Between God and Marx

8226; It was on a Friday in 2004 that my grandmother died. In Muslim homes in Kannur, children are closer to their grandmother than their mother. Most mothers would have given birth to four or five children by age 20 and the children are virtually brought up by their grandmothers. When my grandmother died, I was in Ernakulam, campaigning for Sebastian Paul the party8217;s candidate there.

The body was taken for burial after I reached home in the evening. When I reached the mosque, I felt uncomfortable: I wanted to be part of the prayers but being a communist, it would lead to confusion. So I asked Comrade Memikka 8212; if Comrade in Kerala meant P Krishna Pillai, Comrade in my village meant Memikka alias Moydeen. He just turned around. When the mourners returned after prayers, Memikka and I were standing outside, leaning against the wall of the mosque. I ignored comments about the communist grandson who boycotted his grandmother8217;s funeral prayers.

A year later, Comrade Memikka lost his mother. I saw him offer prayers on that day. When he came out, I protested. He told me: 8220;Abdullakkutty, it8217;s my mother who died. I could not have not offered funeral prayers.8221;

That was when I realised my mistake. When I recently went for umra, I performed it for a second time 8212; for my grandmother 8212; and repaid an old debt.

8226; I think George Bernard Shaw8217;s observation about Islam 8212; the best religion and worst followers 8212; is true for all religions today. The problem is not with the religion but its followers. I am now an average Muslim who believes in his religion. My respect for other religions has only gone up because of that. Where has it been said that a true communist cannot believe in God? The party guidelines or Marxist-Leninist texts don8217;t say anywhere that you should not believe in any religion.

Since social existence is what moulds one8217;s social consciousness, religious factors cannot be wished away. True liberation is possible only through a procedure which addresses the diversity of social existence. Religion plays an important role in it.

The party CPM has to show more clarity in its approach to religious belief to liberate society from class oppression and exploitation in the Indian situation as religions are deeply rooted here. I believe the party should be generous to accept and support the progressive views in religions. I don8217;t think I am the only one to think this way, but many are not willing to come out and speak. I hope I can generate a constructive dialogue within the party and outside.

8226; There was a controversy surrounding the death of Mathai Chacko. Chacko was a CPM MLA and a colleague of Abdullakkutty from their SFI days. The presence of a priest during his last moments had led to a war between the local Bishop, Paul Chittilappally, and State party chief Pinarayi Vijayan. The Bishop said the party denied Chacko a decent burial though he had received 8220;the sacrament of the anointing of the sick8221; from a Catholic priest. Chacko was buried by the party and not at a church-run cemetery. Vijayan called the priest a hated creature who cast aspersions on a blessed communist8217;s life. Anyone who takes pride in the communist personality of Chacko cannot blame the stand taken by Comrade Vijayan or the party. But what puts people like me in trouble is the approach that it was a grave mistake if Chacko had received the sacrament from a Catholic priest.

I was at a public meeting near Kozhikode after his death and speaker after speaker stressed that Chacko was a true communist who never practised religion, never went to church and never baptised his children. I was feeling guilty. If not following religion is essential to a communist, how can I, who followed my religion at every crucial turn in my life, say boldly that I have been a good communist?

8226; My marriage was a religious ceremony, we only exchanged red garlands for the party. I give my son religious education, my uncle Moosan Musaliar teaches him the Quran. He has been circumsised according to Islamic rules and when I moved into a new house, the housewarming, too, was done according to my religious rules. Why I say this is because I want the helplessness of the communist who practises religion on the sly to be over.

I think the party leadership is still confused about defining the party8217;s relationship with religion. Maybe that8217;s why a lot of people who are close to the party say that 8216;8216;Abdullakkutty will not become a leader in the party because he believes in God8221;.

Courtesy: Madhyamam