From: Zeynep Tufekcioglu <zeynept-AT-turk.net>
Subject: Re: India 4
Date: Sat, 6 Jul 1996 23:12:37 +0300


Romi writes:

>I have a simple question for all of you Marxists:

>Why is it that so few of you have any interest in India or knowledge about
>it? 

Hi Romi,

I'll make my case again, publicly - if you find people around you who say
they are Marxists and are not interested in India, well, sigh, that's the
"West" for you. Most people there seem to be not interested period. And not
interesting either.

There are exceptions of course, some people seem to have been made without
the aid of too much "outside capital". Minority though.

I was happy to learn you posting about India to M2, it made the list seem
worthwhile. Go on please.

As for interest, here, we are very much interested in India. Last month,
there was an UN conference in Istanbul and my friends and I chat most with
two groups - the Cubans, and the Indians mostly from the SEWA -
Self-Employed Womens' Association. They have organised tens of thousands of
women who work from their homes. It is so hard to organise such dispersed
activity - often sewing, done for very little money. We were amazed by the
accomplishment of the Indian comrades. It is a mobile, disturbed
country/region. We/I get publications, news from India and are still much
interested in the place.

Anyway back to the subject- the point is this, bluntly. While I understand
your disturbance by the lack of interest in India, think of it this way.
What if the people you interact with were interested? You go on telling
people about India. They listen. So?

I'd humbly suggest - forget the audience. Forget the spectators. Ignore who
listens and who doesn't. Think, instead, of what you can do for your people,
as you seem to care, that would matter, that could make a change. Could be a
lot of things, I'm sure. Disseminating information is probably just one.

Two wonderful statements comrade Gary posted a few days ago:

This one is obvious - 

Gary:
>Better to light a single candle than
>to sit and curse the darkness.

This one, I can't really elucidate in a post to *this* list, but take it as
an attempt at a hint.

Gary:
>I strongly believe in
>the old 60 s slogan of "Don't trust anyone over 25"

Zeynep



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