150th Anniversary of the 1857 rebellion

[Brownfist]

Today is the first day of the 150th anniversary of the 1857 rebellion. This was the first time, in a concerted manner, that the Indian people rose up against the British and it would not be the last. 150 years later we have kicked the British out of India in name, however, India remains a colonized country not only economically, but also culturally and politically. We will continue to fight the colonialists until one day not only we, but the entire would will be free from colonialism. This year will also be the 100th birth anniversary of Shaheed Bhagat Singh who at the age of 24 was hung for fighting British colonialism (he is also recognized as being one of the first Indian communists), and the 40th anniversary of the Naxalbari struggle in which the people of Naxalbari rose up against the landlords and the class-collaborating CPI(Marxist) and demanded an end to semi-feudal semi-colonial relations with land being returned to the tiller.

Inquilab Zindabad!

Wikipedia has a decent entry on the 1857 rebellion: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_rebellion_of_1857

Although it has been written from a nationalist standpoint I think that the article is decent. There has been a lot of material written on this subject, Marx also has a section on this in his slim hardly-mentioned volume entitled, "Notes on Indian History". It was also re-printed in a recently released volume named, "Karl Marx on India".

[Spirit of Spartacus]

It's not just India. All of South Asia remains colonized, exploited and trapped in poverty.

May I also add that Pakistan shares the same history as India, and was separated only in 1947 as a result of upper-class Muslims who collaborated with British imperialists.

And today, as a result of our alliances with the Imperialist camp, we're in a far worse condition than India.

The city where Shaheed Bhagat Singh lived and was hanged, Lahore, is now in Pakistan, and there isn't one monument to him here. I do wonder where all those glorious events happened...stuff like the Saunders Killing and all...

Most people here in Lahore don't seem to remember this hero, except students of history and academics. :(

Long Live South Asian unity! (I wish it existed :P )

Inquilab Zindabad!

Bhagat Singh Shaheed, zindabad!

[Brownfist]

Spirit of Spartacus, I apologize for my comments only being narrowly defined to India. I think that sometimes one forgets, due to post-Partition nationalist historiography, that the 1857 rebellion and Shaheed Bhagat Singh are part of a common Indian-Pakistani revolutionary heritage. I think it indeed is a shame that in Lahore people have forgotten this great Marxist hero, but it has only been in recent years that the larger Indian polity (including myself) have come to remember him as well. For many years he was reduced to being a regional hero of Punjab, rather than the South-Asian subcontinent, and even the remembrance of him today is largely as an Indian nationalist and not as a Marxist revolutionary.

I indeed agree that what is needed is greater South-Asian unity and solidarity. One should suggest to parties like the CPP and the CMKP that they too should celebrate the 150 anniversary of the 1857 rebellion, and the 100 anniversary of Bhagat Singh. This should be part of their cultural programming for the masses. Only through a counter-hegemonic ideological training of the masses, through inspiring revolutionary histories can there be unity and solidarity between the workers and peasants of India and Pakistan. Today, the divide and rule method is utilized by the bourgeoisie of India and Pakistan to continue its exploitation of the working class and peasantry. This too is a colonial legacy.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Zindabad!
Naxalbari Zindabad!
Inquilab Zindabad!

[PRC-UTE]

Thanks for the info, comrades.

Could you please translate these slogans:

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Zindabad!
Naxalbari Zindabad!
Inquilab Zindabad!

[Vargha Poralli]

Marx and Engels (http://www.marxists.org/archive/marx/works/1857/india/index.htm) on this issue.

One thing to remember is that this revolt is not the first kind in India(Vellore Mutiny was the first (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vellore_Mutiny), which is largely ignored (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/5168550.stm))and many kingdoms fought against the British for about 80 years at different parts.This mutiny was the first one that occurred in North India and at that time they had failed to co-ordinate it. Many participants(leaders) have personal grudges against British but also very much doubhtfull of each other.Also some of them wanted to revive the corpse which is known as Mughal dynasty which is not liked by others. These factors led to their defeat.

And this is not widespread revolt as it is portrayed by India Nationalists today as Madras,Bombay and Sikh regiments remained loyal to the British and there is no actions in Deccan and NW provinces.

PRC-UTE


Could you please translate these slogans:

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Zindabad!
Naxalbari Zindabad!
Inquilab Zindabad!

I dont know whether it is Hindi or Urudu but the Translation should be

Zindabad - Long Live

Inquilab - Revolution

Naxalbari (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naxalbari)

Inquilab Zindabad! - Long Live the Revolution.

Naxalbari Zindabad! - Long Live the works and sacrifice of Naxalites.

Shaheed Bhagat Singh Zindabad! - Long Live the martyr Bhagat Singh.

SoS or Brownfist should correct me if I spelt any thing wrong.

[Brownfist]

Shaheed = martyr
Bhagat Singh = Indian marxist revolutionary hung at the age of 24 for fighting British colonial rule.
Zindabad = Long Live!
Naxalbari = a village and region of West Bengal where peasants in 1967 rose up against the landlords and demanded equal distribution of land. Later the movement attempted to start a people's war in India.
Inquilab = revolution.

So they translate as:
Long Live Martyr Bhagat Singh!
Long Live Naxalbari!
Long Live Revolution!

[Tekun]

"The aim of life is no more to control the mind, but to develop it harmoniously; not to achieve salvation here after, but to make the best use of it here below; and not to realise truth, beauty and good only in contemplation, but also in the actual experience of daily life; social progress depends not upon the ennoblement of the few but on the enrichment of democracy; universal brotherhood can be achieved only when there is an equality of opportunity - of opportunity in the social, political and individual life." — from Bhagat Singh's prison diary, p. 124
the man was good

[Brownfist]

He definitely was an inspiration to communists in the South-Asian region for many decades and numerous communist parties still name or dedicate their youth wings to him. This year is indeed an important year on a number of accounts, and is being celebrated accordingly.

Last year was the 90th anniversary of the Great Easter Uprising and was wondering what the celebrations were like for that, in Ireland and abroad.

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Lal salaam, comrades!

("Lal salaam" means "Red greetings", its what communists in India and Pakistan say :) )


Bhagat Singh was like our Che and much more.

Whenever the political situation makes you feel discouraged, go to the Bhagat Singh archive at marxists.org. You can't help but be inspired.

http://www.marxists.org/archive/bhagat-singh/index.htm


I suggest that all comrades read the following:

> The Red Pamphlet

> Why I am an Atheist

> To Young Political Workers

> Last Petition


Here are the best parts from his Last Petition:


To:
The Punjab Governor
Sir,

With due respect we beg to bring to your kind notice the following:

That we were sentenced to death on 7th October 1930 by a British Court, L.C.C Tribunal, constituted under the Sp. Lahore Conspiracy Case Ordinance, promulgated by the H.E. The Viceroy, the Head of the British Government of India, and that the main charge against us was that of having waged war against H.M. King George, the King of England.

The above-mentioned finding of the Court pre-supposed two things:

Firstly, that there exists a state of war between the British Nation and the Indian Nation and, secondly, that we had actually participated in that war and were therefore war prisoners.

The second pre-supposition seems to be a little bit flattering, but nevertheless it is too tempting to resist the desire of acquiescing in it.

.....


The days of capitalist and imperialist exploitation are numbered. The war neither began with us nor is it going to end with our lives. It is the inevitable consequence of the historic events and the existing environments. Our humble sacrifices shall be only a link in the chain that has very accurately been beautified by the unparalleled sacrifice of Mr. Das and most tragic but noblest sacrifice of Comrade Bhagawati Charan and the glorious death of our dear warrior Azad.

As to the question of our fates, please allow us to say that when you have decided to put us to death, you will certainly do it. You have got the power in your hands and the power is the greatest justification in this world. We know that the maxim "Might is right" serves as your guiding motto. The whole of our trial was just a proof of that. We wanted to point out that according to the verdict of your court we had waged war and were therefore war prisoners. And we claim to be treated as such, i.e., we claim to be shot dead instead of to be hanged. It rests with you to prove that you really meant what your court has said.

We request and hope that you will very kindly order the military department to send its detachment to perform our execution.

Yours,
BHAGAT SINGH



You know, our history teacher at school was a leftist, if not a communist. She's really old, and she was a kid back when Bhagat Singh was hanged during the British colonial rule.
She says all the girls she knew back then had a huge crush on Bhagat. :D


Bhagat Singh Shaheed, Zindabad!
Inquilab Zindabad!

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Spirit of Spartacus, I apologize for my comments only being narrowly defined to India.

No problem, comrade. It's not our fault, its because of the treachery of the Muslim League during the British colonial rule.
Having said that, I think Pakistan is here to stay, and as communists we should work towards friendship and unity between the people of our two countries. I believe the Left has taken very few steps in this regard.


I think that sometimes one forgets, due to post-Partition nationalist historiography, that the 1857 rebellion and Shaheed Bhagat Singh are part of a common Indian-Pakistani revolutionary heritage. I think it indeed is a shame that in Lahore people have forgotten this great Marxist hero, but it has only been in recent years that the larger Indian polity (including myself) have come to remember him as well.

Well, over here, the reasons are different. Bhagat Singh and the HSRA emphasized Hindu-Muslim unity rather than the separatist bullshit of the Muslim League.
Here in Pakistan, there has been a systematic effort by the ruling-class to eliminate all references to such people. Children are never taught about Bhagat Singh, and Gandhi and Nehru are made out to be demonic personalities.

As for Muslims who emphasized Hindu-Muslim unity, people like Ashfaqullah Khan and Maulana Abul-Kalam Azad, these people are portrayed as being tragically "misguided".

Ashfaqullah Khan isn't mentioned at all in school history courses. The government controls the history curriculum, and facts are distorted into bullshit.


For many years he was reduced to being a regional hero of Punjab, rather than the South-Asian subcontinent, and even the remembrance of him today is largely as an Indian nationalist and not as a Marxist revolutionary.

Yes, I've seen Indian nationalists praising him as some sort of Fascist, which is pure distortion.

Bhagat was a revolutionary, progressive nationalist. His nationalism was based on anti-imperialism.

Any Indian who opposed British colonialism would automatically have been a nationalist.


I indeed agree that what is needed is greater South-Asian unity and solidarity. One should suggest to parties like the CPP and the CMKP that they too should celebrate the 150 anniversary of the 1857 rebellion, and the 100 anniversary of Bhagat Singh. This should be part of their cultural programming for the masses.

Well, I'm associated with the CMKP more, and I identify with its politics more than the CPP or TJ. CMKP has mass support and a correct anti-imperialist line.

As for celebrating these events, well, we do hold mass meetings on the anniversary of Bhagat Singh. I don't know about 1857, though.

In fact, I'll make that suggestion to the local cell of the CMKP here in Lahore. We ought to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the 1857 rebellion.


Only through a counter-hegemonic ideological training of the masses, through inspiring revolutionary histories can there be unity and solidarity between the workers and peasants of India and Pakistan. Today, the divide and rule method is utilized by the bourgeoisie of India and Pakistan to continue its exploitation of the working class and peasantry. This too is a colonial legacy.

Yes, as I mentioned earlier, the ideological distortion of history is simply infuriating here in Pakistan.

They twist history into a grotesque lie in order to train the youth to accept the Muslim-separatist nonsense which became the foundation of this country.

But comrade, we have our own communist heroes here in Pakistan, and they are never mentioned.

The greatest post-Independence Urdu poet, Faiz Ahmed Faiz was a communist. He was even awarded the Lenin Peace Prize by the Soviets. The government never recognized him, even though his work is taught as basic Urdu poetry in schools and colleges.

We had Hassan Nasir, who was tortured to death by the police, after the CIA handed his name to the authorities here. He was a great intellectual and revolutionary. No mention of him either.

You're right, its very important to challenge the myths propagated by the ruling-classes.

[Brownfist]

Comrade Spirit of Spartacus it is good to see a member of the CMKP on this board. I am in touch with two people in your party. I think that the development of the CMKP is a very good step in the development of communism in South-Asia. I was wondering whether you could elaborate as to why the MKP split from the CMKP?

I think that it would be very encouraging if the CMKP was to have events regarding Bhagat Singh as this could allow for the development of a coherent South-Asian left. As for Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he is a very popular poet in India and all of the cadres know his poems. I have never heard of Hassan Nasir. Could you please tell me more about him? I think that through joint cultural programs come kind of unity can be forged within the South-Asian left. However, I do feel that the CMKP has a slightly erroneous line with their support for the CPI(Marxist).

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Comrade Spirit of Spartacus it is good to see a member of the CMKP on this board.

Unfortunately, comrade, I'm not an official member yet. I've been invited to join, however. Hopefully, I'll soon be a member.

But whatever, its my Party. I identify with them.


I am in touch with two people in your party. I think that the development of the CMKP is a very good step in the development of communism in South-Asia.

I agree. :)

I was wondering whether you could elaborate as to why the MKP split from the CMKP?

Oh these little splits do keep happening.

A lot of it has to do with personal egos coming into play. I'm not really familiar with the circumstances surrounding the split you mentioned, since I wasn't in contact with the communist movement until recently.



I think that it would be very encouraging if the CMKP was to have events regarding Bhagat Singh as this could allow for the development of a coherent South-Asian left.

They already do have mass events regarding Bhagat. I'll attend them this time, hopefully. ;)


As for Faiz Ahmed Faiz, he is a very popular poet in India and all of the cadres know his poems.

Oh I didn't know Faiz was all that popular in India.


I have never heard of Hassan Nasir. Could you please tell me more about him?

Well, there isn't much material on him online.

I learned a lot about him from my left-leaning history teacher, who was a child in the time of British colonial rule here. :)

She knew Hassan Nasir, apparently. He died a tragic but glorious death.


I think that through joint cultural programs come kind of unity can be forged within the South-Asian left.

Oh yes, that and joint political work of some sort. I believe some contacts were established recently when Indian communists visited Pakistan.

But those were CPI-M people, right? I don't think you'd approve of those contacts. :P


However, I do feel that the CMKP has a slightly erroneous line with their support for the CPI(Marxist).

The CMKP doesn't seem to have a very strong line on the issue of which Indian group to support.

They seem to support the CPI-M at the same time as the Naxals. I think this is not because of opportunism, but its because they sincerely believe that both the CPI-M and CPI-Maoist have contributed significantly to the revolutionary left in India.

I'd welcome your views on this, however.

[Brownfist]

Yes, I think that it is important for the CMKP to develop links in India, however, the links should be with parties that are still revolutionary in nature. I think that the CPI(M) is a party that has become thoroughly revisionist, and has become a bourgeois party which is actually aiding capitalist development in India. They have unleashed their cadre/goons on villagers in areas in which they to have Special Economic Zones because the villagers refused to sell their homes and leave. The party is only interested in maintaining control through elections.

I fear that that the CMKP will be negatively influenced by the CPI(M) because they are such a small party in relation to the CPI(M), and will also follow the same erroneous path. I think that at the same time, as much as I have respect for the CPI(Maoist), I do not think that the CPI(Maoist) is following the correct line either because they have followed an adventurist path, which downplays the importance of the proletariat, and reduces the peasant to a spectator of heroic actions by individuals within the guerrilla squads. There have been some attempts to correct the erroneous line of not developing mass organizations and it will be interesting to see what happens.

The CMKP needs to make a clear relationship with Maoism/Mao Zedong Thought. I have received contradictory messages from the people I know in the party regarding this question. I think that the party politbureau has to clarify this issue. I think that if the CMKP is not willing to adopt a Maoist position than this could be erroneous, but this seems unlikely due to their relationship with the CPN(Maoist). The reason I ask about the MKP was because I was wondering whether part of the debate was surrounding this question.

But I think that it is important for all Marxist-Leninist revolutionaries to join the CMKP and build a powerful anti-revisionist party in Pakistan.

[Spirit of Spartacus]

Yes, I think that it is important for the CMKP to develop links in India, however, the links should be with parties that are still revolutionary in nature. I think that the CPI(M) is a party that has become thoroughly revisionist, and has become a bourgeois party which is actually aiding capitalist development in India. They have unleashed their cadre/goons on villagers in areas in which they to have Special Economic Zones because the villagers refused to sell their homes and leave. The party is only interested in maintaining control through elections.

I fear that that the CMKP will be negatively influenced by the CPI(M) because they are such a small party in relation to the CPI(M), and will also follow the same erroneous path. I think that at the same time, as much as I have respect for the CPI(Maoist), I do not think that the CPI(Maoist) is following the correct line either because they have followed an adventurist path, which downplays the importance of the proletariat, and reduces the peasant to a spectator of heroic actions by individuals within the guerrilla squads. There have been some attempts to correct the erroneous line of not developing mass organizations and it will be interesting to see what happens.

Well comrade, I agree with your criticism of the CPI-M and the CPI-Maoist, but then again it merely highlights the dilemna we Pakistani communists find ourselves in.

Who exactly on the Indian left can we fully support?

What's your take on the CPI-ML, by the way? Oh wait, there are like eight or nine CPI-ML's. :(


The CMKP needs to make a clear relationship with Maoism/Mao Zedong Thought. I have received contradictory messages from the people I know in the party regarding this question. I think that the party politbureau has to clarify this issue. I think that if the CMKP is not willing to adopt a Maoist position than this could be erroneous, but this seems unlikely due to their relationship with the CPN(Maoist). The reason I ask about the MKP was because I was wondering whether part of the debate was surrounding this question.

Well, I think the position of the CMKP on Maoism is evident from polemics which senior party members have conducted. I have some documents on that issue, here is what one senior CMKP comrade says in one of those polemics:



Why do the "Maoists" criticize the Communist Party of Cuba for upholding the theory of combining the bourgeoisie democratic stage and the proletarian stage into one "socialist revolution".

On the alleged "Cuban Revisionism", the RIM says:


"However this openly capitulationist, right-wing revisionism always corresponded with, and has become increasingly intermingled with, a kind of "left" armed revisionism, promoted at times by the Cuban leadership and others, which separated the armed struggle from the masses and preached a line of combining revolutionary stages into one single "socialist" revolution, which in fact meant appealing to the workers on the narrowest of bases and negating the necessity of the working class to lead the peasantry and others in thoroughly eliminating imperialism and the backward and distorted economic and social relations that foreign capital thrives on and reinforces. Today this form of revisionism is one of the major planks of the social-imperialist attempt to penetrate and control national liberation struggles."

The above is a classical example of how the "Maoists" have barbarically revised the fundamentals of Leninism; and Lenin's thesis on the question of COMBINING THE BOURGEOISIE DEMOCRATIC STAGE WITH THE PROLETARIAN STAGE INTO A SINGLE SOCIALIST REVOLUTION.
Lenin said:
"From the democratic revolution we shall at once, and just in accordance with the measure of our strength, the strength of the class-conscious and organised proletariat, begin to pass to the socialist revolution. We stand for uninterrupted revolution. We shall not stop halfway…"


What amazes me the most is that all these revisionist positions [that have been taken by the Maoist lobby in general; and by the RIM] have been taken in the name of defending [don't laugh!] Chairman Mao; the man who led the battle against modern revisionism along with Comrade Enver Hoxha; the man who wrote that "revisionism is opium to anaesthize the masses".

Comrade Mansoor accuses us of being "religious" and "dogmatic"; while he has as yet not provided a shred of evidence to prove that Chairman Mao endorsed the theory of permanent revolution. Nor has there been any proof for the existence of finance capital in the USSR; nor has there been any evidence presented against the "metaphysics" of Stalin. And yet WE are labelled dogmatic Marxists? A laughable proposition.
Let us uphold the banner of Marxism-Leninism: The guide to practical action.

Long Live Marxism-Leninism!
Long Live Comrade Stalin!
Long Live Chairman Mao!
Death to Khrushchevite Revisionism!
Death to Trotskyism!


So evidently, if "Maoism" means taking up the position of the RIM, then the CMKP denounces it.

Basically, the CMKP upholds Mao Zedong Thought as being distinct from the "Maoism" of the Shining Path movement (PCP).
The CMKP upholds Mao Zedong Thought, but not the "Maoism" of the PCP, which they criticize as being ultra-leftist.

I'm not sure about this, but I also think that the CMKP sides with Enver Hoxha on the issue of the Sino-Albanian split.



But I think that it is important for all Marxist-Leninist revolutionaries to join the CMKP and build a powerful anti-revisionist party in Pakistan.

I agree. (In principle, if not in practice :P )

[Brownfist]

Comrade,
I think that it is true that it is difficult to support any one party fully in India, however supporting the CPI(Marxist) is not the answer. It seems that the party in Pakistan does not support maoism, and thus I do think that the party should support either the CPRCI(ML) or the CPI(ML)New Democracy, which not uphold Mao Zedong Thought, but also uphold the mass line.

As you have mentioned there are several CPI(ML)'s. I believe that there are approximately 36 parties in India of varying sizes, and political lines, whether it is pro-Deng Xiaopingits like the CPI(ML)Liberation, pro-Lin Biao like the CPI(ML)Mahadev Mukherjee or people who have different understandings of strategy and tactics like the CPI(ML)New Democracy, CPI(ML)Kanu Sanyal or the CPRCI(ML).

It is good that the CMKP upholds Mao Zedong Thought, however, it does seem that the CMKP does not put forward Mao in a big way, at least not on their website etc. I think that the party needs to clarify this question internationally, and break with the revisionist parties otherwise it too will become infused with revisionism.

[Vargha Poralli]

What is needed in India,Pakistan,Bangladesh,Nepal and SriLanka is a genuine Workers and Peasants movement.The existing "Anti-Revisionist" movements have failed inherently in providing one so there is no need for a new "Anti-Revisionist" movement.

[Brownfist]

G.Ram I completely disagree that anti-revisionist movements have failed in India and Nepal. It is true that they have struggled in those countries, however, they have struggled everywhere in the world and actually South-Asia is the only place in the world that they have been tremendous strides in the 21st century. All other revisionist, anarchist, trotskyist, movement of movements etc. have failed in providing a leadership role to the working class and peasantry. In the cases of Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri Lanka right-wing movements of a religious nature have become the alternatives to the existing corrupt regimes. I think that with a correct anti-revisionist line and practice revolutionary movements akin to those in India and Nepal are possible. I think that the only case in which there have been militant struggles that have not been led by anti-revisionist movements can be in some Western European countries and some of the countries in the Far East like Japan, and especially Korea. However, that has to do with the fact that there has been a strong labour movement there, and that the farmers are being affected negatively in such a way that has made the conditions unbearable thus necessarily forcing action. However, even there they have not been able to sustain a movement that is an attack on the state, rather it becomes about a series of demands that lie primarily on the socio-economic base.