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Nearly a century has gone after Vladimir Lenin, who was the initiator and doyen of communist movement in the world, passed away. The dream of Lenin to usher in a world led by working class, that would have no exploitation and total equality have gone for a toss. Why has this happened? Who is responsible for this? Has communism collapsed under its own weight?
Voice of the toiling and much exploited working class were heard loudly for the first time in the world, when Karl Marx gave the clarion call that “workers in the world have nothing to lose except the chain”.
Vladimir Lenin was a staunch follower of Karl Marx and he broadly tuned his thought process based on Karl Marx philosophy. It can be said that Lenin somewhat modified the advocacy of Karl Marx and took forward the working class movement based on, what he perceived as democratic centralism led by the working class.
As the revolutionary working class movement was gaining strength under the guidance of Lenin, Soviet Union under the leadership of Lenin became a one party socialist state governed by the communist party (the Bolsheviks ultimately became the Communist part Party of Soviet Union).
Collapse of communism started in Stalin era
When Lenin passed away due to a debilitating stroke in January, 1924, the communist party went under the control of Stalin in Soviet Russia.
The rise of Stalinism under Joseph Stalin, resulted in a situation, where the state virtually substituted itself for the working class. The Stalin regime was marked by repression, rigorous state control and denial of rights for people including those belonging to working class, for whom the communist movement was originally launched and progressed.
What Karl Marx and Lenin wanted was much different from what happened under Stalin’s leadership in Soviet Russia and in subsequent period in several so called communist countries including China and Cuba.
Certainly, Karl Marx and Lenin should have turned in their grave, as they would have felt very angry and upset about the misuse of their advocacy with regard to the progressive and welfare oriented working class movement, by Stalin and other leaders of communist parties in different countries in subsequent years.
One can say with reasonable confidence that the communist movement caused by Marx and Lenin lost all its shape and style and consequently lost its momentum and finally the communist governments collapsed in several countries including in Russia and erstwhile Soviet Union.
Perhaps, only two countries today claim to have communist government namely China and Cuba, which is a false claim.
Scenario in China, Cuba
The so called communist government in China today has no iota of communist philosophy in it’s functioning style and at best, can be described as a government run by coterie of so called “people or working class representatives”. It is virtually a dictatorship form of governance where state is controlled by a closely knit team that constantly struggle to protect the power by hook or crook against another team.
There is no doubt that China has achieved extraordinary level of technological and industrial progress and is claiming a super power status now. But, this has not happened by strictly following the philosophy of communism which has the self emancipation of the working class at its core.
On the other hand, the so called communist government in China has liberally adopted the capitalist methods and the industrial infrastructure and other projects in China are much led and guided by private sector and multinational companies and share of participation of state in such economic activities are steadily declining.
The communist philosophy calls for “land for the peasants and bread for the workers”, that would lead to taking into social ownership of all forms of wealth and properties and introduce economic reforms rooted in socialist principle of cooperation and equality. Lenin certainly wanted to ensure personal freedom for the people that would challenge the various forms of oppression.
As a movement wedded to the philosophy of fighting against exploitation, there is a clear goal for communists in India
What is happening in the so called communist China is one hundred percent against such advocacy of communist philosophy echoed by Lenin.
Today’s Chinese government is doing great damage to the glorious philosophy enunciated by Karl Marx and Lenin by claiming itself to be a communist government and totally acting against the philosophy of communism, as understood by devoted and convinced communists all over the world.
Situation with regard to communist movement in Cuba is no better than in China.
Scenario in India
After independence, India had the glorious opportunities to promote and practice communist philosophy at its best, particularly under the leadership of towering personality like EMS Namboodripad, who could understand and explain the core communist philosophy in its true sense.
Unfortunately, the communist movement in India appears to have lost its sense of direction after the glorious time of EMS Namboodripad by converting itself to be a mere hate brigade against capitalism instead of strengthening the working class movement and its inherent strength and power.
Unfortunately, the Communist Party of India was led so badly that it came to be identified with tactics like ghero and violent strategies and coercion to brow beat the promoters and managers of industrial and commercial centres. In the process, communists in India lost the race to those who advocated democratic socialism as against the “oppressive” communism.
Communists in India have split under various nomenclatures without any reason or justification, perhaps, due to ego centric leaders.
Today, it appears that communism has lost its sheen in India and is unable to stand on its own based on the strength of communist philosophy and the standards of original thought leaders like Karl Marx and Lenin.
Lenin wanted that the working class must move ahead to achieve social revolution.
After independence, communists in India had the glorious opportunity to get into power and achieve social revolution by participating in the democratic process and contesting in democratic elections. In such process, some sort of success was achieved by EMS Namboodripad and Joti Basu, well acknowledged communist leaders in the country.
However, after such success, in the subsequent days, instead of seeking votes on the basis of communist philosophy in election and waiting for its time by building the party, communist parties in India are reducing themselves by seeking alliance with parties, some of which have corrupt and feudal type of dynastic and communal leadership. In such conditions, communists do not seem to be convincing when they talk about core value of communist philosophy.
The core value of communist philosophy still remain highly relevant in India.
The level of political and administrative corruption in the country are creating a scenario, where the results of welfare measures are not reaching the people, particularly those in the lower income group.
During the time of Karl Marx and Lenin, the capitalists were exploiting the people. Today, in India, the corrupt forces are exploiting the people.
As a movement wedded to the philosophy of fighting against exploitation, there is a clear goal for communists in India to root out corruption in the political, private and public life. They can attain power in democratic elections to spread social revolution, by taking up the anti corruption cause with full force at their command.
Today, Indian communist movement needs a leader who could be a worthy successor to Lenin.
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*Trustee, Nandini Voice For The Deprived, Chennai
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