AISBOPEF CIR. NO. 21/2013 DATE 17th april, 2013
to all MEMBERS
Dear Comrades,
We hereby reproduce Circular No 27/10/2013/16 dated 16th April, 2013issued by Com. C.H. Venkatachalam, General Secretary, AIBEA for the information of our members.
With greetings,
S.K.GAUTAM
(General Secretary
18th April, 2013 – 38th Death Anniversary of Com. H L Parvana
38 years are over since we lost our jewel leader Com H L Parvana but the pain of the loss still remains in our hearts. The vacuum created by his death still remains to be filled up. He was a leader par excellence. Today when we walk along in our path from milestone to milestone, we remember him because the path was laid by him.
Born in 1923 in an very ordinary middle class family, Com. Parvana (Harbans Lal ) could not pursue higher studies though he passed matriculation with distinction. Family circumstances compelled him to seek a job at the age of 16 and he got a job in Punjab National Bank as a Daftary. After joining the job, he continued his studies in an evening College and passed B.A. with honours in Urdu from Punjab University. Every week end, Com. Parvana used to visit his elder brother who was employed in a textile mill. His brother was a Trade Union worker of that Mill and Com. Parvana found that through the efforts of the Unions, the problems of the workers were being mitigated and resolved. Com. Parvana took no time to found a Union in Punjab National Bank at Lahore. But as a consequence of this "crime" he was dismissed by the Bank in 1944.
Com. Parvana came to Delhi in search of job again. He got a job in Bharat Bank Ltd. as an unpaid apprentice. Due to his efficiency and hard work, he was soon promoted as a supervisor and again as Superintendent. Undeterred by the bitter experience of victimisation by the previous employer, Com. Parvana soon formed a Union in Bharat Bank, Delhi. He organised strike actions in 1946, 1947 and 1948 and the Union made spectacular achievements including recognition of the Union by the Management.
Later, he organised a day's strike on 8th March, 1949 in support of the Railway employees, setting example for fraternity and solidarity of workers. But the Management reacted sharply by getting 450 out of its 527 employees arrested by police. Com. Parvana fought back against these repressions and there was a strike for 21 days. Management terminated 35 activists of the Union including their leader Com. Parvana. Com. Parvana was again on the streets and underwent sufferings. After a prolonged litigation for more than a decade, the Court ordered his reinstatement in 1963 but Com Parvana declined to join the Bank, as by that time, he had decided to devote himself full time for the cause of bank employees and AIBEA. He had by then become a leader of unparalleled dimension.
Bank employees and our unions drew so much of inspiration from Com Parvana that our movement grew by leaps and bounds under his leadership particularly in Delhi and in the northern part of India. In 1951, he was elected as Vice-President of AIBEA and in 1954 as Assistant Secretary. In 1962, the post of Secretary was specially created in AIBEA and Com Parvana was elected to this post which position he held till he died in 1975.
Com. Parvana was a tireless worker for the trade union movement. He used to work round the clock. In the process he ignored his health. The contribution of Com. Parvana in the campaign and struggle for achievement Bipartite system of collective bargaining and for achieving nationalisation of banks are glorious chapters in the golden history of AIBEA. Despite ill-health and against doctors’ advice, Com. Parvana continued his trade union work but on 18th April, 1975, at the premature age of 52, Com. Parvana passed away.
Com. Parvana was not only the leader of bank employees but he led so many unions. He was also the leader Working Journalists and newspaper employees. In the funeral procession, all of them joined and consequently, no newspaper could be published on that day in Delhi – something unprecedented in our country so far.
Volumes can be written about Com. Parvana about his sterling qualities of leadership, about, his outstanding contribution to our movement at every point of time and about the multi-dimensional activities of this gentle colossus. In short, he personified AIBEA. There cannot be a better acknowledgement of his services than through the following words of Com. Prabhat Kar, the father of our movement who wrote in his General Secretary's report in the Amritsar Conference of AIBEA in 1976 as under:
“I am placing this report in a Conference where Com. Parvana is not present. For me, this situation is almost unbelievable. Days in and days out, throughout all these years he was a comrade who helped me in discharging my responsibilities. He was the life and soul of the AIBEA centre. His dedication to the cause and thoroughness of minutest details are unparalleled. In every dimension of work of AIBEA, he was indispensable. In movement, in agitation, in campaign, in negotiations, in settling differences and solving problems his unique contribution was visible. As an agitator, organiser, as a leader conversant with every sphere of Trade Union movement, his imprint was distinct.
He was a comrade with clarity, with vision and a comrade who never knew tiredness. It is almost impossible to think of Central Office of AIBEA minusCom. Parvana. His amiable disposition brought everybody near him and he became the closest friend, philosopher and guide of each and every bank employee. He was a man of the masses. He was a man of the Trade Union movement. He was a leader of the working class. He was a comrade who cannot be replaced. The movement is indebted to him which cannot be repaid. I only wish to put on record our great gratitude for his able, mature advice, dedicated service and unparalleled comradeship manifestedall the years he lived.”
That was our great leader Com. Parvana. On the occasion of his 38th death anniversary, let us remember him, pay our homage to him and try to imbibe his indomitable spirit in all our activities. 3rd November, 2013 will mark the 90th Birth Anniversary of Com. Parvana and AIBEA has decided to celebrate the occasion through various trade union programme.
Death, be not proud. Com. Parvana lives forever in the hearts of bank employees.
Yours Comradely,
C.H. VENKATACHALAM
GENERAL SECRETARY