The daily worker., 1930-06-20

class interests has two effects upon the devel-
opment of the revolutionary mass movement
On one hand it retards the development of the
revolutionary struggle of the masses, whose in
terests demand also revolutionary struggle
against their native exploiters and on the other
hand, it often unleaches new forces of ma
tional revolutionary struggle.
". the concrete open conflicts of the ma
tional-reformist bourgeosie with imperial.
ism, although of little significance in them
selves may under certain conditions, indirect
ly serve as the cause of the unleashing of
even greater revolutionary mass actions"
Colonial Thesis 9Th Congress-
In the present struggle in India against Brit
lsh Imperialism, forces were released which are
beyond control of Gandhi and the National
Congress. The struggle in India is assuming
definite revolutionary character directed not
only against British imperialism but also
threatening the interests of the native bourg-
eoisie. In this situation Gandhi is assuming
the role of a counter revolutionary force at
tempting to divert the revolutionary struggle
OF the masses in safe channels and prevent the
carrying through of the bourgeois democratic
revolution. Gandhi is now definitely occupv-
ing the position between British imperialism
and the revolutionary struggle of the masses
In choosing between these two, Gandhi is def.
initely choosing the former.
Il know that the non-revolutionarv like
me, lmpedes the progress of the violent revo-
lutionary. l want full suspension of his ac-
tivity. l am free to admit that l dread him
more than l dread Lord Irwin's wrath"
(Young India, January so, 193O).
In his March letter to the Vicerov. Gandhi
openly states that the masses are themselves
preparing for struggle against British imper-
lallsm, which is assuming revolutionary char
acter, and IN order to prevent this he is enter
ing the present struggle.
The party of violence is gaining ground
and making itself felt. Having an unoues-
tioning and immovable faith in the efficiency
of non-violence, it would be sinful on nv
part to wait longer"
Gandh decided to initiate his civil disobedi-
ence campaign with breaking the salt mono
poly not because this is the most burning pro-
blem of the Indian workers and peasants tho
1t is part of imperialist exploitation. The
most important problem before the majority
Of the Indian exploited masses is the agrarian
revolution. Of the 319 million Indian popula-
ton, 229 million are employed on land Land
lords and rich peasants total only 10 million,
Wmle $50 million peasants are so poor that
they are not even in a position of supporting
themselves with more than one meal day.
Gandhi Against Agrarian Revolution
Gandhi is against the non-payment of taxes,
he is against the confiscation of the land and
consequently is against the agrarian revou-
ton, the burning problem of the Indian many
million peasant mass In 1921 the executive
committee of the national congress adopted a
resolution in which it is stated:
THE Executive Committee to the organ
izers and the organization of the congress
to inform the peasants, that the non-payment
OF rent to the land owners is contrary to the
convictions of the congress and is against
the countrys interests"
And in order TO divert the attention of the
peasants from the agraran revolution and the
non-payment of taxes which would immedi-
ately cut imperialism off their major source of
revenue, Gandhi consciously began his cam
paign to break the salt monopoly.
In the same light we must also understand
the arrest of Gandhi Ganh was arrested not
because British Imperialism considerd him to
be more dangerous when being outside than in
Jail" British Imperialism and the native
bourgeoisie had to save Gandhi's prestige in
order that he could continue to serve their in
terests. Gandhi repeatedly demanded to be ar
rested 1t certainly undermined his influence
and created great doubts of his sincerity
among the masses, when thousands of workers
and peasants are being killed and left to rot in
Jails, when the Meerut prisoners are being tor
tured, and Gandhi not being touched at all.
The Renegade United Front with Gandhi
We have seen the role of Gandh Gandhi
himself made it clear in his statement quoted
above. His role is the role of counter-revolu-
tionary who tries "to impede the progress of
the violent revolutionary" However, in spite
Of this, Lovestone was ready to declare:
"But it is equally clear that today Gandh
irrespective of his own desire) is the symbol
of the revolutionary upsurge in India-the
arrest of Gandhi is the symbol of the oppres-
sive hand of British Imperialism That is why
the Communists and all revolutionary forces
the world over must protest against the arrest
and demand the liberation of Gandhi."
Revolutionary Age No. 14).
Gandhi is the symbol of the revolutionary
upsurge in India-not the heroic fighters of
the Great Indian Peninsular Railroad not the
leaders of the Meerut struggles, not the heroic
fighters Of Peshawar but Gandh! Such an
estimation of the role of Ganhi does not only
hinder the exposure Of the treacherous role of
Gandhi, but in it's essence, actually means to
turn over the hegemony of the revolutionary
struggle for national independence to the bour-
geoisie and to such enemies of the working
class as Gandhi. Such, however is the course
of renegades. Their perspective of the forms
IF struggle in India we shall discuss in another
article.