There are both national and regional variations in the way an idea descends from the lofty heights of intellectualism to base realities on the ground. Communism is one of the most appropriate case studies of this phenomenon. The philosophy of Karl Marx didn't quite permeate into India in the 19th century, although there were intellectuals who were somewhat familiar with his writings. The absence of any substantial working class in India also ensured that the penetration of socialist ideas through trades unions was very limited. Indeed, it was only after the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia in 1917 and the establishment of the Communist International (Comintern) to spread the revolution globally, that the Red Flag made its presence in India.
The Communist Party which was established in India on Christmas Day 1925 was always over-dependant on the Soviet Union for inspiration, resources, and direction. Undeniably, there were individuals such as Manabendra Nath Roy and Soumyendra Nath Tagore who were intellectual stalwarts. But it was precisely their independence of spirit and their insistence that the revolution in India must chart its own course that distanced them from Moscow. So formidable was the hold of the Soviet Union on the Indian Communist movement that the brutalities associated with Lenin and Stalin were internalised by the Indian comrades.
It is not that the leadership of the CPI lacked compassion and humanity. In their individual capacity, many of them were exemplary individuals and often extremely creative. However, thrust into the collective milieu of 'the party', they became part of a mob. Worse, some of the most unprincipled alliances and worst depredations were justified as being in the larger interests of the party. It is also significant that Communists rarely owned up to the error of their ways. The 'party line' would often change inexplicably and there would be a leadership purge, but the reasons behind the flawed politics were rarely dissected.
In 1946, for example, in pursuance of a so-called elaboration of the 'national question' by party leader Gangadhar Adhikari, the CPI of the day decided to throw in its lot behind the Muslim League demand for Pakistan. Shortly after Independence in 1948, in line with the Zhdanov thesis adopted by the world Communist movement, the CPI proclaimed that India's azadi was a lie and that it would organise an insurrection against the Jawaharlal Nehru government. By 1951, this approach was abandoned, and the CPI accepted the importance of winning power through elections. Each of these political shifts were important but they were invariably thrust on the party rank-and-file from above. In most cases, the directions came from Moscow.
Hindu (947)
Agriculture (125)
Ancient (1105)
Archaeology (816)
Architecture (568)
Art & Culture (933)
Biography (731)
Buddhist (550)
Cookery (166)
Emperor & Queen (588)
Islam (245)
Jainism (325)
Literary (889)
Mahatma Gandhi (393)
Send as free online greeting card
Email a Friend
Visual Search
Manage Wishlist