Expressing concern over the work done by Marxists across the globe being underestimated, Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Brinda Karat said on Monday that the need of the hour was to make Mythily Sivaraman’s book, Haunted by Fire: Essays on Caste, Class, Exploitation and Emancipation, available in all educational institutions and libraries.
Describing the book, released at the India International Centre here, as a significant work, Ms. Karat said it represents the work of a woman who was an ideologue of many movements and documented the entire work of the Dravidian movement.
“Mythily is a communist and has been living the life of a communist. She believes in certain things and fought for them. Despite being busy, she found the time to do things that interested her. She is a very talented writer.”
Ms. Karat added: “We can be critical of a political party, but that does not give us the right to interpret Mythily’s life. She fought for every single idea without compromise.” The CPI(M) leader said the book was a lesson for all trade union movements like the ongoing one at Maruti.
Mythily’s daughter K. Kalpana said: “Her coverage of the first DMK regime, her inquisitiveness to find out whether the red flag was flying in different villages and her coverage of M.G. Ramachandran and Anna Durai are works that can be studied by students of political science and history.”
