Arvind Memorial trust’s Seventh International Seminar on Fascism in the Twenty-First Century

*Hundreds of activists, academics, intellectuals and students gather in the city to participate in a five-day international seminar on fascism*

MPNN DESK NEWS

Hyderabad, 29th Dec, 2024 – The Seventh International Arvind Memorial Seminar on the topic ‘Fascism in the Twenty-First Century: Elements of Continuity and Change and the Question of the Contemporary Proletarian Strategy’ was formally started today in Hyderabad as hundreds of activists, academics, intellectuals, students etc. from across the country gathered at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram, Bagh Lingampally. The seminar which aims to understand the various aspects of fascism with the ultimate aim of formulating an effective strategy against it, is being organised by Arvind Institute of Marxist Studies (an initiative of Arvind Memorial Trust). Participants have come from different parts of the country including Telangana, Andhra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Maharastra, UP, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Haryana etc. and some people from countries such as US, Australia and Nepal have also come in order to participate in a detailed discussion and debate on the question of fascism.

The first day of the seminar was presided by R. Raghu, Dr. Nikhil Ekade, Prem Prakash, Shivani Kaul, and K G Ramachandra Rao. The program commenced with a reverent garlanding of the portraits of activists Arvind Singh and Meenakshy who laid down their lives for the emancipation of the working class. This was followed by some cultural activities after which Ms. Sreeja Dontireddy, research scholar at the English and Foreign Languages University briefly introduced the theme of the seminar. The key paper of the seminar, i.e., Fascism in the Twenty-first Century: Elements of Continuity and Change was presented by Abhinav Sinha who is a Marxist theorist and editor of a workers’ newspaper ‘Mazdoor Bigul’. This paper examined the essential characteristics of fascism throughout history. It also analysed the various aspects that distinguish fascism in the 21st century from that of fascism in the 20th century that Italy and Germany witnessed. Abhinav criticised the common tendency to term all reactionary forces as fascist and to expect all features of fascism to repeat themselves in an identical manner. He also mentioned that the Modi-Shah regime in India is undoubtedly an example of fascist regime. The presentation was followed by an in-depth discussion which was enriched by several questions and additions from the participants. The session also witnessed intense debates among different aspects of fascism.
About a dozen other papers analysing the phenomenon of fascism and the strategy of resistance would be presented in the coming four days and passionate discussion is likely to happen during the seminar. These include a paper on Fascism in India by Anand Singh, Marxist Historiography of Fascism by Shivani Kaul, Understandings of Fascism and its Strategy of Resistance in the Indian Communist Movement: A Critical Analysis by Sunny Singh, Fascism in Today’s Time and the Role of Art and Literature by Katyayani, On Global Neofascism including RSS Fascism in India and the Anti-Fascist Task by P . J. James, Postcolonial Fascism: An Analysis of Hindu Nationalism through Critical and Postcolonial Theory by Nicolai Messerschmidt, The Rise of the Alt-right in Australia and How We’re Fighting Back by Jiselle Hannah from Australia Asia Worker Links (AAWL). Senior Supreme Court lawyer Colin Gonsalves would also be addressing the seminar attendees in his speech the Rise of Fascism and the Question of Law and Judiciary on the second day of seminar, 30th December. Apart from this, many prominent activists, intellectuals, writers and professors from various states would be attending the program.

The Arvind Memorial Trust organizes a national seminar each year on some important aspect of the movement for social change in memory of Arvind Singh, a brilliant left intellectual and political activist.