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Home , Achyut Patwardhan, Congress Socialist Party, Meerut Conspiracy Case, Muzaffar Ahmad, Philip Spratt, Shripad Amrit Dange

UNIT 27 GRO F THE LEFT: ARTY OF THE CONGRESS

Structure

27.0 Objectives 27.1 Introduction

1 27.3 Formation of the ia and its Early History 27.3.1 M.N.Rov

27.3.3 M.N.Roy at Tas 27.3.4 Early Communis 27.3.5 Formation of the

27.5 Communist Influence on 27.6 Conspiracy Case 27.7 Formation of the Congre 27:7.1 The Early Socialists 27.7.2 Brief Sketches of the Ear 27.7.3 Towards All Congr 27.8 The Program 27.9 The Impact of the Congre alists' Programme upon National Politics 27.10 Let Us Sum Up 27.11 Key Words

27.0 OBJECTIVES rlFI After reading this unit you will the historical background of ce of left in India explain the ideology and pro f the leftist parties and groups in India during the freedom struggle, and show to what extent the left ced the socio-political life of India in the pre-independence era.

27.1 INTRODUCTION /,I '

Before going into the history oft ement in India, let us discuss the historical and ideological significance of t '. During the period of the French revolution, in the National Asse France, there were three groups - a conservative group which supp arch and nobility and did not want to reduce their powers, a liberal ted limited ieforms in the government, and a radical group which wan s in the system of government, such as the adoption of a constitution the powers of monarch. Within the assembly the conservatives sat on ide of the speaker, the radicals sat to his left, and the liberals sat in the cen then, in the political vocabulary, the word 'Left' has been used to mean ovements which stand for radical reforms in the government a omic order keeping in mind the interests of the unprivileged and o d sections of the society. The word 'Right' on the other hand is used to mean suc s which are opposed m change in the existing system of government and s ic order because of their own stakes. Those who stand for limited changes in o-economic and political system are known as Centrists. Left is generally cons o be synonymous with , because socialism is an ideology which aims at the upliftment of the toiling workers and Grorrth of Lcn: Cormnunla1 Pwly of Idamd Coogrrss protecting them from exploitation by their employers, i.e.,the capitalists. Soewist Party In Unit 12 you have already learnt how socialism originated and grew in Europe as a result of the Industrial Revolution. You have also been told about 's theory of socialism, his economic interpretation of history, his doctrine of Class Struggle and his idea of a classless society. You have also learnt (in Unit 14) how Lenin applied Marx's theory in Russia and established a dictatorship of the Proletariat in that country. It has also been pointed out (in Unit 26) how within the Congress leaders like and subscribed to the socialist ideology. In this unit we shall discuss the formation and the programmes of the and the Congress .

27.2 HOW THE LEFTIST MOVEMENT GREW IN INDIA

The Leftist movement originated and grew in India as a result of the development of modem industries and the impact of socialist movements in other countries like Great Britain and Russia. As a result of the industrial development in certain places like Bombay, Calcutta and Madras, large and concentrated working populations came into existence. Gradually the workers started organising themselves to demand better working conditions and higher wages. This led to the emergence of trade unions. The growth of the Trade Union Movement in India will be discussed in greater detail in Unit 28. But here we would like to tell you that the growth of Trade Unionism prepared the ground for the formation of the Leftist parties. In Unit 14 you have already read about the successful Socialist Revolution in Russia. In 1919, under the auspices of the Communist government of an international organisation of the Communist parties of different countries was established. This organisation was known as the Third , as two similar organisations had been formed earlier. It aimed at bringing about Communist revolutions and establishing governments of the working class all over the world. Till the end of the First World War, workers' strikes in the Indian industries were a rare phenomena and the workers were not politically conscious. From the end of the First World War onwards there were frequent strikes in the industries and a large number of trade unions were formed. The large-scale unrest of the workers at the end of the First World War was mainly due to the rise in prices caused by the War, and unwillingness of the employers to raise the wages. While demanding economic benefits the workers also became conscious of their political role. In cities like Bombay the workers organised strikes against the repressive . The nationalist leaders also became keenly interested in the working class movement. Tlle first session of the All India Trade Union Congress was held at Bombay in October 1920 under the presidentship of the nationalist leader, . Against this background let us discuss the history of the leftist parties in India.

27.3 FORMATION OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA AND ITS EARLY HISTORY

Having seen the success of the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia, and the formation of the Communist International, some Indian revolutionaries and intellectuals, working within and outside India, contemplated the formation of a Communist Party in India. It was M.N. Roy (Manabendra Nath Roy) who first formed the Communist Party of India outside India in under the auspices of the Communist International in 1920.

27.3.1 M.N. Roy The original name of Manabendra Nath Roy was Narendranath Bhattacharya. He was born on 6 February 1889 in a poor Brahmin family of the Urbalia village of 24 Parganas district of . Early in li evolutionary terrorist. He received his education in the National Un , founded by Aurobindo Ghosh. During the First World War he was engaged in d revolt in India with the help of German arms. While pursui a revolutionery he travelled through many countries -Malay, Indone a, Philippines, Japan, Korea, China and U.S.A. He landed in the ci isco in the summer of 1916. In U.S.A. he changed his name to Mana y. During his stay in U.S.A., he studied Marxist literature. Gradua nationalism towards international . After U.S. First World War on the side of Allied Powers, i.e.,Great Britain and Fran safe to remain there any longer. He went to Mexico. There he came Russian Communist emissary, Michael Borodin. Roy became erted to communism and helped Borodin to organise th From Mexico he went to at the call of Lenin, th

27.3.2 M.N. Roy-Lenin De#e At Moscow he attended t ngress of the Communist International, held in July-August 1920. This C ing to formulate the policy of Communist International with regard to ial countries, i.e.,the countries of Asia, ruled by the European Powers. Lenin in such countries the communists should extend active support to the rev ments carried on by the bourgeois (middle classes, i.e. ,propertied c ) nationalists against the foreign imperialistic governments. He hat nationalists like who were carrying a movemen st the British imperialist government were - progressives. But Roy h is nationalists were reactionaries (opposed to progress), and th Id carry on their struggle against imperialism indepen parties of workers and peasants. As a result of -.. the insistence of Roy, t of the Communist International modified the view of Lenin in th ile extending support to "revolutionary national " in the against imperialism, the Communists would carry on their struggle inde lliance between workers and peasants.

27.3.3 M.N. Roy at ~ashk4

14. M.S ROY In October 1920, M.N. Roy ent, a place in Soviet Russia, not very far from Afghanistan. There he ilitary school for training the Indian frontier tribes for the purpose of armed inst the British Government, and also formed the Communist Party of India. munist Party of India was affiliated to the Communist International in e meantime, being disgusted with the British Government's hostility towa n of Turkey (who was the Caliph or the religious head of the Muslims) nds of Muslim Mujahirs (pilgrims) joined Roy at Tashkent. There they took les the newly established military School. As this school was closed in May 192 rs went to join the Communist University of the Toilers of the East at Mosco e they received training in the ideas of Marx and Lenin. After getting training at Mosco Mujahirs returned to India. On their return they were caught by the police a for trial to . This trial is known as the Peshawar Conspiracy Case ( As a result of the trial, two prominent Mujahirs - Mian Muhammad Akbar Gawhar Rahman Khan were sentenced to two years' rigourous imprisonmen e rest to one year's hard labour.

27.3.4 Early Communist dltb PS In the meantime, the revoluti like Virendra Nath Chattopadhyay, Bhupendranath Dutt, a who were working outside India became converts to , a some Communist groups also emerged. Some Non-cooperators turned m after the suspension of the Non-Cooperatior, Movement by Mahatm In Bombay a Communis nised by . Dange was born in October 1899 in a Marat min family of Nasik. His father was a clerk in a Solicitor's~irm.He was e n College. When Gandhi launched the Non- Cooperation Movement, inued his studies and joined it. Soon after the d Len: Communist Party of India and ......

~atks.llarn: Meanwhile M.N. Roy wa ontact with the Communists in India through, Tbc later War YFY~- II secret emissaries. On 2nd 1922 M.N. Roy wrote a letter to Dange, outlining the plan of a dual organis Communist Party of India. Roy suggested the formation of a public org The early Indian Communists it difficult to form an all-India organisation because ~f the British Govern hostility towards them. In 1924, the British Government started a conspi gainst the four leading Communists -, S.A. Dange, Shauk and Nalini Gupta. The Government alleged that these Communists had " a branch of a revolutionary organisation known as Communist Inter th the object of depriving the British King- Emperor of the Sovereig India. This case is known as the Cawnpore Conspiracy Case, as the t took place in Cawnpore. During the trial Dange claimed the right to p in India, as it had been allowed in other parts of the British Empir ritain. As a result of this trial Dange, Ahmad, Usmani and Gupta were ur years' ri,gourous imprisonment in May 1924. 27.3.5 Formation of the InI n Communist Party In September 1924, at Caw provisional constitution of the party. This pendence and reorganisation of Indian society 1 of means of production and distribution of wealth "in the interests of

who had been released ference met under the presidency of Singaravelu Chettier. The Ca nference is regarded as the formal beginning of the Communist Party of In meeting the Central Committee of the Party ergarhatta as the Joint Secretaries. Towards the end of 1926 t of the Communist Party of India was published. Meanwhile, the Ce ittee of the Communist Party held a number of secret sessions for working y's programme. From 1925, the British Communists started comi ganizing the Indian Communist Movement. In 1928 two members of arty of India were elected as alternative members of the Executive of the Communist International in its sixth Congress. In 1930 the Part lly affiliated to the Communist International.. The infant Communist Move a had some drawbacks: It suffered from paucity of fu The British Government was stile towards the Communist Party of India because of its revolutionary c and affiliatior?with the Communist International, There was paucity of cadres, a The privileged upper strata ociety opposed Communism.

Check Your Progress 1 1 Give an account of the Com a from 1920 to 1925. What were the drawbacks of this Move 2 Write short notes on the following personalities: '- Growth d LcR. Communist Party d India and Congress i) M.N. Roy Saeinllst Parry

...... ii) S.A. Dange

...... iii) Muzaffar Ahmad

...... iv) Singaravelu Chettier -

......

v) Satyabhakta

3 i) Who wrote the book, Gandhi vs. Lenin?

ii) Who edited the journal The Socialist?

27.4 FORMATION OF WORKERS' AND PEASANTS' PARTIES

In spite of the obstacles, the Communist Movement gained momentum. In 1927 in Bombay and the Punjab the Workers' and Peasants' parties were formed. These parties attempted to propagate their ideology and programme through the use of press: The Bombay Workers' and Peasants' Party brought out a Maratha weekly, entitled Kranti (Revolution). The Punjab Workers' and Peasants' Party brought out an weekly, called Mihnatkash (Worker). A Workers' and Peasants' party was also formed at Meerut in a conference, held in October 1928. This conference was attended by the British Communist, . The conference passed resolutions, demanding: national independence, abolition of princely order, recognition of workers' right to form trade unions, abolition of Zamindari, land for the landless peasants, establishment of agricultural banks, eight-hour working day, and minimum wages for industrial workers. N.tioa;llism: In December 1928, an all-Indi rence of workers' and peasants' parties was held The lntcr Ww Years - Il at Calcutta under the president . Here three major decisions were taken: i) This Conference formed a 1Executive Committee, comprising leading Communists. ii) The Conference emphasiz ternational character of the Communist movement and the need liation of the Communist Party of India with international organisatio gue against Imperialism and the Communist International. iii) This Conference asked the unists to carry on their movement independently instead of identifying th th "the so-called bourgeois leadership of the Congress".

27.5 COMMUNIST I~UENCEON TRADE UNIONS IQrl In the meantime the Comm d their influence over the Trade Union Organisations by leading the w rikes. The Communists played a prominent role in the Railway Workshop trikes of February and September 1927 at Kharagpur. Their influence sed over the Bombay Textile Mill workers. From April to October 1928 t orkers of Bombay carried on massive strikes, protesting against the wage-c trikes, the Communist Girni Kamgar Union played the most prominent role. as a tremendous increase in the strength of this Trade Union in 1928. By Decem its strength went up to 54,000 members, while the Bombay Textile Labour y the veteran liberal trade unionist N.M. Joshi had only 6,749 members. The strikes in industries ass ing proportions in 1928. During that year 31.5 million working days were It of the strikes. The Government held the Communists responsible e industries. The Government, therefore, planned measures for cur ties. In January 1929, the Viceroy Lord Irwin declared in his speech before th ral Legislative Assembly: "The disquieting spread of Communist doctrines causing anxiety". On 13 April 1929 the Viceroy proclaimed the dinance for the purpose of deporting the subversive elements. Simult the Trade Disputes Act was passed. This Act introduced tribunals for sett workers' problems and practically banned such strikes which "coerced" or caused hardship to the people.

31 Communists on 14 March quently one more was arrested. These Communists were tried at M charge of conspiracy against His Majesty's

Special Duty under the Director Bureau, Home Department, ). It was alle

conspiracy". The agai India. Mahatma Gandhi describe instead of being a set-back for the Communist Movement, made heroes and martyrs

I out of the Communists. In their defence speeches before the court, the "accused I Communists" made such statements which appealed to the anti-British sentiments of L the nation and raised the dignity of the Communist Movement. For example in his i I statement to the court, Radharaman Mitra, said: This is a case which will have political and historical significance. It is not merely a case launched in the ordinary course of its duties by the Police against 31 criminals. It is an episode in the class struggle. It is launched and conducted as part of a definite political policy. It is an attempt on the part of the British Imperialist Government of India to strike a blow at the force which it recognizes as the real enemy which will ultimately bring about its overthrow, which has already taken up an attitude of irreconcilable hostility towards it and has already shown a very menacing strength. In 1934 the Communists renewed their militant trade union activities. There were strikes at Sholapur, Nagpur and Bombay. The Government became panicky, and, finding it difficult to tackle the Communists, banned the Communist Party of India on 23 July 1934. Thereafter many of the Communists camed on their activities within the and the newly formed Congress Socialist Party. The Communist Party continued to function underground.

Check Your Progress 2 1 Why and how did the British Government try to suppress the Communist Party of India?

" 2 The Meerut Conspiracy case infact helped the Communist cause. Comment.

27.7 FORMATION OF THE CONGRESS SOCIALIST PARTY

The Communists camed on their activities more or less independent of the Indian National Congress, but within the Congress a considerable section was drawn towards the Socialist or Communist ideology and sought to work out a Socialist programme through the Congress. Among this section there were leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru, Subhas Chandra Bose, Jaya Prakash Narayan, Acharya Narendra Dev, , and .

27.7.1 The Early Socialists In 1934, after the suspension of the Civil Disobedience Movement, a section of Congressmen decided to enter into the legislatures to work for the Congress cause within the government. Mahatma Gandhi endorsed the line of action, adopted by these Congressmen who were known as the Constitutionalists. At this stage some socialists wanted to form a socialist party within the Congress organisation so as to prevent the erosion of the revolutionary character of the Congress by entry into the legislatures. The Socialists within the Congress believed in Marxist - ideas like the Communists. But re two basic differences between the Congress Socialists and the Communists: i) First, while the Congress So owed their allegince to the Indian National Congress, the Communists owe alleginance to the Communist International. ii) Secondly the Congress Soci e nationalists, the Communists at the same time also believed in the goal national Communist society. The Congress Socialists join e bourgeois democratic forces within the Congress for carrying on th nal liberation with the help of workers, peasants and petty bourgeoisie. The Congress Socialists wa ad base for the Congress organisation by bringing into it the worker They held that the workers and the peasants should take part ational liberation. They believed in the efficacy of such technique nd peasants' agitation for the attainment of freedom from foreign cialists believed in class struggle and stood for abolition of capitali and princely states. They wanted to incorporate radical socio-eco s for the uplift of toiling masses into the Congress Party's programme. In the early thirties Soci rmed by the leftist Congressmen in provinces like , U.P., Bo the Punjab. In 1933 in Nasik jail some young Socialists such as Ja , Achyut Patwardhan, M.R. Masani, N.G. Gore, Ashok Meht .L. Dantwala floated the idea of forming a Socialist Party within the Co anisation. In April 1934 at Banaras, Sampurnananda published a in which he stressed the need for the formation of an all-India Socialist ngress. Such a wing, he held, would counter-act the influen The Congress Socialist ss. They were influenced by the ideas of Marx, simultaneously practi democracy of the West.

27.7.2 Brief Sketches of the#rly Socialists Jaya Prakash Narayan, the fore der of the Congress Socialists, was born in 1902 in Bihar. In 1921 he discontinu in a college to join the Non- cooperation movement. e went to the of America for receiving university education. he earned his livelihood by doing manual work and continued his studies. In U. e came in contact with Communists and became a Marxist. While returning fro ., he found that the Indian Communists were taking orders from the Comm rnational at Moscow. Though he appreciated the Bolshevik Revolution of the success of Communism in the country, he did not like the idea of India sts acting under orders from Moscow. Returning to India, he joined t ess party in 1929. In 1930 he was made the President of the Labour artment of the Congress. His wife, Prabhabati was a staunch follower of Gand a Prakash published a book, entitled Why Socialism? in which he s e of socialism for India. Yusuf Meherally was born in ous business family of Bombay. He was' influenced by the writings of baldi and by the Sinn Fein Movement of Ireland and the Chinese an ons. In 1928 he organised the Bombay Provincial Youth League whic ctive part in organising demonstration against the and in 1Disobedience movement. Achyut Patwardhan was born o Theosophist father in 1905. He was educated at the Banaras Hindu University. completing his education, for sometime, he served as a University lecturer sited Europe. He joined the Civil Disobedience Movement and was sentenced sonment in Nasik jail. Patwardhan was profoundly influenced by the and Theosophical ideas. Ashok Mehta was born in 1911 a lapur. His father was a prominent Gujarati literateur. He was educated at t bay University. He joined the Civil Disobedience Movement and nced to imprisonment in Nasik jail. For a number of years he edited the jo of the. congress Socialist Party, entitled Congress Socialist. M.R. Masani was born in a rich and learned family in Bombay. He studied at the Growth of Len: c-un~st party of ladla lad Coagrra~ School of Economics. He was influenced by Fabian Socialism, British Labour Sodllbt my movement and the Bolshevik Revolution in Russia. Acharya Narendra Dev was born in 1889 in . His father was a lawyer. In the early part of his life he was influenced by the extremist nationalists like , Lala and Aurobindo. After the Bolshevik Revolution he turned to Marxism. He attached importance to the role of peasantry in the nationalist as well as the socialist movement. So he devoted himself to the orgnisation of peasantry in Uttar Pradesh. He also valued the role of middle class intellectuals in the socialist movement. He proved himself to be a great exponent of Marxism and at the same time supported Gandhi's constructive activity. Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia was born in a nationalist Manvari family of Uttar Pradesh in 1910. He was educated at Banaras (Hindu), Calcutta and Berlin universities. He took his doctorate in Political Economy from the ~erlinUniversity. After his return to India, Jawaharlal Nehru put him incharge of the Foreign Affairs Department of the All India Congress Committee. Lohia was influenced by the Social Democratic ideas of Europe and the Gandhian ideas. He did not believe in Marxism or Communism. He founded a journal, entitled, Congress Socialist, which later on became the official organ of the Congress Socialist Party.

27.7.3 Towards an All India Congress Socialist Party The first All-India Congress Socialists' Conference was convened at Patna by Jaya Prakash Narayan on behalf of the Bihar Socialist party in May 1934. The Conference was presided by Acharya Narendra Dev. In his presidential speech, Narendra Dev criticized the new Swarajist section of Congressmen who wanted to enter the legislatures and thereby run counter to the revolutionary character of the Congress..He asked the socialists to carry on their agitation for the adoption of their programme by the Congress. The Conference passed a resolution asking the Congress to adopt a programme that was socialist in action and objective. After this Conference the Congress Socialists worked hard to organise the All-Idia Congress Socialist party. As the Organising Secretary, Jaya Prakash Narayan campaigned in different parts of the country to organise the provincial wings of the party. The first annual session of the All-India Congress Socialist party was held in Bombay in October 1934 under the presidentship of Sampurnananda. It was attended by delegates from thirteen provinces. In this meeting the National Executi'ie of the Congress Socialist party was constituted with Jaya Prakash Narayan as the General Secretary.

Check Your Progress 3 1 Trace the circumstances leading to the formation of the Congress Socialist Party in 1934.

2 What were the basic differences between the Communist Party of India and the Congress Socialist Party? The Congress Socialist Party a a constitution which outlined the following programme of action: i) To work for the acceptanc Congress Socialist Party programme by the Indian National Congress, ii) To organise the workers a easants for their own economic uplift as well as for carrying on the movem e achievement of independence and socialism, iii) To organise Youth Leagues Organisation and Volunteer Organisations and secure their support for Socialist Party's programme, iv) To resist any attempt on t of the British Government to involve India in imperialist wars, and to crises for the intensification of the freedom struggle, v) To resist any negotiation wi e British Government on constitutional issues. The meeting at Bombay adopt amme as the blueprint of a Socialist society in India, cont 1 Transfer of all power to th 2 Development of the econo f the country to be planned and controlled by the state, 3 Socialization of key indust teel, cotton, jute, railways, shipping, plantations, mines), Insuran Public Utilities, with a view to the progressive socialisation of the instrume roduction, distribution and exchange, 4 State monopoly of foreign 5 Organisation of cooperati ties for production, distribution and credit in the unorganised sector of t 6 Abolition with compensa rinces and landlords and all other classes of exploiters, 7 Redistribution of land a 8 The state was to encourage 4control co-operative and collective farming, 9 Liquidation of debts owne asants and workers, 10 Reco ition of the right t r maintenance by the State, 11 "Toe!" ery one according t s" is to be the basis ultimately of distribution of econo ic goods, 12 Adult T"franchise which shall functional basis, 13 The State shall neither su discriminate between religions nor recognize any di tinction based on 14 The Sf ate shall not discri 15 Repudiation of the so-ca I The ~ornba~session adopted te programmes for the workers' and peasants uplift. Fot workers the deman : freedom to form trade unions and the right to go living wage, forty- ek, and, insurance against unemployment, ccident and old age. For the p asants the demand abolition of landlordism, encouragement of cooperat'P e farming, exempt rents and taxes on uneconomic holdings, reduction of land revenue an n of feudal levies. ~nde~endence(freedo ule) and socialism were the twin objectivesof the Congress Socialist Party. e of attainment of independence the Congress Socialists joined hands w list and non-socialist forces within the Congress. Jaya Prakash N "Our work within Congress is governed by the policy of developing it into rialist body". He also warned his co-workers early in 1 35: "Nothings ich may antagonise the genuinely nationalist elements9 and drive the h the compromise-seeking right wing." But as th ultimate objective ngress Socialists was to establish a Socialist society if 1ndia;the Congres s also worked to secure the acceptance of their programme by the Indian Na gress. Acharya Narendra Dev in his presidential speech in the first all-India cialists Conference said that the Congress Socialists should carry on their "endeavour to influence the Nationalist Movement in Glmrcb ofLen: Communist Party ofhdLdCongma the direction of socialism." sae~nlyparty The Congress Socialists followed three lines of activities for the attainment of the twin objectives of freedom and socialism: 1 Inside the Congress they worked out anti-imperialist and nationalist programmes of the Congress as Congressmen, 2 Outside the Congress they mobilised the workers, peasants, students, intelligentsia, youth and women for the cause of socialism, 3 They also sought to integrate the above two lines of activities. The Congress Socialists sought to mobilise the workers and peasants for their economic amelioration as well as the country's liberation from foreign rule.

27.9 THE IMPACT OF THE CONGRESS SOCIALISTS' PROGRAMME UPON NATIONAL POLITICS

There was a mixed reaction among the Congressmen to the formation of the Congress Socialist party. The conservative or Right Wing Congressmen criticized the Congress Socialists "loose talk" about the confiscation of property and class war. Mahatma Gandhi also rejected their idea of class war. Gandhi did not believe in the necessity of the abolition of princely order, zamindary and capitalism. He wanted to bring about a change of heart in the princes, zamindars and capitalists so that instead of considering themselves the owners of the states, zarnindaries and factories they should behave as the trustees for their subjects, tenants and workers. But the leftist Congressmen like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose welcomed the formation of the Congress Socialist Party, though neither Nehru nor Bose joined the party. In the annual session of the Congress, held at Lucknow in April 1936, in his presidential speech Nehru espoused the cause of socialism. He said: I see no way of ending the poverty, vast unemployment, degradation and subjection of the Indian people except through socialism. That involves vast revolutionary changes in our political and social structure, ending vested interests in the land and industry as well as the feudal autocratic Indian states system. That means ending private property except in a restricted sense and replacement of the present profit system by the higher ideals of cooperative service.

In 1936 Nehru inducted three Congress Socialists - Narendra Dev, Jaya Prakash Narayan and Achyut Patwardhan into the Congress Working Committee, besides another leftist, Subhas Chandra Bose. The Faizpur session of the Indian National Congress, held towards the close of 1936 under the presidentship of Jawaharlal Nehru, adopted an agrarian programme, containing such items as reduction of revenue, abolition of feudal dues and levies, introduction of cooperative farming, living wage for the agrarian labourers and formation of peasant unions. In the meantime the Congress Labour Committee asked the Congress ministries, formed in the provinces in 1937, for adopting measures for safeguarding and promoting the interests of workers. The Congress Socialists played an important role in the Kisan (peasant) movement. Through the efforts of Prof. N.G. Ranga, Indulal Yagnik, and Swami the All-India Kisan Sabha was organised. The first All-India Kisan Congress met at Lucknow in 1936. The Kisan organisations demanded the abolition of zamindary, reduction of land tax, and collective affiliation to Congress. The Congress Socialists changed the Congress Party's policy from aloofness to closer involvement in the affairsof princely states. The Congress socialist activists also took part in the democratic movements of the people in the princely states against their autocratic rulers. They agitated for civic rights and responsible government.

Check Your Progress 4 1 What were the two main objectives of the Congress Socialist Party? ......

...... \ ......

What kind of impact did the ess Socialist's Programme have on the nationalist politics?

...... a*......

this movement owes its ori the development of modem industries, Working Class Movement, other countries, particularly t

1928 the Communist led Girni Kamgar union

Communist party of India was d by the British Government. Although the Indian National n middle class and basically aimed at the liberation of the important section of Congressmen also aimed a. In 1934 some leftist Congressmen like Jaya Pra nd Acharya Narendra Dev formed the Congress Socialist party ngress. The Congress Socialists simultaneously camed on ndependence from foreign rule and establishment of a socialis nised the movement of the workers and peasants. They camed on ncely order, landlordism and capitalism. Their mov rogrammes for the uplift of workers and peasants

27.11 KEY WORDS lw

Bourgeoisie: Middle Class; re propertied Classes, capitalists, industrialists, merchants, and intelligentsia. bourgeoisie means lower middle class. CPpit.Uwn: An economic sy sed on individual ownership of means of production and private enterp Cornmu- The doctrine m, propounded by Karl Marx. CWStruggle: Karl Marx pr ed the view that human history is the history of class struggle between privile unprivileged classes. He predicted that as a result of the class struggle betwee alists and the workers, the workers would be victorious and establish a d of the Proleteriat. : A political doctrine which is opposed to the democratic concept of government crowth dmCommunls( Party of Indln and Con- by the majority and the Communist Concept of Class Struggle. It believes in strong rule Wdbt Party by a dictator. Fabian Socialism: It refers to a school of socialism in , which believes in the realisation of socialism by slow and gradual methods. Liberal: One who believes in democracy. Proletariat: Have-nots; landless workers; the lowest classes in a society. : Refers to a school of thought in Europe, which believes in realisation of socialism through democratic method. Socialism: An economic system, based on the ownership of the means of production by the State or the whole community. Trade Union: A society of workers for protection of their interests.

27.12 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS EXERCISES

Check Your Progress 1 1 See Sub-secs. 27.3.4,27.3.5. Your answer should include (i) the formation of early communist groups (ii) formation of communist parties (iii) roles of S.A. Dange and M.N. Roy. For the second part of the answer you should include (i) the problem of funds (ii) the British Govt's attitude (iii) problem of cadres. 2 a) M.N. Roy See Sub.-secs. 27.3.1,27.3.2,27.3.3. Your answer should include (i) Roy and his contact with Soviet Union (ii) his debate with Lenin on India (iii) his look at Tashkent. b) S.A. Dange - See Sub-sec. 27.3.4. Your answer should include (i) a few words on his personal life (ii) his writings (iii) his aim of seeing communists functioning as a group in Congress. c) Muzaffar Ahmed - See Sub-sec. 27.3.4. Your answer should include his role in the formation of Labour Party. d) Singaravelu Chettiar - See Sub-sec. 27.3.4. Your answer should inlcude (i) his role in founding the Labour Kisan Party in 1923 (ii) his critical resolution at the Gaya session of the Indian National Congress. e) Satyabhakta - See Sub-sec. 27.3.4. Your answer should include (i) his role in the formation of the Indian Communist Party (ii) the Cawnpore Conference. 3 a) S.A. Dange b) S.A. Dange

Check Your ProgreSs 2 1 See Sections 27.5 & 27.6. Your answer should include (i) the British fear about their overthrow by the Communists by strikes and uprisings (ii) the Public Safety Ordinance and Trade Dispute Act (iii) the Meerut Conspiracy Case (iv) ban on Communist Party in 1934. 2 See Section 27.6. Your answer should include (i) the Universal Criticism the case drew (ii) also the fact that the trial provided the communists a public forum to express their views and commitments.

Check Your Progress 3 1 See Section 27.7. Your answer should include (i) the influence of socialist ideology within the Congress (ii) formation of socialist groups within the Congress (iii) the role of different individuals like Jaya Prakash Narayan and Narendra Dev in giving direction to early socialists. (iv) the first All India Congress Socialists' Conference. (v) the first annual session of the All-India Congress Socialist Party. For the second part of your answer see Sub-sec. 27.7.1 include two basic differences (a) the Congress Socialists goal was limited to establishing socialism within India while the Communists believed in an international communist society. (b) Congress Socialists wanted to work only within the Congress. The Communists were ready to work independently outside the Congress. ~athdimc 2 See Sub-sec. 27.7.2 for all 'IbelmterWarY.m-U a)Include (i) personal sket b)include (i) influences of (iii) importance of role

c) include (i) Gandhian and phist ideas influence on him (ii) Jail during Civil Disobedience. d)include (i) his dislike fo (iii) of Congress Socialist (iv) trade unionist. e) include (i) influence of E believe in Marxism or

on left congressmen like Neh policy like abolition of Zami

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