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the RussianRevolution the RussianRevolution inEuropeand Socialism inEuropeand remember thatatthistime Europeanstatesusuallydiscriminatedin Liberals wantedanation which toleratedallreligions.Weshould One ofthegroupswhichlooked tochangesocietyweretheliberals. 1.1 Liberals,RadicalsandConservatives ideas toshapesocietyinthetwentiethcentury. , socialismbecameoneofthemostsignificant andpowerful at aradicaltransformationofsociety.Throughthe revolutionin willfocusononehistoricaleventinwhichthere wasanattempt the nineteenthcentury,andseehowtheyinfluenced change.Then We willlookbrieflyatsomeoftheimportantpoliticaltraditions do notmeanthesamethinginallcontextsorattimes. and whatlinkedthemtogether?Wemustrememberthattheseterms in thecontextoftime?Whatseparatedthesestrandspolitics others were‘liberals’or‘’.Whatdidthesetermsreallymean wanted torestructuresocietyradically.Somewere‘conservatives’, change wasnecessarybutwishedforagradualshift,tothosewho of .Responsesvariedfromthosewhoacceptedthatsome Not everyoneinEurope,however,wantedacompletetransformation ideas ofsocietalchange. . Thedevelopmentsinthecolonies,turn,reshapedthese , andmanyothersdebatedtheideasofpost- Rammohan RoyandDeroziotalkedofthesignificanceFrench controlled socialpowerbegantobediscussed.InIndia,Raja Europe andAsia,newideasaboutindividualrightswho it seemedpossibletochangethis.Inmanypartsoftheworldincluding controlled economicandsocialpower.Suddenly,aftertherevolution, into estatesandordersitwasthearistocracychurchwhich have read,beforetheeighteenthcenturysocietywasbroadlydivided dramatic changeinthewaywhichsocietywasstructured.Asyou The FrenchRevolutionopenedupthepossibilityofcreatinga and equalitythatcirculatedinEuropeaftertheFrenchRevolution. In thepreviouschapteryoureadaboutpowerfulideasoffreedom 1 the RussianRevolution Socialism inEuropeand the RussianRevolution the RussianRevolution Socialism inEuropeand Socialism inEuropeand

The AgeofSocialChange 2021–22 25

SocialiSocialism in Europesm and in the RussianEur Revolutionope and the Chapter II and the Contemporary World 26 rapidly. Liberalsandradicals searchedforsolutionstotheseissues. Housing andsanitationwere problemssincetownsweregrowing common, particularlyduring timesoflowdemandforindustrialgoods. hours wereoftenlongandwagespoor. was broughtmen,womenandchildrento factories.Work and theIndustrialRevolutionoccurred. came upandnewindustrialisedregionsdeveloped,railways expanded profound socialandeconomicchanges.Itwasatime whennewcities These politicaltrendsweresignsofanewtime.It wasatimeof 1. these politicaltendencies. nineteenth centuryhelpeddefineboththelimitsandpotentialof various attemptsatrevolutionandnationaltransformationinthe and politicalturmoilthatfollowedtheFrenchRevolution.The Such differingideasaboutsocietalchangeclashedduringthesocial through aslowprocess. that thepasthadtoberespectedandchangebroughtabout century, theyacceptedthatsomechangewasinevitablebutbelieved had beengenerallyopposedtotheideaofchange.Bynineteenth the needforchange.Earlier,ineighteenthcentury,conservatives Revolution, however,evenconservativeshadopenedtheirmindsto Conservatives wereopposedtoradicalsandliberals.AftertheFrench of propertyinthehandsafew. against theexistenceofprivatepropertybutdislikedconcentration of greatlandownersandwealthyfactoryowners.Theywerenot suffragette on themajorityofacountry’spopulation.Manysupportedwomen’s In contrast,radicalswantedanationinwhichgovernmentwasbased vote. Theyalsodidnotwantthevoteforwomen. citizen tovote.Theyfeltmenofpropertymainlyshouldhavethe did notbelieveinuniversaladultfranchise,thatis,therightofevery of rulersandofficials.However,theywerenot‘democrats’.They to lawsinterpretedbyawell-trainedjudiciarythatwasindependent argued forarepresentative,electedparliamentarygovernment,subject to safeguardtherightsofindividualsagainstgovernments.They also opposedtheuncontrolledpowerofdynasticrulers.Theywanted England, AustriaandSpainfavouredtheCatholicChurch).Liberals f avour ofonereligionoranother(BritainfavouredtheChurch 2 IndustrialSocietyandSocialChange movements.Unlikeliberals,theyopposedtheprivileges 2021–22 give womentherighttovote. S New words uffragette movement–A movement to thatwouldcreate ‘nations’whereallcitizenswouldhave worked tooverthrowexisting monarchs.Nationaliststalkedof , ,Germanyand Russia,theybecamerevolutionariesand end tothekindofgovernmentsestablishedinEurope in1815.In Some nationalists,liberalsandradicalswantedrevolutions toputan radical groupsandpartiesintheearlynineteenthcentury. women whowantedchangesintheworldralliedaround liberaland they believedthatsocietieswoulddevelop.Manyworking menand could labour,andthosewithcapitaloperatewithout restraint, and enterprise.Iffreedomofindividualswasensured, ifthepoor birth, theyfirmlybelievedinthevalueofindividual effort,labour were educated.Opposedtotheprivilegesoldaristocracyhadby be achievediftheworkforceineconomywashealthyandcitizens felt thatsucheffortshouldbeencouraged–itsbenefitswould Having madetheirwealththroughtradeorindustrialventures,they radicals themselveswereoftenpropertyownersandemployers. Almost allindustrieswerethepropertyofindividuals.Liberalsand From: HenryMayhew,LondonLabourandthePoor, contemporary. Fig.1 –TheLondonpoorinthemid-nineteenthcenturyasseenbya 1861. 2021–22 27

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World society ofthefuture. triumph intheirconflictwith capitalists. Acommunistsocietywasthenatural would beacommunistsociety. Hewasconvincedthatworkerswould radically socialistsocietywhereallpropertywassocially controlled.This to freethemselvesfromcapitalistexploitation,workershad toconstructa overthrow capitalismandtheruleofprivateproperty.Marx believedthat as longthisprofitwasaccumulatedbyprivatecapitalists. Workershadto was producedbyworkers.Theconditionsofworkerscould notimprove Capitalists ownedthecapitalinvestedinfactories,and ofcapitalists to thisbodyofarguments.Marxarguedthatindustrialsociety was‘capitalist’. (1818-1883)andFriedrichEngels(1820-1895) addedotherideas done bymembers. produced goodstogetheranddividedtheprofitsaccordingtowork enterprises. Thesecooperativesweretobeassociationsofpeoplewho wanted thegovernmenttoencouragecooperativesandreplacecapitalist encourage .InFrance,forinstance,LouisBlanc(1813-1882) scale onl (USA). Othersocialistsfeltthatcooperativescouldnotbebuiltonawide sought tobuildacooperativecommunitycalledNewHarmonyinIndiana cooperatives. RobertOwen(1771-1858),aleadingEnglishmanufacturer, Socialists haddifferentvisionsofthefuture.Somebelievedinidea ? How couldasocietywithoutpropertyoperate?Whatwouldbethebasisof campaigned forit. would bepaidtocollectivesocialinterests.Socialistswantedthischangeand whole ratherthansingleindividualscontrolledproperty,moreattention the welfareofthosewhomadepropertyproductive.Soifsocietyasa but thepropertiedwereconcernedonlywithpersonalgainandnot of thetime.Why?Individualsownedpropertythatgaveemployment Socialists wereagainstprivateproperty,andsawitastherootofallsocialills was awell-knownbodyofideasthatattractedwidespreadattention. structured wassocialism.Bythemid-nineteenthcenturyinEurope,socialism Perhaps oneofthemostfar-reachingvisionshowsocietyshouldbe 1. – readhiswritings. with otherstoachievethisinItaly.Nationalistselsewhere–includingIndia equal .After1815,GiuseppeMazzini,anItaliannationalist,conspired 28 3 TheComingofSocialismtoEurope y thr ough indi vidual initia ti v e: the y demandedtha 2021–22 t gover nments Activity and socialistideasofprivate List twodifferencesbetween thecapitalist . succeeded inf Britain andaSocialistPartyinFrance.However,till1914,socialistsnever g figures inparliamentarypolitics,theirideasdidshapelegislation,but sea with theSocialDemocraticParty(SPD)andhelpeditwinparliamentary hour help membersintimesofdistressanddemandedareductionworking fight forbetterlivingandworkingconditions.Theysetupfundsto Workers inEnglandandGermanybeganformingassociationsto . their efforts,socialistsformedaninternationalbody–namely,the By the1870s,socialistideasspreadthroughEurope.Tocoordinate 1.4 SupportforSocialism originally writtenasawarsong in1792,itbecameasymboloftheCommuneand struggleforliberty. the workers’redflag–thatwasadoptedbycommunards ()inParis;two,forthe‘Marseillaise’, socialist revolution.TheParisCommuneisalsopopularlyremembered fortwoimportantlegacies:one,itsassociationwith ’ wasultimatelycrushedbygovernmenttroops butitwascelebratedbySocialiststheworldoverasapreludeto The uprisingemergedagainstabackgroundofgrowingdiscontent againstthepoliciesofFrenchstate.The‘ taken overbya‘’consistingofworkers, ordinarypeople,professionals,politicalactivistsandothers. popular uprisinginParisbetweenMarchandMay1871.This wasaperiodwhenthetowncouncil( Fig.2 ov ts er s andtherighttov . By1905, nments contin – ThisisapaintingoftheParisCommune1871(From IllustratedLondonNews,1871).Itportray or socialistsandtr ming ag ued tober ote o . InGer v er nment inEur un b ade unionistsf man y conser y, theseassocia ope va ti or v . R es med aLa e , liber pr tions w esented b als andr bour P or k 2021–22 ed c y str adicals ar losel ty in ong y . Activity Ø Ø Ø are: speech youwouldmakeatthemeetingif introducing collectiveownership.Writethe doing awaywithprivatepropertyand your areatodiscussthesocialistideaof Imagine thatameetinghasbeencalledin ahouseowner apoorlabourerworkinginthefields amedium-levellandowner commune s ascenefromthe ) ofPariswas 29

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World Catholics, Protestants,MuslimsandBuddhists. of theGreekOrthodoxChurch–butempirealsoincluded wasRussianOrthodoxChristianity–whichhadgrownout Asian states,aswellGeorgia,ArmeniaandAzerbaijan.Themajority . ItstretchedtothePacificandcomprisedtoday’sCentral , ,Lithuania,,partsofPoland,Ukraineand territory aroundMoscow,theRussianempireincludedcurrent-day In 1914,TsarNicholasIIruledRussiaanditsempire.Besidesthe 2.1 TheRussianEmpirein19 questions, letuslookatRussiaafewyearsbeforetherevolution. conditions inRussiawhentherevolutionoccurred?Toanswerthese How didthiscomeabout?Whatwerethesocialandpolitical and theeventsofOctoberarenormallycalledRussianRevolution. Revolutionof1917.ThefallmonarchyinFebruary1917 reversed. SocialiststookoverthegovernmentinRussiathrough In oneoftheleastindustrialisedEuropeanstatesthissituationwas 30 2 World . The mapshowstheRussian empireandtheEuropeancountriesatwarduringFirst Fig.4 –Europein1914. TheRussianRevolution 14 2021–22 Painted byEarnestLipgart(1847-1932) St Petersburg,1900. Hall oftheWinterPalace, Fig.3 –TsarNicholasIIintheWhite . Likeworkers, tooweredivided.Theyalso , thecrownand theOrthodoxChurchownedlarge In thecountryside,peasants cultivatedmostoftheland.But 1896-1897, andinthemetalindustryduring1902. These strikestookplacefrequentlyinthetextile industry during they disagreedwithemployersaboutdismissalsorwork conditions. Despite divisions,workersdidunitetostrikework(stop work)when har associations tohelpmembersintimesofunemployment orfinancial themselves indressandmannerstoo.Someworkers formed three-quarters ofaman’swage).Divisionsamong workers showed force by1914,buttheywerepaidlessthanmen(betweenhalfand and skill.’Womenmadeup31percentofthefactorylabour among otherworkers.Theiroccupationsdemandedmoretraining Petersburg recalled,‘Metalworkersconsideredthemselvesaristocrats permanently. Workersweredividedbyskill.AmetalworkerofSt. the villagesfromwhichtheycame.Othershadsettledincities Workers wereadividedsocialgroup.Somehadstronglinkswith varied fromroomstodormitories. 15 hours,comparedwith10or12hoursinfactories.Accommodation In craftunitsandsmallworkshops,theworkingdaywassometimes of work.Butfactoryinspectorscouldnotpreventrulesbeingbroken. supervised largefactoriestoensureminimumwagesandlimitedhours Most industrywastheprivatepropertyofindustrialists.Government equal innumber. the 1900s,insomeareasfactoryworkersandcraftsmenwerealmost Coal productiondoubledandironsteeloutputquadrupled.By network wasextended,andforeigninvestmentinindustryincreased. Many factoriesweresetupinthe1890s,whenRussia’srailway , butlargefactoriesexistedalongsidecraftworkshops. St PetersburgandMoscow.Craftsmenundertookmuchofthe Industry wasfoundinpockets.Prominentindustrialareaswere well asfortheirownneedsandRussiawasamajorexporterofgrain. 50 percent.Intheempire,cultivatorsproducedformarketas in FranceandGermanytheproportionwasbetween40percent proportion washigherthaninmostEuropeancountries.Forinstance, ’s populationearnedtheirlivingfromagriculture.This Russia’s peoplewereagriculturists.About85percentoftheRussian At thebeginningoftwentiethcentury,vastmajority 2.2 EconomyandSociety dship b ut suc h associa tions w er e f e w. 2021–22 families withthem. They sleptinshiftsandcouldnotkeeptheir dormitory inpre-revolutionaryRussia. Fig.6 –Workerssleepinginbunkersa kitchens andlivinginpoorhouses. Many survivedbyeatingatcharitable St Petersburg. Fig.5 –Unemployedpeasantsinpre-war 31

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World beginning ofthetwentieth century,theTsarwasnotsubjectto Russia wasan 2.4 ATurbulentTime:The 1905Revolution thought thatthepartyshouldbeopentoall(asin ). control thenumberandqualityofitsmembers.Others () society likeTsaristRussiathepartyshouldbedisciplined andshould (wholedtheBolshevikgroup)thoughtthat inarepressive The partywasdividedoverthestrategyoforganisation. Vladimir socialist movement. this ‘differentiation’withinthem,theycouldnot all bepartofa labourers whileotherswerecapitalistswhoemployedworkers.Given one unitedgroup.Somewerepoorandothersrich,someworkedas Revolutionaries aboutpeasants.Leninfeltthatpeasantswerenot transferred topeasants.SocialDemocratsdisagreedwithSocialist for peasants’rightsanddemandedthatlandbelongingtonoblesbe formed theSocialistRevolutionaryPartyin1900.Thispartystruggled active inthecountrysidethroughlatenineteenthcentury.They become socialistmorequicklythanothercountries.Socialistswere workers, wouldbethemainforceofrevolution,andRussiacould land periodicallymadethemnaturalsocialists.Sopeasants,not Some Russiansocialistsfeltthatthepeasantcustomofdividing newspaper, mobilisedworkersandorganisedstrikes. policing, ithadtooperateasanillegalorganisation.Itsetupa who respectedMarx’sideas.However,becauseofgovernment DemocraticWorkersPartywasfoundedin1898bysocialists All politicalpartieswereillegalinRussiabefore1914.TheRussian 2.3 SocialisminRussia commune ( another way.Theypooledtheirlandtogetherperiodicallyand Russian peasantsweredifferentfromotherEuropeanin over Russia. in southRussia.And1905,suchincidentstookplaceall and evenmurderedlandlords.In1902,thisoccurredonalargescale the noblestobegiventhem.Frequently,theyrefusedpayrent nobles andfoughtforthem.InRussia,peasantswantedthelandof where, duringtheFrenchRevolutioninBrittany,peasantsrespected to theTsar,notthroughlocalpopularity.ThiswasunlikeFrance nobility. Noblesgottheirpowerandpositionthroughservices deeply religious.Butexceptinafewcasestheyhadnorespectforthe 32 mir ) divideditaccordingtotheneedsofindividualfamilies. . UnlikeotherEuropeanrulers, evenatthe 2021–22 Source A Revolutionary Underground. 1917. Reminiscencesfromthe Alexander Shly b made andthenecessarydecisiontaken speeches wouldhavealreadybeen police onthetelephone,but spot. Managementwouldcontactthe agitator wouldgetuprightthereonthe whole masspiledupintheexit.An form a“plug”inthedoorw the stairs.Themostalertworkerswould establishments withseveralfloors,on of theexit,iny during lunch,ineveningbreak,front of themomentbutinanorganisedway meetings were…arrangedonthespur the liberationofworkingclass.Illegal integrated intothegeneralstrugglefor issues], butthisactivitywasskilfully took placeonmattersconcerning[official also discussioncircles…Legalmeetings shops onanindividualbasis.Therewere ‘ of howthemeetingswereorganised: worker ofthetime,givesusadescription Alexander Shly wasdoneintheplantsand y thetimetheyarriv apnik apnik o ed ... v , ov On theEveof , asocialist ’ ard or ay , andthe , in areas by by nationalists(inPolandforinstance)andinMuslim-dominated 1905 todemandaconstitution.Theyweresupportedintheempire they workedwithpeasantsandworkersduringtherevolutionof Together withtheSocialDemocratsandSocialistRevolutionaries, . LiberalsinRussiacampaignedtoendthisstateofaffairs. Russia (laterItalyandRomania). Eachcountryhadaglobalempire Austria andTurkey(the )andFrance,Britain In 1914,warbrokeoutbetween twoEuropeanalliances–Germany, 2.5 TheFirstWorldWarandtheRussianEmpire and revolutionarieswerekeptout. andpackedthethirdDumawithconservativepoliticians. Liberals oranyreductioninhispower.Hechanged thevoting withinthreemonths.Hedidnotwantanyquestioning ofhis dismissed thefirstDumawithin75daysandre-elected second illegal. Severerestrictionswereplacedonpoliticalactivity.TheTsar committees andunionsworkedunofficially,sincetheyweredeclared factory committeesmadeupofworkers.After1905,most the revolution,thereexistedalargenumberoftradeunionsand elected consultativeParliamentorDuma.Forabriefwhileduring During the1905Revolution,Tsarallowedcreationofan Unions anddemandedaconstituentassembly. engineers andothermiddle-classworkersestablishedtheUnionof complaining aboutthelackofcivilliberties.Lawyers,doctors, universities closeddownwhenstudentbodiesstagedwalkouts, as the1905Revolution.Strikestookplaceallovercountryand known asBloodySunday,startedaseriesofeventsthatbecame 100 workerswerekilledandabout300wounded.Theincident, Winter PalaceitwasattackedbythepoliceandCossacks.Over When theprocessionofworkersledbyFatherGaponreached and improvementinworkingconditions. reduction intheworkingdaytoeighthours,anincreasewages 110,000 workersinStPetersburgwentonstrikedemandinga there wasacallforindustrialaction.Overthenextfewdaysover had beenformedin1904,weredismissedatthePutilovIronWorks, When fourmembersoftheAssemblyRussianWorkers,which cent. Themembershipofworkers’associationsrosedramatically. of essentialgoodsrosesoquicklythat The year1904wasaparticularlybadoneforRussianworkers. jadidists whowantedmodernisedIslamtoleadtheirsocieties. real wages declinedby20per 2021–22 Activity whichthewageswill actuallybuy. Real wage–Reflectsthe quantitiesof Jadidists –Muslimreformerswithinthe New words revolutionaries? Russia in1905?Whatwerethedemandsof Why werethererevolutionarydisturbancesin 33

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World bread shopswerecommon. cities, breadandflourbecamescarce.Bythewinter of1916,riotsat supplies ofgrainweresenttofeedthearmy.For peopleinthe and smallworkshopsproducingessentialswereshut down.Large men werecalleduptothewar.Asaresult,there labourshortages Europe. By1916,railwaylinesbegantobreakdown.Able-bodied equipment disintegratedmorerapidlyinRussiathanelsewhere of industrialgoodsbyGermancontroltheBalticSea.Industrial were fewinnumberandthecountrywascutofffromothersuppliers The waralsohadasevereimpactonindustry.Russia’sownindustries wish tofightsuchawar. situation discreditedthegovernmentandTsar.Soldiersdidnot crops andbuildingsledtoover3millionrefugeesinRussia.The abletoliveofftheland.Thedestructionof crops andbuildingstopreventtheenemyfrom As theyretreated,theRussianarmydestroyed 1916. Therewereover7millioncasualtiesby1917. badly inGermanyandAustriabetween1914 shocking anddemoralising.Russia’sarmieslost fought battlesleavinglargecasualties.Defeatswere France. Intheeast,armiesmovedagooddealand fought fromtrenchesstretchedalongeastern from thatonthe‘westernfront’.Inwest,armies The FirstWorldWaronthe‘easternfront’differed Rasputin, madetheautocracyunpopular. origins andpooradvisers,especiallyamonkcalled Petrograd. TheTsarinaAlexandra’sGerman renaming ofStPetersburg–aGermannameas German sentimentsranhigh,ascanbeseeninthe main partiesintheDuma.Supportworethin.Anti- continued, though,theTsarrefusedtoconsult rallied aroundTsarNicholasII.Asthewar In Russia,thewarwasinitiallypopularandpeople in Europe.ThiswastheFirstWorldWar. and thewarwasfoughtoutsideEuropeaswell 34 2021–22 the revolutionaries,Tsaristpowercollapsed. army shifteditsloyaltyandbegansupporting largest armedforceintheworld.Whenthis as the‘Russiansteamroller’.Itwas The ImperialRussianarmycametobeknown . Fig.7 –RussiansoldiersduringtheFirst the situation. think thegovernmentshoulddotoimprove writing areportforthegovernmentin T The yearis1916. Activity sar ’ s armyontheeasternfront. . Inyourreportsuggestwhatyou Y ou areageneralinthe Y ou are striking workers.Bythat evening,soldiersand three otherregimentsmutinied, votingtojointhe officer wasshotatthebarracks ofaregimentand cavalry refusedtofireon thedemonstrators.An called outthecavalryonceagain.However, government triedtocontrolthesituationand bread, wages,betterhoursanddemocracy.The streets throngedwithpeopleraisingslogansabout 27th, thePoliceHeadquarterswereransacked.The the streetsofleftbankon26th.On the measure.Demonstratorsreturnedinforceto suspended theDuma.Politiciansspokeoutagainst On Sunday,25February,thegovernment keep aneyeonthem. government calledoutthecavalryandpoliceto but theycamebackonthe24thand25th.The a curfew.Demonstratorsdispersedbytheevening, surrounded byworkers,thegovernmentimposed fashionable quartersandofficialbuildingswere was activelyorganisingthemovement.As Nevskii Prospekt.Atthisstage,nopoliticalparty factory quarterstothecentreofcapital– Day. Demonstratingworkerscrossedfromthe This cametobecalledtheInternationalWomen’s In manyfactories,womenledthewaytostrikes. in fiftyfactoriescalledastrikesympathy. factory ontherightbank.Thenextday,workers On 22F the Duma. pr exceptional frostandheavysnow.Parliamentarianswishingto the workers’quarters.Thewinterwasverycold–therehadbeen the Dumamet.InFebruary1917,foodshortagesweredeeplyfeltin the WinterPalace,andofficialbuildings,includingpalacewhere bank oftheRiverNeva.Onleftwerefashionableareas, . Theworkers’quartersandfactorieswerelocatedontheright The layoutofthecityseemedtoemphasisedivisionsamongits In thewinterof1917,conditionsincapital,Petrograd,weregrim. 3 eser

TheFebruaryRevolutioninP v e electedg e br uar o y v , er aloc nment, k w out tookplacea er e opposedtothe T t a sar’ s desir etrograd Fig.8 –ThePetrogradSoviet meetingintheDuma,February1917. e todissolv 2021–22 e 35

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World April Theses.Theythought thatthetimewasnotyetripefora Most othersintheBolshevik Partywereinitiallysurprisedbythe rename itselftheCommunist Partytoindicateitsnewradicalaims. were Lenin’s‘AprilTheses’. HealsoarguedthattheBolshevikParty to thepeasants,andbanksbenationalised.These threedemands He declaredthatthewarbebroughttoaclose,land betransferred since 1914.Nowhefeltitwastimeforsovietstotake overpower. Russia fromhisexile.HeandtheBolshevikshadopposed thewar In April1917,theBolshevikleaderVladimirLenin returnedto system ofelectionwasfollowed. the Petrograd on publicmeetingsandassociationswereremoved.‘Soviets’,like among themworkedtowardsanelectedgovernment.Restrictions the ProvisionalGovernment.Butliberalsaswellsocialists Army officials,landownersandindustrialistswereinfluentialin 3.1 AfterFebruary brought downthemonarchyinFebruary1917. adult .PetrogradhadledtheFebruaryRevolutionthat be decidedbyaconstituentassembly,electedonthebasisofuniversal Provisional Governmenttorunthecountry.Russia’sfuturewould abdicated on2March.SovietleadersandDumaformeda commanders advisedhimtoabdicate.Hefollowedtheiradviceand The verynextday,adelegationwenttoseetheTsar.Military same buildingastheDumamet.ThiswasPetrogradSoviet. striking workershadgatheredtoforma‘’or‘council’inthe 36 Box 1 From: ChoiChatterji, and theentirecrowdrushedontostreet.’ gradually alltheotherwomenceasedworking.Soonmendownedtheirtoolsaswell workers fromanothersectionofthefactorygatheredaroundMarfainsupportand replied, “Icannotbetheonlyonewhoissatiatedwhenothersarehungry”.Women go backtowork.Theadministratoraskedheragainwhysherefusedworkand informed themanagementandsentheraloafofbread.Shetookbreadbutrefusedto impromptu strike.Theworkersonthefloorwerereadytosupporther…foreman men …ThenMarfaVasileva,amillingmachineoperatorstoppedworkanddeclaredan morning, incelebrationofWomen’sDay,womenworkershadpresentedredbowstothe factory, …MarfaVasilevaalmostsinglehandedlycalledasuccessfulstrike.Alreadythat ‘Women workers,often...inspiredtheirmaleco-workers…AttheLorenztelephone Women intheFebruaryRevolution S oviet, weresetupeverywhere,thoughnocommon CelebratingWomen (2002). 2021–22 Ø Ø Look againatSource Activity an accountofwhathaschanged. who hasseenbothsituations andwrite Place yourselfintheposition ofawoman workers. List fivechangesinthemoodof A andBox1. September 1917. Socialist Revolutionaries,peasantsseizedlandbetweenJulyand committees wereformedtohandlethis.Encouragedbythe Revolutionary leaderspressedforaredistributionofland.Land Meanwhile inthecountryside,peasantsandtheirSocialist repressed. ManyBolshevikleadershadtogointohidingorflee. demonstrations stagedbytheBolsheviksinJuly1917weresternly to runfactoriesandbeganarrestingleaders.Popular against thespreadingdiscontent.Itresistedattemptsbyworkers and Bolshevikinfluencegrow,itdecidedtotakesternmeasures of Soviets.AstheProvisionalGovernmentsawitspowerreduce about 500SovietssentrepresentativestoanAllRussianCongress number. Soldiers’committeeswereformedinthearmy.InJune, the wayindustrialistsrantheirfactories.Tradeunionsgrewin areas, factorycommitteeswereformedwhichbeganquestioning Through thesummerworkers’movementspread.Inindustrial their attitude. supported. Butthedevelopmentsofsubsequentmonthschanged socialist revolutionandtheProvisionalGovernmentneededtobe Fig.10 –TheJulyDays. Apro-Bolshevikdemonstration on17July1917beingfireduponbythearmy. 2021–22 addressing workersinApril1917. Fig.9 –ABolshevikimageofLenin 37

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World the Moscow-Petrogradarea. especially inMoscow–butbyDecember,theBolshevikscontrolled Uprisings tookplaceinothercities.Therewasheavyfighting– of SovietsinPetrograd,themajorityapprovedBolshevikaction. ministers hadsurrendered.AtameetingoftheAllRussianCongress nightfall, thecitywasundercommittee’scontroland sailed downtheNevaandtookovervariousmilitarypoints.By the day,ship supporters toseizegovernmentofficesandarrestministers.Latein response, theMilitaryRevolutionaryCommitteeorderedits and telegraphofficesprotecttheWinterPalace.Inaswift newspapers. Pro-governmenttroopsweresenttotakeovertelephone men loyaltothegovernmentseizedbuildingsoftwoBolshevik Kerenskii hadleftthecitytosummontroops.Atdawn,military The uprisingbeganon24October.Sensingtrouble,PrimeMinister was keptasecret. under LeonTrotskiitoorganisetheseizure.Thedateofevent Military RevolutionaryCommitteewasappointedbytheSoviet the BolshevikPartytoagreeasocialistseizureofpower.A On 16October1917,LeninpersuadedthePetrogradSovietand soviets andfactorieswerebroughttogether. uprising againstthegovernment.Bolsheviksupportersinarmy, upadictatorship.InSeptember,hebegandiscussionsforan grew,LeninfearedtheProvisionalGovernmentwould As theconflictbetweenProvisionalGovernmentand 3.2 TheRevolutionofOctober19 38 Aurora shelledtheWinterPalace.Othervessels 17 2021–22 workers atPetrograd. Fig.11 Box 2 took placeon7thNovember on 12thMarchandthe‘October’Revolution calendar 13 daysaheadoftheJuliandates.Sobyour everywhere today the Gregoriancalendar 1 February1918.Thecountrythenchangedto Russia followedtheJuliancalendaruntil Date oftheRussianRevolution Beginning ofCollectivisation. 1929 Formation ofComintern. 1919 The CivilW 1918-20 Petrograd. 24 2nd 1917 1905. The BloodySundayandtheRevolutionof 1905 W Formation oftheRussianSocialDemocratic 1898 Debates oversocialisminRusssia. 1850s -1880s Some importantdates orkers Party th

March - October-Bolshevikunprisingin –Lenin()andTrotskii , the‘February’ ar Abdication ofthe . . . The Gregoriandatesare Revolutiontookplace , whichisfollowed . T sar (right)with . censorship thePartyencouraged. disillusioned because of the and architecture.Butmany became this ledtoexperimentsinthearts for change.AfterOctober1917, because itstoodforsocialismand and artistsralliedtotheParty Bolsheviks. Manyyoungwriters those whocriticisedthe OGPU andNKVD)punished (called theChekafirst,andlater party control.Thesecretpolice unionswerekeptunder Russia becameaone-partystate. the Parliamentofcountry. Congress ofSoviets,whichbecame totheAllRussian the onlypartytoparticipatein followed, theBolsheviksbecame at BrestLitovsk.Intheyearsthat by theirpoliticalallies,theBolsheviksmadepeacewithGermany elected inuncertainconditions.InMarch1918,despiteopposition Russian CongressofSovietswasmoredemocraticthananassembly measures andLenindismissedtheAssembly.HethoughtAll majority support.InJanuary1918,theAssemblyrejectedBolshevik elections totheConstituentAssembly,buttheyfailedgain (Bolshevik). InNovember1917,theBolsheviksconducted The BolshevikPartywasrenamedtheRussianCommunist ( clothing competitionorganisedin1918–whentheSoviethat uniforms weredesignedforthearmyandofficials,followinga use oftheoldtitlesaristocracy.Toassertchange,new large housesaccordingtofamilyrequirements.Theybannedthe land ofthenobility.Incities,Bolsheviksenforcedpartition was declaredsocialpropertyandpeasantswereallowedtoseizethe that thegovernmenttookoverownershipandmanagement.Land industry andbankswerenationalisedinNovember1917.Thismeant T 4 budeonovka he Bolsheviksweretotallyopposedtoprivateproperty.Most

WhatChangedafterOctober? ) waschosen. Fig.13 –MayDaydemonstration inMoscow1918. 2021–22 (budeonovka). Fig.12 –AsoldierwearingtheSoviethat 39

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World controlled mostoftheformer Russianempire.Theysucceededdue support forthenon-Bolsheviks. ByJanuary1920,theBolsheviks peasants whohadseizedland. Suchactionsledtothelossofpopular Supporters ofprivatepropertyamong‘’took harsh stepswith ,looting,banditryandfaminebecamecommon. of socialisminRussia.AsthesetroopsandtheBolsheviks foughta and Japanesetroops–allthoseforceswhowereworried atthegrowth Russian empire.TheywerebackedbyFrench,American, British Revolutionaries) and‘whites’(pro-Tsarists)controlled mostofthe Bolsheviks (the‘’).During1918and1919,the‘greens’ (Socialist leaders movedtosouthRussiaandorganisedtroops tofightthe supporters ofautocracycondemnedtheBolshevikuprising.Their the redistributionanddeserted.Non-Bolsheviksocialists,liberals began tobreakup.Soldiers,mostlypeasants,wishedgohomefor When theBolsheviksorderedlandredistribution,Russianarmy 4.1 TheCivilWar 40 Box 3 From:SergeSchmemann, there isaconscienceinourpeople...’ to MikhailMikhailovich.Idon’tknowifthiswillhappen,orit’sgoodforus.Butwerejoicethat …There arerumoursthatseveralvillagestryingtoevictthecommitteesandreturnestate treated ashumanelypossible….” all thetimenottobotherus.“Letthemlive.W behaves correctlyandevenpolitely Mikhail Mikhailovich[theestateowner]wascalm...Thegirlsalso…Imustsaythechairman ‘The “coup”happenedquitep A memberofalandowningfamilywrotetorelativeaboutwhathappenedattheestate: From: FedorBelov to livethenewSovietlife’. torn downandleftinruinswhilethelandwasdistributedamongpeasantswhowereprepared and hisvastorchardwascutdownsoldtothepeasantsforwood;allfarbuildingswere the newsarrived,landowner’smanorhousewaslooted,hisstockfarmswere“requisitioned” was greetedwithenthusiasm;tothepeasant ‘ oftherevolutionaryuprisingOctober25,1917,reachedvillagefollowingdayand The OctoberRevolutionandtheRussianCountryside:T , The HistoryofaSovietCollectiveFarm Echoes ofaNativeLand.T ainlessly . W , quietlyandpeacefully e werelef s itmeantfreelandandanendtothewar e vouchfortheirsafetyandproperty t twocowsandhorses. 2021–22 wo CenturiesofaRussianV . …Thefirstdayswereunbearable.. wo V iews Activity Ø Ø Ø standpoint of: to theevents.Writeashortaccountfrom countryside. Imagineyourselftobeawitness Read thetwoviewsonrevolutionin The servant a journalist a smallpeasant an ownerofestate . W illage (1997). e wantthem . ...Theday s tellthem Source B only partlysuccessful. of forced thelocalgovernmenttofollow–likeharshdiscouragement since thiswascombinedwithunpopularpoliciesthattheBolsheviks Bolsheviks createdfromtheRussianempireinDecember1922.But political Partly toremedythis,mostnon-Russiannationalitiesweregiven government represented. this situation,manywereconfusedaboutwhattheBolshevik massacred localnationalistsinthenameofdefendingsocialism.In Bolshevik. InKhiva,inCentralAsia,Bolshevikcolonistsbrutally Cooperation didnotworkwhereRussiancoloniststhemselvesturned to cooperationwithnon-RussiannationalitiesandMuslim Activity different ways? Why didpeopleinCentral nomadism Central AsiaoftheOctoberRevolution:TwoViews Les MouvementsNationaux chezlesMusulmansdeRussie,(1960). Kazakh leaderin1919, group ofpeople…perpetuate thesameregime... … OnceasmallgroupofT accompanied byviolence,pillage,taxesandtheestablishment ofdictatorialpower wouldberealised.Thesecondrevolution (OctoberRevolution)was from theoppressionofT second revolutionwithconsternationandterror… [This] firstrevolutionfreedthem ‘The Kirghizwelcomedthefirstrevolution(ieFebruary Revolution)withjoyandthe M.N.R whole tribejoined. Revolution” shoutedtheKirgizyouthwhoseemedtobeabornBolshevik.The Revolution meantthattheKirgizweremastersoftheirhomeagain.“LongLive driven awaytheGeneralswhoconqueredhomelandofKirgiz.So, R ‘The chieftainwasabenevolentoldman;hisattendant…youthwhospoke Asia atthetimeofcivilwarin1920s.Hewrote: and prominentCominternleaderinIndia,ChinaEurope.HewasCentral M.N.R ussian …HehadheardoftheR autonomy oy o y w , –attemptstowinoverdifferentnationalitieswere Memoirs(1964). as anIndianrev intheSovietUnion(USSR)– ’ Asia respondtotheRussianRevolutionin quoted inAlexanderBennigsen andChantalQuelqueja sarist bureaucr olutionary sarist regimeandstrengthenedtheirhopethat … ev , afounderoftheMexicanCommunistP olution, whichhado ats oppressedtheKirghiz.Nowsame 2021–22 ’ jadidists. v erthrown theT to areaearntheirliving not liveinoneplacebutmovefromarea Nomadism –Lifestyleofthosewhodo themselves Autonomy –Therighttogovern New words sar and art y y ,

Source 41

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary resourceswere limited. set upforworkers.Theeffect ofallthiswasuneven,though,since Cheap publichealthcare was provided.Modellivingquarterswere were establishedinfactoriesforthechildrenofwomen workers. made forfactoryworkersandpeasantstoenteruniversities. Crèches An extendedschoolingsystemdeveloped,andarrangements were fourth flooranddashacrossthestreetinordertogo tothetoilet’. wintertime, at40degreesbelow,peoplehadtoclimb downfromthe stoppages ofworkinthefirstyear in threeyears.Workerslivedhardlivesandthe resultwas550 the cityofMagnitogorsk,constructionasteelplantwasachieved However, rapidconstructionledtopoorworkingconditions.In came intobeing. 100 percentinthecaseofoil,coalandsteel).Newfactorycities growth. Industrialproductionincreased(between1929and1933by (1927-1932 and1933-1938).Centralisedplanningledtoeconomic all pricestopromoteindustrialgrowthduringthefirsttwo‘Plans’ On thisbasistheymadetheFiveYearPlans.Thegovernmentfixed how theeconomycouldworkandsettargetsforafive-yearperiod. A processofcentralisedplanningwasintroduced.Officialsassessed workcouldbe. been socialised.Bolsheviksusedconfiscatedlandtodemonstratewhat nationalised. Theypermittedpeasantstocultivatethelandthathad During thecivilwar,Bolshevikskeptindustriesandbanks 4.2 MakingaSocialistSociety 42 Box 4 FedorBelov, facilities belongingtothecommuneweresharedbymembers.’ ”. dining hallandincomewasdividedinaccordancewiththeprinciplesof“ from the…farmswereturnedovertocommune…Themembersateinacommunal consisted ofthirteenfamilieswithatotalseventypersons…Thefarmtoolstaken ‘A communewassetupusingtwo[confiscated]farmsasabase.The Socialist CultivationinaVillagetheUkraine TheHistoryofaSovietCollectiveFarm(1955). The entireproceedsofthemembers’

alone. Inlivingquarters,‘inthe 2021–22 labor , aswellalldwellingsand chimneys isthebreathingof SovietRussia.’ This posterstates:‘Thesmoke fromthe symbol ofsocialism. Fig.14 –Factoriescametobe seenasa Source C They arestudyingtheSovieteconomy. 1930s. Fig.15 –ChildrenatschoolinSovietRussiathe Fig.17 –Factorydininghallinthe1930s. From: Letter of1933froma13-year-old workertoKalinin,SovietPresident and havenobadreports. IaminClass5… factory W studying. ThatiswhatVladimirIlichLeninsaid.But Ihavetostopgoingschool. to studyverymuch.…therestandsbeforeusthe taskofstudying,studyingand one canmendthem.Mymotherissick,wehaveno moneyandnobread,butIwant I cannotgotoschool.hadsomeoldboots,but theyarecompletelytornandno for theworker’scause,andmymother…isailing … Iwanttostudyverymuch,but My familyislarge,therearefourchildren.W Dear grandfatherKalinin… Dreams andRealitiesofaSovietChildhoodin1933 e ha

v V , topreventthefamilyfromstarving.Deargr e norelativ . Sok olo v (ed), es andthereisnoonetohelpus,soIha ObshchestvoIVlast,v1930-ye gody e don’ t ha 2021–22 andfather v e afather–hedied,fighting (Moscow , Iam13,studywell v e togoworkina He isworkingforSovietRussia. First FiveYearPlan. Fig.16 , 1997).

– AchildinMagnitogorskduringthe

Source 43

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World inSoviethistorywhenover4milliondied. In fact,thebadharvestsof1930-1933ledtoone most devastating In spiteofcollectivisation,productiondidnotincrease immediately. unsympathetically. some independentcultivation,buttreatedsuch cultivators collective farmsforavarietyofreasons.Stalin’sgovernment allowed were notagainstsocialism.Theymerelydidwant toworkin collectivisation, peasantsarguedthattheywerenotrichand severely punished.Manywere cattle fellbyone-third.Thosewhoresistedcollectivisationwere destroyed theirlivestock.Between1929and1931,thenumberof profit wasshared.Enragedpeasantsresistedtheauthoritiesand of collectivefarms.Peasantsworkedontheland,and The bulkoflandandimplementsweretransferredtotheownership the Partyforcedallpeasantstocultivateincollectivefarms( What followedwasStalin’scollectivisationprogramme.From1929, from peasants,andestablishstate-controlledlargefarms. machinery, itwasnecessaryto‘eliminatekulaks’,takeawayland To developmodernfarms,andrunthemalongindustriallineswith peasants. Thesesmall-sizedpeasantfarmscouldnotbemodernised. to thesmallsizeofholdings.After1917,landhadbeengivenover collectivise farms.Itwasarguedthatgrainshortageswerepartlydue to-do peasants.Asshortagescontinued,thedecisionwastakento enforced graincollections,andraiding‘’–thenameforwell- In 1928,Partymemberstouredthegrain-producingareas,supervising hadtobestoppedandsuppliesconfiscated. in thecountrysidewereholdingstockshopeofhigherprices. firm emergencymeasures.Hebelievedthatrichpeasantsandtraders Stalin, whoheadedthepartyafterdeathofLenin,introduced grain togovernmentbuyersattheseprices. at whichgrainmustbesold,butthepeasantsrefusedtoselltheir 4.3 StalinismandCollectivisation 44 Exiled –Forcedtoliveaway fromone’sowncountry. Deported –Forciblyremoved fromone’sowncountry. New words problem ofgrainsupplies.Thegovernmentfixedprices 1928, thetownsinSovietRussiawerefacinganacute the disastersofcollectivisationagriculture.By1927- T he periodoftheearlyPlannedEconomywaslinkedto deported and exiled 2021–22 . Astheyresisted kolkhoz ). the decreaseincultivation.’ states: ‘Weshallstrikeatthekulakworkingfor Fig.18 –Aposterduringcollectivisation. work inthelargecollectivefarms. Fig.19 –Peasantwomenbeing gatheredto It Source D Source E and wereexecuted–severalamongthemtalentedprofessionals. large numberwereforcedtomakefalseconfessionsundertorture Most wereinnocentofthecrimes,butnoonespokeforthem.A country, andby1939,over2millionwereinprisonsorlabourcamps. conspiracy againstsocialism.Accusationsweremadethroughoutthe collectivisation. Stalinandhissympathiserschargedthesecriticswith production underthePlannedEconomyandconsequencesof Many withinthePartycriticisedconfusioninindustrial From: V to theCentr Report ofK.M.Karlson,PresidenttheStatePoliceAdministrationUkraine been ex Between 1stFebruaryand15thMarch,25,000havebeenarrested…656 demands forthereturnofcollectivisedstocksgrain,livestockandtools… The greaterpartofthepeasantinsurrectionshavebeenlinkedwithoutright ha carried overintoneighbouringareas–andthemostaggressiveinsurrections Within ashorttime,largescaleactivitiesfromtheabove-mentionedregions work forthespringharvest. apparatus inthecourseofintroductioncollectivisationandpreparatory of theParty’slinebyasectionlowerranksPartyandSoviet … massinsurrectionsofthepeasantryhavetakenplace,causedbydistortions ‘ Official viewoftheoppositiontocollectivisationandgovernmentresponse From: V Afanasii Dedoro huts Ihad,onew 1936, theysoldtwoofmybuildings…thekolkhoz bought them.In1937,oftwo reserve ofwoodforrepairbuildingsandthey sold thelotfortaxes.In m on me…andIwasunabletohandlethemall mypropertywasregistered: I havefoundimpossible.From1935,localauthorities haveincreasedthetaxes to school,mysisteris71.From1932,heavytaxes havebeenleviedonmethat family ‘ T This isaletterwrittenbypeasantwhodidnotwant tojointhecollectivefarm. From thesecondhalfofF … Iamanaturalworkingpeasantbornin1879 thereare6membersinmy o thenewspaper y horse,cow v e tak , m . Sok . Sok ecuted, 3673ha en placeneartheborder y wifew al CommitteeoftheCommunistP olo olo , calf v (ed), v (ed), vich Frebenev as bornin1881,m as soldandonew Krestianskaia Gazeta , sheepwithlambs,allm ObshchestvoIVlast,v1930-yegody ObshchestvoIVlast,v1930-ye gody. v e beenimprisonedinlabourcampsand5580exiled… ebruary ofthisy , anindependentcultiv . y sonis16,twodaughters19,allthreego as confiscated… (P ear easant Newspaper) , inv art y implements,furnitureandm y , on19March1930. arious regionsoftheUkr 2021–22 ator ’ . aine y ’

Source Source 45

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary andtheUSSR of socialismwererethoughtinavarietydifferentways. still enjoyedrespectamongitspeople.Butineachcountrytheideas country haddeclinedthoughitwasrecognisedthatsocialistideals century, theinternationalreputationofUSSRasasocialist projects throughrepressivepolicies.Bytheendoftwentieth essential freedomstoitscitizensandcarriedoutdevelopmental had developedandthepoorwerebeingfed.Butitdenied country hadbecomeagreatpower.Itsindustriesandagriculture was recognisedthatallnotwellintheSovietUnion.Abackward of theRussianRevolution.Inworldsocialistmovementtooit ofgovernmentintheUSSRwasnotkeepingwithideals Yet bythe1950sitwasacknowledgedwithincountrythat given socialismaglobalfaceandworldstature. the timeofoutbreakSecondWorldWar,USSRhad the USSR’sCommunistUniversityofWorkersEast.By union ofpro-Bolsheviksocialistparties).Somereceivededucationin the East(1920)andBolshevik-foundedComintern(aninternational outside theUSSRparticipatedinConferenceofPeoples colonial peoplestofollowtheirexperiment.Manynon-Russiansfrom Communist PartyofGreatBritain.TheBolsheviksencouraged many countries,communistpartieswereformed–likethe of aworkers’statefiredpeople’simaginationacrosstheworld.In way theBolshevikstookpower–andkeptit.However,possibility Existing socialistpartiesinEuropedidnotwhollyapproveofthe 46 5 Box 5 formed inIndia.It attended theCommunistUniversity Among thosetheRussianRevolutioninspiredweremany Indians.Several Writing abouttheRussianRevolutioninIndia wrote His LifeandThoughts Soviet Russia.InHindi,R.S. T experiment andvisitedRussia,amongthemJawaharlal NehruandRabindranath Important Indianpoliticalandculturalfigurestookaninterest intheSoviet that waswritteninBengali, Marathi,Malayalam, agore, whowroteaboutSovietSocialism.InIndia,writings gaveimpressionsof The GlobalInfluenceoftheRussian The RebirthofRussia s memberskeptintouchwiththeSovietCommunistParty , andlater and A vasthi wrotein1920-21 The SovietStateofRussia . Bythemid-1920sCommunistPartywas The RedRevolution 2021–22 T amil andT Russian Revolution .S.D.Vidyalankar elugu. . Therewasmuch , Lenin, . World War. USSR duringtheSecond mobilised supportforthe Indian communists Journal. Lenin ofthe Fig.20 –SpecialIssueon Indo-Soviet Source G Source F , lik One couldseeawork with oneanother barriers ofcasteorreligionhinderedthemfrommixingfreely among thesepeopleoffiftydifferentnationalities.No them. Therealbrotherhoodofmankindwouldbeseenhere The revolutionhadinstilledconfidenceandfearlessnessin the peopleweremorejovialandsatisfiedthaneverbefore. imposed bythecounter-revolutionariesandimperialists, W convinced thatwehadcometoalandofrealequalit freely withtherestofpeoplecountrywewere mixing freelywithAsians.OnseeingtheRussiansmingling ‘ An IndianarrivesinSovietRussia1920 For thefirsttimeinourlives,wewereseeingEuropeans ignor like myselftoseehowtheyhadremovedthemountain of Who couldbemoreastonishedthananunfortunate Indian as illiterate,helplessandhungryourownmasses… the ArabianNights.[here]onlyadecadeagotheywere own country today …Ithoughtofthepeasantsandworkersinmy the backgroundforageshavecomeforwardinopen put intheshadebygentlemen…thosewholived workers …Herethemasseshavenotinleastbeen streets looksmart.Thewholeplacebelongstothe European capitals.Noneofthosehurryingalongthe ‘Moscow appearsmuchlesscleanthantheother Rabindranath TagorewrotefromRussiain1930 e sa e aprofessionallecturer ance andhelplessnessinthesefewy w freedominitstruelight.Inspiteoftheirpo . Itallseemedlik . Ev HistoricTripsofaRevolutionary. ery soulwastr er , apeasantorsoldierhar .’ e theworkofGeniiin ansformed intoanor ears’ . anguing 2021–22 v y ert ator . y . , Ø Ø them inrelationtoSourcesC,DandE. Usmani andRabindranath Compare thepassageswrittenbyShaukat Activity What didthewritersfailtonotice? the USSR? What didIndiansfindimpressiveabout T agore. Read 47

Socialism in Europe and the Russian Revolution India and the Contemporary World 48 3. 2. 1. Activities Q 6. 5. 4. 3. 2. 1. uestions to suchafarmer? the conditionsofyourlife?WhatdoyouthinkwouldbeS explaining yourobjectionstocollectivisation.Whatwouldyouwriteabout collectivisation. Imagine thatyouareamiddle-levelwheatfarmerinRussiaafter Ø Ø Ø 1917 foreachofthefollowingnewspapers Write theheadlineandashortnewsitemaboutuprisingof24 Act outyourspeechforclass. for youractofrebellion.Draftthespeechyouwouldmakeindefence. Imagine thatyouareastrikingworkerin1905whoisbeingtriedcourt Ø Ø Ø Ø Ø Write afewlinestoshowwhatyouknowabout: after theOctoberRevolution? What werethemainchangesbroughtaboutby Bolsheviksimmediately leaders andwhatwastheimp Revolution. Writeaparagraphonwhowasinvolved ineach,whowerethe Revolution andtheotherwithmaineventseffectsofOctober Make twolists:onewiththemaineventsandeffectsofFebruary Why didthe countries inEurope,before1917? In whatwayswastheworkingpopulationinRussiadifferentfromother 1905? What werethesocial,economicandpoliticalconditionsinRussiabefore a BolsheviknewspaperinRussia a RadicalnewspaperinBritain a ConservativepaperinFrance St the Liberals women workersbetween1900and1930 the Duma kulaks alin’ s collectivisationprogramme. T sarist autocracycollap Y ou havedecidedtowritealetterS act ofeachonSoviethistory se in1917? 2021–22 t alin’ . s response October t alin ?

Activities