Mainstream Weeklyby PRATIP CHATTOPADHYAY
The following is an article written specially on the occasion of Communist stalwart S.A. Dange’s 113th birth anniversary on October 10, 2012.
I
Ideologies are not simply political philosophies. They are, essentially, normative arguments to motivate people to concrete action. Generally speaking, proponents and adherents of any ideology do believe that their system of thought or the worldview is the most perfect one and capable of solving all problems in the society. As ideology has the capacity to explain reality and motivate people to action, it can be used, according to the Encyclopedia of Politics, both in positive and negative senses. (Carliste: 2005) In a positive sense, it is used to embrace idealistic conviction and question and oppose the statuesque by radical political activism. Used in a negative sense, ideology can imply a form of manipulation whereby people are forced to accept certain beliefs and action without questioning them. The history of Indian communism, as seen by Mohit Sen, reflects the use and implementation of ideology in both the senses, though more negative than positive.
In its positive connotation there were some high ideals of service to the masses, selflessness and solidarity with all who served the same cause. Liu Shao-qi’s How to Be a Good Communist has presented this issue with considerable brilliance. Sen’s family, particularly his elder brother and father, introduced him to the ideals of communism, insisting that he should read widely, listen to others and not close his mind. Sen narrates how during the great Bengal Famine of 1943 the Communist Party of India under P.C. Joshi’s dynamic leadership organised relief work in a broadbased manner and used all its strength with the vehicle of song, dance and drama to rouse India to save Bengal from death. Later on, backed by Dange’s creative mind, the CPI developed innovative forms of mass mobilisation like national mass signature campaigns and bandhs where workers were at the forefront as opposed to the middle class-led hartals. Rajeswara Rao also played a prominent role in training the CPI youth and students in the science and art of unarmed conflict and building up the Peoples Volunteer Corps all over the country. The Communists, after coming to power in States like Kerela and West Bengal, translated their commitment through a radical democratic programme with special emphasis on land reform to eliminate landlordism of any type and variety.
The negative use of ideology was best captured by Sen as he quotes Stalin’s panegyric to Lenin: “We Communists are men of special mould. We are made of a special stuff….It is not given to everyone to be the member of such a party.