Defeating Anti-Democratic Forces in Cadre-based Organizations

People generally get accustomed to the established order of things and begin to tremble at the very idea of a change. It is this lethargical spirit that needs be replaced by the revolutionary spirit. - Bhagat Singh

When people with vision to see beyond personal ambitions come together, a cadre movement takes birth! It protects itself from the society which is infected with egocentrism, in-order to work for the same society! But to what extent it can remain different from the society? Individuals who are deeply pained to see people around them suffer and have the will to use their energy which can contribute to the society in parallel with their own development as an activist, look for a platform to fulfill this ambition. Cadre-based organizations have been the second home of such people where their selflessness and sensitivity is shared by the cadre working alongside.

It's Day One!

The expectations from the organization are null. In-fact the energy and enthusiasm to try every thing every time is truly exciting! Ideas are flowing from their mind and each day brings in a new question which seeks only solutions. The process of judging them has not been started yet, hence they don't have to think a lot while working. Organization's office turns into home, cadre turns into family and organizations goals become their life's goals. They have to struggle hard which is the basic trait of an activist, but this struggle gives them the satisfaction that can be equated to nothing else! They start developing the ability to think, analyze and make independent opinions. They start to understand the background for every action and then finally they are introduced to the bunch of great people nicknamed as 'great men', for whom they have to develop immense blind faith.

All animals are equal but some or more equal!

Meet the sacred devil 'great men' who are above the usual cadre that exhibit humbleness. With immense efforts they establish themselves as known individuals being different from the majority unknown cadre. Reaching here is not so easy. The narration of journey of this great people to such position is an inspiration for all. With immense power that can even diminish organization's democratic setup when needed. They decide the fate of the cadres. Being loyal to them is termed as being loyal to the organization. Their opinion is termed as the final word. They are wiser than the wisest. While most of them think that their extraordinary powers is for the larger good, some use it to for their selfish interests.

So how can this two completely distinct group of cadre and their 'great men' survive together? The answer lies in the lines of confrontation which are none. It is an arrangement that suits both sides. Loyalty to the 'great men' guarantees the cadre higher roles in the organization. Some have this aim as their single-point agenda while others want to use it to seek the authority that would help them serve in a better way and move in the right direction. This stagnant system leads to the organization in working condition but with no room for change.

Things start to change when the ''great men' start feeling insecurity about their positions which took them a long time to achieve. Who brings in this change? The argumentative individual who is selflessly devoted towards the organization has arrived! The one for whom his own ideas can be thrown away to fulfill the ideas of his colleagues with respect to the organization's methodology. He is unstoppable as he expects nothing in return but has everything to offer. The revolutionary spirit to question every wrongdoing or injustice against an individual in the organization gives opportunity for the cadres to breath freely. The organization starts to rise in every aspect and the last standing cadre becomes part of the decision-making as a sense of ownership is instilled in everyone. Continuous churning of ideas and discarding things that are 'irrelevant, illogical and irrational' becomes the new parallel. The cadre starts walking together irrespective of the hierarchy  with deep trust in each other towards a path that leads towards perfection. But in the middle of it, the revolutionary soul rises in the organization to a position where he cannot remain unnoticed and his view cannot be easily discarded posing challenge to the 'great men'. This is where the battle begins.

The dark days have arrived!

The insecure 'great men' use all the powers vested into them to dislodge this alternative leadership that has risen not by his own wish but as a part of the journey to the destination that everyone has set together. When no mistakes can be committed by the revolutionaries, rumour mongering is done to discredit them. Their spirit to take everyone along is used against them by compelling them to take back-steps each time 'great men' dissent with ideas presented by the revolutionaries. Each individual who tries to stand with this revolutionaries are shown the way out of the organization. Miscommunication and confusion are crafted amongst the cadre to create factions. The suddenness of this attack makes the revolutionaries suffer badly. Few immediately quit while few suffocate inside dying moment by moment witnessing the plight of the organization for which they had worked hard. The difficulty of the revolutionaries to act against their own men leads to their innumerable defeats. But more than the defeats, realizing the strategies puts them in deep pain. This strategies are used to dislodge honest, committed, selfless individuals that were dear to them, whose ambitions were mission to them. The transformation that they undergo after this humiliation is more painful for the revolutionaries. Atlast the revolutionaries quit which brings the old days of stagnation again!

Game over? Not Yet!

The victory of 'great men' is not permanent as they are just few individuals while revolutionaries are the majority spirit whose idea never dies. In-fact it passes on from one generation to another which uses the past experience to fight more fiercely to instill democracy in the organization. The revolutionaries become more organized as they share the common idea, completely trust each other and past sacrifices motivate them. They have nothing to lose but everything to gain. The battle continues till the righteousness wins and the 'great men' are exposed and either transformed or removed.

- Anand Purohit

(Views expressed are made observing various social organizations in the society)

A message for the revolutionaries:

Crush your individuality first. Shake off the dreams of personal comfort. Then start to work. Inch by inch you shall have to proceed. It needs courage, perseverance and very strong determination. No difficulties and no hardships shall discourage you. No failure and betrayals shall dishearten you. No travails  imposed upon you shall snuff out the revolutionary will in you. Through the ordeal of sufferings and sacrifice you shall come out victorious. And these individual victories shall be the valuable assets of the revolution. - Bhagat Singh