By D Raja
History of the Communist Party of India in the last 100 years is a glorious saga of struggles and sacrifices for our country and its people. History of our freedom movement and our progress after independence are incomplete without the blood and sweat of communists all over the country. The foundation day of the CPI, 26th December 1925 is etched in the history of India as the day when dedicated communists from all over the country gathered in Kanpur to form the Communist Party of India and the event changed the course of our freedom struggle.
The history of the CPI and our republic are intrinsically linked as communists were at the forefront of the struggle for freedom. To put it in proper context, the history of India’s struggle for independence and the drafting of our Constitution is intertwined with diverse ideological movements, among which the communist movement played a significant role.CPI formed its roots in the early 20th century India, influenced by the realities and sufferings of our country under colonial rule and global revolutionary currents emanating from the Russian Revolution of 1917. Efforts were being made by highly devoted and patriotic individuals and groups for the formation of an all India level organisation to voice the issues of workers, peasants, women and other marginalised sections from the late 1920s and the establishment of the Communist Party of India (CPI) in 1925. The Kanpur Conference galvanized emerging communism within the Indian political spectrum. Even before the formation of the CPI with the Kanpur Conference in December 1925, the British were extremely intolerant of communist ideology in India and they slapped case after case on communists in an attempt to crush the infant movement. However, hardships like the Kanpur conspiracy case, Meerut conspiracy case and the Peshawar conspiracy case failed before the high spirit of the communists and their sufferings in jails due to uncompromisingly upholding the cause of the people brought them in affinity with the people all over the country. In later period too, the cells of the Cellular Jail in Andaman failed to break the commitment of hundreds of communists who were lodged there for their heroic struggle for the liberation of our country.
Early communists focused on the plight of workers, peasants, and the oppressed classes, condemning British colonial rule as an exploitative force. At the same time, they also targeted oppressive social structures of caste and patriarchy. In fact, in the Kanpur Conference itself, the Chair of the Conference M. Singarvelu condemned the practice of untouchability and called for it send. Communists were ideologically aligned with the broader anti-imperialist struggle and were fiercely secular. CPI was the first organisation to refuse membership to those who were members of any communal organisation. One of the central contributions of communists to the Indian independence movement was their early and steadfast demand for complete independence or Purna Swaraj. Leaders like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhas Chandra Bose adopted this demand later. Throughout the1920s and 30s, the communists argued that the colonial state was inherently exploitative and that true freedom could only come with the complete overthrow of colonial rule. In this context, they called for a total rejection of the British-imposed colonial framework and demanded the formation of a Constituent Assembly that would represent the will of the Indian people, free from imperial control. The demand for a Constituent Assembly was central to the broader debate about the political future of India. Communists argued that any new political order should be based on the sovereignty of the people, an idea that became central to our Constitution reflecting in the invocation of ‘We the People of India’ in the Preamble of our Constitution.
Although Comrade Somnath Lahiri was the only CPI member in the Constituent Assembly, the ideological contributions of the Party left an indelible mark on the final document. The principles of social justice, equality and rights for the marginalised were central to the communist vision and found expression in key provisions of the Constitution. The Preamble, for instance, reflects the ideals of justice, equality, and fraternity, which were championed by communists in their demand for an inclusive and democratic India. The inclusion of fundamental rights, provisions for social justice and the framework for economic equality can be traced back to the ideas that were promoted by the communist leadership. Moreover, the influence of communism can be seen in the debates over land reforms, workers’ rights, and the protection of backward classes during the Constituent Assembly discussions. Though communists were not dominant in the Assembly, their persistent advocacy for these issues played a role in shaping public opinion and the Constitution’s focus on ensuring social and economic rights for citizens.
The CPI played a revolutionary role during the penultimate period leading to independence, positioning itself as a strong force against British imperialism and feudalism. As Communists were on the forefront of struggle against imperialism and for complete freedom and social justice and rights of workers and peasants. They fought consistently against Portuguese in Goa and against French in Puducherry and also against all feudal lords and kings to end feudalism in India.
The Telangana Rebellion, a major peasant uprising in the Nizam’s Hyderabad state, exemplified the CPI’s commitment to land reforms and social justice. The peasants took up arms against the feudal rulers and the Nizam’s oppressive system. Similarly, the Punnapara-Wayalar uprising in Kerala saw mass mobilizations led by communist cadres demanding land reforms, economic justice, and political representation for the workingclass. These uprisings were not merely local resistance movements but were deeply embedded in the larger nationalist struggle, challenging both British colonial rule and the socioeconomic structures dominated by exploitative structures of class, caste and patriarchy. The communists’ direct involvement in these movements signalled their active participation in India’s transition from colonial subjugation to an envisioned socialist order. These mass movements followed the CPI’s initiative in mobilising all sections of the people against the British Raj and for a future egalitarian India. Communists took the lead in mobilising workers, peasants, students, writers and intellectuals and artists through pan-India organisations like the All India Trade Union Congress, All India Kisan Sabha, All India Students’ Federation, the Progressive Writers Association and the Indian Peoples’ Theatre Association.
The communists took the lead in the last war of Indian independence by vigorously supporting the Royal Indian Navy (RIN) Mutiny of 1946, an unprecedented revolt by Indian naval personnel against British colonial authorities, which spread to ports across India. The mutiny, although primarily a military uprising, became an everlasting symbol of defiance against colonial rule and sparked widespread strikes and protests, with the communists playing a key role in galvanizing working-class solidarity. These revolutionary movements, coupled with the CPI’s ideological commitment to liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice—values inspired by the Communist Manifesto of Marx and Engles and the Russian Revolution—helped reshape the post-independence political discourse. As India moved toward constitutional formation, these principles, championed by the communists, found expression in the framers’ commitment to social justice and equality in the Constitution of India. The experience of popular uprisings and workers’ resistance underscored the need for a constitution that would guarantee social and economic rights alongside political freedoms.
At the same time, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, also founded in1925, played a highly dubious and reactionary role during India’s struggle for independence, particularly during the crucial years leading up to 1947. While the country geared up for a final confrontation with the British, the RSS, under its founder K.B. Hedgewar and later under M.S. Golwalkar, maintained an ambivalent and at times openly hostile stance towards the independence struggle. The RSS was primarily focused on promoting a vision of Hindu nationalism and, unlike the Congress and the Communist Party, did not participate in the anti-colonial movement. In fact, its ideological position aligned with elements of the British colonial state, as they shared a common contempt for the secular, inclusive vision of an independent India. The RSS opposed efforts to unite all religious communities, particularly Muslims. Instead, the RSS focused on consolidating a narrow majoritarian identity and found a friend in British colonialism. They continue to advocate policy of divide and rule which they learnt from British masters.
With the drafting of our Constitution under progress, the framers were under pressure to declare India as a religiously determined state in the aftermath of the partition. Dr B R Ambedkar, a principal architect of India’s Constitution, staunchly rejected any vision of a theocratic or majoritarian state. Ambedkar’s advocacy for a secular state, his championing of Dalit rights, and his uncompromising stance against the communal politics that the RSS promoted stood in stark contrast to the divisive ideology of RSS. Ambedkar, a visionary leader committed to equality and social justice, understood that the future of a free India could not be secured through a narrow, majoritarian Hindu nationalism. His rejection of any religiously defined state and his focus on creating a Constitution that guarantees equal rights to all, regardless of religion or caste, was a direct challenge to the RSS’s vision. Similarly, communists, with their strong advocacy for the rights of workers, peasants, and marginalized communities, took an uncompromising stance against both British colonial rule and the growing communal tendencies of the RSS. Communists emphasized social, economic, and political equality, pushing for a truly inclusive post-independence society. They recognized that British imperialism was not the only challenge facing India; the struggle for justice, equality, and social liberation was just as critical. In this context, the RSS’s support for a communal, exclusionary ideology ran counter to the constitutional values which the freedom movement stood for a democratic, secular India based on liberty, equality, fraternity, and justice for all.
Coming to our times when the CPI is observing its centenary, the ongoing attack on the values enshrined in the Constitution by the RSS are a matter of deep concern. The RSS and its affiliates, through their ideological campaigns and political strategies, have sought to undermine the Constitution’s secular, inclusive, and democratic principles. By promoting an exclusivist vision of Hindutva nationalism, they challenge the pluralistic ethos that the Constitution guarantees for all citizens, regardless of their religion, caste or creed. The RSS has consistently called for are imagining of India’s identity as a Hindu Raj, which Dr Ambedkar called a calamity for the nation. This agenda directly contradicts the secular vision that the Constitution’s framers enshrined. Efforts to alter or dilute provisions related to reservations for Dalits, backward classes, and minorities as well as attempts to rewrite history, redefine India nationhood and reinterpret constitutional values, reflect the RSS’s broader agenda of consolidating majoritarian power. These actions pose a direct threat to the core values of social justice, equality, and the protection of minority rights, which are central to India’s constitutional framework.
In response to these attacks, a broad-based resistance movement has emerged, with including the communists, playing a role in defending Constitution’s values and the inclusive character of our nation. The communists, who have long championed the cause of social justice, secularism, and equality, are at the forefront of the movement to save the Constitution from the ideological assault mounted by the RSS and its allies. The Left has been particularly vocal in opposing attempts to erode the constitutional protections for marginalized communities, emphasizing the need for social and economic justice in a nation still grappling with deep inequalities. Communists continue to remind the Indian public that the Constitution was a product of a long struggle for freedom, equality, and social transformation, and they remain steadfast in their defense of its democratic principles. This ongoing battle to protect the Constitution and its values of socialism, secularism, justice, and equality remains critical in preserving the democratic fabric of India against the forces of communal fascism and crony capitalism. This is our task to protect and expand the legacy of hundred years and to play our glorious role in fighting for a new India: classless, casteless and socialist India. (IPA Service)
The author is General Secretary, Communist Party of India (CPI).