Remarx

Abstract

Faced with the assault of neoliberal globalization and internecine struggle, the Indian communist movement is shown to be facing a series of inherent contradictions and an identity crisis that has dented its influence and stifled its growth. Maoism and mainstream communist trends functioning with different goals and strategies exhibit a common commitment to state-centric politics and a vanguardist party structure that comes at the expense of advancing the Marxian project of nonexploitation, fair distribution, and democracy.

Keywords:

• Class
• State
• Democracy
• Revolution
• Vanguardism

Acknowledgements

Anup Dhar can claim a share of the credit for many of my arguments. I am also thankful to Serap Kayatekin for her comments and suggestions. The usual disclaimer applies.

Notes

¹Our coverage encompasses party-based communist movement; the nonparty political formations targeting communism are not our focus here.

²CPI (Maoist)'s sway spans unevenly across seven states around central and eastern India, with particular influence over Adivasi belts.

³The CPI(M)–led left formation is very strong in the states of West Bengal, Kerala, and Tripura. Except for the states of Tamil Nadu and Rajasthan, its influence, though, has declined in other states where previously it maintained substantial presence.

⁴Indian communist parties, without exception, define class as a group of persons defined in terms of power and property. This is unlike the understanding of class as processes of surplus labor (see Chakrabarti and Cullenberg 2003, chaps. 2–5).

⁵Green Hunt is the code name of the countrywide operation launched by the central government against the Maoists who have been legally conferred the status of ‘terrorists’.

⁶Here is the Maoist assessment of the Indian mode of production as semifeudal and semicolonial: “after the British colonialists were compelled to give up their direct rule over our country, the power was transferred to their compradors—the big bourgeoisie and big landlords, on condition that the imperialist capital and their interests are protected. Several imperialist powers took the place of British imperialism in oppressing and exploiting our country. It is these imperialist powers that actually control the politics, economy and culture and decide almost all the vital policies of the ruling classes of India under the sign-board of formal independence that is fake in essence. Thus, as no single imperialist power is in a position to exercise its control and rule over the country as a whole, India is not a neo-colony but continues to be a semi-colony under the indirect rule, exploitation and control of various imperialist powers. Hence we call India as a semi-colonial, semi-feudal country under neo-colonial form of indirect rule, exploitation and control” (CPI (Maoist),2004b, 14).

⁷Having helped the opposition Trinamool Congress (TMC)–led social movement to gain a foothold in Nandigram, the CPI (Maoist) subsequently found itself ousted from the area by TMC. In the Lalgarh movement, it made a conscious effort to keep the area under its control, thereby refusing to provide any political space to TMC or other social forces. Even the local social movement that pioneered the Lalgarh movement was subsequently brought under its control.

⁸Inspired by but expanding beyond the Marxian theme of nonexploitative organization, Gandhian politics of swaraj and village development, and Rabindranath Tagore's samavaya/cooperation ethic, CCM combined the trade union movement and village-based community construct to launch a unique movement of social reconstruction in the state of Chattishgarh (Basu 2008).

⁹The Central Committee of CPI(M) openly acknowledged in January 2010 that “Where the Party is strong, in some places, there are instances of these vested interests trying to influence our comrades. Real estate promoters, contractors and liquor contractors seek to establish connections with our comrades and those working in panchayats, local bodies and elected positions” (CPI (Marxist) 2010, 69). After six months, as part of its rectification campaign, the West Bengal state committee of CPI(M) issued a circular, warning party members of these influences within its ranks and beyond.