ALL INDIA STATE BANK OFFICERS’ FEDERATION
(Registered under the Trade Unions Act 1926, Registration No: 727/MDS)
State Bank Buildings, St. Mark’s Road, Bangalore – 560 001
CIRCULAR NO.3 DATE: 05.01.2016
TO ALL OUR AFFILIATES/MEMBERS:
COM. A.B. BARDHAN PASSES AWAY
We reproduce hereunder the text of AIBOC Circular No.2016/01 dated 4th January, 2016 contents of which are self-explicit.
The Federation salutes this great leader and dips its banner in grief, may his soul rest in peace. May his life and times continue to inspire the young trade union leaders of our country.
(Y.SUDARSHAN)
GENERAL SECRETARY
TEXT
QUOTE:
Ardhendu Bhushan Bardhan popularly known as A. B. Bardhan, veteran Trade Union leader and a life-long crusader for the working class passed away on 02-01-2016 evening around 8-30 PM. in G.B. Pant hospital, in New Delhi, where he was admitted last month after he suffered a paralytic stroke. The last rites of veteran CPI leader were performed today at Nigambodh Ghat, Delhi.
Born in 1924, Com Bardhan was drawn to the movement in his school days itself.
He joined the students movement as member of All India Students’ Federation (AISF) in the year 1940, when he entered the University of Nagpur. He was enrolled as member of Communist Party of India in the same year. He continued with the movement, while continuing his higher studies and in 1945 he was elected the Secretary of AISF and continued to hold the position till 1948. He was also elected the President of the Nagpur University Students’ Union. He left home and became a Party full-timer from 1941.
After leaving the student movement, he joined as a Trade Union organiser, and worked amongst power workers, railway workers, textile workers, defence workers, press workers, engineering workers and so on. He was the pioneer in organizing handloom weavers all over the country. He was the darling leader of All India Federation of Electricity Employees.
For his activities as a student, trade union and Party organiser, he was arrested several times, and spent a total of about four and a half years in jail starting from the ‘Quit India’ (August 1942) Movement. He was underground for nearly two years, during which he worked as a trade union organiser in Calcutta (West Bengal).
He continued his studies which were interrupted several times due to arrests etc. and obtained the M.A. (Economics) and L.L.B. (Bachelor of Law) degrees.
In 1957, he was elected for a five-year term to the Maharashtra State Legislative Assembly.
He was elected to the National Council of the CPI in the year 1968 and to the Party’s Central Executive Committee in the year 1978. In 1982, he was elected to the Party’s Central Secretariat and became the Deputy General Secretary of the CPI in 1995. In the very next year 1996 he was elevated to the post of the General Secretary of the party when Com Indrajeet Gupta was inducted as Home Minister in UPA Government. Since then, he had continuously been elected as General Secretary till 2012 when he decided to step down in view of failing health.
Com. A. B. Bardhan has held several leading positions in the Indian Trade Union Movement, as a top official of several unions and National Federations. He became the General Secretary of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in March 1994, a post which he relinquished on becoming the General Secretary of the Communist Party of India in 1996.
Com. Bardhan was an honest politician with a sweeping view of history and was also a prolific writer. Apart from writing on ideological and political issues, he has written number of books and booklets on problems of Adivasis, minorities, history of working class movement, etc. His last book was ‘Crisis of Corporate Capitalism’ that had number of editions during the last one decade.
Com Bardhan was a multi-faceted leader – a great scholar, an effective orator, organiser, writer, campaigner, crusader, fighter, and negotiator – all in one. He was an uncompromising champion of the downtrodden and the marginalized. He was a very matured and seasoned political leader. His death is a great loss to the workers & engineers movement, trade unions and to the people at large.
We convey our respectful homage to him and dip our banner in respect of legendry trade union leader.
With comradely greetings,
Successful demonstration of Black Badge Wearing
The preparatory exercise for the strike on 11
The
December 2015 has been given a kick start.
Reports are pouring in from State Committees about successful manifestation of black badge
wearing by all the Officers today. All the comrades, including lady comrades and young Direct
Recruit Officers have given splendid response to the first action programme preceding the strike.
Infact, at many of the centres, our Officers were passionately clarifying the reason for wearing of
black badge as well as the proposed strike to the enquiring customers/public. Looking at the spirit
shown by our comrades, we are confident that the decision of the Confederation on the direct
action is on the right path.
Comrades, we have been forced to adopt the path of agitation once again due to dogmatic
approach and attitude of IBA on important issues which were to be taken up immediately after
signing of the joint note. The above issues have direct bearing on the service conditions of the
Officers which can not be ignored. The joint note covered the salary revision but without the
above issues getting resolved, the salary revision would be incomplete. The issues ranging from
benefits to the retirees and reintroduction of Bank level pension scheme for the recruits on or after
1
st
April 2009 are equally important. Besides, the direction of the Government on the Banking
reforms and change in the policies is a serious cause of concern which will have a bearing on the
very survival of Public sector Banks and the job security of the employees. This has to be opposed
tooth & nail and fought with all the resolute at our command. There is no place for complacency as
we are one of the important stakeholders with responsibility to not only protect the interests of the
Officers but also the survival and efficient functioning of Pubic sector Banking in India. After
Independence, the political masters chose the model of ‘mixed economy’ as a policy for
development of our economy looking at the conditions and situation of our country. The sudden
jump from the above model by way of economic reforms indirectly leading to privatization of vital
sectors of economy is already showing its adverse impact on the economy. Banking industry is so
strong in India that none of the global financial crisis have affected us in the past. We, as Officers
of the Banking Industry cannot imagine the strong base to be weakened by faulty policies of the
Government.
A call for demonstration by the State Committees at all the State capitals & Major centres
has been given on 4
th
December 2015 to intensify our agitation. All our Affiliates are requested to
co-ordinate with the respective state committees for the above purpose so that it is a grand
success. The Parliament is in session. The demonstration should be such that the piercing voice
of the Officers of Banking industry is heard in Parliament clearly. We call upon each and every
comrade to participate wholeheartedly in the demonstration as also spread the message to the
Public about the evil designs of the Government so that a favorable public opinion is formed . The
IBA and the Government should be made aware that without the co-operation of Officers’
community, Banking shall come to a standstill. This is just the beginning of a long struggle and we
shall leave no stone unturned for achieving our goal. The struggle of the leaders of yesteryears is
an example before everybody. Coupled with this, the enthusiastic participation of our young
comrades would definitely open the eyes of all concerned.
We once again call upon all our affiliates and state committees to make the above
demonstration as well the strike a grand success.
With Revolutionary greetings,
Yours comradely,
(HARVINDER SINGH)
GENERAL SECRETARY
Yours comradely,
Sd/-
(HARVINDER SINGH)
GENERAL SECRETARY
UNQUOTE: