Origins and Emergence of Naxalism: The colour red has always carried a deep emotional meaning. It is the colour of blood, sacrifice, struggle and resistance. Over time, this very symbolism became closely associated with communism. That is why slogans like “Red Salute” are commonly heard in leftist movements across the world. Red came to represent the blood and sweat of the working class, who bore the heaviest burden of an unfair social and economic system.
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Industrial Revolution and the Exploitation of Workers
To understand how communism emerged, one must go back to the late 18th and early 19th centuries. This was the period when the Industrial Revolution was transforming countries like England and Germany. Large factories were being set up, machines were replacing traditional forms of labour, and a new class of factory owners came into power.
While industrial growth created immense wealth, it also led to severe exploitation. Factory owners forced poor workers to work for fourteen to fifteen hours a day for extremely low wages. Living conditions were miserable, job security was non-existent, and workers had no real rights. Society slowly began to divide into two clear sections: those who owned capital and those who survived by selling their labour.
Karl Marx and the Communist Manifesto
In the midst of this inequality, a German philosopher and economist named Karl Marx closely observed the social conditions around him. In 1848, after studying the widening gap between the rich and the poor, Marx wrote a document that would change political thought forever. This document was officially published on 21 February 1848.
In his writing, Marx argued that what was happening in society was fundamentally unfair. He explained that society had been divided into two opposing classes, and as long as this system continued, the rich would keep becoming richer while the poor would sink deeper into poverty. According to Marx, no amount of hard work could free the poor unless the system itself was transformed.
Marx proposed a radical solution. He believed that only a classless society could end exploitation. This idea, presented in what came to be known as The Communist Manifesto, laid the foundation of communist ideology.
The Russian Revolution and Lenin’s Role
Nearly seventy years later, in 1917, Karl Marx’s ideas moved from theory to reality. At that time, Russia was ruled by a powerful empire under a monarch. A revolutionary leader named Vladimir Lenin adopted Marx’s ideology as the base of his political movement.
Lenin mobilised workers and small farmers, united them against the ruling monarchy, and launched a massive revolution. The movement grew so strong that the ruler was forced to surrender power. For the first time in history, a government based on communist principles was established, turning the Russian Empire into a communist state.
British Anxiety and the Spread of Communism to India
The success of communism in Russia did not go unnoticed. British rulers sitting in India became increasingly cautious. They feared that if workers and farmers in Russia could overthrow a king, similar movements might arise in India as well.
Despite the preventive measures taken by the British, communist ideas slowly began to spread in India. Over the next few years, Marxist ideology started gaining followers among intellectuals, workers and revolutionaries.
M.N. Roy and the Formation of CPI
A major turning point came on 17 October 1920. An Indian thinker named M.N. Roy, who had studied Marxist literature in depth, secretly travelled from India to the USSR along with a few associates. In Tashkent, they held meetings, planned future strategies, and from there announced the formation of the Communist Party of India.
By 1924, the movement had gained significant strength. Trade unions, workers and farmers from cities like Bombay, Kanpur, Bengal and Madras were gradually brought together, creating a strong base for communism in India.
On 26 December 1925, a major conference was held in Kanpur, often referred to as the Kanpur Conference. During this gathering, the Communist Party of India was officially launched within the country.
British Crackdown and the Ban on CPI
The rapid growth of communist activities deeply alarmed the British government. They openly claimed that these movements were being directed by the USSR with the aim of removing British rule from India.
Initially, the British monitored the situation, but once they felt threatened, they began taking strict action. In 1934, under the Criminal Law Amendment Act, the Communist Party of India was banned. Its members were accused of criminal conspiracy and anti-government activities in collaboration with the Soviet Union.
Zamindari System and the Anger of Indian Farmers
At the same time, India was suffering under the zamindari system. The British had granted full ownership of land to zamindars. These zamindars leased the land to poor farmers, who did all the labour. From the total produce, fifty percent went to the zamindar, and from that share, around ninety percent was taken by the British.
The farmer, who invested labour, resources and time, was left with almost nothing. This exploitation led to deep frustration and anger among the farming community. They felt trapped in a system where all profits were taken away by landlords and colonial rulers.
Communism and Peasant Resistance in India
This widespread exploitation created fertile ground for communist ideology. The leadership of the Communist Party of India recognised that the anger of farmers could fuel a mass movement. CPI leaders began organising peasants and raising strong voices against the zamindari system.
The promise of equality, land rights and freedom from exploitation made communist ideas increasingly attractive to the rural population.
Origins and Emergence of Naxalism: The Rise of Charu Mazumdar and Kondapalli Seetharamaiah
During this period, two young members within the Communist Party began gaining attention. Their names were Charu Mazumdar and Kondapalli Seetharamaiah. Both had been students before joining the party and were deeply influenced by the ideas of Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin.
In a short span of time, they became popular leaders and played a significant role in strengthening the party’s influence. Their ideas and actions would later shape a new phase of revolutionary politics in India.
These names, and the movement they represented, would go on to leave a lasting impact on Indian political history.
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