November 16 - 30, December 1-15, 2006

Let us organise the working class to become the ruling class!

The main lesson from the Great October Revolution for Indian communists today is to organise the working class to become the ruling class, in alliance with the peasantry and all the oppressed. This is the necessary condition to end capitalist exploitation, feudal oppression and imperialist plunder. It is the only path to smash the colonial legacy and open the path to all-round progress on the road of socialism. This was the main message emerging from a Conference organised by the Communist Ghadar Party of India (CGPI) on 19 th November, 2006, on the theme: Lessons of Great October and the Path to Socialism in the 21 st Century.

Over 500 activists and revolutionary communists participated in this inspiring event that was held at the Jawaharlal Nehru University City Centre in New Delhi. They came from all regions of India and from the United States, Canada and Britain. The majority of the participants were working class youth, followed by activists of trade unions, peasant unions, women’s organisations, youth sabhas and from the movement for national and human rights in the Northeast. An extremely militant and enthusiastic atmosphere prevailed during the entire proceedings, which found expression in varied poetic forms.

Delivering the keynote speech that initiated the deliberations at this Conference, Comrade Prakash Rao, Spokesperson of CGPI, pointed out that the conditions in Czarist Russia in 1917 were in many ways similar to present day India. Capitalism was growing, but the industrial working class was a minority. There were numerous nations and tribes, with numerous languages and cultures. A relatively backward country, dominated by foreign capital, was seeking to dominate others and become a big imperialist power.

Lenin analysed that the conditions were ripe for the working class to go for political power at that time. The Indian revolution has been blocked by those in the communist movement who keep repeating the lie that the “conditions are not ripe for worker-peasant rule”.

Comrade Prakash Rao launched a scathing criticism of those in the Indian communist movement who preach that the working class must give up revolution, must give up the objective of becoming the ruling class, and reconcile itself to capitalism. The keynote speech established, with clear arguments, that the line of CPI (M) is the diametrical opposite of the path of the Great October Revolution. The rise of the Soviet Union established the superiority of proletarian democracy, whereas the CPI (M) is committed to defend bourgeois democracy. It is essential to defeat this class conciliatory line in order to prepare the working class for becoming the ruling class.

The Keynote speech explained that what collapsed in 1991 was not the socialist system, but a pseudo socialist order. The nature of the Soviet Union had already changed, during the period of Khrushchev and Brezhnev. The dictatorship of the proletariat had been converted into a party dictatorship. Socialism had become social-imperialism – that is, a system that was socialist in form but imperialist in content.

Dealing with the present situation, Comrade Prakash Rao exposed the fascist content of the so-called ‘war on terror’ of the US, Britain, India and other reactionary empire building states.

For the working class to become the ruling class, he elaborated, it is necessary to build the united front of all the toiling and oppressed against state terrorism and against the anti-social program of liberalization and privatization. He called upon all the participants to build constituency committees among the workers, peasants, women and youth and use the platform of elections to put forth program for the renewal of democracy. He concluded with the call to build and strengthen the party, the vanguard that is leading the working class in its battle for political power.

Comrade S. Singh spoke on behalf of the Respect Coalition of Britain. He began his address with a couplet in Punjabi that pointed out that it was essential for workers and peasants to know who is responsible for our blood being shed. He reiterated the necessity for uncompromising struggle to expose parties like the CPI (M) which were stabbing the working class and peasantry in the back. He observed that the workers and peasants of Russia would not have succeeded in establishing their own rule if the Bolshevik party had not fought and exposed the treachery of the agents of the bourgeoisie masquerading as communists. Turning to Britain, he said that the Labour Party was promoted as the "lesser evil". But what kind of "lesser evil" is this which is responsible for the genocide of 6 lakh Iraqis, which is threatening Iran and Korea and other countries? Muslims are being savagely persecuted in the UK as "terrorists" after the London train bombings, even while more and more evidence is coming out showing the hand of the state behind these bombings. The struggle was on in Britian to build a broad political front against war, state terrorism and the privatisation program. Comrade Singh concluded his speech hailing the work of the CGPI in organising the workers, peasants, women and youth to take power into their own hands.

Comrade D Singh addressed the Conference on behalf of the Indian Workers Association (Great Britain). He pointed out that the Russian revolution transformed the most backward country of Europe into an advanced socialist country. It was the treachery of Khrushchev and those who followed him that resulted in socialism being first transformed into pseudo socialism, and then into open capitalism. What failed in Russia was pseudo socialism. We have to learn the lessons from this and march forward. Comrade Singh pointed out that a dangerous situation had been created in the world in which the British ruling class was actively pushing for fascism and war. Within Britain, all the victories achieved by the working class in terms of social security, health care, and education were under attack, and the people were fighting back. He concluded his address expressing full confidence that under the leadership of the CGPI, the workers and peasants of India would defeat the bourgeoisie and imperialism and become masters of their own destiny.

LP Singh, a leading rights activist from the North East, spoke on the grim situation facing the people in Manipur and other states under Army Rule. Referring to the "war against terrorism" slogan of the ruling class, he said that people in Manipur are fed up of state terror. He observed that 90% of the men in the armed forces come from the workers and peasants; they are our brothers. We have to tell them if they want to actually defend the country, they have to turn their guns against those responsible - the ruling class, those in power.

He explained that the bourgeois media deliberately spreads the lie that the people in Manipur are terrorists. The people in Manipur know who are the terrorists. That is why they have risen in struggle for the repeal of the Armed Forces Special Powers Act. He concluded with the words that crores of people are looking forward to establishing workers’ and peasants’ rule. He expressed confidence that the CGPI will guide the peoples’ struggles to victory.

Comrade Pal from the Ghadar Heritage Foundation of Canada pointed out that CPI and CPI (M) were acting like the pillars of the Indian state, and their treachery must be exposed amongst the workers and peasants. He accused the imperialists and reactionary states for spreading drugs among Punjabi youth, both in Punjab and Canada, to keep them away from the path of revolution. The imperialist media was making out that small time smugglers were behind the drug racket, but there is a big imperialist plot which must be exposed and countered, he said.

R Mishra of the Association of Indian Progressive Study Groups pointed out that the world has never been the same after the October revolution. Most if not all the rights we are accustomed to are a direct product of the October Revolution. The October Revolution affirmed the dignity of human beings. Referring to India, he pointed out that the agenda of people is not occupying centre stage. He emphasized the need to contest the imperialist agenda of the Indian rulers with the people’s agenda for peace, prosperity and rights. He concluded by reiterating that without the leadership of the Communist Party, the conscious movement cannot be built, and revolution cannot triumph.

Comrade Hanuman, leader of the Rajasthan Shikshak Manch, pointed out that if the state machinery remains unchanged, the exploiters will continue to rule. The Soviet Constitution of 1936 was the most advanced and ensured so many rights. But when Khrushchev came to power, they merged the party with the state. In India, he observed, the CPI and CPI (M) are promoted by the media as the defenders of workers and peasants. But the reality is that they are part of the state. We must expose this vigorously amongst the workers and peasants. The class character of the parties has changed. Just because there are workers, peasants, women and youth in these parties, it does not mean that they are communist. Workers and peasants, women and youth are also there in openly bourgeois parties. CPI and CPIM are not fighting for the interests of workers and peasants, of peace and against imperialism. They restrict the movement to economic demands. In Rajasthan they raise the issue of water, but do not educate the people against the bourgeoisie and its system. What happens if you get water, will all the problems be solved? They have no plans for an offensive against capitalism, because they are enjoying privileges within the system. We must challenge them and expose them. All communists must unite against liberalization and privatisation. I congratulate the Communist Ghadar Party of India for organising this important conference. I am sure the party will chalk out tactics to expose the traitors within the communist movement.

The conference concluded in a militant atmosphere with the singing of the Internationale, after which the hall reverberated with the slogans: Workers of all countries, unite! Long live the Great October Revolution! Long live the Communist Ghadar Party of India! Inquilab Zindabad!