Rise of Left Movement in India

The left or in simple words, socialist philosophy or philosophy propagated by Karl Marx penetrated into India in 19th century. The New Education System established link with Europe, Indians studying in Europe or Europeans staying in India, all were contributing factor for coming of socialist philosophy in India. The left philosophy can be divided into three streams in India.

(A)       The Communist movement in India.

(B)       The Socialist movement within congress.

(C)       The Socialist movement outside congress.

These three in combination can be called left movement in India.

Factor responsible for rise of left movement

British were colonial and so were their policies. They were exploitative in nature. Such exploitation was reacted against by Indians. Indian intelligentsia, who was linked with west, took to socialist/communist philosophy to mobilize people against such British policies.

British colonialism was product of industrializiation in Europe. British also gave impetus to industry in India however suiting to their interest. It gave boost to trade unionism in India. It further provided sustenance to left movement in India.

The early leadership in Congress also had soft Corner for socialistic ideas. Early leaders like Dada Bhai Naoroji, Pherozshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, Surinder Nath Banerjee etc represented the philosophy of poor people in India. In later years in congress the socialism began to feel its presence.

The sudden suspension of Non Cooperation Movement (NCM) also led to growth of Socialism within and outside congress. Gandhi provides an alternative in form of Gandhian constructive work programme. There were many within and outside congress who did not appreciate such programme. So they were drifted towards new philosophy that was socialism.

During 1920, there was rise of new leadership within congress in form of Pt. J.L. Nehru and S.C. Bose. These leaders were socialist in their taste and intellect. They mobilized new generation within congress. They propagated socialistic ideas but without revolution.

Russian Revolution provided immediate impetus to socialism in India. Gandhian leadership did not appreciate revolution yet people got attracted towards revolution. They began to follow the socialist leadership.

The Great depression of 1929-30 provided boost socialistic ideas world over and in India as well. This depression made public life miserable as people began to suffer economic problems like low prices, low purchasing power, over production, low import/export, etc. Russia was only country which was not affected with ill effect of depression. It also fascinated young generation toward socialistic ideas.

The suspension of CDM in 1934 too contributed to rise of left movement in India. Those who did not appreciate Gandhian Constructive programme began to look for any alternative ideology. The emerging discontent led to rise of left.

There were many world events which gave boost to leftism in India. The fine example is rise of fascism in many countries. The world over public opinion was against fascism and people opted for socialism. At the same time, the capitalistic philosophy too showed its ill effects. The rich poor gap began to be widened in capitalistic countries. It also frightened people towards leftism.

Rise and growth of communist movement in India         

The communist movement spreaded out of disillusionment in Indian freedom struggle. Labourers, peasants and unemployed all were looking for new way for emancipation as these people were not wholly satisfied from the way freedom struggle was moving forward.

M.N. Roy (or Naren Bhattacharyajee) came in contract with Bolshevik, Mikhail Borodin in Mexico. In October 1920, M.N. Roy along with Abani Mukherjee and some Khilafat leaders like Mohammad Ali and Mohammad Shifaq founded Communist Party of India (CPI) in Tashkant. They had hoped to penetrate into India through Afghanistan with new ideology.

In 1921, M.N. Roy shifted Headquarter of CPI to Berlin. He started journal “Vanguard of Indian independence.” He also published a book “India in transition.” It was a Marxian analysis of Indian Socio Economic conditions.

One another Socialist leader, S.A. Dange started a weekly -“Socialist” in Bombay. He also started one Bengal weekly “Janavani”. Both these journal began to prepare ground for socialist movement in India. There was another revolutionary group in India. The notable leaders of this group were Virender Nath Catoupadhaye, Bhupender Nath Dutt and Barkatullah. They started “Indian Independence Party” in Berlin in 1922.

During second decade of 20th century Gadhar activist too turned communist. Their leaders like Ratan Singh, Santokh Singh, Teja Singh Swantatar too contributed to the cause of left movement in India. Many of thier leaders began to propagate communist revolution after World War I.

Revolutionary Terrorist too contributed for communist movement in India. Some revolutionary leaders from West Bengal like Abani Mukherjee and Nalni Gupta supported M.N. Roy’s communist movement. The establishment of Hindustan Socialist Republican Association was indicative of the rise of left in India.

 In same way some Khilafat leaders like Muzzaffar Ahmad too began to support communist movements in India.

However, British govt adopted suppressive policies against communist movement, even then, communist leaders called “Indian Communist Conference” in 1925. The conference was organized by Satyabhakta. In this conference, “Communist Party of India” was appointed chairman of reception committee whereas Singaravelu became its president.

However govt continued its suppressive policies, yet trade union movement too began to play role. It began to provide sustenence to communist movement. In 1927, “All India Workers and Peasant Party” was founded.

Communist Party of India did work in Cooperation with congress from 1925 to 1929.  In 1929 CPI broke away from Congress. It also dissolved its workers and peasants party.

In 1934, CPI was banned and communist movement split into many parts. In 1935, CPI was reorganized. Actually Communist International gave direction to form united front against fascist forces. It also directed CPI to cooperate with congress.          

In 1942, CPI took a different stand in ongoing freedom struggle. It apposed Quit India movement. It got direction from top to help British in 2nd World War and keep aloof from freedom struggle. In 1964, it again splited into two parts CPI and CPI(M).

Socialist movement within congress

Early Congress leadership was fully aware about socialistic ideas. Dada Bhai Naroji attended “International Socialist conference”, 1904 in Amsterdam. However, they never seriously associated themselves with ideology of socialism.

Most of the leaders in early congress were from upper strata of society. They were western educated landed elements, white collar professionals or entrepreneurs. So it was also difficult to expect from them to be socialist. Moreover they were not leading any mass movement.

Congress Socialism after First World War

The condition created by World War was very miserable and acute. Mean time, Gandhi took over the leadership of congress and Congress opted to fight a non-violent battle. Accordingly, soon congress became a party with mass representing all section of people.

In 1922, congress party suddenly withdrew “ongoing non-cooperation movement. It developed frustration among workers. Many outside congress did not appreciate Gandhian constructive work programme. Those who neither joined constructive work programme nor joined Swarajist began to support socialist ideology within congress.

Rise of J.L. Nehru & S.C. Bose & Socialism.

(i)    During early 1920, Pt. J.L. Nehru was also disturbed over sudden withdrawal of non-cooperation movement. However he was loyal to Gandhiji yet he opted far an alternative ideology that was socialism. He got first hand information about problems of peasants/workers in Kanpur and Rai Barreli. It convinced him to the philosophy of socialism.

(ii)   He also visited various European Countries so that on one hand he could understand Indian conditions and on the other he could understand the concept of Colonialism in a better manner. He attended “International Congress against colonialism, oppression and imperialism” held in Brussels where he met representatives of different developing countries. He became member of theexecutive committee. Here he learned that how capitalism has had been spreading Colonialism and leading to World Wars. He also visited Soviet Union where he realized how socialism works and on that base he analyzed reconstruction of the nation.

The development in 1927, led to a debate between self govt and Swaraj/Complete independence. Meantime Simon Commission put question mark over Indian ability to run the country. In Nehru report Congress party was looking for dominion status but it was opposed by Pt. Nehru and Subhash Chander Bose in favour of complete independence. In this way Pt. Nehru along with S.C. Bose put socialist ideology on surface of the congress.

In 1928, Pt. Nehru and S.C. Bose formed “Indian independence league” to pressurize congress to accept complete independence as ultimate goal of the Nationalist Movement. They mobilized young generation of the congress. In 1928 Pt. Nehru became President of Congress and in 1931 S.C. Bose became President of Congress.

In 1931, Karachi session, congress passed not only fundamental rights of the people but agriculture programme for peasantry also. Congress supported the idea of socio economic independence of the country.

Nehru and Bose became left leaders within congress. S.C. Bose became President of “All India Trade Union Congress” and mobilized workers into National movement. Nehru pleaded for land reforms to abolish landlordism and for economic democracy in the country.

In 1934, Pt. Nehru formed “Congress Socialist Party” with an aim was to spread socialist ideas within congress party.

Pt. Nehru wanted congress to adopt principle known as “Democratic Socialism” however he convinced all congressmen yet formally such resolution could not be adopted. He elaborated such ideas after being President of Congress in 1935-36 Faizpur Session. In Faizpur session itself he also passed agrarian reforms. He also raised demand to constitute constituent assembly and to establish responsible govt.

In 1938, S.C. Bose became president of congress in Haripur session. He also played instrumental role in establishing “National Planning Committee” in 1938 to plan for India’s future development. Pt. J.L. Nehru was appointed its first chairman.

He left congress to form his own party “Farward Block” purely on socialist lines. This clearly divided congress party between right and left.

In the election manifesto of 1945-46, congress party incorporated many such principles which were clearly socialist in nature like agrarian reforms, workers’ rights land reforms etc.

Ideology and programme of socialists

The core of the socialist ideology was anti imperialist struggle and eventually establishment of a socialist society. In India it was a two pronged programme as on one hand there was liberation of India and on other hand the establishment of a Socialist state.

Socialists stood for abolition of all forces of exploitation like landlordism, zamindari system etc. and the more radical ones among socialists wanted to abolish the class system in India.

The socialists had wide connotation of meaning of independence. The freedom to them was not just political freedom. They were looking to establish socio economic democracy in India.

The principle plank of their programme was to organize peasants and workers and to put them in national mainstream. They thought that in order to give true meaning to national movement, the participation of workers and peasants is must.

The socialists had belief in planning system i.e. the state should plan the use of its resources for socio economic betterment of society. Planning was seen as an instrument of distributive justice. 

They had elaborative programme for workers. They consistently put forward the demands like right to form trade unions, employment insurance and fixed working hours etc. In same way they stood for elaborative peasantry reform programmes. They demanded for abolition of landlordism, reduction of land revenue, abolition of feudal levies etc.

The socialist ideology was anti fascist and pro human rights, pro democracy and for social equality. The socialists stood for international peace. They were against any kind of war and imperialism.