Periodicals
Lahiri explains, “In India journalists started publishing their own periodicals. Liberation in English, Deshabrati in Bengali. They reproduced articles from Chinese Communist magazines. Udayan began bringing them home. This rhetoric is nothing new, their father said, leafing through a copy. Our generation read Marx, too.” The periodicals are emblematic of various ideologies. Each periodical publicizes the ideology which it endorses. The intent of the authors is to persuade the reader’s conviction with the ideologies.
Golf
Lahiri expounds, “But Udayan said that golf was the past time of the comprador bourgeoisie. He said the Tolly club was proof that India was still a semicolonial country, behaving as if the British had never left." Golf is indicative of high-class, because the underprivileged cannot afford to play it. The club offers an avenue for the class-linked golf to flourish.
Boycotts
Lahiri elucidates, “Echoing Paris, echoing Berkeley, exams were boycotted throughout Calcutta, diplomas torn up. Students called out during convocation addresses, disrupting the speakers.” The boycotts (which are rife in 1968) demonstrate that the students are dissatisfied with the education system which they deem to be irrelevant. They feel that their diplomas would not aid them if the education does not consider their Indian circumstances. Their actions call on the government to overhaul the entire education system.
Peasants
Lahiri reports, “Peasant rebels were creating stronghold where no policeman dread enter. Landowners were fleeing.” The peasant’s revolution demonstrates that they are powerful despite their low status. They combine forces in the revolution which terrifies the few landowners. The peasants are displeased with inequality especially in terms of land which triggers them to confront the landowners. Peasants are influential in revolutions since the bear the paramount burden in unequal societies.
Mao
Lahiri explains, “ The meeting was orderly, run like a study session. ..One by one they were called upon to prove their familiarity with events in Chinese history, tenets of Mao.” The attendees of the meeting are Indian students. They focus on Mao’s philosophies for they are convinced about his ideals. They take notes so they can review them and refer to them in the course of the revolution. Mao’s influence goes beyond the Chines’ borders because his ideology is persuasive and promising for the peasants.
