Communist and Socialist Movement in India: A Critical Account

This work presents in broad prespective the origin and growth of the Indian communist and socialist movement, and a critical account of aims, objectives and activities of the communist and socialist leaders of the community, in the light of existing political culture and behaviour of the people. The movement, no doubt, has made a visible dent in the polity of India, but the objectives for which it stands have little been achieved. Both the communist and socialist leaders of India have failed to liberate the suffering and distressed masses from their exploiters. The author thinks that it is because neither the leaders are committed to their objectives and mission nor the political culture of the country is fit for the growth of communism or socialism. India is a land where religion and casteism are still the dominant factors which decided the political attitude and behaviour of the people. The class antagonism of the country can hardly be converted into class-war to pave the way for the dictatorship of the proletariat. The author feels that the founders of the Indian communism planted the seed of communism in the country without taking into account the peculiar characteristics of the country and the people due to rivalry, personal jealousy and group loyalty among the leaders. After independence, too the movement suffered a setback. Today the Indian communist and socialist movement is a divided house which had moved towards different directions with different objectives and methods creating doubt and confusion in the mind of people

Dr. Chandrika Singh (b. 1944) is currently serving as Head, Department of Political Science, Sao Chang College. Tuensang (Nagaland). He took his post-graduate degree in Political Science and also the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (1979) from Magadh University. His two research works, Political Evolution of Nagaland and Socialism in India: Rise, Growth and Prospect have already been published. Several of his articles have appeared in reputed journals of India. He has attended many seminars where he has contributed learned papers.