90 years of struggles & sacrifices of communists

The situation is ripe for the Left to re-emerge as an important political force that can set the agenda for the nation. But this will not take place automatically. It is a challenge that is to be accepted. There is crisis in world capitalism.

There is a danger of another major catastrophic crisis. Working class is asserting through strikes and struggles. The shift in Labour Party politics to further Left in UK, the struggles in Greece, Portugal, Spain and Latin America in spite of some setbacks in Venezula are signs of re-emergence of communist movement, writes Suravaram Sudhakar Reddy

A new chapter was initiated in the Indian revolutionary movement with the announcement of the formation of the Communist Party of India on December 26, 1925. The great October Socialist Revolution that shook the world –

a revolution of the working class that defeated capitalism and established working class rule – inspired the young militant patriots of India whose representatives met on that day at Kanpur and announced their determination to overthrow British colonialism and establish a socialist society on the soil of India.

October Revolution frightened the capitalists and exploiting classes, while the working class all over the world as well as the national liberation movements that were in the thick of struggles got inspired with its success.

Many Congress leaders including Pt Jawaharlal Nehru, Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, Jayaprakash Narayan, Ram Manohar Lohia, Achut Patvardhan were influenced by socialist ideas. Revolutionary leaders like Bhagat Singh and his associates like Bejoy Kumar Sinha and Ajoy Ghosh were attracted to it and became communists later.

From day one, the Communist Party faced unprecedented repression at the hands of British colonialists. Kanpur, Meerut and Peshawar conspiracy cases were foisted on communists and they were imprisoned for long periods. Some comrades were in jail for 10, 20 and 26 years also. But none surrendered. The jails, trials, tortures could not break their determination.

The sudden withdrawal of non-cooperation movement of Mahatma Gandhi on the pretext of the outbreak of violence disillusioned the angry youth who found light in the communist movement and many joined the party. Intellectuals, militant youth were attracted to the CPI. Communists were in the forefront of national movement.

They started building trade unions, organised struggles, propagated social reforms and a scientific temper which had tremendous impact on intelligentsia. Party spread to new areas. Students in large numbers joined the struggles initiated by the party.

As the party started gaining strength, there were campaigns launched to malign its morality, funds, etc. Gandhi-Joshi letters reflect the grave situation in those days. The dedication, sincerity and sacrifices of communists made the people realise the integrity of communists.

When Nizam declared Azad Hyderabad (Independent Hyderabad Nation) after independence, CPI organised heroic Telangana Armed Struggle for integration of Hyderabad state into the Indian Union in which 4,500 comrades sacrificed their lives and several lakhs of people participated in it,

braving unprecedented repression. CPI led historic Tebhaga Struggle in Bengal for the rights of exploited peasants. It spearheaded Punnapra-Vayalar struggle against the repressive feudal rule of Travancore-Cochin kingdom. It also organised armed struggle in Manipur against the king.

CPI fought for land to the tiller, decent wages for agricultural labour, equal wages for women, and for democratic and civil rights. CPI struggles brought the agenda of land reforms before the nation. Trade union rights were established.

People learnt to question and fight against injustice. Ruling parties started so-called welfare activities to contain the influence of communists. CPI is proud of its role in all the progressive developments that have taken place in the country.

When CPI supported the war efforts of British to defeat fascism and declared it as “People’s War,” there was misunderstanding that the party opposed “Quit India Movement.” The party could have dealt with it more carefully, which would have avoided the alienation from the mainstream for some time.

But some sections of people understood the stand of CPI when Royal Indian Navy revolted against the British in 1946, the Red flag along with Congress and Muslim League flags were hoisted on the warships. Thus the lies against communists were rejected by patriotic soldiers.

Undivided Communist Party became the second biggest political party in the post independence period. Till the third Lok Sabha, it was the main opposition. Party units expanded to almost all parts of the country. Party fought for formation of linguistic states.

CPI created history by getting elected in the majority of seats in Kerala Legislative Assembly and formed the government through ballot for the first time in the world. It was undemocratically overthrown by Congress after 28 months.

Split in the Communist Party

The serious differences in the international communist movement, the differences on the characterisation of Indian national bourgeoisie, Chinese aggression created a split in the Communist Party, which was a big blow to the communist movement.

This occurred in the background of crisis in Indian economy, and weakening of Indian National Congress. The vacuum created by Congress in political arena was quickly filled up by new political outfits like regional parties, later the Janata Party and BJP etc.

Communist parties which were fighting against each other ideologically and politically could never regain the old positions as the main opposition. Naxalites split from CPI (M). The tragedy was the disillusionment and confusion among the ranks and followers of communists, which made a large number of them become inactive. The bases among some sections of Dalits and downtrodden could not be regained yet.

Both the communist parties realised the necessity of united action and came together for joint actions. It did yield good results to some extent.

The disintegration of Soviet Union and socialist regimes in Eastern Europe led to disastrous effects not only on the communist parties but on the developing countries. National bourgeoisie compromised with the US and the West who have become the leaders of unipolar world, and introduced neo-liberal economic policies.

This led to new political formations with emergence of powerful corporate sector that influenced the policies of the government. Middle class has become a bigger force. Communal right reactionary BJP has become stronger.

Communists prevented the Rightists in Congress from capturing power and supported Indira Government in 1969-70. In 2004, the communists with 61 members in Lok Sabha supported UPA-I led by Congress to prevent the takeover by BJP.

A Common Minimum Programme was chalked out and implemented but the benefits were reaped by the Congress. The Left withdrew support to UPA-I against its deal with USA on civil nuclear treaty. The Left could not reach the people and convince them on its action.

The UPA-II, which had become unpopular due to non-governance and exposures of unprecedented corruption scandals, lost to the BJP in 2014 elections. The Left further weakened with a small representation in Parliament.

The BJP government got exposed earlier than expected. It is a government of corporates by corporates for corporates. Many corruption scandals have been exposed. Prices are increased abnormally, making the life of poor miserable. BJP failed to bring back black money. Budget allocations to MGNREGA, health, education, scientific research are reduced drastically. Corporate tax is reduced from 30 per cent to 25 per cent as a gift.

Communal Hindutva forces are aggressive with intolerance against those who do not agree with their unscientific anti-rationalist and anti-secular ideas. Rationalist personalities like Govind Pansare, Dr Narendra Dabolkar, Prof MM Kalburgi were killed. Writers and scientists are targeted.

People started resisting and fighting back. The demagogy of Narendra Modi was rejected and they lost in Delhi and Bihar assembly elections and local boards of Gujarat, UP etc. But there is little evidence of change of their mind regarding anti-people, anti-secular and pro-corporate policies.

The fight will go on. The peasants revolted against the anti-farmer Land Acquisition Ordinance in a big way. The working class organised two-day nationwide strike, in defence of public sector, against labour reforms, price control, etc, issues in which 15 crore workers participated. It was a big action.

What the Left can do

Though the decline of BJP’s political influence is a positive development, the weakness of CPI and Left is a cause for serious concern. The Left not only lost seats but also votes, which shows erosion of bases.

Though the emergence of the religious, caste-based parties as well as regional parties has eaten away some of the bases, the role of money has increased large-scale in elections, the defective electoral system of First-Past-the-Post etc, have caused wreaking of the Left.

There is a necessity of deep introspection why the Left has been marginalised. The alienation of party from the masses, the failure in raising class consciousness among the Left following are to be set right urgently. Communists should be among the masses like fish in the water.

The situation is ripe for the Left to re-emerge as important political force that can set the agenda of the nation. But this will not take place automatically. It is a challenge that is to be accepted. There is crisis in world capitalism. There is a danger of another major catastrophic crisis.

Working class is asserting through strikes and struggles. The shift in Labour Party politics to further Left in UK, the struggles in Greece, Portugal, Spain and Latin America in spite of some setbacks in Venezula are signs of re-emergence of communist movement. China, Vietnam, Cuba, DPRK continue to march forward in spite of serious problems.

In India, the wealth has grown enormously but 72 per cent is in the hands of less than 10 per cent population, while 360 million are under poverty line and 300 million unorganised do not have employment security, social security.

More than three lakh peasants committed suicides due to severe debt burden, failure of crops and wrong agriculture policies of the government. Crores of Adivasis are displaced in the name of projects, factories and mines. Our natural resources are being exploited by MNCs. Corruption has increased. Dalits are targeted.

People are revolting against price rise, corruption. The anger is to be channelised into class battles. There are no short cuts. Party has to expand its bases to new areas. Mass fronts are to be strengthened. Massive militant struggles are to be unleashed on people’s immediate issues.

Reunification of Communists

CPI, CPI(M) and other left parties alone cannot face the gigantic challenge before us. Communalism, casteism, rightist pro-corporate economic policies are to be defeated. To defeat them decisively, the reunification of the communist movement on a principled basis is the need of the hour. It is not a rhetoric call.

Communists have to unite all secular, democratic and anti-neo-liberal forces to pave way for the solution of the problems in the nation with clear perspective on economic and political policies. But people should have to be enthused to get confidence to rally behind communists.

The desire of people for communist unity is fully justified. The causes of split are irrelevant today from our angle. There will be differences on party programmes and some tactics. It can be resolved. History will not forgive if communists cannot rise to the occasion. Left unity in agitations and struggles should pave the way for reunification of communist movement. CPI firmly stands for it and reiterates on this occasion.

CPI is proud of its struggles and sacrifices. Let us salute all those tens of thousands of martyrs who laid down their lives and lakhs of cadre who made this movement a beloved party of downtrodden sections of our country.

Red salute to all of them! CPI confidently and with all sincerity re-dedicates itself in the service of the downtrodden sections of India and takes the oath to carry forward class battles with more determination on the occasion of 90th anniversary of the foundation of CPI.