16-12-2024
11:28 AM
Prelims: History of India & Indian National Movement.
Mains: Modern Indian history from about the middle of the eighteenth century until the present-significant events, personalities, issues.
The Communist Party of India (CPI), founded in 1920, advocated radical societal changes inspired by Marxist and socialist ideals. Founders like M.N. Roy and Abani Mukherji established CPI in Tashkent after the second Congress of the Comintern, reflecting growing discontent among young nationalists seeking alternatives to Gandhian non-violence principles.
Throughout the 1920s, the CPI played a vital role in the national movement, organising workers' and peasants' parties while facing government crackdowns, including the Meerut conspiracy case in 1929. Despite these challenges, the CPI collaborated with the Indian National Congress, promoting Marxist and communist ideals and significantly influencing India’s struggle for independence.
The formation of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1920 arose from a backdrop of global ideological shifts and local dissatisfaction with colonial rule. The success of the 1917 Soviet Revolution inspired Indian revolutionaries, who saw Marxism as a path to social and economic justice that could transform India’s fight for independence.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) began to take shape in 1920, when M.N. Roy, Evelyn Trent-Roy, Abani Mukherji, Mohammad Shafiq, and other Indian revolutionaries gathered in Tashkent to initiate a communist movement for India. During this period, small communist groups were also forming in Bombay, Madras, Bengal, and other regions, often with support from foreign networks.
The CPI's primary objectives were grounded in Marxist-Leninist principles, aiming for a democratic revolution as a pathway to socialism. Initially, the party championed militant anti-imperialism and international solidarity, running parallel to the nonviolent movements led by leaders such as Mahatma Gandhi.
In 1964, ideological rifts led to a significant split within the party, resulting in the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)), which adopted a more radical stance compared to the CPI. This split weakened the CPI's influence nationally as the CPI(M) began to dominate leftist politics.
The CPI played a significant role in India's freedom struggle, particularly during the 1930s and 1940s. It engaged in various activities against British colonial rule.
Notable leaders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) include M.N. Roy, Evelyn Trent-Roy, Abani Mukherji, Rosa Fitingov, Mohd. Ali, Mohamad Shafiq, and M.P.T. Acharya, as well as S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Shaukat Usmani, Nalini Gupta, and others, all of whom played significant roles in shaping the early communist movement in India and advocating for socialist ideologies during India’s freedom struggle.
Manabendra Nath Roy (M.N. Roy), born on March 21, 1887, in West Bengal, was a significant figure in the Indian revolutionary movement and a political theorist. He was instrumental in founding the Mexican Communist Party and the Communist Party of India (Tashkent group) and served as a delegate to the Communist International Congress.
Abani Mukherji was born in Jabalpur to a Hindu family. His political life was marked by his deep involvement in revolutionary activities and the early communist movement in India. Abani Mukherji initially joined the revolutionary movement after meeting Rash Behari Bose in 1914 and later participated in the Hindu–German Conspiracy, aimed at overthrowing British rule.
The Communist Party of India (CPI) profoundly shaped India's political landscape by uniting national and class struggles. Its organization of labourers and peasants empowered marginalized groups and created solidarity among them. The CPI's influence prompted the Indian National Congress to address the needs of the working class and rural communities, fostering a more inclusive political discourse in the country.
The Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case targeted new communists like M. N. Roy, Muzaffar Ahamed, S. A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani, Nalini Gupta, Singaravelu Chettiar, and Ghulam Hussain. Extensive media coverage introduced Indians to communist ideology, inadvertently aiding its spread. M. N. Roy was accused in absentia, Ghulam Hussain cooperated and was pardoned, while others received four-year sentences.
N. Roy established the Communist Party of India (CPI) in December 1925, following the Indian Communist Conference held in Kanpur from December 26 to 28 of that year.
The Meerut Conspiracy Case(1929–1933) saw the British arrest trade unionists, including S. A. Dange and Muzaffar Ahmad, for organizing a railway strike and alleged sedition. In 1933, 27 individuals were sentenced under Section 121A IPC, with Ahmad receiving life imprisonment. On appeal, Ahmad, Dange, and Shaukat Usmani's sentences were reduced to three years, and others were acquitted, boosting the Communist Party's influence among workers.
Q1. When was the Communist Party of India (CPI) officially founded?
Ans. The Communist Party of India (CPI) was officially founded on October 17, 1920, in Tashkent.
Q2. Who were some of the key founders of the CPI?
Ans. Key founders of the Communist Party of India (CPI) include M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji, and Mohammad Shafiq.
Q3. What was the stance of the CPI on nonviolent resistance?
Ans. The CPI adopted a more radical stance, moving away from nonviolent resistance and embracing armed struggle against British imperialism.
Q4. What role did the CPI play in the Indian independence struggle?
Ans. The CPI actively organized workers and peasants, promoted socialist ideals, and collaborated with the Congress, significantly influencing the broader independence movement.
Q5. What was the outcome of the Meerut Conspiracy Case?
Ans. It resulted in the conviction of 27 individuals, including S. A. Dange and Muzaffar Ahmad, with several receiving long prison sentences, although many had their sentences reduced on appeal.
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