Jan Sanskriti Manch held its 16th national conference in Raipur, Chhattisgarh on 8-9 October 2022.
The conference began with a resistance march from Ashirwad Bhawan to the statue of Shaheed-e-Azam Bhagat Singh while paying tribute to the statue of Dr. Ambedkar. In a brief statement, outgoing president of Jan Sanskriti Manch, Prof. Rajendra Kumar called for solidarity against the current ruling dispensation, for the defence of the Constitution and for the fight for democracy.
Well-known Gandhian and human rights activist Himanshu Kumar, who is currently facing political vendetta from the ruling regime for demanding justice for killing of tribals by central forces in Chattishgarh, was the chief guest of the conference. He talked about the disastrous corporate plunder of our natural resources and displacement of tribals from their land under the power of the gun, with direct patronage from today’s government. Noted author and activist Bhanwar Meghvanshi said that today’s fascist regime will have to be defeated not only on the political front but also on the cultural front. Documentary filmmaker Meghnad said that the virtues of democracy should be learned from the people. In today’s time of authoritarianism and extreme centralisation of power, it is these values that are under attack from the government itself. Navkiran Natt, a youth activist and a member of the editorial board of Trolley Times, underlined the many cultural experiments done in the peasant movement.
Representatives of fraternal organizations also participated in the conference. Aanchal Baba read the message of Hiralal Rajasthani of Dalit Writers Association. Ranendra from Progressive Writers Association and Nasir Ahmed Sikandar from the Janvadi Lekhak Sangh gave their solidarity messages for the conference.
On the second day of the Conference a discussion on 'Forms of Resistance Against Fascism' was organized. Noted poet and thinker Devi Prasad Mishra talked about the otherisation project of fascism. Poet and scientist Laltu underlined the need to form a joint front in the field of culture. Among others, Bharat Mehta, Ranendra and Radhakant Sethi addressed the session.
Social activist Soni Sori, the symbol of tribal resistance today, herself put forward the nature of fascism by telling her own story.
On the last day of the conference, the delegates elected a 141-member National Council and a 37-member Executive Council. Renowned Hindi critic Ravi Bhushan was elected as the new president of Jan Sanskriti Manch. Journalist and cultural Activist Manoj Kumar Singh was re-elected as the General Secretary.
The conference concluded with the resolve to strengthen cultural Resistance Against Fascism and defend freedom and Democratic Culture.
