी। तमाम देशों ने सोवियत संघ का आर्थिक बहिष्कार भी कर रखा था। इस सबके बावजूद सोवियत संघ जिंदा रहा।

अभी सोवियत संघ में पूरी तरह से समाजवादी समाज की स्थापना नहीं हो पाई थी कि उसे द्वितीय महायुद्ध की चुनौती का सामना करना पड़ा। इस महायुद्ध में जिस रणनीति से सोवियत संघ ने विजय पाई थी वह अद्भुत थी। हिटलर ने लगभग पूरे यूरोप पर कब्ज़ा कर लिया था और ऐसा महसूस होने लगा था कि सारे यूरोप पर हिटलर का आधिपत्य कायम हो जाएगा परंतु उसके इस सपने को चूरचूर करने में सोवियत संघ और उसके नेता मार्शल स्टालिन का बहुत महत्वपूर्ण योगदान रहा। एक बार सोवियत संघ के प्रवास के दौरान मुझे लेनिनग्राड की एक होटल में ले जाया गया। उस होटल की एक बड़ी टेबल पर एक निमंत्रण पत्र रखा हुआ था। इस निमंत्रण पत्र पर हिटलर के दस्तखत थे।

हिटलर ने अपनी संभावित विजय के जश्न को मनाने के लिए उस होटल में एक तारीख तय कर दी थी। इससे स्पष्ट संकेत मिले कि हिटलर अपनी विजय के प्रति पूरी तरह आश्वस्त था। परंतु स्टालिन और रूस के बहादुर नागरिकों ने हिटलर के इस सपने को पूरा नहीं होने दिया। युद्ध में विजय के लिए सोवियत संघ ने बहुत बड़ा बलिदान दिया। लेनिनग्राड और मास्को की अनेक फैक्ट्रियों में अनेक स्थानों पर यह लिखा हुआ था कि यहां पर इस फैक्ट्री के एक श्रमिक ने लंबे समय तक बिना भोजन किए अपना काम किया था। यह वहां के नागरिकों की असाधारण इच्छाशक्ति का प्रतीक था। लेनिनग्राड के पास एक विशाल कब्रिस्तान है जिसमें दो करोड़ लोगों की कब्र बनी हुई है अर्थात वहां पर उन दो करोड़ लोगों को दफन किया गया है जिन्होंने हिटलर के विरूद्ध लड़ते हुए अपनी जान दी थी।

सोवियत संघ का दुनिया के इतिहास में एक और महान योगदान था। वह था दुनिया के सभी देशों के आज़ादी के आंदोलन को नैतिक समर्थन। भारत वर्ष के आज़ादी के आंदोलन को भी सोवियत संघ ने पूरी तरह से समर्थन दिया। द्वितीय महायुद्ध के बाद दुनिया के अनेक देश जो साम्राज्यवादी देशों के गुलाम थे आज़ाद हुए। इन सभी देशों को आर्थिक रूप से आत्मनिर्भर बनाने में सोवियत संघ ने हर संभव सहायता की। जब हमारे देश को अमरीका, ब्रिटेन आदि ने तकनीकी और पूंजी का योगदान नहीं दिया तब सोवियत संघ आगे आया और हमारे यहां अनेक विशाल कारखानों के बनाने में मदद की। इनमें उस समय के मध्यप्रदेश और आज के छत्तीसगढ़ में स्थित भिलाई स्टील प्लांट शामिल है। ऐसे अनेक कारखाने सोवियत संघ की मदद से बने हैं, जिनने हमें आत्मनिर्भर बनने में मदद की है।

इसके अतिरिक्त अनेक नाजुक अवसरों पर भी सोवियत संघ ने हमारी मदद की। जैसे उस समय जब हम बांग्लादेश के आजादी के आंदोलन को समर्थन दे रहे थे तो अमरीका ने धमकी दी थी कि अपना सातवां बेड़ा (जो अणु बमों से लैस था) भारत की ओर रवाना कर रहे हैं। इस पर सोवियत नेताओं ने अमरीका को चेतावनी देते हुए कहा था कि हम किसी हालत में तुम्हारे सातवें बेडे़ को भारतवर्ष के समुद्रों के किनारों पहुंचने नहीं देंगे। इस महत्वपूर्ण चेतावनी ने बांग्लादेश को पाकिस्तान के आतताई शासन से मुक्ति दिलाने में निर्णायात्मक मदद की थी। यह सोवियत संघ का गौरवपूर्ण इतिहास है।

यह दुःख की बात है कि अनेक आंतरिक एवं बाहरी कारणों से सोवियत संघ के समाजवादी समाज को ध्वस्त कर दिया गया है। यह इतिहास का एक काला पृष्ठ है। यह कैसे हुआ इस पर भी चर्चा आवश्यक है। मेरा प्रयास होगा कि अगले किसी लेख में इस गुत्थी को सुलझाने का प्रयास किया जाए।

(लेखक वरिष्ठ पत्रकार व धर्मनिरपेक्षता के प्रति प्रतिबद्ध कार्यकर्ता हैं)  

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