The Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) (CPI(ML)) was an Indian communist party formed by the All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries (AICCCR) at a congress in Calcutta in 1969. The foundation of the party was declared by Kanu Sanyal at a mass meeting in Calcutta on 22 April, Vladimir Lenin's birthday. Later the CPI(ML) party splintered into several Naxalite groups.

Origin

The CPI (ML) was formed by the radicals within the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) who grew concerned by the increasingly parliamentary character of its politics. A debate ensued where the radicals accused the CPM leadership of turning towards revisionism. Finally, the party purged the radicals, who went to form the CPI (ML). The CPI (ML) advocated armed revolution and denounced participation in the electoral process. Its leaders were Charu Majumdar and Saroj Dutta, both of whom had belonged to the left-wing within the CPM in northern West Bengal. Sanyal, Jongol Santhal and his followers had mobilised a revolutionary peasants movement in Naxalbari, which evolved into an armed uprising of the mostly Santhal tribal inhabitants. CPI (ML) saw Naxalbari as the spark that would start a new Indian revolution, and the movement came to be known as "naxalites". In several parts of India, for example Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, other parts of West Bengal, and in Srikakulam in northern Andhra Pradesh, the CPI (ML) organised guerrilla units. The party got moral support from China, which actively encouraged the attempts of CPI (ML) to launch revolution.

According to Pradip Basu in his book Towards Naxalbari (1953-1967): An Account of Inner-Party Ideological Struggle:

<blockquote>"There were two nuclei of radicals in the party organisation in West Bengal. One 'theorist' section around Parimal Das Gupta in Calcutta, which wanted to persuade the party leadership to correct revisionist mistakes through inner-party debate, and one 'actionist' section led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal in North Bengal. The 'actionists' were impatient, and strived to organize armed uprisings. According to Basu, due to the prevailing political climate of youth and student rebellion it was the 'actionists' which came to dominate the new Maoist movement in India, instead of the more theoretically advanced sections." </blockquote>

Naxalbari uprising

It occurred in Naxalbari of Siliguri subdivision, Darjeeling district under the leadership of communist leaders like Charu Majumdar and others who later became the part of CPI (ML).

Srikakulam peasant uprising

In the Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh, communist leaders aligned themselves with the then formed AICCCR and launched peasant upsurge in Srikakulam which continued for almost 5 years in late 1960s and early 1970s. and the anti-Lin Biao-group later became known as Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) Liberation and was led by Jauhar, Vinod Mishra, Swadesh Bhattacharya.

Splinter groups

Current parties and organisations with origins in CPI (ML) include

  • CPI (Maoist)
  • Naxalbari
  • Liberation led by Dipankar Bhattacharya
  • Mass Line
  • Red Star led by K.N. Ramchandran
  • Red Flag
  • MLPI (Red Flag) led by P.C. Unnichekkan
  • Central Team
  • New Initiative
  • Unity Initiative
  • Class Struggle
  • People's War
  • New Democracy led by Yatendra Kumar
  • Maoist Unity Centre
  • Bolshevik
  • People's Liberation
  • Organising Committee
  • Central Organising Committee
  • Second Central Committee
  • Party Unity
  • Provisional Central Committee
  • Central Reorganisation Committee
  • Communist Party of United States of India led by Veeranna
  • Somnath faction led by Somnath Chatterjee Ukhra and Pradip Banerjee
  • Shantipal faction
  • Umadhar Singh faction
  • Janashakti led by Koora Rajanna
  • Janashakti - Ranadheer led by Ranadheer
  • Janashakti - Chandra Pulla Reddy led by Chandra Pulla Reddy
  • Mahadev Mukherjee faction led by Mahadev Mukherjee
  • Praja Pantha
  • Jan Samvad
  • Nai Pahal
  • New Proletarian
  • Maharashtra
  • Bhaijee
  • Prajashakti
  • Prathighatana
  • Praja Pratighatana
  • Vimochana

See also

  • List of anti-revisionist groups

References

  • Banned Thought - India documents and statements of CPI (ML)