Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha convention in defence of communism

What is the way out . . . if we want to end the exploitation of workers, the devastation and suicides of the peasantry, the oppression of women, caste discrimination, state terrorism and communal violence, if we want to secure our right to livelihood, shelter, education and health, the rights of the people of all the nations, nationalities and tribes that inhabit our land? This was the question that the Hind Naujawan Ekta Sabha posed, in a convention it organised on July 23, 2006 at Delhi. The activists of HNES in one voice and with great conviction declared that there is an alternative to this system of exploitation, to this man eating capitalist system. The alternative is to build Communism on Indian soil.

An inspiring poster exhibition greeted the participants in the Convention. The hall was beautifully decorated with banners and posters. Through the posters, the youth brought out the fundamental principles and conclusions of Marxism-Leninism in the form of quotations from the classics.

With great enthusiasm, the youth — boys and girls, school and university students and young workers, youth from different regions of the country and belonging to different nationalities — participated in the deliberations of the Convention. Manipuris rubbed shoulders with Haryanvis, slum youth with university youth, with no barriers of caste, creed or nationality coming in the way of unitedly seeking solutions to the burning problems of the day. They reflected the burning desire of the Indian youth for knowledge, about how to change the conditions that have become intolerable, to build a new society free from exploitation.

The seriousness with which the youth of the HNES organised the Convention and conducted its proceedings in a militant and disciplined manner befitting the future leaders of our country revealed that here is a force that, properly nurtured, will without any hesitation or wavering overcome all odds and be in the front ranks of the struggle for the victory of communism. It showed up the self serving propaganda of the ruling class according to which the youth of today allegedly are only concerned about self and not society. It confirmed that the yearning for revolution is as strong amongst the youth of today as it ever was in past generations of youth. What is required is that the communist party nurture the revolutionary spirit of the youth, provide enabling conditions for the youth to organise themselves and release their creative energies for the great cause of revolution and communism.

The convention began with a rousing song "Aao uthen . . . ", calling on all patriotic Indians to come together to wipe out oppression and exploitation, hunger and bondage from the face of India. Following a brief introduction and report of work of the organisation, one of the executive members of the organisation spoke of the conditions facing the youth of our country and all over the world today. "The ruling bourgeoisie and imperialists are promoting a selfish 'each one fend for yourself' culture among the youth, so as to intensify the exploitation of the youth for their own super profits and to keep the youth away from the path of the struggle for social change", he explained.

The organisers then invited Comrade Chandra Bhan, Editor of the Mazdoor Ekta Lehar, and two other communist organisers and leaders, Comrades Jasvir Singh and Comrade Sucharita, to address the gathering on certain key issues of contemporary Marxism-Leninism.

The speaker from the CGPI dwelt on how, under capitalism, the worker is forced to sell his labour to satisfy the greed of the capitalist class for super profits. He explained how the Indian state defends the interests of the capitalist class and this is the source of the exploitation and oppression, poverty, hunger and devastation, the denial of even the most basic human rights of the masses of workers and peasants and all working people. To change this situation, the working class has to take political power in its own hands and reorganise society to provide for all the working and oppressed people. In order to achieve this, the working class has to get organised under the leadership of its vanguard communist party. The communist party, he explained, is guided by the most advanced political theory. It does not seek power for itself but works to organise the working class to come to power. This is one of the most important lessons that we have learnt from the victories of the revolution and socialism in the 20th century and the subsequent collapse of socialism in the Soviet Union and other countries, he emphasised.

The comrade of the CC of the CGPI addressed the question as to why the Indian revolution has been marking time, despite the sacrifices of tens of thousands of communist revolutionaries and despite the fact that the communist party in India was established as early as 1925. The CPI, he explained, handed over the leadership of the anti-colonial struggle to the reactionary Indian bourgeoisie, which took over political power from the British colonisers but did not carry out the fundamental social transformations that the people of India yearned and fought for. Through numerous examples, he showed how the line of conciliation with social democracy and the bourgeoisie, of making the working class and oppressed sections tail behind one or another section of the bourgeoisie instead of boldly coming out with its own independent program -- this has been and remains today, the biggest roadblock to opening the path for revolution.

The comrade also explained the program of the CGPI, for the reorientation of the economy to fulfil the needs of the workers and peasants and working people, for the renewal of the political process so that sovereignty is vested in hands of the working class and people, for opposing imperialism and for peace in South Asia and in the world. The aim of this program, which is a call to action, is to establish the rule of the workers and peasants and a voluntary Indian Union, he asserted. The comrade also addressed various questions raised by the participants on the issues presented as well as on the problems facing the working class struggle today.

Many of the participants came up to give their views. Residents of Transit Camp, Khadar Vistaar, Sanjay Colony and other slum colonies described their miserable living conditions, deprived of the most basic amenities, and denounced the efforts of the authorities to evict them. Several students from Manipur who attended the convention denounced the draconian AFSPA and the brutal state terror all over the northeast. Students from other colleges and universities as well as young professionals spoke of how they were being fooled and divided on the issue of 'reservation' and how they feel the need to go widely among the people with the program of revolutionary social change.

A street play performed by the Rangbhoomi Natya Manch was one of the main highlights of the day. The indebtedness of the peasantry in the countryside, the journey to the city in search of livelihood, and the homelessness, super-exploitation and poverty they face there -- this was the theme of the play, which concluded with the workers organising to resist the attacks on their livelihood and rights. It received a standing ovation.

In conclusion, the organisers announced that more such conventions would be organised in the coming months, to arm the youth with the revolutionary theory necessary for success in the struggle. The program ended with a huge youth contingent coming up on to the stage and powerfully rendering the song 'Dekho rang badal raha hai aasman ka, saathi re, bhai re'.