This lesson constitutes the essential difference between the programme of old Modelism and that of the new bourgeois nationalism . While the former believed sublimely in the doctrines of constitutional democracy preached by the British Liberals and therefore , prayed and petitioned year after year , the latter takes the field with the same programme but with the knowledge of a very powerful weapon and with the determination to make use of it . This weapon is the pressure of a mass movement . What they want is not a revolutionary change , but a readjustment of relations between the imperialist overlord and the Indian bourgeoisie . If need be the discontent of the masses will be exploited in order to force upon Imperialism the necessity of this readjustment . Hence , so much talk about the “ masses ”. Hence the determination of the liberal intellectuals to organize the workers and peasants !
What does this new tendency signify ? It signifies that the workers and peasants are to be used in order to conquer concessions for the upper and middle-classes . In other words , the workers and peasants should bear the brunt of the anti-British struggle , should go to jail , should shed their blood if , perchance , it is necessary — for what ? To forge the chain of their own bondage . Their reward will be the gilt on the chain . This is what bourgeois nationalism , which has been born out of the ruins of Non-cooperation , really means . This is what has been foretold by us during the last twelve months . This is what calls for the organization of a revolutionary party of the masses . Totally independent of the bourgeoisie .
There are two reasons why a revolutionary mass-party based upon the class interests of the workers and pauperized peasantry should be immediately organized . First , such a party is alone capable of leading the anti-imperialist struggle further ; and second , such a
8 party must come into existence in order to prevent the fruits of national freedom conquered by the workers and peasants from being totally misappropriated by the bourgeoisie .
The inner contradictions of capitalist production today force Imperialism to mend its ways . Curiously enough , the latest phase of bourgeois nationalism in India sets out to “ end or mend ” the British domination . “ To end ” is but a threat to expedite the process of “ mending .” - the necessity of which is already recognized by Imperialism , not under the pressure of the nationalism of the colonial bourgeoisie , but before the threatening collapse of the world capitalist structure . So it is clear that the day may not be very remote when the ways of Imperialism will be “ mended .” Indian capitalism will come into its own and for what purpose ? To what effect ? To expropriate the poor peasantry herd them into the great industrial centres and suck their life-blood with the help of the monster of the Machine . This will be done by the joint efforts of the foreign and native bourgeoisie-the brothers in spirit . This , in broad outlines , is the picture of national freedom which will be bestowed upon the Indian people if the working and peasant masses fail to assert themselves through their conscious vanguard — an organized class party — on the political situation .
A year ago today , the Vanguard appeared on the political stage of India with the standard of this political party . We did not come too early , nor were we too late . But our path has not been strewn with flowers . Various have been the obstacles that we have had to overcome . From the very beginning Imperialism recognized its mortal foe in the Vanguard which however , was still looked upon with inertness and even with suspicion by many of those whose interests and sentiments if objectively reflected . We were nor cordially welcomed by the upper-class nationalists the Noncooperators could not relish our dispassionate criticism of their social philosophy and political impotency . This was not unexpected by us . Through such variegated circumstances the Vanguard has marched boldly on , with a firm conviction , that the day will come when the historic necessity of the mission undertaken by us will be recognized by considerable section of the revolutionary elements in the movement .
If the life of the Vanguard has not been without success in the national sphere , it has been more so in the international sphere . Through its medium and that of the Communist Party for the first time an organic and active relation has been established between the struggling Indian people and the world proletariat , led by the victorious workers and peasants of Russia . The significance of this international relation may not yet be fully realised by our nationalists , who vainly seek the sympathy and support of the bourgeois world , but it will be the greatest asset for the Indian workers and peasants , who today stand on the eve of a biller and protracted political struggle The telegram received by us from the Presidium of the Communist International on the first anniversary of the Vanguard proves that the Indian working class , which enters the struggle under the rage of Imperialism and frown of the national bourgeoisie , has the backing and comradeship of the organized Proletarian Army mightily battering down the social system which enslaves nations and makes machines out of men to swell the pockets of a few .
The Vanguard enters the second year of its existence with something accomplished and with a greater future ahead . It is the banner of the army which is destined to usher into India an era of real freedom which will open the door to progress and prosperity to those who toil . contd . on page 6
Class Struggle