India
needs an atmosphere where people can have interactions and dialogues and not
argumentative Indians, said author Anant Vijay while discussing his latest book
“Marxwad ka Ardhsatya” at the Kitaab book launch event organized by Prabha
Khaitan Foundation from Kolkata. Vijay’s latest book is a scathing jeremiad on
the double standards of Marxists about whom he says, “They never practice what
they preach.”
Eminent
litterateurs, scholars, book lovers, students and journalists from across the
country joined online for an engaging hour-long session with the author who was
in conversation with senior journalist Bishambhar Newar. Chief Guest Sri
Bhupendra Yadav, Rajya Sabha MP, flagged off the session saying, “Anant’s book
helps us confront the truth about Marxists and see facts from close quarters.
While Marxists use poverty as a means to gain power, eliminating poverty is
never on their agenda.”
Clarifying that
his book, based on 12 years of research and case studies, is not against
Marxism but against the Marxists who are rank opportunists driven by selfish
motives and scant consideration of the wishes of the people whose cause they
claim to espouse. “Money and power is the summum bonnum of Marxists and
the egalitarian concepts they tomtom are hollow and vacuous,” he said.
“My book is more
about Marxists and their double standards and not against Marxism as such. The
only point I raise against Marxism is that there is no mention of environment
anywhere in the whole treatise. This, I think, is a major oversight of
Marxism,” Vijay said, responding to a question.
The author, who is
the managing trustee of Kalamkar
Foundation which works on Indian languages, sounded a cautionary note, “Though
people have rejected Marxism across the world but ideologies don’t die. They
may run out of followers. However, the Marxists are phoenix-like, always ready
to rise, subvert and dominate.”
“Anant Vijay’s
book is a culmination of deep research and provides and alternative view of
Marxists. His scathing and seemingly rock-ribbed views of Marxists is amply
backed by case studies which he presents with a candour verging on gusto. His
meticulous approach to the subject is a testimony of his journalistic skills,”
said Sundeep Bhutoria of Prabha Khaitan Foundation.
The author touched
upon the dubious global agenda of China, Xi Xinping, the secret lives of Mao
and Fidel Castro and so on to drive home his argument that Marxists in action
causing an infinity of sufferings to further their selfish ends. Taking a dig
at the so called “progressive writers”, Vijay said, “What kind of progress it
is that drives you away from your nation’s heritage.”
The different
genres of books authored by Anant Vijay include Parivartan ki Or, Loktantra
ki Kasauti, Bollywood Selfie, Mere Patra, Kahani and Vidhaon ka Vinyas.
Kitaab is an
initiative of Kolkata-based organization Prabha Khaitan Foundation which
provides a forum for book launches by connecting intellectuals, book lovers and
litterateurs with authors. Eminent authors like Shashi Tharoor, Vikram Sampath,
Salman Khurshid, Kunal Basu, Vir Sanghvi, Vikas Jha, Luke Kutinho and others
have earlier had book launching sessions at Kitaab.

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