Interview

The Return Was Always Waiting - In Conversation With Subhashini Ali

In Part 10, Subhashini Ali discusses why she left the politically and culturally charged world of Bombay in the 1980s to return to Kanpur.

Unscripted Lives: Subhashini Ali on Cinema, Struggle, and Silent Labours

In Conversation with Subhashini Ali – Part 9: She shares her unique experiences at the intersection of political activism and filmmaking.

Organising Across Divides: The Rise of the Women’s Movement in Maharashtra

Following the founding conference of AIDWA, a wave of women's activism surged through Maharashtra—especially in Bombay.

The Forest Man of Pulimath: Shaju’s Lifelong Journey of Green Dreams

Meet Shaju, a retired ISRO engineer who turned his Pulimath backyard into a forest with rare trees, earning Kerala’s Vanamithra award for conservation.

Sickles and Slogans: Women Rising from the Ashes of the Emergency

In post-Emergency Mumbai, working-class women led by Ahilya Rangnekar rose against repression, communalism, and poverty. From factory strikes to legal reforms, their struggles helped shape India’s women’s movement and the founding of AIDWA.

From Kanpur to Kurla: In Conversation with Subhashini Ali on the Emergency Years

Young Subhashini Ali’s life transformed amid the Railway Strike of 1974 and the Emergency of 1975. From resisting police brutality to organizing with working-class women in Bombay.

Labour, Loss and Legacy: In Conversation With Subhashini Ali

In this conversation with Subhashini Ali, we explore the turbulent times of Kanpur’s workers, the leadership that shaped their struggles, and the enduring fight for workers' rights amidst shifting industrial landscapes.

Captain Lakshmi: Arms, a Stethoscope, and the Party In Conversation with Subhashini Ali

In Part Four of this interview, Subhashini Ali reflects on the life of her mother, Captain Lakshmi Sahgal—freedom fighter, doctor, and revolutionary. She shares insights into why her mother joined the CPI(M) at the age of 57, calling it a “homecoming” after decades of activism and dedication to the people.

Kanpur, 1970s: Strikes, Struggles, and Solidarity: In Conversation With Subhashini Ali

In Conversation With Subhashini Ali, Part 3, we explore the impact of the 1970s Leftist surge in India on the workers' movements in Kanpur. From strikes in the jute mills to the rise of youth activism, the conversation sheds light on how political shifts, labour struggles, and personal transformations shaped the fight for workers' rights during this transformative period.

What India Needs Now: A Political and Cultural Cure - An Exclusive Interview with M.A. Baby

In an exclusive conversation with Deshabhimani Digital Media Coordinating Editor Sajan Evuj, CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby outlines the action plan adopted by the Party Congress to intensify the battle against communal forces and anti-people policies.

Women, Ethnic Divides, the BJP’s Divide-and-Rule, and Corporate Shadows in Manipur

Deshabhimani in conversation with CPIM Manipur State Secretary Kshetrimayum Santa. He talks about the current state of affairs in Manipur.

“Protect CPIM at Any Cost: Don’t Let BJP-RSS Repeat Gujarat’s Takeover,” Says Jitendra Bhatt

CPIM Gujarat State Secretary warns, “Protect CPIM at any cost! Don’t let BJP-RSS take over the way they did to us in Gujarat.” In a conversation with Deshabhimani Jitendra Bhatt talks about how BJP’s divisive tactics and authoritarian rule in Gujarat threaten democracy, urging Kerala to stand strong against the BJP-RSS agenda and defend secular values.

Imperial Echoes And Working-Class Voices - In Conversation With Harsev Bains

Deshabhimani is in conversation with Harsev Bains, former General Secretary of the Association of Indian Communists (AIC) and current President of the Indian Workers Association (IWA). As a delegate to the 24th CPI(M) Party Congress, he discusses the AIC’s global solidarity efforts, the rise of youth movements, and working-class struggles in Britain.

Introduced to Radicalism Abroad Came Home To The Communist Party

From FBI raids in the US to fierce trade union battles in Kanpur, the second part of the interview with Subhashini Ali follows a life shaped by activism, class struggle, and the relentless fight for workers' rights. It reveals the personal cost of standing against oppression and the enduring power of solidarity, woven through arrests, protests, and political upheavals.

A Legacy of Struggle: In Conversation with Subhashini Ali Part 1

In this conversation, Subhashini Ali reflects on her journey into the Communist Party of India (Marxist), drawing inspiration from her parents’ extraordinary contributions to India’s freedom struggle. This dialogue highlights the crucial moments that led Subhashini to join the party, alongside her mother’s eventual embrace of communism, creating a remarkable family legacy of political dedication.