NOTES 5T sectors, the unplanned character of which became clear later on, strengthened the illusion and caused disruption in the ranks of even the relatively more committed writers. But the economic policies framed to pursue the capitalist path of development helped only the capitalists while they emaciated the working masses. Gradually, the 'supporters' of the regime among writers were exposed and the cultural values they wanted to propagate met with disapproval and criticism, In the meantime, it also dawned upon the writers that the traditional values of a bygone era only served to arrest the onward march of history and played a reactionary role, and that the solution of our cultural and social problems lay in the complete smashing of the old concepts and the adoption of the new democratic norms. Again, the democratic norms could not be adopted or cultivated in isolation. They were to be made available to our people who required them for their meaningful participation in the process of social change, Being conscious of the new needs and tasks, our writers could not sit idle and watch the ever-worsening conditions of the masses. They had to think anew about the various issues on which they could take a correct and principled stand and thus strive to awaken the masses for united action against the undemocratic policies of the regime. They could do this by forming themselves into a broad and responsible social group and drawing up a clear-cut programme of action. This became evident from journals like Katha, Vaam, Samarambha, Samaiyk, Ore, UUarardha, Sambodhan, and others which emerged on the literary scene in a span of four years and showed promise of playing an important role in uniting the progressive writers on broad left and democratic issues. Hence the need of a progressive writers' conference to discuss important socio-cultural questions in order to reach general agreement on a minimum concrete programme, Of the resolutions passed at the end of the Conference of the Progressive Writers at Banda held in February 1973, two drew our attention most specifically. One condemned the recent burning of a Harijan at the hands of a landlord in Banda district; the other highlighted the fact that all thinking people in general and writers in particular, in our country, face the prospect of denial of civil rights and liberties. Of special interest was the fact that this heinous crime was perpetrated soon after the Silver Jubilee celebrations of Independence. The relevant question to be asked is this : do we blame one or two individuals who perpetrated such crimes, or do we blame the ruling classes which have failed to create the minimum social conditions under which we could live with, namely, a sense of physical security, if not ^equality', 'justice' and so forth? Secondly, the repressive measures taken against writers who gave vent to their sense of disillusionment with the present social system also pointed towards the attitude of intolerance of the rulers for any criticism whatsoever. This was a serious situation. And it could not be viewed in isolation.