This is becoming a very serious matter in the CPI(M). I do not want to go into persons, but I want to discuss this issue in a conceptual level in a historical context.
Party is an institution and a structure. Dissent is by an individual or by a small group. These are historical and applicable to any institution, or party. This is applicable to Religions, Political Parties.
Two institutions that are very powerful are Catholic Church and CPI(M). Both have very strict dogmas, obedience, structure, Hierarchical etc. Disobedience is not tolerated.
However both have to learn from each other historically. Deviation and Dissent , and Prophetical dimensions are deeply rooted in both. Historically they are part and parcel in each one. Both create prophets and murders them.
As the years pass by both become more and more stand for quantitative change rather than qualitative change. Both become more and more Dogmatic and Ritualistic rather than true to their original call to radical, revolutionary, and prophetical call.
Party stands for stability and quantitative change. But, need growth principle or change principle which is there through DISSENT, PROPHETICAL, and PROPHETICAL principle.
Both party and Catholic Church should learn that these two principles go side by side. One of the persons playing this role is Mr.V.M. Sudheeran in the Congress party. He intervenes even when he is not a formal leader. He is taken seriously by the formal leaders. Nodescription is threatened by Mr. Sudheeran.
Party needs constant revolutionary change like Mao wants to bring this value through Cultural Revolution. Dissent should not become a threat to any formal leader but it should be made use for the qualitative change in the Party. This dissent role is `played by the Religious orders in the Catholic Church. But the religious orders also get into the same rot, you need individuals playing the role of dissent.
But one should be very clear that this dissent or radical stand, or prophetical stand is possible only if one is prepared to pay the price for it.
This was what happened to Jesus Christ. He was a prophet and he paid the price for it by getting the biggest political punishment. Mahatma Gandhi was a prophet in Congress party. He opposed the first Globalization-Colonialism. He organized the biggest opposition to Bristish Colonialism through Dandi March. He did not want any power. But he had to pay the price for it. Today the same congress party is `supporting the second globalization.
If Congress Party is consistent with Dandi March and Mahatma Gandhi, Congress should oppose the second globalization. They need more dissents in this context. Martin Luther King was a `prophet and he had to pay the price for it. A.K.G was a revolutionary in CPI(M). Fr. Vadakkan was a prophet in Catholic Church.
This is the way both Stability and growth principles work in history. Both are important. Sree Narayana Guru was a prophetical principle in Eezhava Community. Swami Vivekandan was a prophetical principle in Hindu Religion.
However these prophetical persons are used by the Institutions for their own interest and selfish reasons for quantitative change like creating dogmas and rituals. This is what we see in history.
This is a vicious circle. We need to come out of this by finding a structure that is consistently revolutionary, a constant cultural revolution is needed.
This is the challenge before us. We need to respect Stability Principle side by side with growth principle. This is achieved through a democratic process of achieving Consensus and Dialectical process.
Here we need to respect gender balance, a class less society, casteless society and environmental respect. Ultimately we want a society that is all inclusive and all are equals. This is what we are trying to achieve.
The life of the Planet and the dependent health of the Whole humanity should not be sacrificed by the greed of a few.