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What is the meaning
of the word patriarchy? This was the question to many in the squad before the
campaign against patriarchy started in the ranks of then CPI(M-L)(People’s War).
The erstwhile PW took up this campaign as per the call of its Ninth Congress in
2001.
The members of the
squad knew about patriarchy much before they joined the Party. They had painful
experiences because of it. The women members, whether from the adivasi areas,
the plains or the towns witnessed manifestations of patriarchy in one or the
other form.They did not know the theoretical name for it.
Once the Party
educated them in the origin and history of patriarchy and its casualties, it was
enlightening both to the members and the leadership. Many came out with theirs
and other’s experiences during their up-bringing, relations within the parental
family, the way of seeking bridegrooms, marriage, marital relationship and so
on.
The Party certainly
knew of the various forms of patriarchy but the campaign threw light on the
minutest of things. As a part of dealing with the people in the villages, the
sanghams, the militia and the party leadership came to know of the unequal and
brutal attitudes manifested against women due to patriarchy. But now it was the
voice of the flower. The buds in the homes blossomed into flowers in the Party.
Let us see how it
happened in one squad area in one state.
The rectification
against patriarchy was taken up within various levels of the Party and in front
of the people. The members recollected their childhood, how they were with their
mothers, sisters, and how they are with their spouses now. They also tried to
understand the element of patriarchy in understanding women’s issues, the
women’s movement and other such things.
It can be understood
that the effect of the campaign went deep into the thinking of the Professional
Revolutionary activists and made them realise the subtle nature of their
attitudes. It was different for those who already knew about the term patriarchy
and something about its origin and those who did not.
In the area to which
this article is confined, one member of the area committee literally wept when
he was remembering how he was with his mother. He is a student from an adivasi
area and joined the Party after a series of incidents during his work in the
Radical Student’s Union.
Another senior
comrade felt very relieved after revealing what all he realised he did during
his life in the house. He said that though patriarchy was not a new to him,
coming out with his patriarchal attitudes in his family before he joined the
organisation was like washing away the dirt. He admits that such attitudes did
have an effect on his understanding even after he joined the revolution. Though
there were occasional discussions and rectification of their attitudes this
campaign was something different.
To the formally
uneducated adivasi activists it was something different. They started from
trying to remember the word patriarchy. Then they tried to grasp the history of
it in the classes. They had a tough time in listening to the explanations
starting from the primitive communist state, the various types of families, how
private property came into existence, how it led to the subjection of women and
to oppression and exploitation, and how it continued in the feudal social order
and so on. When the class reached the present social order, they suddenly became
the teachers. They told of the evil practices in their villages and as they were
speaking out, realised what patriarchy was. After all, they knew patriarchy from
their own experiences!
One adivasi male
comrade who was with the squad for two years, said, "Oh! Is this patriarchy?
Then I can tell you a lot about how it is in our households."
For women comrades
from adivasi backgrounds, the campaign was not only a realization, but also a
new source of self-confidence. They certainly knew what they were doing when
they decided to join the squad.
Yes. They were
disrespecting the age-old customs. They are not following the old rules. They
did not accept getting married through force at a young age. Perhaps they
thought they were part of something new that came up because of the Party. But
with education given in the campaign they understood how big an issue it was!
Patriarchy was not
something expressed by their parents, brothers and elders. It was not limited to
their society. They understood that child marriages, bigamy, wife beating are
common to all spheres of the present society. They are not the only "backward"
community. It has a long history. Fighting against patriarchy is fighting an
institution. It is part of fighting for a better society. It is part of
Revolution.
After speaking about
all practices in their society the women comrades started pointing out fingers
to their colleagues. Some of the male comrades agreed that they put some of
their women colleagues to embarrassment regarding marriage. They proposed soon
after they got in touch with them. They should have taken some time to
understand each other. Some agreed that they looked down on women comrades
thinking they were incompetent, that they cannot carry large weight and that
they are not on par with men in political understanding and other such things.
The women activists
were not exempted from rectification. They were made to realise the patriarchy
in women and how it manifests in their work as well. The main thing was that
they have to come out of their inferiority take initiative in each and every
aspect of their work. They need to shed the shyness in all aspects of their
personality and behaviour, to take up the responsibilities of Revolution on a
wider and deeper level.
The issues were
serious. But the discussions did not go out of control. There were no prejudices
and misunderstandings after the sessions were over. Each and everyone
realised that it is for the good of their own personality that they have to come
out of the patriarchal attitudes in order to become a good revolutionary
political worker.
After the sessions
amongst themselves, the squad went to the people. It educated them about
patriarchy. It explained the manifestations of it in its varied forms and
manifestations. It also explained that the sole responsibility for house- work
to women is also patriarchy. Men tried to say they also get water from the river
that they also look after the children and so on. But the women denied it
angrily. These meetings were quite interesting.
In some meetings the
villagers took oaths that they would struggle to eliminate patriarchy. The squad
also invited criticism on them regarding their behaviour towards village women.
After all what had
happened, one certainly felt happy about the campaign. But at the same time the
campaign also suggests that this is not and should not be the end. It is only
the beginning. The struggle against patriarchy should be a continuous affair at
some or the other level, like the rectification of any of the other deviations.
Only then the purpose of this struggle would really be served.
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