The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1931-03-28
The Renegades' PHILOSOPHY" OF
the Indian Revolution

to the first, the Indian comrades theo-
reticany fully understand the Importance and
the leading role OF the Communist Party. But
in face of tremendous difficulties to be overcome
some of them seem to be inclined to give pre-
ference to the organization Of trade unions and
to proceed slowly with the building of the Party.
This is q great mistake. Whatever the outcome
of the present struggle in India, the emergence
of strong Communist Party Is the main condi-
ton for future victory of the revolution. There
can be, therefore, no counterpoSing of trade
unions against the Communist Party. Both are
vital necessities for the working class. Without
either of them the workers are doomed to de-
feat in economic and political struggles.
No less important is the fight against the Ma
tional Congress and now particularly against the
left" bourgeois nationalist. Here, too the In
dian comrades know that the National Congress
represents the interests of the national bour-
geoise and is betraying the struggle for indie
pendence. But, say some OF them, the masses
are following the Congress How are we, with
our weak forces, to withstand this mass illusion?
Shall we not completely ALLEVIATE ourselves from
the revolutionary masses by fighting the Con-
gresS?
Yet the courageous and unfinching exposure
of the Congress as the Party of the counter
revolutionary Indian bourgeoiSie is the only way
to win over the masses to the side Of the Com
munist Party and to assure the victory of the
revolutionary struggle itself. In India there is
no strong basis for refornism in the working
class, and the revolutionary temper of the mas
ses shows itself in spite of reformist and counter
revolutionary leadership But it requires patient
agitation by the Communists over and over
again, to make the masses see it, to make them
conscious of the fact that in reality they do not
at all behave like those, whom they call their
leaders, want them to behave.
The fight against the National Congress is the
fight for the hegemony Of the working class in
the revolution In huge peasant country like
India the proletariat can only through mass
action achieve the leadership of the peasantry.
The General Strike serves to assert this leader
ship in the most tangible form The General
Strike, combining both economic and political
demands, draws into the struggle the most back
ward strata of the workers, and shows the pro-
letariat in action as the vanguard of the re-
evolutionary people. By means of the General
Strike the working class, through its own sac
rifces and fighting example, carries with it the
peasantry and prepares it for the decisive on
slaught on the ruling classes. Such was the
experience of Russia in 1905 and China in 1926
q. All the objective conditions in India are
ripe for General Strike. The Communists cor
rectly forced the Executive Committee of the
All-India Trade Union Congress to accept the
decision on the General Strike. The left" ma
tionalists, after agreeing in words with this de-
cision, have already started campaign against
it. 1t is only the Communists Who in face of
the strenuous opposition of the whole national
bourgeoisie, including its left" wing, and in spite
of the brutal terror of imperialism, can carry
out this decision in practice.
The betrayal of the Indian Bourgeoisie brings
sharper class differentiation into the revolution
airy struggle, shows even to the most backward
masses the correctness of the Communist policy
laid down in the Platform of Action of the In
dian Communist Party. The Communist warned
the Indian workers that the national bourgeoisie
will not only betray the fight for independence
but will moreover join with British imperialism
in an open effort to strange the struggle of
the masses This is coming to pass. Al
ready Gandhi is comforting with the Viceroy on
ways and means to crush the revolutionary
movement.
The renegades, who fastened to bury the
Chinese revolution after the betrayal of Chang
Kai-shek, now Shrek in panic: but this is the
end of the Indian revolution
On the contrary, answer the Communists,
the revolutionary struggle in India is only now
about to enter its decisive stage. The Indian
bourgeoisie has betrayed the revolution: Long
Live the Indian Revolution,