On 17 December, a memorial meeting for Comrade Meena Rai, Managing Editor of Janmat, was organized at Anjuman-e-Rooh-e-Adab, Allahabad. The event showcased the vibrant life of Comrade Meena Rai, who was a friend, mentor and comrade to many young activists. On one side of the venue there was a book stall and on the other side, excerpts from her incomplete autobiography ‘Samar na jite koi' along with various photographs of her. The memorial event cherished her life and work that continues to be an inspiration and strength for all.
Speaking at the memorial meeting, Dipankar Bhattacharya, General Secretary of CPI(ML) said that Comrade Meena had dedicated her life and work to connect to the people and building a collective. In politics, we talk about socialisation of capital, but there can be socialisation of life also, the example of which has been set by Meena ji.
She was steadfast in ensuring continuous publishing and distribution of Samkaleen Janmat magazine, and making it available to the people. She was the backbone of the whole process. The sudden demise of Comrade Meenaji has left a vacuum, but as she envisioned the power of collective efforts we as a group will have to try to carry froward her work and legacy. The period when Meena ji joined the party was the time of re-organisation of CPIML. In that difficult period, she showed how socialism is not only a goal but also a journey. Her solace was in collective work.
Writer Neelam Shankar remembered the many hats that Comrade Meena Rai wore. Comrade Shashi Yadav spoke about multiple roles and responsibilities that Meena Rai was carrying. Her dedication is a source of inspiration. Dr. Padma Singh, Preeti Sinha, Secretary of the Progressive Writers Association, Poet Sandhya Navodat, school teachers Ruchi, Sneha or young teacher and chorus partner Ruchi Dixit or Shivani, Parveen of the locality- for all of them Comrade Meena Rai was always a friend, mentor and comrade who was always there when needed.
In the second session of the memorial event, an Audio-Visual story about Comrade Meena Rai, prepared together by Sanjay Joshi and Ankur was shown in which she talked about her dreams, importance of collective and desire to create a better world. The event ended with a resolve to collectively carry forward her ideas, work and legacy.
