Kanpur Conspiracy Case, Background, Events, Trials, Impact

The Kanpur Conspiracy Case (Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case) was a controversial court case initiated by the British government in 1924 in British India. The case targeted several newly turned communists, including M.N. Roy, Muzaffar Ahmad, S.A. Dange, Shaukat Usmani, Nalini Gupta, and Singaravelu Chettiar. They were charged with conspiring to overthrow British rule in India through a violent revolution.

The case brought significant attention to communism in India, as newspapers extensively covered the trial and the communist doctrines

About Kanpur Conspiracy Case

The Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case, a highly controversial legal trial, was initiated in British India in 1924. It marked one of the first major government actions against communist activities in the country. After the Peshawar case in 1922, the British government initiated two more conspiracy trials: one in Kanpur in 1924 and another in Meerut in 1929.

• Accusations and Charges: The British authorities accused several individuals of conspiring to overthrow the government using Bolshevik ideologies, inspired by the Russian Revolution.
  • The charges included promoting communist and revolutionary ideas to incite rebellion against British rule.
• Key Individuals Involved:
  • M.N. Roy: A leading communist ideologue and one of the founders of the Communist Party of India.
  • Muzaffar Ahmad: Known for his contributions to the communist movement in Bengal.
  • S.A. Dange: Editor of the pro-communist journal The Socialist.
  • Shaukat Usmani: An active communist propagandist

Kanpur Conspiracy Case Background

Before the Kanpur Conspiracy Case was initiated, India was undergoing significant political and social changes. During this period, the Indian masses joined the national freedom movement, and major political ideologies emerged on the national stage. Further, international influences played a significant role in shaping the ideas of Indian political thinkers during this time.

Emergence of Left-Wing Groups

Inspired by Karl Marx and socialist thinkers, groups advocating socialism and communism influenced the rise of a left-wing faction within Congress, led by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose.

• Radical Solutions by Young Nationalists: Dissatisfied with Gandhian methods and inspired by the Soviet Revolution, young nationalists sought radical approaches to India’s economic, political, and social problems.
• Criticism of Other Movements: These groups criticised both Swarajists and No-Changers while advocating Purna Swaraj (complete independence) through a strong anti-imperialist stance.
• Global and Domestic Influences: Inspired by global movements, they emphasized combining nationalism with social justice and addressed internal class issues, challenging the dominance of capitalists and landlords.

Communist Party of India Formation

The Communist Party of India (CPI) in Tashkent (1920), was established by M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji, and others. M.N. Roy became the first person elected to lead the Comintern. Communists aimed to overthrow the King Emperor’s sovereignty over British India through a revolution and achieve complete independence from Britain.

Kanpur Conspiracy Case Trial

The trial took place in Kanpur (then Cawnpore). Defendants were accused of receiving funding and ideological support from the Soviet Union. The prosecution presented evidence of pamphlets, speeches, and secret meetings promoting communist ideology.

• Charges: They were charged with attempting to overthrow the King Emperor’s rule in British India through a violent revolution to gain complete independence.
  • Accused: S. A. Dange, M. N. Roy, Muzaffar Ahmad, Nalini Gupta, Shaukat Usmani, Malayapuram Singaravelu, Ghulam Hussain, and others were charged ascommunists.
• M. N. Roy: M. N. Roy was abroad at the time and thus could not be arrested.
• Singaravelu Chettiar: Singaravelu Chettiar was released due to health issues.
• Imprisonment: S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Nalini Gupta, and Shaukat Usmani were imprisoned for 4 years.
• Public Reaction: Newspapers prominently featured sensational reports on communist strategies, allowing people to gain extensive knowledge about communism and its doctrines in India for the first time.

The court sentenced the accused to varying prison terms, but the trial brought widespread attention to communist movements in India. It also highlighted the increasing influence of Marxist and socialist ideas among Indian nationalists.

Kanpur Conspiracy Case Impacts

The Kanpur Conspiracy Case played a significant role in actively introducing communism to the Indian public. After the Kanpur case, Britain claimed to have finished off the communists.

• 1925 Kanpur Conference: A conference was held in Kanpur, chaired by Singaravelu Chettiar, where a resolution was passed to form the Communist Party of India, with its headquarters in Bombay.
• Naming Strategy: Due to the British government’s strong hostility toward the Bolsheviks, they chose the name Workers and Peasants Parties to create a more visible and cohesive platform.