CPM politburo member Brenda Karat says that she was sidelined and neglected as Prakash Karat’s wife in the party. The book is called An Education for Rita. Brenda wrote about her past experiences in the book at a time when many in the party were complaining that women were constantly being neglected.
At the same time, there was a controversy when Brenda Karat left the Kolkata party Congress earlier. The protest was against the suppression of women in party committees. In this action, the party had taken action against Brenda. But Brenda’s demand was later considered in the party. Women were increasingly considered for top party positions. Another point that Brenda raises is that the media’s malicious campaign was against her. This remark was in connection with some newspapers giving the title Pati Patni Aur Wo (husband, wife and friend) to the Congress party against the nuclear deal.
S Ramachandran Pillai, a PB member from Kerala, supported them in the party PB that time. In the book, Brenda suggests that there was a movement among the party leaders at this level. The memoir mentions that she received support when she started working in Delhi but was ignored when she was elected to the top committee as Prakash Karat’s wife. Brenda talks about past experiences.
