KARACHI - The 1917 October socialist revolution in Russia is one among the notable social incidents in known history that dismantled the Tsarist autocracy and passed the rule in the hands of the oppressed notably workers and peasants. The revolutions made the oppressed the owner of their resources and gave the women the equal rights as men. The growing crisis of capitalism created a global economic imbalance, conflict on resources and wars. The greed for more profit polluted the environment, thus, putting the humans in peril. Their solution lies in learning and benefitting from the revolutions.
The speakers at a seminar to celebrate the century of the Russian Socialist Revolution said this at the arts council in Karachi on Saturday.
The event was organised by the National Trade Union Federation in collaboration with the Arts Council of Pakistan.
A book with 8 research articles on “100 years of Bolshivik Revolution” was also launched on the occasion.
They said that people were fighting against slavery and capitalism for over two centuries before they could finally bring socialism in Russia under Lenin to end the class-based system. Because of the revolutions, they were able to make Russia one of the strongest economies in few decades. There they ensured just ownership of the resources and maintained equity.
Before the revolution, Russia was called the prison of nations as many of them were suffering in Tsar empire. After that, people got their rights and were allowed to express themselves through their culture or other means. They were free to exercise their right to self-determination and opt to part ways if they want. Finland declared itself independent stare while Belarus, Kazakhstan and Ukraine became members of UNO independently are few examples of emancipation of oppressed nationalities.
The central and south Asian states where the literacy rate was lower than two percent got inspired by the Revolution and some of them later emerged states with nearly zero illiteracy. Socialism provided as much assistance to the movements against the colonial rules, including that in India.
The speakers said that the revolutions occurred during the World War I and as a very first thing socialist Russia moved out of the war and raised the peace slogan. The capitalist and their companions, however, joined hands globally and started conspiring against the socialist state. They manipulated at least 13 imperialist states including Britain and Japan into attacking Russia.
For the first time, women were able to cast their vote, marry according to their will; so divorce, and were brought equal to the status of men in the society - because of the Revolution. The first female ambassador and astronaut are from the same place.
In 2nd world War Soviet Union played vital role to defeat fascism of Hitler by sacrificed 20 millions of its citizens which unleash great energy for establishment of democratic , social justice order in Europe and nation liberation struggles of nations including India all over world against colonial yoke.
They said that though it had been 26 years since socialism in Soviet Union was bulldozed but it were not the end because another movement - more experienced than the previous - was on it way against capitalism, fascism, religious fanaticism, dictatorship & ecological disasters. They urged people to take lessons from the Revolution and prepare for a struggle, however.
NTUF Nasir Mansoor, HBWWF Zehra Khan, teachers from various institutions, poet, writers, President Art Council Pakistan among others, spoke at the seminar. Young workers’ theatre group “Apna Theatre” paid tributes to the revolution.