Thread by @alexgordon4me

Reflections on Kerala: a visit to India's communist state is an eye-opener. On my first morning in Tivandrum I joined a protest by train drivers (loco pilots) at Indian Railways HQ demanding improved rosters, rest breaks and better conditions for women drivers. Familiar, eh? 1/x

Everywhere - and I mean eveywhere - in Trivandrum you are greeted by red flags with hammers and sickles and revolutionary slogans. Busy roundabouts, bus stops, shops, houses, random flagpoles absolutely everywhere. Photos don't do it justice. Luckily, I brought one of my own. 2/x

I was privileged to be invited to address a special retirement celebration for three stalwart comrades from the Dakshin (Southern) Railway Workers' Union @DREU_CITU. This all-grades union leads the fight against privatisation of Indian Railways, which the Modi govt has begun. 3/x

At the offices of communist newspaper, Deshabimani (Patriot deshabhimani.com) the third most widely-read Malayalam language daily paper, we visited the editorial offices, the printing press and the distribution section. More below. 4/x

Deshabimani prints 150,000 copies daily from 10 different printing centres across Kerala. The press also publishes journals for class struggle trade unions affiliated to @CituKerala

At the Kerala State @CPIMKerala Central Committee offices I met the State Secretary and visited the library and newspaper archive. 6/x

Over the road for tea with staff at Chintha Weekly @CPIMKerala magazine of culture and politics (circulation a mere 60,000). Editor Thomas Isaac, ex-Finance Minister in the Left Democratic Front govt writes extensively on Kerala's worker co-ops and ecological sustainability. 7/x

Then to @CPIMKerala cadre school in 30 acres of tropical forest. 'EMS Academy' is named for Elamkulam Manakkal Sankaran Namboodiripad, Chief Minister of Kerala (1957–59). A new book newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/… says he was overthrown by British tea planters before re-election in 1967.

Pit stop to speak with a local branch committee. This is the organic basis of @CPIMKerala. A dozen or so members in a locality can form a branch, branches are grouped in districts right up to State Committee level. This branch office is a roadside cafe, meeting place and VERY red

Link for Chintha Weekly chintha.in covering matters domestic and international. See current issue on 'Vaikom Satyagraha: from Revival to Freedom' on the 1924-5 nonviolent campaign for 'Untouchable' access to Vaikom Temple in the Kingdom of Travancore (today's Kerala)

Opening ceremony of International Labour Conclave 2023. Standing with (l-r) Premal Kumar Khanal (President @Peoples_WFTU, Nepal), K. Hemalata (President @cituhq, India @cpimspeak) and Janaka Adikari (GS, Inter Company Employees' Union, People's Liberation Front JVP, Sri Lanka) twitter.com/i/web/status/1…

International Labour Conclave 2023 #ILC23, Kerala. Session 1: Rights, Legislation, and Social Protection with @ElamaramKareem_ MP; K. Hemalata, President @cituhq (“United Actions of the Working Class Alone Can Protect Workers’ Rights”); and K. Chandru, ret'd High Court Judge 11/x

#ILC23 International Worker Representatives on importance of workers’ rights at the present moment: Ronaldo Leite #CTB Brazil; @khanal_premal President @Peoples_WFTU Nepal; @JanakaAdikari Sri Lanka; @jnmedina8989 @amazonlabor NYC; @alexgordon4me President, @RMTunion Britain. 12/x

Followed by a visit to @CituKerala State Committee Office at invitation of Secretary K. N. Gopinath, President Anandan Ganesh (whose son lives in East Ham, London) and VP Mercikuttyamma. The site has a theatre, library and separate buildings for all @cituhq affiliated unions 13/x

Then to Kerala Institute of Labour & Employment kile.kerala.gov.in providing research, publications, education and training for trade unionists, migrant workers, students and co-ops. Thanks to Director J.N.Kiran, Project Coordinator Jasmi Begum and Publicity Asst Surya Heman

CORRECTION: I am informed by comrade Sajith from the editorial team that Deshabhimani's daily circulation is over 700,000, not 150,000 as I incorrectly stated. I stand corrected.