India - Virasam, the revolutionary writers’ collective - discussion on class-struggle in India - ICSPWI

Virasam celebrates 46th anniversary
Virasam, the revolutionary writers’ collective on its 46{+t}{+h}anniversary focused its discussion on class-struggle even as it gave equal importance to social-transformation. In the day-long session, some of the prominent writers spoke of the growing role that revolutionary literature plays in focusing on the plight of grassroots society.
Discussion on book
During the meet, a discussion on Janatana Rajyam, a book written by Paani was underway even as the writers guild dwelt deep on functioning a decade old Janatana Sarkar within Dandakaranya. The Sarkar is a governance body established by Communist Party of India (Maoist). The government there, the party claims was established based on election conducted in eight villages.
Speaking in the session, chaired by P. Geetanjali, Virasam city unit member. Prof. P. Kasim who delivered the key note speech on ‘Bourgeois democracy, development model and revolutionary democracy’ said in a State which is unequal and unjust, intervention of revolutionary literature is important. “Collectives such as Virasam bring the fervour of study among young revolutionaries ,” he said
Looking at social transformation with caste as its focus, P. Varalakshmi, general secretary of Virasam said the support base for class-struggle is social struggle. “There are factors including class and ethnicity which has figures in revolutionary writings ,” she said. Virasam was founded with the idea of collecting together young writers who are interested in Communist struggle for a class-less society.

The collective which was founded by Vara Vara Rao among others at first had the support of poets including Sri Sri, who were a generation older.