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{{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}} | {{Use Indian English|date=August 2019}} | ||
{{Infobox military conflict | {{Infobox military conflict | ||
| title = | | title = | ||
| image = South Asian Communist Banner.svg | | image = South Asian Communist Banner.svg | ||
| partof = [[Cold War]] and [[Naxalite-Maoist insurgency | | partof = the [[Cold War]] and the [[Naxalite-Maoist insurgency]] | ||
| place = [[Naxalbari]], | | place = [[Naxalbari]], Darjeeling, West Bengal | ||
| combatant1 = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]] | | combatant1 = {{flagicon|India}} [[India]]<br />{{bulleted list | ||
|[[West Bengal Police]]}} | |||
'''Supported by:'''<br> | '''Supported by:'''<br />{{plainlist| | ||
{{flagicon image|South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg}} [[Communist Party of India (Marxist | * {{flagicon image|South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg}} [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] | ||
| combatant2 = | * {{flagicon image|Swatantra-Party-flag.svg}} [[Bangla Congress]] | ||
}} | |||
| combatant2 = {{Flagicon image|South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg}} [[All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]]<br />{{bulleted list | |||
|{{flagicon image|AIKS logo.jpg}} [[All India Kisan Sabha (36 Canning Lane)|All India Kisan Sabha]] | |||
|Local peasantry | |||
| units1 =[[Indian Police Service]]<br>[[West Bengal Police]] | }} | ||
| units2 = [[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]]Siliguri group<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]]Darjeeling group | | units1 = [[Indian Police Service]]<br />[[West Bengal Police]] | ||
| commander1 = {{flagicon|India}} [[Indira Gandhi]]<br />{{flagicon|India}} [[Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee]]<br />{{flagicon|India}} [[Jyoti Basu]] | | units2 = [[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] Siliguri group<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] Darjeeling group | ||
| commander1 = {{flagicon|India}} [[Indira Gandhi]]<br />{{flagicon|India}} [[Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee]]<br />{{flagicon|India}} [[Jyoti Basu]]<br />{{flagicon|India}} [[Hare Krishna Konar]] | |||
| commander2 = [[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Charu Majumdar]]<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Kanu Sanyal]]<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Jangal Santhal]]<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Shanti Munda]] | | commander2 = [[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Charu Majumdar]]<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Kanu Sanyal]]<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Jangal Santhal]]<br>[[File:South_Asian_Communist_Banner.svg|22px]] [[Shanti Munda]] | ||
| conflict = | | conflict = Naxalbari Uprising | ||
| casualties1 = 1 | | casualties1 = 1 police officer died | ||
| casualties2 = 11 | | casualties2 = 11 rebels died | ||
| result = Indian Government victory<br />{{bulleted list | |||
|Armed rebellion suppressed | |||
|Beginning of the [[Naxalite-Maoist insurgency]]}} | |||
| caption = The [[Communist symbolism|South Asian communist banner]] | |||
| date = 1967 | |||
}} | }} | ||
'''Naxalbari uprising''' was an armed peasant revolt in 1967 in the [[Naxalbari]] block of [[Siliguri subdivision]] in [[Darjeeling]] district, West Bengal, | The '''Naxalbari uprising''' was an armed peasant revolt in 1967 in the [[Naxalbari]] block of [[Siliguri subdivision]] in [[Darjeeling]] district, West Bengal, India.<ref name="auto">{{Cite news|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/history-of-naxalism/story-4f1rZukARGYn3qHOqDMEbM.html|title=History of Naxalism|date=2005-12-15|work=Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180222151700/https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/history-of-naxalism/story-4f1rZukARGYn3qHOqDMEbM.html|archive-date=2018-02-22|url-status=dead|access-date=2018-03-02}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/50-years-of-naxalbari-fighting-for-the-right-cause-in-the-wrong-way/story-06EuiNZCaK3mJE4wNVBhHO.html|title=50 years of Naxalbari: Fighting for the right cause in the wrong way|author=Shashi Shekhar|date=2017-05-21|newspaper=Hindustan Times|access-date=2018-03-02|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170521092011/http://www.hindustantimes.com/columns/50-years-of-naxalbari-fighting-for-the-right-cause-in-the-wrong-way/story-06EuiNZCaK3mJE4wNVBhHO.html|archive-date=2017-05-21}}</ref> It was mainly led by [[Adivasi|tribals]] and the radical communist leaders of Bengal and further developed into the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)]] in 1969. The armed struggle led to the birth of [[Naxalism]] and the beginning of the [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]], which rapidly spread from [[West Bengal]] to other states of India, and continues to this day.<ref name="auto1">{{Cite web|url=http://www.bannedthought.net/India/PeoplesMarch/PM1999-2006/publications/30%20years/part1.htm|title=The Naxalbari Uprising|access-date=2018-03-02|work=30 years of Naxalbari|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101031003912/http://www.bannedthought.net/India/PeoplesMarch/PM1999-2006/publications/30%20years/part1.htm|archive-date=2010-10-31}}</ref> | ||
== Origins == | == Origins == | ||
{{main article|Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)}} | {{main article|Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)}} | ||
The uprising occurred during the height [[Sino-Soviet split]], which was causing turmoil within the communist organisations in India and the rest of the world. The leader and ideologue of the uprising [[Charu Majumdar]] theorised that the situation was appropriate for launching an armed [[People's war]] in India following the [[Chinese Revolution | The uprising occurred during the height of the [[Sino-Soviet split]], which was causing turmoil within the communist organisations in India and the rest of the world. The leader and ideologue of the uprising [[Charu Majumdar]] theorised that the situation was appropriate for launching an armed [[People's war]] in India following the [[Chinese Communist Revolution]], [[Vietnam War]] and [[Cuban Revolution]]. Charu Majumdar wrote the [[Historic Eight Documents]] which became the foundation of the Naxalite movement in 1967.<ref name="auto1"/><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/naxalite-ideology-charu-s-eight-documents/story-hiCWDlzyc5yNRgYkBMX1qL.html|title=Naxalite Ideology: Charu's Eight Documents|author=Nadeem Ahmed|work=The Hindustan Times|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221162344/http://www.hindustantimes.com/india/naxalite-ideology-charu-s-eight-documents/story-hiCWDlzyc5yNRgYkBMX1qL.html|archive-date=2016-12-21|access-date=2018-03-02}}</ref> | ||
== Timeline == | == Timeline == | ||
The communists in 1965-66 already controlled territory in the Naxalbari region. The so-called "Siliguri group" called for initiating an armed struggle, which started the uprising. Many peasant cells were created throughout the region. On 3 March 1967 just a day after the united front had sworn in ministers in West Bengal, some 150 peasants armed with bows and spears, took 300 maunds of paddy or around 11000 kg of paddy and started seizing land. The peasants were enraged that the CPI(M) did not retain workers in the party . By 18 March the peasants started seizing land from [[jotedars]] (landlords who owned large plots of land in the region).<ref name="auto1"/> Peasant committees were set up throughout the region within four months. The first clash occurred between the peasants and landlords when a share-cropper, Bigul Kisan, was beaten up by landlord gentries. Following this, peasant committees seized land, foodgrains and arms from the landlord gentries, leading to violent clashes. The government started mobilizing the police forces to deal with the uprising. | The communists in 1965-66 already controlled territory in the Naxalbari region. The so-called "Siliguri group" called for initiating an armed struggle, which started the uprising. Many peasant cells were created throughout the region. On 3 March 1967 just a day after the united front had sworn in ministers in West Bengal, some 150 peasants armed with bows and spears, took 300 maunds of paddy or around 11000 kg of paddy and started seizing land. The peasants were enraged that the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (CPI(M)) did not retain workers in the party. By 18 March the peasants started seizing land from [[jotedars]] (landlords who owned large plots of land in the region).<ref name="auto1"/> Peasant committees were set up throughout the region within four months. The first clash occurred between the peasants and landlords when a share-cropper, Bigul Kisan, was beaten up by landlord gentries.<ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |date= 18 December 2022|title=Naxalbari Movement (1967) - IAS Site |url=https://www.iassite.com/naxalbari-movement-1967/ |access-date=2022-12-25 |language=en-US}}</ref> Following this, peasant committees seized land, foodgrains and arms from the landlord gentries, leading to violent clashes. The government started mobilizing the police forces to deal with the uprising. | ||
The inspector of Jharugaon village was killed by peasant committee members. In retaliation, the police opened fire which resulted in the death of nine women and one child on 25 May 1967.<ref name="auto1"/> By June the peasant committees gained hold in the regions around Naxalbari, Kharibari and Phansidewa seizing lands, ammunition and food grains from the jotedars. The [[Tea-garden community of Assam|tea garden | The inspector of Jharugaon village was killed by peasant committee members. In retaliation, the police opened fire which resulted in the death of nine women and one child on 25 May 1967.<ref name="auto1"/> By June the peasant committees gained hold in the regions around Naxalbari, Kharibari and Phansidewa seizing lands, ammunition and food grains from the jotedars. The [[Tea-garden community of Assam|tea garden workers]] around the Darjeeling region participated in strikes supporting the peasant committees. The upheaval sustained till 19 July when the paramilitary forces were sent by the government. Leaders like [[Jangal Santhal]] were arrested. Some of them like [[Charu Majumdar]] went underground. And others like Tribheni Kanu, Sobham, Ali Gorkha Majhi, and Tilka Majhi were killed.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="auto1"/> | ||
== Recognition and aftermath == | == Recognition and aftermath == | ||
{{main article|Naxalite–Maoist insurgency}} | {{main article|Naxalite–Maoist insurgency}} | ||
The | The relations between the [[Chinese Communist Party]] (CCP) with the CPI(M) deteriorated following CCP's support of the uprising.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marxists.org/subject/china/documents/peoples-daily/1967/07/05.htm|title=Spring Thunder Over India|access-date=2016-12-21|publisher=[[marxists.org]]|language=en|website=[[People's Daily]]}}</ref> Many members of the CPI(M) who supported the uprising were expelled, such as [[Charu Majumdar]], [[Souren Bose]], Mahadeb Mukherjee and [[Dilip Bagchi]]. Expelled communists later on organised themselves into one organisation, the [[All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries]] (AICCCR), which later developed into the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist)|CPI(ML)]]. CPI(ML) remained the centre of the Naxalite movement till 1975. A large number of enthusiastic youth joined the movement. Although the uprising was suppressed, it remained a landmark in Indian politics which led to several other similar kind of movements in parts of Bihar and began the ongoing [[Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]].<ref name="auto1"/> | ||
== See also == | == See also == | ||
* [[Kucheipadar tribal movement]] | * [[Kucheipadar tribal movement]] | ||
* [[1970 Bhojpur uprising]] | |||
* [[Lal Sena]] | * [[Lal Sena]] | ||
* [[Srikakulam peasant uprising]] | * [[Srikakulam peasant uprising]] | ||
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[[Category:Land rights movements]] | [[Category:Land rights movements]] | ||
[[Category:Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]] | [[Category:Naxalite–Maoist insurgency]] | ||
[[Category:Peasant revolts]] | [[Category:Peasant revolts in India]] | ||
[[Category:Political uprisings in India]] | [[Category:Political uprisings in India]] | ||
[[Category:Rebellions in India]] | [[Category:Rebellions in India]] | ||
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in | [[Category:Riots and civil disorder in West Bengal]] | ||
[[Category:1967 in Indian politics]] | [[Category:1967 in Indian politics]] | ||
[[Category:1960s in West Bengal]] | |||
Latest revision as of 01:55, 15 July 2025
| Naxalbari Uprising | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Cold War and the Naxalite-Maoist insurgency | |||||||
 The South Asian communist banner | |||||||
| |||||||
| Belligerents | |||||||
 IndiaSupported by: |
 All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries
| ||||||
| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
|
Indira Gandhi Ajoy Kumar Mukherjee Jyoti Basu Hare Krishna Konar |
Charu Majumdar Kanu Sanyal Jangal Santhal Shanti Munda | ||||||
| Units involved | |||||||
|
Indian Police Service West Bengal Police |
Siliguri group Darjeeling group | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| 1 police officer died | 11 rebels died | ||||||
The Naxalbari uprising was an armed peasant revolt in 1967 in the Naxalbari block of Siliguri subdivision in Darjeeling district, West Bengal, India.[1][2] It was mainly led by tribals and the radical communist leaders of Bengal and further developed into the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) in 1969. The armed struggle led to the birth of Naxalism and the beginning of the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency, which rapidly spread from West Bengal to other states of India, and continues to this day.[3]
Origins[edit | edit source]
The uprising occurred during the height of the Sino-Soviet split, which was causing turmoil within the communist organisations in India and the rest of the world. The leader and ideologue of the uprising Charu Majumdar theorised that the situation was appropriate for launching an armed People's war in India following the Chinese Communist Revolution, Vietnam War and Cuban Revolution. Charu Majumdar wrote the Historic Eight Documents which became the foundation of the Naxalite movement in 1967.[3][4]
Timeline[edit | edit source]
The communists in 1965-66 already controlled territory in the Naxalbari region. The so-called "Siliguri group" called for initiating an armed struggle, which started the uprising. Many peasant cells were created throughout the region. On 3 March 1967 just a day after the united front had sworn in ministers in West Bengal, some 150 peasants armed with bows and spears, took 300 maunds of paddy or around 11000 kg of paddy and started seizing land. The peasants were enraged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) did not retain workers in the party. By 18 March the peasants started seizing land from jotedars (landlords who owned large plots of land in the region).[3] Peasant committees were set up throughout the region within four months. The first clash occurred between the peasants and landlords when a share-cropper, Bigul Kisan, was beaten up by landlord gentries.[5] Following this, peasant committees seized land, foodgrains and arms from the landlord gentries, leading to violent clashes. The government started mobilizing the police forces to deal with the uprising.
The inspector of Jharugaon village was killed by peasant committee members. In retaliation, the police opened fire which resulted in the death of nine women and one child on 25 May 1967.[3] By June the peasant committees gained hold in the regions around Naxalbari, Kharibari and Phansidewa seizing lands, ammunition and food grains from the jotedars. The tea garden workers around the Darjeeling region participated in strikes supporting the peasant committees. The upheaval sustained till 19 July when the paramilitary forces were sent by the government. Leaders like Jangal Santhal were arrested. Some of them like Charu Majumdar went underground. And others like Tribheni Kanu, Sobham, Ali Gorkha Majhi, and Tilka Majhi were killed.[1][3]
Recognition and aftermath[edit | edit source]
The relations between the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) with the CPI(M) deteriorated following CCP's support of the uprising.[6] Many members of the CPI(M) who supported the uprising were expelled, such as Charu Majumdar, Souren Bose, Mahadeb Mukherjee and Dilip Bagchi. Expelled communists later on organised themselves into one organisation, the All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries (AICCCR), which later developed into the CPI(ML). CPI(ML) remained the centre of the Naxalite movement till 1975. A large number of enthusiastic youth joined the movement. Although the uprising was suppressed, it remained a landmark in Indian politics which led to several other similar kind of movements in parts of Bihar and began the ongoing Naxalite–Maoist insurgency.[3]
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 "History of Naxalism". Hindustan Times. 15 December 2005. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ↑ Shashi Shekhar (21 May 2017). "50 years of Naxalbari: Fighting for the right cause in the wrong way". Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 21 May 2017. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "The Naxalbari Uprising". 30 years of Naxalbari. Archived from the original on 31 October 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ↑ Nadeem Ahmed. "Naxalite Ideology: Charu's Eight Documents". The Hindustan Times. Archived from the original on 21 December 2016. Retrieved 2 March 2018.
- ↑ "Naxalbari Movement (1967) - IAS Site". 18 December 2022. Retrieved 25 December 2022.
- ↑ "Spring Thunder Over India". People's Daily. marxists.org. Retrieved 21 December 2016.