Revolution and Extremism

History teaches us about the enslavement of Indians, African natives and other free people by Imperialistic forces. We were constantly been taught how imperialism affected socio-political, economic and cultural domains of once self pride nations and degraded them to mere 'colonized territories'. But only with a caution -

"He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And if you gaze long into an abyss, the abyss also gazes into you."
                                                                                         - Friedrich Nietzsche

Advices seldom are followed. Resentment running deep among masses. Social groupings of different ideologies sprang up; each one with varying strategy for idea of attaining independence from foreign powers.

After study of different ideologies, I am here putting a comparison between ideas of Revolution and Extremism.

I will start with a brief of Indian struggle for Independence from foreign rule, and then further analyse how ideas of revolution and extremism are perceived back then and post independence.

Indian Nationalism

Imperialistic attitude of oppression, exploitation of Indian masses in general, aroused plenty of rebellions in 19th century. formation of secret underground groups, later INC and others as Pan-India political parties, provided a voice to Indian masses, which also got attention of european masters. Gave confidence to people; along with 'Indian Renaissance' and 'social awakening' provided a sense of Self - Pride.

However, the country was under foreign rule for such a long time, - generations of subjugation got imprinted on mass psyche and 'enslaved mentality' developed, -that there was a long way to be felt proud as a Nation again.

I

Pre Independence

There must be a inner struggle going on among aroused masses, who fed up with exploitative foreign rule on one hand and archaic social customs on other. There must be a two pronged strategy to be carried out - social reforms to fight taboos alongside with fighting to protect 'Indian Ethos' from getting despised, billeted unnecessarily by foreign rule often done in hope of subservience of Indians. A balance between both was a rare one - causing lopsided approach. Sometimes even social reformers were found under questionable stand. But masses were so infuriated with atrocities of foreign rulers that any act of rebellion, to any extent seems justifiable -for these actions were considered Revolutionary.

• 1897, 22 June - Shooting of W. C. Rand, the British Plague Commissioner of Pune by Chapekar Brothers.
• 1909, 1 July - Madan Lal Dhingra assassinated W H Curzon Wyllie, a British official.
• 1925, 9 August - Kakori Train Robbery, organised by Hindustan Republican Association (HRA). - Ram Prasad Bismil, Ashfaqullah Khan, Roshan Singh, Rajendra Lahiri, Chandrasekhar Azad and fellow revolutionaries.
• 1928, 17 December - John P. Saunders, an Asst. Superintendent of Police was shot by Shivaram Rajguru and Bhagat Singh while leaving the District Police Headquarters in Lahore to avenge death of Lala Lajpat Rai. 
• 1929, 8 April - Bombing of Central Legislative Assembly by Batukeshwar Dutt and Bhagat Singh.
• 1930, 18 April - Chittagong Armoury Raid by freedom fighters led by Surya Sen.
• 1940, 13 March - Sardar Udham Singh shot Michael O' Dwyer, the former lieutenant governor of the Punjab in India, in revenge for the Jallianwala Bagh massacre in Amritsar in 1919 for which Dwyer was responsible.
• 1946, 18 February - RIN Mutiny. - INA trials led to violent upsurges.

News about 'RIN Mutiny'

all these actions were taken to show Indians' resolve to attain independence from foreign rule by either means- be it peaceful protest or violent revolutionary act.

When the fight is done for overall betterment of society, maintaining social pride; pride of feeling as a race inferior to no one else (along with not to see any community/ race down upon), following principle of Utilitarianism; then it is Revolutionary.

Another kind of political party emerged in India in first half of 1920s believing in competency of a new strategy in overthrowing existing ruling structure - this political party was Communist Party of India (CPI). The Ideology was Communism (propounded by Marx and V I Lenin). A foreign ideology which pitched its values on socialism lured a group of Indians in believing them amass a revolution - gaining India independence. Socialism is an inherent character of Indians. Many a great leader, not being a communist, supported marginalised, weaker sections of society.

II

Post Independence

Independence filled Indians with new energy, but it came with a huge price of bloodshed and partition. Indians have to fight with poverty and other evils, also Indian economy had to withstand world trade and markets. Meanwhile threat of external state sponsored terrorism and Insurgency posed a challenge alongside.

After second world war, world divided into two camps; west bloc- dominated by USA, and east bloc - dominated by USSR. Stalin died in 1953; and his successor Nikita Khrushchev tried to soften govt. attitude by Destalinization of Soviet Russia. In 1955 he criticized Stalin's policies at twentieth congress of Communist Party of Soviet Union (CPSU). Communist Party of China(CPC) called it out as an act of drifting away from marx -lenin ideology (Marxist - revisionism) - causing severed ties between PRC and USSR (Sino- Soviet Split  (1956 - 1966)).    

Communism has always been incompatible with Indian politics, it failed to establish synchronous relationship with people. What it only did was luring public into a dreaming an utopian society. Indian communist parties' policies and stand were often had been influenced by stand of Communist/ Socialist parties (likes of CPSU, CPC) of foreign countries - many a times compromising national interest. Examples can be cited of when, in August 1942 Communists did not join 'Quit India Movement' in the wake of Russia being attacked by Nazi Germany, communists began to support the British war against Germany - the 'Imperialist War' became the 'People's War'. also when Sino-Soviet split took place, the original CPI split into factions- forming new group CPI(Marxist) in 1964.

In 1967, Charu Mazumdar found the time ripe for launching an armed protracted 'people's war' in India following the Chinese revolution, Vietnam war and Cuban revolution. Peasants' exploitation at the hands of Zamindars was a continuing problem in free India. Context of Peasant uprisings (Telangana Rebellion (1946- 1951), Naxalbari Uprising (1967), Srikakulam Uprising (1967)) were used to launch far- left communist groups. Mazumdar alongside Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal founded a new party in 1969- Communist Party of India (Marxist - Leninist). 

Communist parties behaved as if they were still then in Struggle phase for betterment of Indians, but they have no better long term vision, had no stipulated time period for how long this battle will go on. They had no feedback system in this perceived war. whether, for whom betterment this war is waged are benefitting from it - was a question to be asked. With passage of time these parties' character changed from 'pro-people' to 'anti-government', - to 'anti- nation', -  to 'anti- development' and eventually to 'anti- people'. Extremist activities were carried out in name of revolution. Eventually the movement turned into insurgency- an internal wound inside country.

The Red corridor comprising West Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Odisha Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra, remained disturbed constantly. Any government initiative to develop tribal areas in these region perceived as challenge to  dominance of Naxalite movement - leading frequent conflict between Naxalites and law enforcers (CRPF). Sukma attack 2017 and Gadchiroli attack are only few example of many atrocities of Naxalite insurgency. As I am writing this I came to know about killing of 17 CRPF personnel, on  21 March 2020, in an ambush in Sukma Chattisgarh, and 15 more people got injured. With many cases of naxal - violence it is time and again proved fact that there is no place of Communism (Marxism, Maoism, Naxalism) in India.

Now, it is up to readers to analyze what's Revolution and what's Extremism.