The hundred-year history of Communist movements in India is nothing short of extraordinary. These movements have been the driving force behind countless struggles across the nation—whether among rural farmers, urban industrial workers, Singareni miners, RTC employees, teachers, bank and railway staff, electricity and telecom workers, government employees, beedi workers, sanitation workers, or those agitating for housing land. The demands—better wages, fair bonuses, dignified working conditions—were championed by the Communist movement and delivered to crores of people.

Today’s Provident Fund, pension schemes, paid leaves, and the eight-hour workday—all exist thanks to the relentless efforts and sacrifices of lakhs of Communist workers and leaders. Even the small plots of land now owned by Adivasis and the poor are hard-won victories secured through the blood and sacrifice of Communists, Naxalites, and Maoists.

This vast history, etched across thousands of pages and volumes, is a record of one of the most influential people's movements in modern India.

Can a Century of Revolution Fit in a Slim Volume?

Yes, says senior Communist leader Kandimalla Pratap Reddy, who has managed to compress the essence of 100 years of Communist history into a hundred-page book. It's not just a summary—it’s a compact, purposeful introduction to a transformative political movement that every citizen ought to read. With rare humility, the author writes that all current Communist parties and factions, no matter how divided, are still rightful heirs to this legacy. All—except perhaps the Maoists—continue to function within the democratic framework of the Indian Constitution.

In his preface, Reddy reflects on piercing questions:

"What did we achieve over the past 100 years—our sacrifices, our battles, our victories? Why is the Communist movement weakening by the day? Have the people distanced themselves from us—or have we, as Communists, distanced ourselves from them?"

In my view, both are true.

Pratap Reddy's genuine desire for Communist unity shines through. The problem lies in how party structures and strategies have slowly grown distant from the people—even though people’s strength has not diminished. At the age of 90, having lived 75 years under the red flag, Reddy mourns the fading of his generation and offers this book to inspire the next.

The Era of Market Domination

It has now been decades since global market forces took command of the world. Russia has disintegrated, and even former Communist nations like China and Russia have adopted market economies. The ideals of nationalization once championed by Ambedkar, Nehru, Lohia, and the Communists have been overtaken by privatization in the name of globalization. Eight-hour workdays have silently given way to 12 or 14-hour shifts, and collective worker strength has waned.

Unexpected players now control economic and political narratives. Communist parties failed to cultivate a collective industrial class or create their own lobbies, which reduced their organic strength and political reach.

One Crucial Insight

A key insight in the book is that Communists, at one point, consciously shifted from political mobilization to issue-based mobilization. Whether Maoist or mainstream, all Communist factions now work within this framework. This pivot, however, marks the root of failure.

After abandoning armed struggle, they never groomed their cadres or sympathizers to step into political, industrial, or management spheres. So while the poorest kept working quietly, those with modest means entered politics—and naturally, most were from dominant castes.

Why No Political Power After 100 Years?

Issue-based mobilization resulted in fragmented social and trade union movements. The link between electoral politics and people’s struggles broke down. Activists began voting for non-Communist parties, even while leading protests. Thus emerged a generation of unionists without political awareness.

Lenin, over 120 years ago, warned that militant trade unionism is not political consciousness. This holds true for all—Communists, Naxalites, Maoists alike. Without political training, even in strongholds of protest, the BJP and other right-wing forces are winning seats.

 The Model of Shankar Guha Niyogi

The movement I most admire is Shankar Guha Niyogi’s model for holistic social reconstruction. In Chhattisgarh, Bilai, Dalli Rajhara, and Rajnandgaon, he established schools and hospitals, bringing political and cultural awareness to the people.

There is a world of difference between social and political consciousness. Political parties say, “We’ll give you this, we’ll do that.” Communists teach, “Demand this, ask for that.”That shift in language—when movements became issue-based instead of power-focused—led to a retreat from political power.

Now, OBCs and Women Are Demanding Their Share

OBCs and women are now stepping forward, demanding not just social presence but political power. If the Communist movement joins them, we may yet see a resurgence of people’s leadership, akin to the heyday of the Janata Party or Janata Dal.

Had Communists built schools, colleges, and hospitals for the poor as movements in themselves, we wouldn’t have seen such rampant privatization in education and healthcare. But they believed it was the government's job. Shankar Guha Niyogi did it himself—that’s why I hold him in such esteem.

The First Split Was in 1948, Not 1964

The book mentions the 1964 split that led to CPI(M), but the first schism occurred in 1948, when Shibdas Ghosh broke away to form a new party, now a nationally recognized trade union force.

He rejected the contradiction between Communist leaders' public ideology and private lives. Their personal hypocrisy led to his disillusionment, and he started anew—remarkably, as early as 1948. The 1967 Naxalite movement, and its later splits, followed.

Ignoring Caste and Domestic Oppression

Communists clung to theoretical materialism and ignored the varna and caste system, gender oppression, and patriarchal family structures—all of which shape class dynamics. They silenced those who raised these issues.

In 1978, disillusioned by the party’s avoidance of caste issues, Sharad Patil started the Satyashodhak Communist Party, blending the thoughts of Jyotirao Phule, Ambedkar, and the Buddha.

By distancing themselves from India's socio-cultural truths, Communists alienated the very people they claimed to represent. This failure to politically guide the people—and address caste directly—is the reason a hundred years of heroic struggle did not result in political power.

Ambedkar’s Prescription

Ambedkar himself proposed the ultimate solution: nationalizing land and industry. —just as Russia and China had done. But the Communists never turned this into a core ideological slogan. They waged local land battles but failed to adopt a national constitutional approach.

The internal challenges faced by Telangana’s Communist Party, especially due to Seemandhra leadership, and how those weakened the movement, are beyond the scope of this article—but they remain significant.

A Book That Tells the Forgotten Truth

This book resurrects a buried history. It is a record of a once-mighty river now reduced to a trickle in the desert. Joint families have disintegrated firmly meet on weddings, funerals, and festivals. Same way, if all factions of Communists—on occasions like May Day, Marx and Lenin anniversaries, International Women’s Day—came together in unity, it would inspire the public and reinvigorate the spirit of collective! 
 
As you read this book, history unspools before your eyes. Each movement—regardless of its flaws—contributed to meaningful change. This is history that everyone must face.

The poor, the working class, progressive thinkers, artists, and even those who mock Communists—like RSS, BJP, and Hindu fundamentalists—should read it.

If they do, they will bow with humility to the legacy of Communist struggle and perhaps regret that even a fraction of this effort has not been matched in recent years.

By the end of this book, any true egalitarian will have tears in their eyes—mourning the sacrifices of the past and clenching their fists in renewed resolve