International Viewpoint - online socialist magazine

Women's Oppression and Liberation

Soma Marik — 2019-03-07T11:49:56Z

Does Karl Marx have any relevance for today's struggles for women's liberation? Do his theories of society and revolutionary transformation present us with tools that in any way continue to be useful?

- Feminism / Marxism, Women, India

Bolsheviks and Feminists: In Cooperation and Conflict

Soma Marik — 2019-01-16T16:28:29Z

Marxist attempts at integrating gender in the class-struggle framework was uneven in the Russian revolutionary movement. A class reductionism often held back the Bolsheviks, but contests with the liberal feminists, as well as the objective reality of more women entering the labour force, led to changes. Women activists took the lead in this. The Revolution of 1917 saw a much greater degree of women's involvement. Women workers provided leadership in the early stages of the February (…)

- Feminism / Marxism, Russia, Women, Historical events and figures

India on Strike

Kunal Chattopadhyay, Soma Marik — 2016-10-10T11:55:22Z

In the midst of a right-wing onslaught, Indian workers carried out one of the largest strikes in world history.

- IV501 - October 2016 / India

Trupti Shah (1962-2016) : Remembering a Comrade and a Loving Sister

Soma Marik — 2016-05-30T08:03:27Z

Trupti I don't whether this is an anecdote or how I saw in movements or how your smiling face and an ever optimism made me think positive. [1]

- In Memoriam - Obituaries and appreciations / Obituary, Fourth International, Women, India

Against Sexual Violence and Rape, Against State Terror, Against Communalist Violence and Intolerance

Soma Marik — 2015-12-13T15:06:30Z

This is an edited version of Soma Marik's speech at the Press Conference on 4th December and that given at the Das Theke Das Hajar meeting of 7th December 2015.

- IV491 - December 2015 / Women, India

Protesting Rape Culture

Soma Marik — 2015-04-14T07:54:33Z

A historical rally involving women men trans activists took place protesting the whole of rape culture and not just a few cases. The proposal for the demonstration grew out of an initiative originating in Maitree, a West Bengal based women's right network incorporating Women's organisations, NGOs, and individuals. Maitree observes International Women's Day every year. Individual member organizations have their programmes, and Maitree has a collective programme. However, it was felt by many members early in 2015 that the scale of violence, especially sexual violence on women and LGBT persons, sex-workers and all marginals was going beyond anything seen in the past. This calls for response on a much more sustained and united level.

- IV483 - April 2015 / Women

Scrap Article 377, Defend LGBT /Queer Rights Through Mass Movements

Soma Marik — 2013-12-18T16:35:55Z

In 1895, during the trial of Oscar Wilde, the German socialist Eduard Bernstein wrote a few articles in the German Social Democratic press on the issue. While confused by today's standards, Bernstein made a few cogent points.

- IV467 - December 2013 / India, LGBT

Greater than the Might of Armies

Kunal Chattopadhyay, Soma Marik, Sushovan Dhar — 2013-03-02T16:29:32Z

Over one hundred million workers across India struck work for two days, on 20 and 21 February. The precise number is difficult to ascertain, but the strike went beyond the expectation of the trade union leaders and the bosses alike. This makes it probably the biggest general strike in working class history. Throughout the two days of the strike, Indian television channels and the internet were filled with comments on how the strike was a flop, how it was useless, how workers were violent, how the trade union leaders were selfish people leading poor workers up the garden path. The very vehemence of these campaigns was evidence of the gradual awakening of a sleeping giant, the working class of India, showing its massive power. Were this force to be mobilised properly, were it to fight for its goals with a greater clarity of vision, it could claim to be greater than the might of armies. But today, it is still partially hobbled. Both dimensionsâ€”the struggle and the limitationâ€”require explanations.

- IV458 - March 2013 / India

The Current Mobilizations over Rape

Soma Marik — 2013-01-21T06:14:06Z

As a historian, I know that the actions very often have highly unintended consequences. Historical turning points occur, not because deep planning willed them into existence, but at the intersection of many cross-currents. So it is today. Activists of our generation have been campaigning for long over rape, demanding changes in rape laws, changes in attitudes, and a wide range of demands. But it was not our repeated campaigns, nor even the over a decade long epic protest of Irom Sharmila, that managed to shake the entire country. It was, on the surface, a single incident, the Delhi bus gang rape of early December 2012. We are aware of the vast numbers who have come out and demanded punishment, government action, who have protested repeatedly and vigorously.

- Sexual politics / Women, India, Sexual politics, Features

No Patriarchy, No Police State, No Capital Punishment: A Report on the Rally Against Rape

Soma Marik — 2013-01-07T14:33:40Z

The Delhi gang rape is gruesome. But it does not stand alone. There were 22,000 rapes reported in 2010, and this implies at least 100,000 unreported cases. In the National capital, Delhi, there were around 570 cases reported. West Bengal has about 9,000 cases of rape, where the matter had not begun moving in courts. Rapes, gang rapes, rape as a “political” action (rape of "lower" caste women, rape of minority community women, rape of political opponents) have been taking place continuously. Though India's political leaders have been claiming stridently that India is forging ahead, that India is one of the new powerhouses of the world, in terms of the violence inflicted on women, in terms of the sheer barbarism of rape, India shows no sign of being a forward looking, civilized country.

- Sexual politics / Women, India, Sexual politics