Bharatpedia

Communism in India: Difference between revisions

Article Talk

Communism in India (edit)

Revision as of 14:52, 19 June 2022

4,159 bytes added ,  19 June 2022
robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit)
>LuK3
m (Reverted edits by Red bastion (talk) to last version by Materialscientist)
 
(robot: Update article (please report if you notice any mistake or error in this edit))
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Overview of communism in India}}
{{Communism in India}}
{{Communism in India}}
{{missing|history after 1925|date=June 2021}}
 
'''Communism in India''' has existed as a political movement since at least as early as the 1920s. In its early years, the ideology was harshly suppressed through legal prohibitions and criminal prosecutions. Eventually, the movement became ensconced in national party politics, sprouting several political offshoots.
'''Communism in India''' (1925–1964) has existed as a social or political ideology as well as a [[political movement]] since at least as early as the 1920s. In its early years, [[communism|communist ideology]] was harshly suppressed through legal prohibitions and criminal prosecutions. Eventually, communist parties became ensconced in national party politics, sprouting several political offshoots.
[[File:Lenin Statue (9).jpg|thumb| The Statue of [[Vladimir Lenin]] in [[Vijayawada]]]]
 
{{Communism sidebar|By country}}
==Early history of communism in India==
==History==
[[File:Lenin Statue (9).jpg|thumb| The Statue of [[Vladimir Lenin]] in [[Vijayawada]].|left]]
Following the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|October Revolution]], [[Bipin Chandra Pal]] and [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] were amongst the prominent Indians who expressed their admiration of [[Lenin]] and the new rulers in Russia. [[Abdul Sattar Khairi]] and [[Abdul Zabbar Khairi]] went to Moscow, immediately on hearing about the revolution. In Moscow, they met Lenin and conveyed their greetings to him. The Russian Revolution also affected émigré Indian revolutionaries, such as the [[Ghadar Party]] in North America.<ref name="rao82">M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 82, 103</ref> The [[Khilafat movement]] contributed to the emergence of early Indian communism. Many Indian Muslims left India to join the defence of the Caliphate. Several of them became communists whilst visiting Soviet territory. Some Hindus also joined the Muslim muhajirs in the travels to the Soviet areas.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 83</ref> The colonial authorities were clearly disturbed by the growing influence of [[Bolshevik]] sympathies in India. A first counter-move was the issuing of a [[fatwa]], urging Muslims to reject communism. The Home Department established a special branch to monitor the communist influence. Customs were ordered to check the imports of [[Marxist]] literature to India. A great number of [[anticommunism|anti-communist]] [[propaganda]] publications were published.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in [[Kerala]] and [[West Bengal]]''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 82-83</ref>
Following the [[Russian Revolution (1917)|October Revolution]], [[Bipin Chandra Pal]] and [[Bal Gangadhar Tilak]] were amongst the prominent Indians who expressed their admiration of [[Lenin]] and the new rulers in Russia. Abdul Sattar Khairi and Abdul Zabbar Khairi went to Moscow, immediately on hearing about the revolution. In Moscow, they met Lenin and conveyed their greetings to him. The Russian Revolution also affected émigré Indian revolutionaries, such as the [[Ghadar Party]] in North America.<ref name="rao82">M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 82, 103</ref> The [[Khilafat movement]] contributed to the emergence of early Indian communism. Many Indian Muslims left India to join the defence of the Caliphate. Several of them became communists whilst visiting Soviet territory. Some Hindus also joined the Muslim muhajirs in the travels to the Soviet areas.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 83</ref> The colonial authorities were clearly disturbed by the growing influence of [[Bolshevik]] sympathies in India. A first counter-move was the issuing of a [[fatwa]], urging Muslims to reject communism. The Home Department established a special branch to monitor the communist influence. Customs were ordered to check the imports of [[Marxist]] literature to India. A great number of [[anticommunism|anti-communist]] [[propaganda]] publications were published.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in [[Kerala]] and [[West Bengal]]''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 82-83</ref>


The [[World War I#Indian support for the Allies|First World War]] was accompanied with a rapid increase of industries in [[India]], resulting in a growth of an industrial proletariat. At the same time prices of essential commodities increased. These were factors that contributed to the buildup of the Indian trade union movement. Unions were formed in the urban centres across India, and strikes were organised. In 1920, the [[All India Trade Union Congress]] was founded.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 83-84</ref> [[S. A. Dange]] of [[Bombay]] published a pamphlet in 1921 titled ''Gandhi Vs. Lenin'', a comparative study of the approaches of both the leaders with Lenin coming out as better of the two. Together with Ranchoddas Bhavan Lotvala, a local mill-owner, a library of Marxist Literature was set up and publishing of translations of Marxist classics began.<ref>Riepe, Dale. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=3Um04zTdisEC&pg=PA41 Marxism in India]'' in Parsons, Howard Lee and Sommerville, John (ed.) ''Marxism, Revolution and Peace''. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1977. p. 41.</ref> In 1922, with Lotvala's help, Dange launched the English weekly, ''Socialist'', the first Indian Marxist journal.<ref>Sen, Mohit. ''The Dange Centenary'' in Banerjee, Gopal (ed.) ''S.A. Dange – A Fruitful Life''. Kolkata: Progressive Publishers, 2002. p. 43.</ref>
The [[World War I#Indian support for the Allies|First World War]] was accompanied with a rapid increase of industries in [[India]], resulting in a growth of an industrial proletariat. At the same time prices of essential commodities increased. These were factors that contributed to the buildup of the Indian trade union movement. Unions were formed in the urban centres across India, and strikes were organised. In 1920, the [[All India Trade Union Congress]] was founded.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 83-84</ref> [[S. A. Dange]] of [[Bombay]] published a pamphlet in 1921 titled ''Gandhi Vs. Lenin'', a comparative study of the approaches of both the leaders with Lenin coming out as better of the two. Together with Ranchoddas Bhavan Lotvala, a local mill-owner, a library of Marxist Literature was set up and publishing of translations of Marxist classics began.<ref>Riepe, Dale. ''[https://books.google.com/books?id=3Um04zTdisEC&pg=PA41 Marxism in India]'' in Parsons, Howard Lee and Sommerville, John (ed.) ''Marxism, Revolution and Peace''. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company, 1977. p. 41.</ref> In 1922, with Lotvala's help, Dange launched the English weekly, ''Socialist'', the first Indian Marxist journal.<ref>Sen, Mohit. ''The Dange Centenary'' in Banerjee, Gopal (ed.) ''S.A. Dange – A Fruitful Life''. Kolkata: Progressive Publishers, 2002. p. 43.</ref>
Line 11: Line 12:
The 1924 second congress of the [[Communist International]] insisted that a united front should be formed between the proletariat, peasantry and national bourgeoisie in colonised countries. Among the twenty-one conditions drafted by Lenin ahead of the congress was the 11th thesis, which stipulated that all communist parties must support the bourgeois-democratic liberation movements in the colonies. Some of the delegates opposed the idea of alliance with the bourgeoisie, and preferred support to communist movements of these countries instead. Their criticism was shared by the Indian revolutionary [[M.N. Roy]], who attended as a delegate of the [[Communist Party of Mexico]]. The congress removed the term 'bourgeois-democratic' in what became the 8th condition.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 48, 84–85</ref>
The 1924 second congress of the [[Communist International]] insisted that a united front should be formed between the proletariat, peasantry and national bourgeoisie in colonised countries. Among the twenty-one conditions drafted by Lenin ahead of the congress was the 11th thesis, which stipulated that all communist parties must support the bourgeois-democratic liberation movements in the colonies. Some of the delegates opposed the idea of alliance with the bourgeoisie, and preferred support to communist movements of these countries instead. Their criticism was shared by the Indian revolutionary [[M.N. Roy]], who attended as a delegate of the [[Communist Party of Mexico]]. The congress removed the term 'bourgeois-democratic' in what became the 8th condition.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 48, 84–85</ref>


During the 1920s and the early 1930s the Communist Party existed but was badly organised, and in practice there were several communist groups working with limited national coordination. The British colonial authorities had banned all communist activity, which made the task of building a united party very difficult. A Communist Group was founded in [[Tashkent]] on 17 October 1920, soon after the Second Congress of the [[Communist International]] by [[M.N. Roy]].Roy made contacts with [[Anushilan]] and [[Jugantar]] groups in [[Bengal]]. Small communist groups were formed in [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]] (led by [[S.A. Dange]]), [[Madras Presidency|Madras]] (led by [[Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar|Singaravelu Chettiar]]), [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]] (led by [[Shaukat Usmani]]), [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[Sindh]] (led by [[Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah|Ghulam Hussain]]) and [[Bengal]] (led by [[Muzaffar Ahmed (politician)|Muzaffar Ahmed]]).<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 89</ref>
During the 1920s and the early 1930s the Communist Party existed but was badly organised, and in practice there were several communist groups working with limited national coordination. The British colonial authorities had banned all communist activity, which made the task of building a united party very difficult. A Communist Group was founded in [[Tashkent]] on 17 October 1920, soon after the Second Congress of the [[Communist International]] by [[M.N. Roy]].Roy made contacts with [[Anushilan]] and [[Jugantar]] groups in [[Bengal]]. Small communist groups were formed in [[Bombay Presidency|Bombay]] (led by [[S.A. Dange]]), [[Madras Presidency|Madras]] (led by [[Malayapuram Singaravelu Chettiar|Singaravelu Chettiar]]), [[United Provinces of British India|United Provinces]] (led by [[Shaukat Usmani]]), [[Punjab Province (British India)|Punjab]], [[Sindh]] (led by [[Ghulam Hussain Hidayatullah|Ghulam Hussain]]) and [[Bengal]] (led by [[Muzaffar Ahmed (politician)|Muzaffar Ahmed]]).<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 89</ref>


[[File:Meerut prisoners outside the jail.jpg|thumb|350px| Portrait of 25 of the [[Meerut]] Prisoners taken outside the jail. Back row (left to right): [[K. N. Sehgal]], [[Sohan Singh Josh|S. S. Josh]], [[Lester Hutchinson|H. L. Hutchinson]], [[Shaukat Usmani]], [[Benjamin Francis Bradley|B. F. Bradley]], [[A. Prasad]], [[Philip Spratt|P. Spratt]], [[G. Adhikari]]. Middle Row: [[Radharaman Mitra]], [[Gopen Chakravarti]], [[Kishori Lal Ghosh]], [[L. R. Kadam]], [[D. R. Thengdi]], [[Goura Shanker]], [[Shibnath Bannerjee|S. Bannerjee]], [[K.N. Joglekar]], [[P. C. Joshi]], [[Muzaffar Ahmed (politician)|Muzaffar Ahmed]]. Front Row: [[M. G. Desai]], [[Dharani Goswami|D. Goswami]], [[R.S. Nimbkar]], [[S.S. Mirajkar]], [[S.A. Dange]], [[S.V. Ghate]], [[Gopal Basak]].]]
On 1 May 1923 the [[Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan]] was founded in [[Madras]], by [[Singaravelu Chettiar]]. The LKPH organised the first May Day celebration in India, and this was also the first time the [[red flag (politics)|red flag]] was used in India.<ref>[http://www.singaravelar.com/achievements.htm :: Singaravelar – Achievements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421062618/http://www.singaravelar.com/achievements.htm |date=21 April 2011 }}</ref><ref name="rao1">M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 110</ref><ref>Report of May Day Celebrations 1923, and Formation of a New Party (''The Hindu'' quoted in Murugesan, K., Subramanyam, C. S. ''Singaravelu, First Communist in South India''. New Delhi: People's Publishing House, 1975. p.169</ref>
Between 1921 and 1924 there were three conspiracy trials against the communist movement; First [[Peshawar Conspiracy Case]], [[Meerut Conspiracy Case]] and the [[Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case]]. In the first three cases, [[Russians|Russian]]-trained muhajir communists were put on trial. However, the Cawnpore trial had more political impact. On 17 March 1924, [[Shripad Amrit Dange]], [[M.N. Roy]], Muzaffar Ahmed, Nalini Gupta, Shaukat Usmani, Singaravelu Chettiar, Ghulam Hussain and R.C. Sharma were charged, in Cawnpore (now spelt Kanpur) Bolshevik Conspiracy case. The specific pip charge was that they as communists were seeking "to deprive the King Emperor of his sovereignty of British-occupied India, by complete separation of India from imperialistic Britain by a violent revolution." Pages of newspapers daily splashed sensational communist plans and people for the first time learned, on such a large scale, about communism and its doctrines and the aims of the Communist International in India.<ref name="Ralhan, O.P.">Ralhan, O.P. (ed.) ''Encyclopedia of Political Parties'' New Delhi: Anmol Publications p. 336, Rao. p. 89-91.</ref>


On 1 May 1923 the [[Labour Kisan Party of Hindustan]] was founded in [[Madras]], by [[Singaravelu Chettiar]]. The LKPH organised the first May Day celebration in India, and this was also the first time the [[red flag (politics)|red flag]] was used in India.<ref>[http://www.singaravelar.com/achievements.htm :: Singaravelar – Achievements] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110421062618/http://www.singaravelar.com/achievements.htm |date=21 April 2011 }}</ref><ref name="rao1">M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 110</ref><ref>Report of May Day Celebrations 1923, and Formation of a New Party (''The Hindu'' quoted in Murugesan, K., Subramanyam, C. S. ''Singaravelu, First Communist in South India''. New Delhi: People's Publishing House, 1975. p.169</ref>
On 26 December 1925,The [[Communist Party of India]] formed at the [[1925 Kanpur Communist Conference|first Party Conference]] in [[Kanpur]], then ''Cawnpore''.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article9916.html|title=Foundation of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1925: Product of (...) - Mainstream}}</ref> [[Sachchidanand Vishnu Ghate|S.V. Ghate]] was the first General Secretary of CPI. The conference held on 1925 December 25 to 28. Colonial authorities estimated that 500 persons took part in the conference. The conference was convened by a man called [[Satya Bhakta|Satyabhakta]], of whom little is known. Satyabhakta is said to have argued for a 'national communism' and against subordination under Comintern. Being outvoted by the other delegates, Satyabhakta left both the conference venue in protest.<ref>Satyabhakta then formed a party called National Communist Party, which lasted until 1927.</ref> The conference adopted the name 'Communist Party of India'. Groups such as LKPH dissolved into the  CPI.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 92-93</ref> The émigré CPI, which probably had little organic character, was substituted by the organisation now operating inside India.


On 26 December 1925,The [[Communist Party of India]] formed at the [[1925 Kanpur Communist Conference|first Party Conference]] in [[Kanpur]], then ''Cawnpore''.<ref>http://www.mainstreamweekly.net/article9916.html</ref> [[Sachchidanand Vishnu Ghate|S.V. Ghate]] was the first General Secretary of CPI. The conference held on 1925 December 25 to 28. Colonial authorities estimated that 500 persons took part in the conference. The conference was convened by a man called [[Satyabhakta]], of whom little is known. Satyabhakta is said to have argued for a ‘national communism’ and against subordination under Comintern. Being outvoted by the other delegates, Satyabhakta left both the conference venue in protest.<ref>Satyabhakta then formed a party called National Communist Party, which lasted until 1927.</ref> The conference adopted the name ‘Communist Party of India’. Groups such as LKPH dissolved into the  CPI.<ref>M.V.S. Koteswara Rao. ''Communist Parties and United Front – Experience in Kerala and West Bengal''. [[Hyderabad, India|Hyderabad]]: Prajasakti Book House, 2003. p. 92-93</ref> The émigré CPI, which probably had little organic character anyway, was effectively substituted by the organisation now operating inside India.
==Social and political movements by communists==
[[File:Armed_peasants_-_Telangana_armed_struggle.jpg|thumb|The [[Telangana armed struggle]] (1946–1951), was a peasant rebellion by communists against the feudal lords of the Telangana region in the princely state of Hyderabad. ]]
[[File:Armed_peasants_-_Telangana_armed_struggle.jpg|thumb|The [[Telangana armed struggle]] (1946–1951), was a peasant rebellion by communists against the feudal lords of the Telangana region in the princely state of Hyderabad. ]]
[[File:Telangana_Armed_Struggle_guerrillas.jpg|thumb|Guerrillas of the Telangana armed struggle]]
[[File:Meerut prisoners outside the jail.jpg|thumb|350px| Portrait of 25 of the [[Meerut]] Prisoners taken outside the jail. Back row (left to right): K. N. Sehgal, [[Sohan Singh Josh|S. S. Josh]], [[Lester Hutchinson|H. L. Hutchinson]], [[Shaukat Usmani]], [[Benjamin Francis Bradley|B. F. Bradley]], A. Prasad, [[Philip Spratt|P. Spratt]], [[G. Adhikari]]. Middle Row: [[Radharaman Mitra]], Gopen Chakravarti, Kishori Lal Ghosh, L. R. Kadam, D. R. Thengdi, Goura Shanker, S. Bannerjee, [[K.N. Joglekar]], [[P. C. Joshi]], [[Muzaffar Ahmed (politician)|Muzaffar Ahmed]]. Front Row: M. G. Desai, D. Goswami, R.S. Nimbkar, [[S.S. Mirajkar]], [[S.A. Dange]], [[S.V. Ghate]], Gopal Basak.|left]]
[[File:A Communist Party camp in Karol Bagh, Delhi, 1952.jpg|thumb|CPI election campaign in [[Karol Bagh]], [[Delhi]], for the [[1952 Indian general election]].]]
Between 1921 and 1924 there were three conspiracy trials against the communist movement; First [[Peshawar Conspiracy Case]], [[Meerut Conspiracy Case]] and the [[Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case]]. In the first three cases, [[Russians|Russian]]-trained muhajir communists were put on trial. However, the Cawnpore trial had more political impact. On 17 March 1923, [[Shripad Amrit Dange]], [[M.N. Roy]], Muzaffar Ahmed, Nalini Gupta, Shaukat Usmani, Singaravelu Chettiar, Ghulam Hussain and R.C. Sharma were charged, in Cawnpore (now spelt Kanpur) Bolshevik Conspiracy case. The specific pip charge was that they as communists were seeking "to deprive the King Emperor of his sovereignty of British-occupied India, by complete separation of India from imperialistic Britain by a violent revolution." Pages of newspapers daily splashed sensational communist plans and people for the first time learned, on such a large scale, about communism and its doctrines and the aims of the Communist International in India.<ref name="Ralhan, O.P.">Ralhan, O.P. (ed.) ''Encyclopedia of Political Parties'' New Delhi: Anmol Publications p. 336, Rao. p. 89-91.</ref>
 
==Communist political parties==
{{Main article|List of communist parties in India}}
[[File:A Communist Party camp in Karol Bagh, Delhi, 1952.jpg|thumb|CPI election campaign in [[Karol Bagh]], [[Delhi]], for the [[1952 Indian general election]].|222x222px]]{{As of|2019}}, the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (abbreviated CPI(M)) is the largest [[communist party]] in India. The party emerged from a split from the [[Communist Party of India]] in 1964. The CPI(M) was formed at the Seventh Congress of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) held in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) from 31 October to 7 November 1964. land reform movement in [[India]] led by [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]] leaders [[Benoy Choudhury]] and [[Hare Krishna Konar]] which threatened the interests of the landowning Middle/backward castes that supported the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]]. As of 2021, CPI(M) is leading the state government in [[Kerala]] and having elected members in 7 state legislative assemblies including [[Kerala]], [[Tripura]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Odisha]], [[Tamil Nadu]] and [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/rajasthan-election |title=Rajasthan Election Results 2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |date=28 November 2014 }}</ref> It also leads the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|West Bengal Left Front]]. As of 2016, CPI(M) claimed to have 1,048,678 members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpim.org/about-us |title=About Communism Party of India (Marxist) |access-date=14 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128125809/http://cpim.org/about-us |archive-date=28 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It is one of the eight [[List of political parties in India#National parties|National Parties]] of india.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eci.gov.in/files/category/267-recognized-national-parties/|title=Recognized Political Parties: ECI}}</ref> The highest body of the party is the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Politburo]]. There are a large number of smaller Marxist parties, including the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)]], [[Marxist Communist Party of India]], [[Marxist Coordination Committee]] in Jharkhand, [[All India Forward Bloc|Forward Bloc in Bengal]], [[Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy]], [[Communist Marxist Party]] and [[BTR-EMS-AKG Janakeeya Vedi]] in Kerala, Mazdoor Mukti (Workers' Emancipation) and [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] in West Bengal, [[Janganotantrik Morcha]] in Tripura, the [[Lok Sangharsh Morcha|Ram Pasla group]] in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], and the [[Orissa Communist Party]] in Orissa.
[[File:CPIM Tamilnadu 2014 Election Campaign.jpg|thumb|CPI(M) in [[Tamil Nadu]].|left]]
 
The [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] is a [[Marxism–Leninism–Maoism|Maoist]]<ref>{{cite book |title=South Asia Defence And Strategic Year Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZlVXtIsXCxYC&pg=PA62 |pages=62–63 |first=Deepak|last= Kapoor|publisher=Pentagon Press |year=2009 |isbn=978-8182743991}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cpi-maoist-commander-hidma-promoted-to-central-committee/article19653439.ece|title=CPI (Maoist) commander Hidma promoted to Central Committee|newspaper=The Hindu|date=10 September 2017|access-date=April 27, 2019|last1=Dahat|first1=Pavan}}</ref> [[communist party]] in India which aims to overthrow the government of India through [[people's war]]. It was founded on 21 September 2004, through the merger of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War]] (People's War Group), and the [[Maoist Communist Centre of India]] (MCCI). The merger was announced on 14 October the same year. In the merger a provisional central committee was constituted, with the erstwhile People's War Group leader [[Muppala Lakshmana Rao]], alias "Ganapathi", as general secretary.<ref name="satpprofile">{{cite web| title = Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)| work = South Asia Terrorism Portal| publisher = Institute for Conflict Management| url = http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/CPI_M.htm|access-date = 19 January 2010}}</ref> Further, on [[May Day]] 2014, the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Naxalbari]] merged into the CPI (Maoist).<ref name="CPIML-MAO-Merge">{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/cpiml-naxalbari-cpimaoist-merge/article5964758.ece | title=CPI(ML) Naxalbari, CPI(Maoist) merge | work=The Hindu | date=May 1, 2014 | agency=The Hindu | access-date=May 3, 2014}}</ref> The CPI (Maoist) are often referred to as the [[Naxalites|intellectuals]] in reference to the [[Naxalbari]] [[Naxalite-Maoist insurgency|insurrection]] conducted by radical Maoists in [[West Bengal]] in 1967.<ref name="Rahul">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IZ83V3JLXFMC |title=Hello, Bastar : The Untold Story of India's Maoist Movement |first=Rahul |last=Pandita |publisher=Westland (Tranquebar Press) |year=2011 |location=Chennai |isbn=978-93-80658-34-6 |oclc=754482226}}</ref>{{rp|101–102}} CPI(Maoist) is designated as a terrorist organisation in India under [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 16, 2016|first=Neeraj|last=Chauhan|title=Taliban: Maoists fourth deadliest terror outfit after Taliban, IS, Boko Haram: Report|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maoists-fourth-deadliest-terror-outfit-after-taliban-is-boko-haram-report/articleshow/54354196.cms|access-date=2021-08-30|website=The Times of India|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Patel|first=Aakar|title=Most extremists in India are not Muslim – they are Hindu|url=http://scroll.in/article/718458/most-extremists-in-india-are-not-muslim-they-are-hindu|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-30|website=[[Scroll.in]]|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150409172009/http://scroll.in:80/article/718458/most-extremists-in-india-are-not-muslim-they-are-hindu |archive-date=2015-04-09 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Are Most Terrorists In India Muslims?|url=https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/are-most-terrorists-in-india-muslims/293911|url-status=live|access-date=2021-08-30|website=[[Outlook India]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160420073147/http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/are-most-terrorists-in-india-muslims/293911 |archive-date=2016-04-20 }}</ref>


==Current status==
{{Clear left|left}}
[[File:Indian Marxist graffiti 2004.jpg|left|thumb|Communist electoral mural in [[Jadavpur]]]]
==Notable communists==
{{As of|2019}}, the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)]] (abbreviated CPI(M)) is the largest [[communist party]] in India. The party emerged from a split from the [[Communist Party of India]] in 1964. The CPI(M) was formed at the Seventh Congress of the Communist Party of India held in Kolkata (formerly Calcutta) from 31 October to 7 November 1964. As of 2018, CPI(M) is leading the state government in [[Kerala]] and having elected members in 8 state legislative assemblies including [[Kerala]], [[West Bengal]], [[Tripura]], [[Himachal Pradesh]], [[Maharashtra]], [[Odisha]], [[Jammu and Kashmir (state)|Jammu & Kashmir]], and [[Rajasthan]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.timesnownews.com/elections/rajasthan-election |title=RAJASTHAN ELECTION RESULTS 2018 |access-date=12 December 2018 |date=28 November 2014 }}</ref> It also leads the [[Left Front (West Bengal)|West Bengal Left Front]]. As of 2016, CPI(M) claimed to have 1,048,678 members.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://cpim.org/about-us |title=About Communism Party of India (Marxist) |access-date=14 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141128125809/http://cpim.org/about-us |archive-date=28 November 2014 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> It is one of the eight [[List of political parties in India#National Parties|National Parties]] of india.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://eci.gov.in/files/category/267-recognized-national-parties/|title=Recognized Political Parties:ECI}}</ref> The highest body of the party is the [[Politburo of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)|Politburo]]. There are a large number of smaller Marxist parties, including the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)]], [[Marxist Communist Party of India]], [[Marxist Coordination Committee]] in Jharkhand, [[All India Forward Bloc|Forward Bloc in Bengal]], [[Janathipathiya Samrakshana Samithy]], [[Communist Marxist Party]] and [[BTR-EMS-AKG Janakeeya Vedi]] in Kerala, Mazdoor Mukti (Workers' Emancipation) and [[Party of Democratic Socialism (India)|Party of Democratic Socialism]] in West Bengal, [[Janganotantrik Morcha]] in Tripura, the [[Lok Sangharsh Morcha|Ram Pasla group]] in [[Punjab, India|Punjab]], and the [[Orissa Communist Party]] in Orissa.
===Freedom fighters and nationalists===
[[File:CPIM Tamilnadu 2014 Election Campaign.jpg|thumb|CPI(M) in [[Tamil Nadu]]]]
*[[Bhagat Singh]]
*[[Ram Prasad Bismil]]
* [[Ashfaqulla Khan]]
*[[Sachindra Nath Bakshi]]
* [[Sachindranath Sanyal]]  
* [[Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee]]
===Politicians===
*[[S.V. Ghate]]
*[[Gangadhar Adhikari]]
*[[Puran Chand Joshi]]
*[[Shripad Amrit Dange]]
*[[Ajoy Ghosh]]
*[[Sohan Singh Bhakna]]
*[[C. Achutha Menon]]
*[[K. Damodaran]]
*[[P. Jeevanandham]]
*[[Makhdoom Mohiuddin]]
*[[C. Rajeswara Rao]]
*[[Bhupesh Gupta]]
*[[Geeta Mukherjee]]
*[[Hirendranath Mukherjee]]
*[[Indrajit Gupta]]
*[[Chaturanan Mishra]]
*[[A. B. Bardhan]]
*[[Jyoti Basu]]
*[[Puchalapalli Sundarayya]]
*[[E. M. S. Namboodiripad]]
*[[A. K. Gopalan]]
*[[B. T. Ranadive]]
*[[Charu Majumdar]]
*[[Harkishan Singh Surjeet]]
*[[Makineni Basavapunnaiah]]
*[[Hare Krishna Konar]]
*[[P. Ramamurthi]]
*[[Promode Dasgupta]]
*[[Jogesh Chandra Chatterjee]]
*[[Sitaram Yechury]]


The [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]] is a [[Marxism–Leninism–Maoism|Maoist]]<ref>{{cite book |title=South Asia Defence And Strategic Year Book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ZlVXtIsXCxYC&pg=PA62&output=text#c_top |pages=62–63 |authors=Deepak Kapoor, AVSM PVSM, SM VSM Chief of Army Staff (India) |publisher=Pentagon Press |year=2009 |isbn=8182743990}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/cpi-maoist-commander-hidma-promoted-to-central-committee/article19653439.ece|title=CPI (Maoist) commander Hidma promoted to Central Committee|website=thehindu.com|access-date=April 27, 2019}}</ref> [[communist party]] in India which aims to overthrow the government of India through [[people's war]]. It was founded on 21 September 2004, through the merger of the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) People's War]] (People's War Group), and the [[Maoist Communist Centre of India]] (MCCI). The merger was announced on 14 October the same year. In the merger a provisional central committee was constituted, with the erstwhile People's War Group leader [[Muppala Lakshmana Rao]], alias "Ganapathi", as general secretary.<ref name="satpprofile">{{cite web| title = Communist Party of India-Maoist (CPI-Maoist)| work = South Asia Terrorism Portal| publisher = Institute for Conflict Management| url = http://www.satp.org/satporgtp/countries/india/terroristoutfits/CPI_M.htm|access-date = 19 January 2010}}</ref> Further, on [[May Day]] 2014, the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Naxalbari]] merged into the CPI (Maoist).<ref name="CPIML-MAO-Merge">{{cite news | url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/cpiml-naxalbari-cpimaoist-merge/article5964758.ece | title=CPI(ML) Naxalbari, CPI(Maoist) merge | work=The Hindu | date=May 1, 2014 | agency=The Hindu | access-date=May 3, 2014}}</ref> The CPI (Maoist) are often referred to as the [[Naxalites|intellectuals]] in reference to the [[Naxalbari]] [[Naxalite-Maoist insurgency|insurrection]] conducted by radical Maoists in [[West Bengal]] in 1967.<ref name="Rahul">{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=IZ83V3JLXFMC |title=Hello, Bastar : The Untold Story of India's Maoist Movement |first=Rahul |last=Pandita |publisher=Westland (Tranquebar Press) |year=2011 |location=Chennai |ISBN=978-93-80658-34-6 |oclc=754482226}}</ref>{{rp|101–102}} CPI(Maoist) is designated as a terrorist organisation in India under [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/maoists-fourth-deadliest-terror-outfit-after-taliban-is-boko-haram-report/articleshow/54354196.cms|title=Maoists fourth deadliest terror outfit after Taliban, IS, Boko Haram: Report}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://tribune.com.pk/story/864540/are-all-terrorists-really-muslims/|title="Most terrorists in India are Hindus, the ones whom we have conveniently labelled 'Maoist' instead of 'Hindu'."}}</ref><ref>[http://scroll.in/article/718458/most-extremists-in-india-are-not-muslim-they-are-hindu Most extremists in India are not muslim, they are hindu.]</ref><ref>[http://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/are-most-terrorists-in-india-muslims/293911 Are most terrorists in India muslims?]</ref>
==Ultra-communist insurgency==
{{Main article|Naxalite–Maoist insurgency|Red corridor}}
{{Further|Maoism|Timeline of the Naxalite–Maoist insurgency}}
The Naxalite–Maoist insurgency<ref name=urb1>[https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/deaths-in-naxal-attacks-down-by-21-shah-at-cms-meeting/articleshow/86543018.cms Deaths in Naxal attacks down by 21%], Times Of India. 26 Sept 021.</ref> is an ongoing conflict<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite news |url=http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7799247 |title=India's Naxalites: A spectre haunting India |newspaper=[[The Economist]] |date=12 April 2006 |access-date=13 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100523074605/http://www.economist.com/world/asia/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7799247 |archive-date=23 May 2010 }}</ref> refers to the underground activities and insurgency by [[Maoist]] groups (known as Naxalites or Naxals) like [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)]]. The Maoist parties has been designated as a terrorist organisation in India under the [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] since 2009. The naxalites affected areas are called the [[Red corridor]], which has been steadily declining in terms of geographical coverage and number of violent incidents, and in 2021 it was confined to the 25 "most affected" locations (accounting for 85% of LWE violence) and 70 "total affected" districts (down from 180 in 2009)<ref name="pib.nic.in">{{cite web|url=http://www.pib.nic.in/newsite/erelease.aspx?relid=50833|title=Press Information Bureau|access-date=1 April 2015}}</ref> across 10 states in two coal-rich, remote, forested hilly clusters in and around the [[Dandakaranya]]-[[Chhattisgarh]]-[[Odisha]] region and the tri-junction area of [[Jharkhand]]-[[Bihar]] and-[[West Bengal]].<ref name=urb1/> The Naxalites have frequently targeted tribal, police and government workers in what they say is a fight for improved land rights and more jobs for neglected agricultural labourers and the poor.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/07/200971214640798718.html |title=CENTRAL/S. ASIA – 'Maoist attacks' kill Indian police |publisher=Al Jazeera English |date=15 March 2007 |access-date=13 July 2009 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713012830/http://english.aljazeera.net/news/asia/2009/07/200971214640798718.html |archive-date=13 July 2009  }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
{{Portal|India|Communism|Politics
}}
*[[Communism in Kerala]]
*[[Communism in Kerala]]
*[[Socialism in India]]
*[[Socialism in India]]
Line 37: Line 85:
*[[China–India relations]]
*[[China–India relations]]
*[[Sino-Indian War]]
*[[Sino-Indian War]]
*[[List of communist parties in India]]


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
<references />
 
{{Asia topic|Communism in}}
{{Asia topic|Communism in}}
[[Category:Communism in India| ]]
[[Category:Communism in India| ]]
[[Category:Maoism in India]]
[[Category:Maoism in India]]
[[Category:Far-left politics in India]]
[[Category:Far-left politics in India]]
Anonymous user
Retrieved from "https://en.bharatpedia.org/wiki/Special:MobileDiff/329146"