Indian Leftist Movement & Communism

• In the 1920s, a strong leftist current emerged in the Indian national movement aimed at radicalizing it.
• Leftist groups prioritized the concerns of workers, peasants, and lower classes
• These socialist forces manifested through organizations like the C.S.P., C.P.I., and various peasant and labor movements.

Growth of Communism in India

• The communist movement in India originated from extremist leaders who lived abroad due to the British government's strict policies
• Bal Gangadhar Tilak corresponded with Lenin in 1917
• Other leaders traveled to Russia to learn bomb-making and revolutionary tactics
• Extremist leaders connected with the Third International, emphasizing mass action through workers' parties, trade unions, and communist cells
• They advised Indian leaders to use class antagonism and strikes to weaken the bourgeois government and raise class consciousness

M.N. Roy

• M.N. Roy founded the first Indian Communist Party in 1920 at the Tashkent military school, Soviet Russia
• M.N. Roy founded the Communist Party of Mexico, the first outside Soviet Russia
• Lenin invited Roy to Moscow as chief advisor on Asian colonial matters
• Roy advocated for "Revolution from Below" in colonial countries, differing from Lenin's "Revolution from Above" theory
• Lenin recognized Roy as "the symbol of Revolution in the East" despite differences
• Roy agreed with the Russian Government to introduce Bolshevism into India and promote communism against imperialism
• Roy encouraged leaders to form communist groups in India
• Gandhi's suspension of the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922 allowed communists to work with Congress members
• Roy criticized Gandhi's methods as championing reactionary forces
• Roy believed Gandhi's methods were not distinguishable from consitutional methods and revolutionary changed

British Government & the Communist Party

• The British closely monitored the rise of communism in India
• The government launched the Cawnpore Conspiracy Case in 1924, trialing leaders for sedition
• Despite these efforts, the Communist Party of India (CPI) was founded on September 1, 1924, later ratified in Kanpur on December 2, 1925
• Comintern encouraged the Indian Communists to rely on local resources, not Russian money in the early 1920s
• The Comintern's decision led to the Communist Party of Great Britain taking interest in Indian communist activities
• Indian communists began infiltrating the Indian National Congress (INC) and tried to gain control of the All India Trade Union Congress

Impact of British Communists

• British Communists supported Indian communists to organize and grow
• R.P. Dutt of the British Communist Party, saw the Indian bourgeoisie as counter-revolutionary, fearing social revolution more than independence
• Dutt advocated for a national movement based on workers and peasants with a radical political program
• Dutt saw the Indian struggle as against British and Indian capitalists
• Allison, Spratt, Hutchinson, and Bradley were other British communists who helped build communism in India
• Phillip Spratt found Indian communists greedy and dishonest after arriving in India in December 1926
• Despite this, he used his skills to form the "Workers and Peasants Party" in Bombay and Calcutta in 1927
• B.F. Bradley reached India by September 1927, developing relations with cotton mill and railway workers
• British communists contributed new strategies, organization, and dedication
• Serving as an example to the Indian communists, who were often divided

Expansion of the CPI base

• Trade-unionism began in India from 1920 onward
• Before 1920, workers lacked leadership and organization
• The Indian working class started organizing after World War I, developing trade unions and political awareness
• The All India Trade Union Congress was formed in 1920
• In 1922, the Comintern Fourth Congress told the Indian Communist Party to influence and "purge" trade unions
• The Indian communists message of class war, demanded working-class party, alliance with the peasant masses, and call for economic and political independence
• They wanted to affiliate the AITUC with the Red International Labour Union and the Brussels League Against Imperialism
• The ninth session of the AITUC in Jharia in 1928 emphasized a socialist constitution with nationalization, work rights, social insurance, etc
• The communists gained control over the trade union movement by 1928

Ultra-Leftist Policy

• The year 1928 was when the communist movement in India experienced strong shockwaves.
• The British worried about Russian money promoting anti-British and spread of communism.
• The British launched the Meerut Conspiracy Case in March 1929, prosecuting Phillip Spratt, B.F. Bradley, S.P. Dange, and others
• Accused had conspired with the Third International to deprive the King of sovereignty and establish a Soviet-style government
• The case gained attraction of communist ideas in India.
• Leaders like M.N. Roy, S.A. Dange, and Muzzaffar Ahmad became prominent figures.
• The Comintern's Sixth Congress, which adopted a new ultra-leftist stance hindering the growth of communism in India
• The "Draft Platform of Action of the Communist Party of India" wanted a militant communist party
• Saw INC led by Gandhi as counter-revolutionary, targeting leftist non-communists (Nehru, Bose)
• Policy called for "ruthless war" on reformers and severing ties with the bourgeoisie and INC

Consequences of ultra-leftist Policy

• The new policy against Gandhi and INC leaders alienated many Indians
• This caused confusion among Indian communist leaders
• Old leaders continued their old activities
• Young leaders followed the set new directions
• The Bombay Communist Party split into groups
• Factionalism became common

M.N. Roy's Dissent

• M.N. Roy opposed Comintern's new policy
• Roy expulsed from the Comintern International due to differences in 1929
• Roy made new attempts to transmit socialist ideology in Congress ranks
• Roy drafted a manifesto in Berlin in 1930, suggesting INC should champion peasants and workers
• Roy also advocated to have a Constituent Assembly elected on universal suffrage
• Roy was successful in having trade unions abandon "ultra-leftism"
• Roy's arrest in July 1931 removed a "dangerous enemy" and struck another blow to Indian communism

Communist Party

• Guided by ultra-leftism, the Communist Party in India was hostile to Gandhi's salt-satyagraha and Civil Disobedience Movement
• Greatest mistake made by communists
• Widening gulf between them and the national mainstream
• They lost public support gained from the Meerut Conspiracy Case
• Communist leaders were seen as treacherous.
• The extremist Comintern policy from September 1928 directed Indian communists until 1935
• The 7th Congress of the Comintern reversed it, advocating popular fronts against imperialism

United Front Policy

• The Seventh Congress of the Comintern International, held in Moscow in August 1935, introduced a new United Front policy
• This replaces the criticism of Gandhi and the INC pursued since 1928
• It was stated that, "the Indian communists should work within the National Congress and affiliate organizations, maintaining independence and consolidating anti-imperialist forces"
• The Comintern was clarified, titled "The Anti-Imperialist People's Front in India"
• The article was further developed by R. Palm Dutt and B. F. Bradley
• Published February 1936, welcomed all elements against British rule, including liberals

Communist Strategies & Congress Socialist Party

• The Congress Party of India decided its members should join the INC and attempt revolutionary direction and to cooperate with the Congress Socialist Party.
• After 1936, marked by infiltration and crystallization of revolutionary wing
• The ban on the CPI did not slow operations, but, paved the way for C.P.I functioning
• During the rule of the Congress Ministries they penetrated into the C.S.P. and the INC
• communist leaders occupied high positions in the C.S.P
• All India Students Federation divided into communists and non-communists

The Congress Socialist Party

• Indian communists did not remain in the C.S.P for long
• Real objective was to capture communists leadership
• They found those socialist "actively trying to oust the socialists from the leadership
• J.P., too, realized that socialist party would not accept.
• C.S.P. did not tolerate rival party”
• Design became obvious -Four founders resigned to stop infiltration
• In March 1940, Executives resolved to expelled
• From the C.S.P, Indian lead political strike

C.P.I achievements

• C.P.I had achieved significant gains
• Established hold over student federation
• scope expanded
• Had captured 21 seats
• The parties used the activities
• Andhra Tamil Nadu, allow hands of communists
• The communist parts grew
• Had an important national congress
• It built up in the space of journals

World War II

• In World War II the Indian leaders declare imperialist war
• The entry into war transform and call to support the war - became an all of the India
• In nationalized the war
• was built through all sides

Allied effort

• Government release support Allied war
• All leader were put in and support freedom
• It had supported to in
• The trade of all
• Aituc
• National trade union
• The who all conflicts