A Marxist intellectual who dwelt into complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape

By Harsh Thakor*

Professor Manoranjan Mohanty has been a dedicated advocate for human rights over five decades. His work as a scholar and activist has supported revolutionary democratic movements, navigating complex areas of the Indian socio-political landscape. His balanced, non-partisan approach to human rights and social justice has made his books essential resources for advocates of democracy.

Professor Mohanty has participated in numerous fact-finding missions in areas impacted by state repression, lending guidance to the People's Union for Democratic Rights in Delhi. Unlike many intellectuals, he has engaged directly with grassroots movements, often integrating his work with the causes of resistance. He continues to be a voice for revolutionary democratic resistance, particularly in the face of rising authoritarianism, and his presence in public gatherings is valued for his approachable and empathetic nature.

In the 1970s, Mohanty advocated for revolutionary change, emphasizing the role of Mao Zedong’s ideas in liberation movements and analyzing China’s experiments under Mao as distinct from earlier socialist approaches. While a Marxist, he has also supported a multi-party state and critiqued the hierarchical structures in Stalin’s era. He praised Jayaprakash Narayan’s role in preserving democracy during the 1970s, finding merit in the movement’s opposition to authoritarianism and corruption.

Five Decades of the Maoist Movement

In his book "Five Decades of the Maoist Movement in India", Mohanty examines the movement's evolution, from its origins to its current structure as represented by the CPI (Maoist). The book provides an in-depth analysis of early peasant uprisings in Naxalbari and Srikakulam through a theoretical framework, comparing them with the Chinese Revolution. Mohanty discusses the organizational developments of the CPI (Maoist) in the face of challenges like state bans and leader losses, as well as the movement’s expansion through issues of displacement and civil rights.

Mohanty divides India’s Communist revolutionary movement into three main streams—the CPI(ML), CPI(Maoist), and CPI(ML) Liberation—each with distinct strategies for revolution and views on electoral politics. His analysis highlights strategic differences within the Naxalite movement and how the CPI (Maoist) has consolidated support by addressing issues like adivasi displacement and civil liberties violations. He argues that the state’s response to the Maoist movement cannot succeed without addressing the underlying issues driving it.

The book also covers the legacy of the Naxalite movement over five decades and the theoretical challenges it faces, such as refining the strategy of democratic revolution within India’s complex political environment.

China and Mao Zedong Thought

Mohanty’s book "China’s Transformation: The Success Story and the Success Trap" examines the positive and negative impacts of China’s reforms since Mao, focusing on the balance between economic growth and social issues. His Study of the Political Philosophy of Mao Zedong explores Mao's ideas on revolutionary transformation, particularly in Asian, African, and Latin American contexts, as well as Mao's strategic principles for building a united front against primary adversaries.

In "Ideology Matters: China from Mao Zedong to Xi Jinping", Mohanty investigates China's ideological shifts from Mao to Xi, analyzing the successes and challenges China faces in maintaining its reform agenda.

Criticisms

While Mohanty provides a comprehensive view, he has been critiqued for not distinctly emphasizing the CPI (Maoist) as the sole group actively pursuing a revolutionary path. Critics suggest he may equate the CPI(ML) Liberation with more revolutionary groups despite its closer alignment with parliamentary politics. He is also seen as downplaying the contributions of the pro-Mao "Gang of Four" during China’s Cultural Revolution and failing to recognize their genuine revolutionary intent.

In summary, Professor Mohanty’s work stands as a significant contribution to the study of revolutionary democracy, human rights, and the legacy of Maoist thought, even as it sparks debates about the nuances of revolutionary paths and historical analysis.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

GreenTech Summit claims NCR as key green building hub, without pan-India comparison

By A Representative The Indian Green Building Council (IGBC), under the Confederation of Indian Industry, held its GreenTech Summit 2026 in New Delhi, where industry representatives, policymakers and sustainability professionals discussed the adoption of climate technologies in India’s built environment.

Beyond India-China borders: Economic links expand, political gaps persist

By Bhabani Shankar Nayak* Despite growing trade between India and China, a persistent trust deficit continues to shape their bilateral relationship. Expanding economic engagement has not fully resolved political differences, many of which stem from historical legacies as well as contemporary geopolitical concerns. Border disputes—often traced to colonial-era arrangements—remain a significant obstacle to deeper cooperation, while differing strategic alignments in global affairs add further complexity.

Buddhist shrines were 'massively destroyed' by Brahmanical rulers: Historian DN Jha

Nalanda mahavihara By Rajiv Shah Prominent historian DN Jha, an expert in India's ancient and medieval past, in his new book , "Against the Grain: Notes on Identity, Intolerance and History", in a sharp critique of "Hindutva ideologues", who look at the ancient period of Indian history as "a golden age marked by social harmony, devoid of any religious violence", has said, "Demolition and desecration of rival religious establishments, and the appropriation of their idols, was not uncommon in India before the advent of Islam".

Swami Vivekananda's views on caste and sexuality were 'painfully' regressive

By Bhaskar Sur* Swami Vivekananda now belongs more to the modern Hindu mythology than reality. It makes a daunting job to discover the real human being who knew unemployment, humiliation of losing a teaching job for 'incompetence', longed in vain for the bliss of a happy conjugal life only to suffer the consequent frustration.

Gujarat cadre to HDFC: When bureaucratic style hits corporate walls

By Rajiv Shah I was a little amused by the abrupt March 17, 2026 resignation of Atanu Chakraborty —a Gujarat cadre IAS officer of the 1985 batch who retired from the government in 2020—as chairman of HDFC Bank . Much of what may have led to his decision to quit this ostensibly high post—actually a non-executive, part-time role—is by now well known. I followed most of it online with considerable interest, partly because I had interacted with him umpteen times during my stint as The Times of India correspondent in Gandhinagar from 1997 to 2012.

Operation Epic Fury: Making America great at the world’s expense?

By N.S. Venkataraman* The decades-long enmity between Iran and Israel is well-documented, but historically, their direct confrontations have been brief, constrained by the logistical and economic limitations of sustained warfare. The current conflict in the Middle East, however, marks a radical and dangerous departure from this pattern.

India has been getting its economic growth wrong for two decades, say top economists

By Jag Jivan* India's official GDP figures have misrepresented the trajectory of the world's fifth-largest economy for the better part of two decades, according to a major new working paper published by the Peterson Institute for International Economics (PIIE). It finds that India overstated annual growth by up to two percentage points after 2011 — and understated it during the boom years of the 2000s.

Beyond the election manifesto: Why climate is now a kitchen table issue

By Vikas Meshram* March has long been a month of gentle transition, the period when winter softly retreats and a mild warmth signals nature’s renewal. Yet, in recent years, this dependable rhythm has been disrupted. This year, since the beginning of March, temperatures across vast swathes of the country have shattered previous records, soaring to between 35 and 40 degrees Celsius in some regions. This is not a mere fluctuation in the weather; it is a serious and alarming indicator of climate change .

Jerusalem's Al Aqsa mosque under siege: A test of Muslim solidarity and Palestine’s future

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* In the cacophony of Israel’s and the United States’ attack on Iran, one piece of news has been buried under the debris of war: Israel has closed the Al Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem to Palestinian worshippers during the holy month of Ramadan. The closure, announced as indefinite, affects the third most revered mosque in the Islamic world.

Search This Blog