DAMMAM, 9 December 2006 — T.K. Hamza, a prominent leader of the ruling Communist Party (Marxist) and Malabar-based social activist, called for unity among Keralites to boost the state’s overall development.
“Kerala has made substantial gains during the past 50 years and achieved remarkable progress in the health care and education sectors, but we need to concentrate on industry and agriculture in the coming years,” he told Arab News.
Hamza, who is a member of the Indian Parliament from the Manjeri constituency, said parliamentarians from Kerala, though they belong to different political parties, should stand united in seeking solutions to Kerala’s pressing problems.
He was all praise for non-resident Keralites (NRKs) working abroad, especially in the Gulf for their contributions toward the state’s economic progress.
“The NRKs have contributed significantly to the state’s development, but we must continue our efforts to maintain that tempo to make our progress sustainable,” he said.
Hamza pledged that he would take up the issues of the Keralite community working in Saudi Arabia.
“I shall take up their problems during parliamentary deliberations whenever possible irrespective of political considerations,” he added. Hamza visited the Kingdom last month at the invitation of Navodaya Cultural Center in Dammam.
Asked about the LDF (Leftist Democratic Front) government’s plans, he said: “The government intends to allow leeway on the repayment of agricultural loans, enact a new education law and take measures to ensure social justice.”
The LDF government also plans to give priority to information technology and tourism to generate employment and promote development.
Hamza shocked political pundits by win a seat in the UDF (United Democratic Front) bastion of Manjeri for the first time in Kerala’s political history.
He believes that minorities and other weaker sections of the society should come under the leftist umbrella to fight effectively for their rights and progress.
He claimed that the first communist government, which came to power in 1957 under the leadership of E.M.S. Namboothiripad, paved the way for Kerala’s progress and determined its future course.
Landmark legislations, such as the Land Reforms Act and Education Bill, were the results of the efforts made by that government. It also heralded the infrastructure development of the state aimed at protecting the interests of minorities and economically and socially weaker sections.
Himself an avid reader and author of many essays and a book on Mappila Pattu (Muslim lyrical tradition in Malayalam), Hamza enjoys talking about Muslim contributions toward early Malayalam literature.
In his opinion Mappila Pattu and Vadakkan Pattu originated from the same literary resources and share a lot in common.
