Journalist Krishna Sen 'Ichhuk' Memorial Day Observed

Today, Jestha 13, is the memorial day of litterateur and journalist Krishna Sen 'Ichhuk'. It has been 24 years (Jestha 13, 2059 BS) since the loyal person Ichhuk was brutally murdered in a cowardly manner by the then royal government. 

Even today, various parties and leaders from the former Maoist faction are organizing formal programs in his memory, discussing his contributions. If everyone could make sacrifices like Ichhuk, society would develop and transform without delay. 

Krishna Sen always played the role of a symbol of sacrifice. He was never concerned with personal gain, position, prestige, or facilities. His nature was to give everything to others, thinking 'I have enough'. Remembering his memorial day, it is essential for all leaders and cadres to learn this quality and implement it in practice. 

There are many flaws within the current democratic republic system, due to which society is deviating towards confusion and deviation rather than revolutionary transformation. This trend is increasing. In today's situation where society is moving towards confusion and deviation, embracing a culture of sacrifice and dedication will be the only true tribute to Krishna Sen. 

He was arrested and tortured to death at the Mahendra Police Club in Kathmandu by the then Royal Government of Nepal because he joined the armed conflict initiated by the then CPN (Maoist). This incident came to light after Janastha Weekly first reported on his murder. 

• Literary and Political Journey

Ichhuk's family moved from Pyuthan district's Sarangkot to Arghakhanchi's Jaluke VDC 7, Satmara. His father was employed in the Indian Army. Ichhuk was born on Kartik 2, 2013 BS, to father Yam Bahadur Sen and mother Bhimkumari Sen in India. His childhood until the age of 6 was spent in various places in India.  

Ichhuk studied from class 1 to 8 at Shree Adarsha Ma Vi in Deukhuri, Dang district. After that, he passed the SLC from Saraswati High School in Lalmatiya, Dang district, in 2032 BS. Despite his desire to study, due to poverty, he worked at the Salt Trading office in Koilabasa after SLC.  

While working, he passed IA through private exams from India. He then completed B.Ed. from Tribhuvan University and enrolled in MA, but he could not complete his MA as he became active in people's movements and protests. Krishna Sen married Takma KC in 2048 BS, and they have one daughter (Samiksha). 

From his school days, Ichhuk was influenced by political ideologies that favored the people. Sen, who joined the Communist Party in 2034 BS, led the student movement actively in Dang from 2037 BS.  

He entered literature in 2033 BS with the publication of the poem 'Bholiprati' in Matribhumi Weekly. While in Dang jail, after the murder of student leader Mitrapani Acharya, he wrote the poem 'Shokanjali' in his honor and memory, which was his first published work in 2048 BS.  

Several of his famous works, written during his imprisonment, including 'Itihas ko yo ghadi ma', 'Bandi ra Chandragiri', 'Shokanjali', and about half a dozen other creations by the renowned journalist Ichhuk, are well-known. During the student movement of 2036 BS, Krishna Sen was arrested by the administration of the autocratic Panchayat system.  

After being released from jail, he enrolled in Mahendra Campus in Dang. While studying at campus and active in the student movement, Sen was arrested again in 2039 BS. The autocratic rulers of that time imprisoned him for five and a half consecutive years, and he was released from jail only in 2044 BS. 

In 2045 BS, he became the central coordinator of the organizing committee for the All Nepal National Free Students Union's national conference. In 2046 BS, he served as the secretary of the Rapti Zonal Bureau of the Communist Party, and later became a central member of the United People's Front Nepal. He also served as the chairman of the All Nepal Cultural Association, a councilor of the Progressive Writers' Association, a councilor of the Federation of Journalists, a member of the South Asian Journalists Association, and a member of the People's Rights Concern Campaign.  

Sen, a powerful progressive poet, people-oriented journalist, and a loyal politician who awakened himself and others, was influenced by communist ideology and philosophy from the 1980s. During the Maoist armed conflict, Ichhuk, who was the editor of Janadesh, the mouthpiece of the then CPN (Maoist), was multi-talented.  

He is known as a people's poet, writer, war correspondent, people's war fighter, political thinker, and a strong human rights activist who wrote for the poor and oppressed. The autocratic royal regime could not tolerate the freedom fighters who fought for the people. As a result, he was imprisoned and tortured for ten years in various stints.  

Finally, on Jestha 6, 2059 BS, he was arrested and held in custody at the Mahendra Police Club, where he was tortured inhumanely and murdered on Jestha 13, 2059 BS.  

Ichhuk, who was active in the communist movement as a member of the Communist Party through the student movement, never prioritized his personal happiness. His way of thinking was different. The idea of earning wealth and living comfortably never crossed his mind. What occupied his mind was the talk of people's liberation, taking the people's movement to new heights, and establishing a just and honest state system by overthrowing the state system based on exploitation and corruption. 

He held his ideology very firmly and was dedicated to implementing it in his life. There was a profound unity between his words and actions. Because of this, he fearlessly plunged into the movement throughout his life. In his life of just 46 years, he spent about 10 years in jail. Even when his life was extinguished after being brutally beaten continuously for a week in police custody, his ideology, beliefs, and integrity did not waver. 

Krishna Sen Ichhuk was a shining symbol of sacrifice, bravery, and martyrdom. He lived not for himself, but to uplift the oppressed. He lived with the aim of building a just, peaceful, and beautiful society by empowering the weak through ideology, organization, and struggle. He sacrificed his life in defense of that goal. 

Ichhuk fought and died for an advanced society and a new state system. Is this the society or state system? Is this justice? Is this good governance? Is this integrity? Is this the country? Are these the parties? Are these the leaders? Are these the cadres? His martyrdom raises these and many other questions today. 

• Krishna Sen Ichhuk Cultural Foundation

The Ichhuk Cultural Foundation has been established in memory of Sen. The foundation has instituted the Ichhuk Memorial Award and the Ichhuk Pratibha Award. These awards are given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the field of people's literature and art. In addition, the foundation publishes and disseminates works created by Ichhuk.  

The then Unified CPN (Maoist) launched Krishna Sen Online on Ashoj 11, 2060 BS, in Sen's name. From 2064 BS, they republished Janadisha Daily and Janadesh Weekly. Currently, the party he was dedicated to, CPN (Maoist), is resorting to various tactics to survive in parliamentary politics, abandoning Maoist ideology.  

Key figures from the initiation of the people's war, such as Pushpa Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda', Mohan Baidya (Kiran), Ram Bahadur Thapa (Badal), and Dr. Baburam Bhattarai, have joined various political parties. While all leaders claim to fulfill the dreams of the martyrs of the people's war, their working styles and behaviors differ.  

Due to factionalism, splits, and deviations within the Maoist party, all these publications are currently closed. It is still not understood why the Maoist party, which has led the government multiple times after the peace process, does not want to republish Sen's legacies. Sen's dreams are yet to be realized. Heartfelt tributes to the great cultural martyr Krishna Sen Ichhuk!