British Indian Marxist who shaped ideological foundations of CPI, inspired Jyoti Basu, Bhupesh Gupta

By Harsh Thakor*

Rajani Palme Dutt, a prominent Marxist theorist and one of the architects of the British Communist Party, passed away on December 20, 1974, at the age of 79. On the 50th anniversary of his death, his contributions to Marxism, anti-colonialism, and political theory are revisited.

Born on June 13, 1896, in London to an Indian father, Dr. Upendra Krishna Dutt, and a Swedish mother, Dutt displayed academic brilliance early on. A student of history at Balliol College, Oxford, he joined the Independent Labour Party in 1914. His opposition to World War I led to his imprisonment, and his advocacy of Marxism resulted in his expulsion from Oxford, although he later completed his examinations with distinction. Dutt joined the Communist Party of Great Britain (CPGB) in 1921, marking the beginning of his lifelong commitment to Marxist ideology.

Dutt’s political career intertwined Marxism and anti-colonialism, with his seminal work India Today (1940) serving as a critical analysis of British imperialism and the socio-economic dynamics of colonial India. He also authored other influential texts, including Fascism and Social Revolution (1934) and Modern India (1926), which were foundational to the understanding of global and colonial politics through a Marxist lens.

As a key member of the CPGB, Dutt served on its executive committee from 1922 to 1965 and played a central role in shaping its theoretical framework. He was vice-chairman of the party from 1956 to 1965 and served as the de facto general secretary during critical periods, including the early years of World War II. His controversial stances, such as his initial opposition to British involvement in the war until the Soviet Union was invaded, marked his tenure with ideological rigor.

Dutt was a prolific writer, editing the influential journal Labour Monthly for over five decades. His writings addressed global labor movements, the class struggle, and the interplay between fascism, capitalism, and socialism. In Fascism and Social Revolution, Dutt analyzed the rise of fascism as a response to capitalist crises and the threat posed by communist movements.

His insights into India’s independence movement, particularly in India Today, were groundbreaking. The book, banned by British authorities in colonial India, dissected the economic exploitation underpinning imperialism and critiqued the post-independence socio-political structure for retaining elements of feudalism and capitalism.

Jyoti Basu, Bhupesh Gupta with EMS Namboodiripad

Dutt’s connection to India extended beyond academic analysis. He influenced early Marxist thought in India and played a reconciliatory role between the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (CPI) during critical junctures. Despite ideological differences, he acknowledged Mahatma Gandhi’s role in mobilizing the masses and fostering a national movement. Dutt’s interactions with leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose highlighted his influence on Indian political discourse.

Dutt was an unwavering supporter of the Soviet Union, aligning with its policies during contentious periods, such as the Hungarian uprising (1956) and the Prague Spring (1968). His steadfast defense of Soviet ideology, including the Brezhnev Doctrine, and his critiques of Maoist China positioned him as a significant figure in global communist circles.

Despite misjudgments, such as his defense of Stalinist policies, Dutt’s intellectual contributions remain influential. His work bridged the global Marxist movement with anti-colonial struggles, shaping the ideological foundations of the CPI and inspiring leaders like Jyoti Basu and Bhupesh Gupta.

Rajani Palme Dutt’s passing marked the end of an era in British Marxism. His analytical rigor, commitment to socialism, and writings on India and global politics solidified his legacy as a leading Marxist thinker. His life’s work continues to provide critical insights into the dynamics of class struggle, imperialism, and revolutionary movements.

---

*Freelance journalist

Comments

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

History, culture and literature of Fatehpur, UP, from where Maulana Hasrat Mohani hailed

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* Maulana Hasrat Mohani was a member of the Constituent Assembly and an extremely important leader of our freedom movement. Born in Unnao district of Uttar Pradesh, Hasrat Mohani's relationship with nearby district of Fatehpur is interesting and not explored much by biographers and historians. Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri has written a book on Maulana Hasrat Mohani and Fatehpur. The book is in Urdu. He has just come out with another important book, 'Hindi kee Pratham Rachna: Chandayan' authored by Mulla Daud Dalmai.' During my recent visit to Fatehpur town, I had an opportunity to meet Dr Mohammad Ismail Azad Fatehpuri and recorded a conversation with him on issues of history, culture and literature of Fatehpur. Sharing this conversation here with you. Kindly click this link. --- *Human rights defender. Facebook https://www.facebook.com/vbrawat , X @freetohumanity, Skype @vbrawat

Urgent need to study cause of large number of natural deaths in Gulf countries

By Venkatesh Nayak* According to data tabled in Parliament in April 2018, there are 87.76 lakh (8.77 million) Indians in six Gulf countries, namely Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). While replying to an Unstarred Question (#6091) raised in the Lok Sabha, the Union Minister of State for External Affairs said, during the first half of this financial year alone (between April-September 2018), blue-collared Indian workers in these countries had remitted USD 33.47 Billion back home. Not much is known about the human cost of such earnings which swell up the country’s forex reserves quietly. My recent RTI intervention and research of proceedings in Parliament has revealed that between 2012 and mid-2018 more than 24,570 Indian Workers died in these Gulf countries. This works out to an average of more than 10 deaths per day. For every US$ 1 Billion they remitted to India during the same period there were at least 117 deaths of Indian Workers in Gulf ...

N-power plant at Mithi Virdi: CRZ nod is arbitrary, without jurisdiction

By Krishnakant* A case-appeal has been filed against the order of the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) and others granting CRZ clearance for establishment of intake and outfall facility for proposed 6000 MWe Nuclear Power Plant at Mithi Virdi, District Bhavnagar, Gujarat by Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) vide order in F 11-23 /2014-IA- III dated March 3, 2015. The case-appeal in the National Green Tribunal at Western Bench at Pune is filed by Shaktisinh Gohil, Sarpanch of Jasapara; Hajabhai Dihora of Mithi Virdi; Jagrutiben Gohil of Jasapara; Krishnakant and Rohit Prajapati activist of the Paryavaran Suraksha Samiti. The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has issued a notice to the MoEF&CC, Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gujarat Coastal Zone Management Authority, Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and Nuclear Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) and case is kept for hearing on August 20, 2015. Appeal No. 23 of 2015 (WZ) is filed, a...

Gujarat agate worker, who fought against bondage, died of silicosis, won compensation

Raju Parmar By Jagdish Patel* This is about an agate worker of Khambhat in Central Gujarat. Born in a Vankar family, Raju Parmar first visited our weekly OPD clinic in Shakarpur on March 4, 2009. Aged 45 then, he was assigned OPD No 199/03/2009. He was referred to the Cardiac Care Centre, Khambhat, to get chest X-ray free of charge. Accordingly, he got it done and submitted his report. At that time he was working in an agate crushing unit of one Kishan Bhil.

Licy Bharucha’s pilgrimage into the lives of India’s freedom fighters

By Moin Qazi* Book Review: “Oral History of Indian Freedom Movement”, by Dr Licy Bharucha; Pp240; Rs 300; Published by National Museum of Indian Freedom Movement The Congress has won political freedom, but it has yet to win economic freedom, social and moral freedom. These freedoms are harder than the political, if only because they are constructive, less exciting and not spectacular. — Mahatma Gandhi The opening quote of the book by Mahatma Gandhi sums up the true objective of India’s freedom struggle. It also in essence speaks for the multitudes of brave and courageous individuals who aspired to get themselves jailed for the cause of the country’s freedom. A jail term was a strong testimony and credential of patriotism for them. The book has been written by Dr Licy Bharucha, an academically trained political scientist and a scholar of peace studies and Gandhian studies, who was closely associated throughout her life with those who made the struggle for India’s independence the primar...

Budget for 2018-19: Ahmedabad authorities "regularly" under-spend allocation

By Mahender Jethmalani* The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s (AMC's) General Body (Municipal Board) recently passed the AMC’s annual budget estimates of Rs 6,990 crore for 2018-19. AMC’s revenue expenditure for the next financial year is Rs 3,500 crore and development budget (capital budget) is Rs 3,490 crore.

Warning bells for India: Tribal exploitation by powerful corporate interests may turn into international issue

By Ashok Shrimali* Warning bells are ringing for India. Even as news drops in from Odisha that Adivasi villages, one after another, are rejecting the top UK-based MNC Vedanta's plea for mining, a recent move by two senior scholars Felix Padel and Samarendra Das suggests the way tribals are being exploited in India by powerful international and national business interests may become an international issue. In fact, one has only to count days when things may be taken up at the United Nations level, with India being pushed to the corner. Padel, it may be recalled, is a major British authority on indigenous peoples across the world, with several scholarly books to his credit.

Covid response? How, gripped by fear and groupthink, scientists 'failed' children

By Bhaskaran Raman* “Today’s children are tomorrow’s future”, “Nurture children’s dreams”, “A child’s smile is sunlight”. These are some cliches, rendered rather uninspiring through repetition and obviousness. However, for nearly 2½ years, society forgot these cliches, children suffered as science failed and groupthink prevailed. Worse, all of this has been swept under the rug.

Search This Blog