Commemorating Cultural Resistance Day: Remembering Martyrs of 2055 BS

Chaitra 5 marks Cultural Resistance Day! It is the 28th anniversary of the supreme martyrdom of young, unarmed cultural artists Chyanga Lama, Manju Kunwar, Chinimaya Tamang, Gumbasing Tamang, Subhadra Sapkot, Dambar Shrestha, and Nirmala Devkota in Anekot, Kavre district, adjacent to the capital Kathmandu Valley, on Chaitra 5, 2055 BS.

This was during the period when our glorious party, the then CPN (Maoist), had initiated the fierce People's War for the liberation and progress of Nepal and the Nepali people on Falgun 1, 2052 BS, and it was continuously developing and expanding. On this very day in 2055 BS, the above-mentioned cultural resistors were preparing for a cultural program while staying in a thatched-roof house in a hilly village of Anekot, Kavre. It was at that moment that the lackeys and agents of the parliamentarian reactionaries set the house on fire and brutally and cruelly murdered these promising talents on Chaitra 5, 2055 BS. 

In memory and honor of this great and historic day, recognizing that cultural resistance was the concentrated form of ideological-political and military resistance of the People's War, we, from the party center of the then CPN (Maoist), decided in 2057 BS to observe Chaitra 5 as Cultural Resistance Day, aiming to elevate the overall resistance struggle and culture from the field of cultural resistance and intensify the People's War, deciding to increase resistance on all fronts.

Subsequently, the All Nepal Progressive Cultural Association (ANPOCA), our mass organization, also embraced the spirit and significance of this day and decided to observe the Resistance Day powerfully and widely. Chaitra 5 is the day when true Maoist revolutionaries, wherever they are, however many they are, and in whatever way they can, continue to observe and celebrate Cultural Resistance Day.

However, the sad irony is that today neither that true Maoist party exists, nor does that true proletarian resistance culture and cultural association exist, nor is there any effective resistance—be it ideological, political, military, or cultural. What exists is only the culture and practice of becoming rainbow Maoists who blow their own trumpets and cash in on the contributions and sacrifices of the People's War, and becoming so-called revolutionary communists divided into a hundred fragments. Perhaps that is why no true revolutionary force, individual, group, organization, platform, front, movement, or campaign remembers or honors anyone other than their own declared, directed, and traditionally historical day, personality, or leadership.

 As an exception, honoring Pushpa Lal is sometimes seen, whether willingly or unwillingly, but beyond that, honoring is often done in fragmented forms such as ethnic, regional, or familial, rather than honoring holistically. The work or name might be honored if it belongs to one's own ethnicity, region, or family, or if it relates to one's own subject, department, or emotional connection. While this practice is comparatively better than not honoring or rejecting/neglecting such historical matters, overall, it is a product of selfish thinking and culture.

Due to the above reasons, today, not only the sacrifices and contributions of these cultural warriors but also those of any warriors are not truly honored. Therefore, we must rise above the preceding narrow thinking, style, custom, and culture within our respective groups, embrace a broad perspective, that is, realize the immense responsibility of completing the revolution, and just as the then Maoists highly valued the contributions of Pushpa Lal and the Jhapa Rebellion, we, the forces or individuals claiming to be true communist revolutionaries today, must think and act in this manner regarding all issues.

This commentator speaks not only by virtue of being a founder of the All Nepal Progressive Cultural Association established under the leadership of Parijat in Chaitra 2037 BS, or as a leader who initiated the Maoist party and the People's War, or as one of the Central leaders of the Maoists who decided to observe Chaitra 5 as Cultural Resistance Day in 2057 BS, but as a responsible and truthful revolutionary activist. However, in this context, the commentator is honestly self-critical of the compelling situation where they have been unable to do more than write this commentary.

While many respected individuals may not believe this when stated or done, anyone with a sincere mind and intellect who observes and understands the overall thoughts and conduct of this commentator now and in the future will find this statement based on facts to be true. The commentator is confident that the underlying goodwill is clear: even if they have not done or have done little, they wish for others to do the right and good work.

In any case, today, true communist revolutionary thought and politics, the proletarian party and organization, and resistance struggle and culture are in a defensive state, leading to surrender before imperialists and reactionaries under the pretext of defense, and even those calling themselves revolutionary Marxists are sinking into the quagmire of parliamentary and peaceful struggle in the name of reform. In this situation, the necessity and justification for intensifying powerful resistance from the field of revolutionary struggle and culture, in addition to the ideological-political sphere, against foreign imperialism and domestic reactionism have increased manifold.

Fulfilling this necessity is the true revolutionary political duty, and observing this Cultural Resistance Day and remembering and honoring all martyrs is the essence of Chaitra 5.

Heartfelt tribute, indelible memory, and revolutionary salute to all brave martyrs!

Long Live Cultural Resistance Day!!