I PEOPLESMARCH VoiceoftheIndianRevolution Vol.11No.1,JanFeb.2010p.313. JanFeb.2010 InConversationwithGanapathy,GeneralSecretaryofCPI(Maoist) JanMyrdalandGautamNavlakha,January2010 FarinsidethejunglesoftheEasternGhatswemetthegeneralsecretaryoftheCPI(Maoists) GanapathyakaMupallaLaxmanRao.Afterwelcomingusandinquiringfromuswhetherwe,in particularJanMyrdal,facedanyproblemhavingtotraveltheroughterrain,theinterviewbegan. Followingisthesummaryoftheinterviewwithhim.Wehaveretainedtheinterviewintheformin whichitwasgiven,readandapprovedbyhimwithsomeminorlanguagechanges.Inparticularwe drawattentionofreaderstotheGeneralSecretarylayingdownconciselyhispartysstanceonthe issueoftalksinlightofthedisinformationspreadbytheUnionMinisterofHomePChidambaram thatCPI(Maoist)hadscoffedattheIndianGovernmentsofferfortalks.

Indeedhetoldus:Toput conciselythemaindemandsthatthepartyhasplacedinfrontofthegovernment[ofIndia]forany kindoftalksare 1)Alloutwarhastobewithdrawn; 2)Foranykindofdemocraticwork,thebanonthePartyandMassOrganizationshavetobelifted; 3)Illegaldetentionandtortureofcomradeshadtobestoppedandtheybeimmediatelyreleased. Ifthesedemandsaremet,thenthesameleaderswhoarereleasedfromjailswouldleadand representthePartyinthetalks. However,weconsiderthefulltextoftheinterviewofimportanceforallthosewhowanttoknow moreaboutthepoliciesofthepartywhichtheGovernmentofIndiaconsidersitsmaininternal securitythreat. Q:HowdoyouenvisagethelinkingofthisstrugglewithageneralstruggleinIndiaintermsof class?ChairmanMaoafter1935tooktheLongMarchtoYenantocreatedabasefornationallevel andpartofwhichwastheunitedfrontwiththeChiangKaiSheik.Therebyitbecamethemain nationalpowerinChina.HowdoyouenvisagebecomingtoanationalpowerinIndia? A:InChina,inwhichconditiontheLongMarchtoYenantookplaceandcreatedabaseandapartof itformationofaUnitedFrontwithChiangKaiSheikfornationallevelisdifferenttoourpresent situationofNewDemocraticRevolutionofIndia.TheChineserevolutiontookplaceinthefirsthalfof the20thcentury.Sincethenseveralsignificantchangeshaveoccurredintheworld.Thoseare,firstly theemergenceofaSocialistCampanditssubsequentdownfall,secondlythedownfallofcolonialism andemergenceofneocolonialism,thirdlytheemergenceofthesocalledparliamentarysystemas thecommonpoliticalsystemthroughouttheworld,fourthly,alonggapemergedintherevolutionary upsurgeaftersuccessofrevolutionsinVietnam,KampucheaandLaosinspiteofsomeupsurgesand significantstrugglesinseveralcountries. Ifwelookintotheentireworldhistory,afteremergenceofworkingclassontheglobe,itis confrontingwiththebourgeoisieclassandallotherreactionaryforcesandseizedpowerfromthem

inParisforashortwhileandtheninRussian,ChinaandseveralEuropeancountriesforalongtime andshockedtheentireglobe.Inthistrajectory,therewerevariousupsanddownsintheWorld SocialistRevolutionbutnonethelessthestrugglecontinuous.Itislikewavesattimesanditslowed down,butitneverceased.Sowehavetoseeanyrevolutionofacountryinthelightofhistorical context. Inrelationtoourrevolution,firstofallIwouldliketointroduceourhistoryinashortaccountto understandthepresentconditioncorrectly.OurunifiedParty,theCommunistPartyofIndia(Maoist) wasformedon21stSeptember2004bymergingtwoMaoistrevolutionarystreamsofIndia,the CommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist)[PeoplesWar]andtheMaoistCommunistCentre.Our greatbelovedforefounderleadersandteachers,ComradesCharuMazumdarandKanhaiChatterji wholedanideologicalandpoliticalstruggleceaselesslyforalongtimeagainsttherevisionismand modernrevisionismoftheCommunistPartyofIndiaandtheCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist). Throughthisstruggleonlythebackboneoftherevisionistpartieshadbrokendownwhichresultedin abreakthroughintheIndiancommunistmovement.Bytheresultofthisgreatstruggleinallspheres bycomradeCharuMazumdarandothergenuineMaoists,thegreatNaxalbariarmedpeasant uprisingbrokeoutlikeaSpringThunder.Thenanewhistorybegan.Thenonwardsourtwogreat leadersupheldtheredbannerofNaxalbariandleadtheNewDemocraticRevolution.The revolutionarymovementspreadlikeprairiefiretoalmostallpartsofthecountryinadifferentscale. DuringthisrevolutionarycourseinashortperiodtwoParties,theCommunistPartyofIndia(Marxist Leninist)andtheMaoistCommunistCentrewerefoundedon22ndApril1969and20thOctober 1969underthedirectleadershipofcomradesCharuMazumdarandKanhaiChatterjirespectively. DuetoseveralhistoricalreasonswefailedtoformaunifiedMaoistPartyatthatjunctureitself.But ourbasicideologicalandpoliticalline,pathandstrategyoftherevolution,andseveralotherbasic positionsonimportantquestionswhichweconfrontedatthesametimewerebasicallysame. TheIndianrulingclassesunleashedareignofterroronallrevolutionarymovementsstartingwiththe Naxalbariarmedagrarianuprising.Attheendof1972,afterthearrestandmartyrdomofcomrade CharuMazumdarandevenpriortoitwelostalargenumberofleadersandcadresinthehandsof theenemy.Duetotheseloseswesufferedacountrywidesetback.Priortothemartyrdomof comradeCharuMazumdar,anintensiveinternalpoliticalandideologicalstrugglestartedagainstthe rightarchopportunistcliqueSatyaNarayanSinghandothersin1971itself.ThePartyhad disintegratedintoseveralgroupingsduetoourserioustacticalmistakes,stateterror,severelosses, lackofproperleadershipandnegativeeffectoftwolinestrugglewithintheCommunistPartyof China.Since1972Julyto1980ourParty,theCommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist)was dominatedbyseveralsplintersmostofthemleadbyrightandleftadventuristleadershipand disarrayspreadover.Butontheotherside,undertheleadershipoftheMaoistCommunistCentre armedagrarianrevolutionarypeasantstruggleinKankshatookplaceanditsufferedasetbackina shortperiodduetostateterrorbutsteadilyexpandedtoBihar,andtosomeextenttoAssamand Tripura. WeupholdthebasicideologicalandpoliticallineofagenuineMaoistParty,learnedlessonsfrom practice,seriouslyengagedintheclassstruggleandfirmlystoodforcorrectpositionsonseveral ideologicalandpoliticalquestionswhichconfrontedinthecountryandinternationalarena.Dueto thesepositionsonlyfromCommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist)Stream,on1978the

CommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist)PartyUnityandon22ndApril1980CommunistParty ofIndia(PeoplesWar)emerged.Duetothisonlyonceagainwe,theMaoistCommunistCentre,the PeoplesWarandthePartyUnityPartiesbuildarmedagrarianrevolutionarymovementsindifferent partsofthecountry,particularlyAndhraPradeshandBihar.WestrengthenedourParty, revolutionarymassmovementandarmedstruggleconsiderablyin1980sand1990swhich culminatedinthegreatunityandformationofournewpartyinSeptember2004.Since1977alarge numberofgenuineMaoistforceshadmergedandconsolidatedintheCommunistPartyofIndia (MarcistLeninist)[PeoplesWar],theMaoistCommunistCentreandtheCommunistPartyofIndia (MarxistLeninist)PartyUnityandalsostillthisprocessiscontinuingtosomeextentafterthe formationofthenewParty.ButinthisperiodmostoftherightandleftMaoistgroupshadbeen graduallydisintegratedanddisappearedandsomeoftherightgroupsstillexisteventhoughtheyare weak.StillatinysectionofMaoistforcesexistbuttheyaresufferingfromsectarianismforalong time. WeopinethatourstrugglewithintheCommunistPartyofIndiaandtheCommunistParty(Marxist)is anintegralpartofthegreatstruggleconductedintheInternationalCommunistMovementheaded bytheCommunistPartyofChinaunderthedirectleadershipofcomradeMao.Wealsoopinethat theinternalstrugglewithintheCommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist)whichtookplacefor severalyearsisconnecteddirectlyorindirectlywiththeinternalstruggleoftheCommunistPartyof ChinaevenbeforeandafterMaosdemise.ThemodernrevisionistDengcliquewhichusurpedpower inChinadamagedmuchnotonlytoourPartyandrevolutionbutalsototheworldrevolution.We firmlysticktoMaoThoughtandopposetheDengcliqueandtheLinPiaoclique.Ourexperience clearlyshowsthatIndianrevolutionhadinfluencedalotwiththepositiveandnegative developmentsofInternationalCommunistMovement. We,theIndianMaoistPartyhavetraversedthroughatortuouspathforalongperiod.After formationofUnifiedParty,mostfavorablesituationemergedfortheadvancementofrevolution.We lostthisgoodchancebetween1969and1972.Thebiggestboonofthismergerhasbeentheresultof synthesisofover35yearsofexperienceofIndianrevolution.Ithasgivenusenrichedbasic documentsintermsofstrategy,tacticsandpolicies.Ourmergerbroughtaboutasignificantchange fromtwodifferentpartiesworkingindistantseparateareasorsmallpocketstoaPartywithanall Indiacharacter.Beforemerger,inspiteofbothPartieshavingCentralCommittees,therewasa seriouslimitationtotheminfunctioningasCentralBodieswithallIndiaperspective.Butafter merger,ourunderstandingfurtherenrichedabouttheunevendevelopmentofthecountryand unevendevelopmentoftherevolutionarymovement.NowwecanplanatanallIndialevelina betterway.Itisnotatcompletebutatleastthedisadvantageshavebeendoneawaywith.Aclearer andenrichedlinehasemergedintermsofbothIndiaandworldcontext.Andotheraspectinthis advantage,isthatithaditseffectinternationallytoo.Beforethis,mostlywecouldnotseethismuch ofinternationalsupport.But,stillitisnascent,nonethelessithaddeveloped. Inrecentyears,wesufferedseverallosses.Despitewhichwehavetothinkhowtoavoidthismuchof losses.ButourCentralCommitteehassaidthatweshouldavoidmistakestoavoidlossesandboldly facetheenemyandgoahead. AtpresentinourcountryotherMaoistPartiesarenotinapositiontoprovideleadershiptothe massesduetotheirrightdeviationistlineandlimitedstrength.Theprogressiveanddemocratic

forcesarelackinganyrevolutionarybasicprogramofactionandalsoatpresenttheyarehavinga limitedareaofinfluence.Besidesalltheselimitationsnopartyhaspeoplesarmedforcetodefend.I reiteratethatatpresentnoonePartyorOrganizationiscapableenoughtobearallyingcentreforall revolutionary,democratic,progressiveandpatrioticforcesandpeople. Hence,atthepresentjunctureourPartycanplayasignificantroleinrallyingallrevolutionary, democratic,progressiveandpatrioticforcesandpeople.BecauseourpartyhasanallIndiacharacter, goodpoliticalmilitantmassbaseinseveralStates,aPeoplesLiberationguerrillaArmyfightingthe enemyinseveralStatesandemergingNewDemocraticPeoplespowerinDandkaranya[anareain centralIndiawhichcomprisespredominatelytribaldistrictsoffivestatesofIndianamelyAndhra Pradesh,Chhattisgarh,MadhyaPradesh,MaharashtraandOrissa],Jharkhandandsomeotherparts ofIndia.Wehaveaclearcutunderstandingtounifyallrevolutionary,democratic,progressive, patrioticforcesandalloppressedsocialcommunitiesincludingoppressednationalitiesagainst imperialism,feudalismandcompradorbureaucraticcapitalism.OurNewDemocraticUnitedFront consistsoffourdemocraticclasses,i.e.workers,peasants,urbanpettybourgeoisieandnational bourgeoisie.IfwewishtoformastrongUnitedFrontthenitmustbeunderleadershipofthe proletariat,basingonworkerandpeasantalliance.IfwewishtoformastrongUnitedFrontthenit mustbesupportedanddefendedbythePeoplesArmy.WithoutPeoplesArmypeoplehavenothing toachieveortodefend.HenceenemyisseriouslytryingtoeliminateourPartyleadershipwiththe aimofdestroyingarevolutionaryanddemocraticcentreofIndianpeople.Sotheconditionhas maturedfurthertorallyaroundonecentreandrevolutioncouldgoaheadundertheleadershipof theCommunistPartyofIndia(Maoist). Atthesametime,theworldeconomiccrisis,theantipeopleandproimperialistpoliciesoftheIndian rulingclassesandtherisingstaterepression,infuriatedthemassesinthecountryincreasingthe revolutionaryscopenowthatthereisasinglerevolutionaryparty.Foralongtime,sinceComrade CharuMazumdarsmartyrdom,Indiawaslackingasinglerevolutionaryplatform.Eveninthe internationalscenario,thereweremanycleavagesintheMaoistmovements.Inthisparticular juncturetheemergenceofourPartyprovidesnewhopetothepeople. IwanttosaythatthePartyhasnoillusionaboutthesocalledparliamentarysystemandknowswell theIndianstatesmightaswellasweclearlyknowourlimitationsandshortcomings,evenafterunity [formationofCommunistPartyofIndia(Maoist)]andtheweaknessesofMaoistforcesinthecountry andothercountries. Thefavorablerevolutionaryconditions,thewidespreadbitterclassstrugglerisinginIndiansociety andthedevelopmentofthearmedstrugglearebeingkeenlyobservedbytheenemywhoistakingit mostseriously.So,noopportunityisbeinggiventothesestrugglesbytheIndianrulingclasseswho arealsocompradorsofimperialism.Soimmediatelyinthecontextofworldrevolutionalsoputting togethertheexperiencesofPhilippines,Peru,Nepal,andIndia,imperialismismostconcernedabout thedevelopmentofabitterclassstruggleemerginginIndia.Inthepresentsituationoftheworld,if theMaoistrevolutioninIndiacanadvancetoanewstage,itwillbecomeagravethreattotheworld capitalistsystem.Thatiswhyimperialism,particularlyAmericahastakenthesedevelopments seriously.

So,ontheoneside,therearemorefavorableconditionsforrevolution,andontheothersidethereis theenemysfullonslaughttosuppresstherevolution.Inthissituation,ourentireplanistofully utilizethefavorableconditionswhileresistingtheenemywhichwilldetermineourplan. Inthiscontext,atpresent,mainhurdleinthewayofIndianRevolutionisthealloutwarunleashed bytheenemy.ThiswarisprincipallyagainsttheMaoistmovementbutnotlimitedtothismovement andaimedenoughagainstallrevolutionary,democratic,progressiveandpatrioticmovementsand themovementsofoppressedcommunitiesofoursocietyincludingoppressednationalities.Atthis juncture,alltheseforceshavetothinktogetherhowtofacethismightyenemyandforthishowto unitetogoahead. Howcanweresolvetheproblemofalloutwar?Forresolutionofanyproblem,wehavetoanalyzeit deeplytoidentifytherootcauseoftheproblem.Firstly,whythiswar?Whosimposingit?Onwhom itisimposing?Whatisthenatureofthiswar?Howlongitcontinues?Canweacceptthiswarornot? Whoshouldcounterit?Howtocounterit?Whatistheaimofresistancetowar?etcetera. Thiswarismeantfordestroyingtherevolutionwhichisgraduallyemergingasanalternativepolitical powertotheexistingreactionarypoliticalpowerinthecountryandplunderingmassivemineralsand otherrichnaturalresourcesofthevastareasofAdivasipeopleandotherlocalpeoplefromLalgarh toSurjagarh.Theyareimposingthiswaronthosewhoareagainstthiswar,i.e.aoistrevolutionaries, Adivasiandlocalpeopleofthevastforestareas,workers,peasants,urbanmiddleclass,smalland mediumbourgeoisie,Dalit,women,religiousminoritiesandoppressednationalities,democratic organizations,progressiveandpatrioticforceswhocomprisemorethan95%ofthepopulation.Itis completelyanunjustwar.ThiswarisimposedbytheCompradorBureaucraticBourgeoisie,the feudalforcesofthiscountryandtheimperialists,particularlyAmerica.Thesearereallooters, plunderers,corrupters,blackmailers,hoarders,scamsters,murderers,conspirators,oppressors, suppressers,autocrats,fascists,mostreactionariesandnumberonetraitors.Thesereactionaries plantocontinuethiswarforalongtimetilltheyachievetheirgoal. NoMaoist,democrat,progressive,patriot,andpeoplewillacceptthisunjustwarimposedbythe rulers.Peoplewillcompletelyopposethisunjust,mostcruel,inhumaneandtreacherouswar.Itwill bedefiedbyallpeopleofourcountryandpeopleofworld.Thisunjustwaristotallyagainstthe interestofthepeopleandtheinterestofthecountry.Peoplewilluniteandcounterthisunjustwar bywagingajustwar.Peoplewillnevertolerateanykindofunjustwar.Inthehistoryofentireclass societypeoplenevertoleratedanykindofunjustwarforeverbuttheyfoughtbackeveryunjustwar bypayingpriceoftheirownbloodandultimatelywonit.Immediateaimofthisjustwaristodefeat theunjustwarcompletelyandthenadvancetowardschangingpresentsocialconditionswhichare givingscopetounjustwars.Ifwelookatthepoliticaldevelopmentsofthecountry,thisinhumane alloutwarisgivingatremendousscopetounitevastmassesofpeopleandcertainlyitwillbecome counterproductivetotherulingclasses. After15thAugust1947weneversawsuchintegrationofIndianeconomy,defense,internalsecurity, polity,cultureandentirestatewiththeimperialists,particularlywiththeUSimperialists.Nuclear Dealandseveraldefensedeals,glaringinterferenceafterterroristattacksinMumbaion26th November2008andUnionHomeMinisterChidambaramsvisittoUSandcrucialagreementsrelated tointernalsecurityaresomeglaringinstances.DuetothissignificantchangetheIndianexpansionists areplayingacrucialroleintheSouthAsia.Thefundamentalcontradictionbetweenimperialismand

theIndianpeoplehasfurthersharpened.Itwillgivegreatscopetounitepeopleagainstimperialists andfightbackimperialism. FromseveraldecadesentireKashmirandNorthEastareundermilitaryandparamilitarydomination. Ontheotherhanddrasticchangehasbeenseenininternalsecurityduetotheroleofmilitaryinthe internalsecurity.TheIndianarmywasdeployedatthetimeofhistoricTelanganaarmedagrarian revolution(194652)andforashortwhile[in1971]insomepocketsofWestBengalaftergreat Naxalbaripeasantarmeduprisingof1966.Buttodayinlongtermperspective,theIndianarmyis beingreorganized.Underthedictatesofglobalwaragainstterror,threeyearsbackIndianarmyhas declareditsnewpolicy[DoctrineofSubconventionalWarfare]todealwithinternalsecurityand needsofthemodernwarwithothercountries.UnderthisrestructuredplantheIndianarmyis trainingalargenumberofitsforcesaccordingtoneedsofwidespreadcounterinsurgency operations.NowonwardstheIndianarmyisbeingusedinavastareaofourcountryagainstitsown peopleinthenameofinternalsecurity.Ifit[theIndianGovernment]isreallyapeoplesgovernment, howcanituseitsownarmyagainstitsownpeople?TheIndianstateisfunctioningasanautocratic andfascistruleinthegarbofdemocracy.Allthegainsthatweremadebyrevolutionaryand democraticpeoplesstrugglesarebeingchallengedbythefascists.Butthiswillalsoforcethevast massesofthepeopletouniteandresistwithwhatevermeanstodefendandultimatelyitwillalso becomecounterproductivetotherulingclasses. Wemustalsotalkaboutthecurrentworldeconomiccrisis,particularlythecrisisofUSimperialists andotherimperialistcountries.Thiscrisisisincertainaspectsevendeeperthanthegreatdepression of1930s.Butcapitalismdoesnotdieonitsownwithoutarevolution.Nowtocomeoutofthiscrisis imperialismwilltrytoincreaseexploitationofworkingclassandmiddleclassofitsowncountriesand increaseplunderofthirdworldcountries.MultiNationalCorporationsandCompradorBureaucratic Bourgeoisie,thecollaboratorsofimperialistsareconcentratedonthelargetractsextendedfrom LalgarhinBengaltoSurjagarhinMaharashtra.Toexploitthisrichregion,primarilyAdivasi(tribal) region,stateandcentralgovernmentshavesigned100sofMOUs(MemorandumofUnderstanding). Indiscriminatelootofthisregionwilldestroytheenvironmentandbringlongtermecological changes.ThemostoppressedcommunityofIndiansociety,theAdivasisandlocalpeoplehavecome underagreatthreat.Probablyforthefirsttimeintheworld,suchhugepopulationsofindigenous peoplearebeingthreatened.Anewsituationisbeingcreatedandwithaconcreteprogramthese oppressedsectionsmustadvance.Itisevidentthatwithouttheemancipationofthesepeople,we cannotadvancenortheIndianrevolutionsucceed.OurPartyisworkingonthisproblemandmore andmorepeoplewilluniteandfightbackthearchenemiesoftheIndianpeople,namelythe imperialists,theCompradorBureaucraticBourgeoisie,thefeudalsandthefasciststate. PeopleoftheNorthEasternoppressednationalitiesandtheKashmiriarefightingfortheirliberation fordecades.Theyhaveadvancedtosomeextentandfacedunprecedentedsufferings.Buttheydid notsucceedandstilltheyarecontinuingtheirfight.Whilewehavehadsomesuccessesinguerrilla warfare,they(theoppressednationalities)seesomehopeintheMaoists.Thereisanewhopethatif theMaoistrevolutionadvances,itwillhastenthenationalliberationstrugglesalso.Inthiscontext,in accordancewithMarxismLeninismandMaoismthePartyhadalwaysmaintainedthepositionofthe righttoselfdeterminationincludingsecessionofalloppressednationalities.They(theoppressed nationalities)understandthispolicyandtheirfightneedstobestrengthened.Thishastobeutilized tounitewiththemandtryforaunitedfront.Forinstance,whentheNagaforcesweredeployedin

ChhattisgarhorwhentheMizobattalionswereplacedhere,thereweresomeprotestsinNagaland andMizoramrespectivelybysoldiersownfamilymembersaswellasbythedemocraticpeople. Theysaidthattheyopposethewaronpeople;theydontwanttosendtheirchildrenforsuppressing otherpeople.Strategicallyitiscreatingabetterconditiontounitepeopleofallnationalities, workers,peasants,middleclassandnationalcapitalists,andthesuppressiongoingoneverywhereon thepeopleisgraduallybecomingcounterproductivetotherulersitself. Overall,theenemyhasdeclaredalloutwaronthepeopleinthenameofinternalsecurity,andinthe nameofdangerfromMaoists.Wearerelativelystronginseveralruralareasofthecountry.Butat presentourforcesareweak,weareweakinurbanareas,andwearealsoweakinworkersand amongpettybourgeoisie.ThePeoplesarmytooisweakanditsweaponsareinferiortotheenemy. Theseareourweaknessesingeneral.Tostrengthenthepeoplesarmyandworkinurbanareasare someofmostimportanturgenttasks.TheUnityCongressofourPartyhasclearlyannounceda strategicplanandhasgivenenricheddocumentsforimprovinginthesefields.Ontheotherhand, socialcontradictionsaresharpeningveryfast.Alongwithaboveurgenttasks,ourPartyis concentratingtounitemoreandmorepeople.Ifwesucceedinthis,wecanmakealeapinthe revolution.Wearehopefulabouttheemergenceofaunitedfront.Inthisnewsituation,itisoneof theforemosttasksofIndianrevolution.Westronglyfeelthatitisnotonlyourtaskbutthetaskofall revolutionary,democratic,progressiveforces. Alongwiththis,contradictionwithintheenemyclassesissharpening.ItcanbeseeninNandigram andtosomeextentintheLalgarhstruggles.Weareutilizingthiscontradictionanditisnecessaryto utilizeeverywheretoadvancetheclassstruggle.Wearealsoworkingwithotherdemocratic organizationsandpeopleandsomeindividualsbelongingtorulingclassesondifferentissuesofthe massesbyformingtacticalfronts.WeandallfightingParties,Organizationsandpeoplehaveto understandtheimportanceofunitybetweenthemandformationofaunitedfront.Weareproviding impetustounityofthepeopleandbuildingastrategicunitedfrontandtacticalfronts.Thisstrategic unitedfrontwillbebetweentheoppressedpeopleagainstimperialism,feudalismandcomprador bureaucraticcapitalism.Inspiteofintensificationofthecontradictionbetweenimperialismand Indianpeopleourcountryisnotattackedbyanyimperialistcountryorhasnotbecomeadirect colonybyanyothermeans.So,atpresentourconditionisdifferentfromthatofChinainmid1930s inwhichCommunistPartyofChinaformedanantiimperialistunitedfrontagainstJapanese imperialism. Q:HowwouldthePartydealwiththedifficultiesintheformationoftheunitedfrontandalong withtheobjectiveconditions,whatdoesthepartythinkaboutthesubjectiveconditionsintodays scenario? A:Comrades,asthefirstaspect,theMaoistpartywouldliketobecomeacentreforthepeopleof thecountryandtheirdevelopment,representtheiraspirations.Wearerepresentingabove95%of population.Thereisamorefavorableobjectiveconditionforunitingpeopleandpeoplealsowanta partythatwillservetheirinterests.Wearenotworkingforpartialreformwithinthebourgeoisand exploitativesystem.Wearefightingforthesocioeconomicdemandsofthepeopleaswellasforthe qualitativechangeoftheverybasicstructureofthesociety.Ifwesucceedinclearlyexplainingitto thepeople,wewillsucceedtomobilizeandorganizetheminthewarandwillwin.

Wheneverprotractedpeopleswar,aswellasnationalliberationwarhadbeenfought,experience showsthatwithoutmassbase,army,liberatedarea,peopledidnotsucceedinformingastrong unitedfront.Incourseofrevolutionarystruggle,formingarmyandestablishingbaseareaswecan formseveraltacticalunitedfrontsandevenfragilestrategicunitedfront.Wehavetostrivehardto mobilizemassesinthewaragainsttheirenemiesandbuildownarmyandestablishstablebaseareas andmarchforwardtobuildastrongunitedfront. Q:Whatarethewaysandmethodstowinoverfriends? A:Forbroadestpossibleunity,wecannothavesectarianapproachtowardsfriendsoftheNew DemocraticRevolution.Atpresentseveralforcesarelinedupagainsttheenemy.Wehavetolet themdeveloptoo.Intheunitedfrontonsomeissues,therewouldalsoberepresentativesof oppressiveclasses.Wecannotexpectthemtojoinourranks,whichisalongwayahead.Rightnow weneedtofirmlysticktoourstrategicgoal,andforthattacticallyweneedtoremainflexible. Moreclearly,therearetwodifferentkindsofUnitedFronts.One,betweenpeople,andtheother betweenpeopleandenemy(asection/group/personsfromenemyclasses)usingthecontradictions amongtheenemy.ThePartyhastodothat.Thisscopeistheretosomeextentonsomeissues.We callittheindirectreservesoftherevolutionwhichcanbeusedcarefully.Ifwehaveclear understandingthattheyarenotourclassallies,thenwewouldnothaverightopportunistdeviations. Weneedunitedfrontsofthiskindforthesuccessoftherevolution.TheIndianLeftlargely,likethe CommunistPartyofIndiaandtheCommunistPartyMarxisthadtrailedbehindthebourgeoisieand degenerated. Lastaspectisthateachclasshasaseparateclassinterestandaworldview.Theunitedfrontinthis senseisalsoastrugglefront.Butoverallifthestruggleisagainstthemainenemy,thenthisstruggle becomessecondary,whileunitybecomesprimary.Therealissueishowthisstruggleandunitycan bebalancedandusedeffectively.Theenemyclasseswillneversidewiththepeople.Evenafterthe seizureofpower,strugglewillcontinuewithinthesocietyforalongtime.So,unitedfrontandclass struggleshouldcontinuesimultaneously.Forthatitisanutmostimportanttaskistoconcentrateon theideologicalandpoliticaleducationofthemasses.Ifwecandothissuccessfully,thenwecanwin overthosesectionstooandallowthemtojoinourranks.Thesepartiesalsohavepeopleundera corruptleadership.Ifwecanwinoverthepeoplethroughpoliticalandideologicalstruggle,wecan winoverlargenumberoftheirprimarymembership.TheRevolutionarybreakthroughislinkedto thisprocess.TheChineseandNepalesePartyhavedevelopedthroughleapsandboundsbydoingthe same.Boththecadreforceaswellasthearmycanexpandthroughthispoliticallyandideologically also.Ifthisdialecticalrelationshipbetweentheunitedfrontandthepoliticalandideologicalstruggle canbehandledcarefully,wewillsucceedinformingastrongunitedfrontandisolatethemain enemy. Ideologicallythebourgeoisclassinfluencecanberemovedonthebasisofthehistoricallessonsof Marxismasascientifictheory.Bydoingthis,wecanwinoverpeopleandevenchangetheirworld outlookandtransformthemwithMarxistoutlook. Wehavetalkedaboutourbasicunderstandingofaunitedfront.Aboutthesubjectiveconditionsthe revolutionary intellectualsanddemocraticpeoplearealignedinafavorablepositionforpeople.But

thishastobemadepracticallybeneficial.Thesecondquestionbeingthefiercerepression,howcan allthisbeachieved? WerecognizethatweareasmallPartystill.ButourrealstrengthliesinMarxistideology,theclasses itrepresents,itslineandpolicies.Andtoachieveunitedfrontwhatarethemethods?The CompradorBureaucraticBourgeoisie,thelandlordsandimperialistsaretheenemyagainstwhom vastmassesneedtobeunitedonthebasisofmasslineandclassline.Ifwekeeptotheinterestsof themassesanduseboththemasslineandclasslinecorrectly,wewilldefinitelysucceedanddevelop fromasmallforcetoabignationalforce. Q.Butpracticallyhowdoyoudoit? A.Italkedaboutourstrengthevenwhilewearephysicallysmall.Idescribedwhereourmain strengthlies.Butphysicalstrengthisalsoneededtofight.Weneedpowerfularmyandstrongmass basealongwithstrongParty.Thisispracticallyamust.Ifthisisnotthere,nomatterhowstrongwe areideologically,itwouldleadtofailure.So,wehavetogrow.Forthis,whilefacingtheenemy repression,wehavetousethecorrecttactics.Inourassessment,enemyisgoingforalloutwar.But itiscreatingitsowntrap.Ifwecanunderstandthatandeffectivelyhandleourguerrillawar,wewill succeed. Inpracticaltermstherearetwoissues. One,Rulingclasscontradictions:Thereexistoldcontradictionsinthesocietyandnewcontradictions thatwillemergeamongtherulingclassesthatmustandshouldbeutilizedfortheadvantageofthe people.Notonlytodefeatenemyandforimmediategains,butforalongerrevolutionarypurpose, thisisrequired.Weshouldstrengthenourmassbaseandfrontswhicharethemainshieldsofour power.ComradeMaosaidthatfordevelopingarmyandwarpeoplearethedecisive.Wemust mobilizethevastmassesagainsttheenemyandutilizethecontradictionsoftheenemytosmash themoneafteranother. Second,whilewagingguerrillawarinAndhrawehadasetback;butwehavenotcompletely abandoned;nonethelessitisasetback.FromGodavarivalley(inAndhraPradesh)toMaharashtra, Orissa,Bihar,JharkhandtoWestBengalborder,wehavetointensifyandexpandguerrillawar.The enemymustberesistedbyourforcesbutitmustbeaccordingtoouradvantagebasingonthe concretesituation.Atpresentwehavetoutilizecleverlythetacticsofhitandrunbasically.Wehave todevelopguerrillawarintomobilewarandguerrillaarmyintoaregulararmy.Weneedactive involvementofpeople.Ourstrengthliesinthepeople.Theenemywillstrivetolimitsustoarmed confrontationonly.Andtheywanttolimitustoalimitedarea.Theyaredividingourareasinto varioussectionsandencircleus.Butwecanalsochasetheirbasecampslikehoneybeesby mobilizingthepeople.Inareaswheretheenemycampsarelocated,eveninthosevillages,wehave RevolutionaryPeoplesCommitteeswhereworkisstillgoingon.Hundredsofpeoplebuiltupponds incompleteknowledgeofthesecurityforcesinthecamps. Soastheenemyissplittingourmasses,wearealsotryingtoexpandourbase,andtryingtoencircle theenemycamps/bases.Wehavetokeepinmindthestrategicimportanceofguerrillawar.Theyare bringing1lakh(100,000)soldiers.TheyhavedecidedtobringanddeployRashtriyaRifles(aspecial contingentofIndianarmyscounterinsurgencyforce)fromJammuandKashmir.ButstillLalgarhto Surjagarhmeanscrores(onecroreequalstenmillion)ofpeople.Ifwesucceedinactivelymobilizing

themassestofightbacktheenemyforces,thenwecanmakethisverywarabasisforrevolutionary change.Itisdefinitelyachallengebeforeusbutweareconfidentthatthereisanadvantageinthe longrunwhichcannotbeachievedinashortperiod.Butunlikewhattheenemywants,tofinishthis inashortperiod,wewanttostretchthiswarandtransformthesituationtoouradvantagefavorable totherevolution. Theyaretryingtolimitourarea,whileweareattemptingtoexpand.TheyarebuildingGram SurakshaSamithistofightsocalledantisocialsandtherebydoingtheirbesttocontainus.But peopleareinvitingus.Evennew,lessexperiencedcadreswhoaremeagerlyarmedarebeingasked tovisittheseareasbythepeople.Forexample,SonebhadraintheOrissa,thevillagesinvitedus themselves.ThenagainourplanstoexpandfromRaigadtoNayagadintheformofOperation RopewayunderwhichtheNayagadRaidwasorchestratedenabledustoexpandintothisareainas littleas810months.So,theNayagadraidnotonlyhadmilitarysignificancebutalsopolitical significanceastherewasstrategicreasonsbehindtheraid.ThenagainOperationVikaswas undertakentoexpandintotheManpur(Chattisgarh)areaintheplains.Andpeopleareinvitingus andtheirconfidenceisonthehigh.Ifweexpandinthisway,wewillgrowdefinitelyandexpandthe guerrillawar.Ifweproceedlikethisandsuccessfullystretchthewar,theninthelongerrunthe politicalandeconomicsituationsareboundtochangeandunderpressurethestatewillcrumble. Presently,thestateiswillfullyspendinginmilitaryexpenses,butasthewarstretchesandexpandin tonewerandnewerareas,themoreitwillspendinthelongerrunitwouldleadtofailure.Weare wagingourwarwiththisstrategicplan. Ialreadyexplainedthesecondaspectofthisquestioninmyanswertoyourfirstquestion. Q:IsitpossibleatthisjunctureforthePartytobeatthecentreofUnitedFront?Forinstance, whileworkinginDelhiwherethePartyisweak,howdoesitenvisageaunitedfront? A:ItisanutmostimportanttasktokeepthePartyinthecentreofunitedfront.Ialreadyanswered firstaspectofyourquestioninmyanswertoyourfirstquestion. Aboutmysecondaspectforyourquestion,inDelhiifyoucoulddothatitwouldbeeasiertowork. Butthatisnottheconditiontoday.So,thepartyafteranalyzingthesituation,decidedtokeepthe partyincentrethroughvariousothermeanspossible.ThereareothermeansthroughotherMaoist forces,democraticandotherprogressiveforces.Andtherefore,inplaceslikeDelhi,wherethereis limitedscopeforthePartydirectly,wehavetoworkinotherways.Ourforcesmustrisetothe occasion,deploycapableforcesforunitedfront,identifythemostreliableforcesandorganizeajoint understandingatanyimportantplace.Differentarrangementsneedtobemade.Otherdemocratic, progressiveandMaoistforcesneedtobebroughttogetherandintheinterimtheyshouldbemade tolead. Q:ThesituationintheearlydaysoftheLalgarhmovementwassuchthatintellectualsinlarge numberscameoutinsupportoftheLalgarhmovement.Butoflate,theintellectualshavehad differencesintermsofthelaterstagesofthemovement,andthefocushasbeenshiftedtosuch issuesasoppositiontolawslikeUnlawfulActivitiesPreventionAct.Howdoyouperceivethe situation?

A:IfIhadthelateststatecommitteereport,itwouldhavebeeneasierformetoanswerthis question.ButstillIwouldliketosaythatinitiallytherewaslotofsupportamongurbanintelligentsia. Nowdependingupontheenemysonslaughtandthenatureofstruggle,itwillalsoleadtochangesin reactiontothesupportbase.SomepeoplemayalsogoovertotheoppositionsideoftheLalgarh movement.InBengal,ourinfluenceintheCivillibertygroupsandinurbanareasisnotmuchstrong. Weneedtodomoretodevelopthis.Weneedtostrengthenourworkinurbanareas.Alotwould dependonourworkthereandthedevelopmentofLalgarhmovementtoahigherstage.Thereisa lotofdifferencebetweenworkingamongthebasicmassesandworkingamongintellectualsasthe latterinvolvesseveralcomplexfactors.Inthiscontext,iftheintellectualsareunitedaroundany issue,evenbeingagainsttheUnlawfulActivitiesPreventionAct,consideringthatitisnotin contradictiontothelargerstruggle,itwouldbepositiveforus.Thosewhocannotcometodirectly supporttheviolentphasesofthemovementcancometogetherinotherissueslikethat.So, demandsmaychangebutthesemustbeslogansofthepeople.AndbothLalgarhandnewslogans needtobebalanced. IwouldsaythatthePartywilldefinitelytakepositivecriticismsfromanyquarterofpeopleeven thosewhomaynotagreewithourbasiclinebutstoodupforpeople.Wewelcomecriticismfrom peopletorectifyourmistakesandstrengthenourParty.ThemovementagainsttheUnlawful ActivitiesPreventionActisboundtobeusedintheimmediateandlongterminterestofthepeople. Andingeneralterms,assuchanymobilizationinthisfieldinthelongerrunisnotcontradictoryto theinterestsoftheParty. Q:WheredoyouplacedemocracyintheworkingoftheParty?Meaningtherighttostrike,the righttodissent,andtherighttofreedomofexpression. A:Thisisaveryimportantquestion;howeverthereisnoconfusioninourParty.Weneedanew democraticstateinwhichotherthantheCompradorBureaucraticBourgeoisie,thelandlordsand imperialistsallotherswillhaverealorgenuinefreedom.Otherthanenemiesofthepeople,for everybodytherewouldberealorgenuinedemocracy.Inaddition,Imaysaythatwhilepreparingthe PolicyProgramoftheRevolutionaryPeoplesCommittees/JanatanaSarkars,wehavestudiedthe experienceofGramRajyasofthehistoricTelanganaarmedagrarianrevolution,thePolicyProgramof ChineseSoviets,thePeoplesBarriocommitteesofthePhilippines,theRevolutionaryPeoples CommitteesofPeru,theUnitedRevolutionaryPeoplesCouncilsofNepalandalsostudiedtheGreat ProletarianCulturalRevolution.Inaccordancewithabovewehaveallthefundamentalrights includingthateveryvoterhastherighttorecallanyelectedperson,evenhastherighttobringany oneinpositionofauthoritywhoworksagainstinterestofthepeopletocourtinordertoprosecute them. IntermsofthefourgreatfreedomsdeclaredbyChairmanMaoduringtheCulturalRevolution,other thanthecharacterpostersonthewall,alltherestfreedomshavebeenensuredbythePolicy ProgramoftheRevolutionaryPeoplesCommittee/JanatanaSarkar.Asthelevelofdevelopmentin theJanatanaSarkaradvanceswewouldalsofollowthefreedomforbigcharacterposters. Accordingtotheconstitutionnophysicalpunishmentforpoliticaloppositionwillbeallowed, anybodyhadrighttopoliticallydifferandevenunionize.TheIndianstateistryingtocontroldissent andthereforepeoplewantrevolution.Wewouldnotrepeatthesamemistake.Besides,forany mistakesinprosecution,thepersonhastherighttoappealtothevillageRevolutionaryPeoples

Committee,tohigherlevelsandeventotheParty.Forinstance,inoneoftheextensionareas,there wasanincidentwhereincollusionwiththeInspectorGeneralofPolice,33membersbelongingto twovillagesbecameagentsoftheenemy.Inthiscontextourcomradeswentandhandledtheissue. Whilevillagerswantedtogivecapitalpunishmenttothemainagentofthepolice,theparty intercededtogiveachancetothatpersontorealizehismistake. Q:Inaunitedfront,everybodymightnotjoin.SomeMaoistoutfitsanddemocraticorganizations canevenremainoutside.Howwillyouhandlethat? A:Thoseinoppositionarepeoplesenemiesandmorethan95%oftheoppressedpeoplewouldbe againstthem.Buteven5%isabignumberintheIndiancontext.OurPartybelievesthatoverthe courseoftheprotractedpeopleswaritgivesscopetodestroytheenemyspoliticalpowerboth directlyaswellasculturallyasmanyfollowersarehelpedtotransform.InChina,MadamSunYetSen tillthelastdaywasinpower,althoughneveramemberoftheParty.Theycanstayonlyaslongas theyservepeopleandhavesupportofthepeople.Whensociallyandpoliticallytheywillbecome irrelevant,theywillautomaticallyvanish.Itispossibleforthemtowininelectionsifsuchparties havesupportofthepeople.ThisprovisionisthereinourpolicyProgramofRevolutionaryPeoples CommitteestooevenotherpersonsbelongingtootherParties/OrganizationscanjoinRevolutionary PeoplesCommitteesiftheyarevotersandtheyhaverighttobeelectedtoRevolutionaryPeoples Committees.Thisbeingourunderstanding,ithastobepracticallypracticedongroundtoo.Wehave todevelopthissphere.Nepalhadmadesomeadvancesinthisrespect. Wegivescopetosmallandmediumbourgeoisietogrowwithsomerestrictionssothattheymaynot becomeantipeople,andblackmarketing,stockpilingandspeculatingcanbecontrolled.Weonly restrictbigcapital;theCompradorBureaucraticBourgeoisieandforeign.Forinstancein199899the governmenthadstoppedsmalltraderstodealinforestproducts,soastheKhirjas(localtraders) protestedwefoughtfortheminamovement,thoughwestoppedusuryandhavecontrolled indiscriminateexploitation,wearenotstoppingproductsfromoutsidetocomein.Thisiscapitalist developmentofonekind,butwearecontrollingit.Itisneededtodevelopthepeopleseconomy.If tradersdidnotcooperate,howwouldwehavesurvived?UndertheJanatanaCircar,thetradeand industrydepartmentishandlingthesmalltraderssothatthebourgeoisoutsidecannottake advantage.So,fullfreedomcontinueseveniftherearecollaboratorsattemptingtowinthemover.It isonlyinlifeanddeathcontext,thatphysicalpunishmentisallowed.Howeverrightnow,while facingrepressionandwar,weareinacomplexsituationwhichhastobeacknowledged. Q:Whatisyourpartysstanceontalks? A:IngeneralthepeopleandMaoistrevolutionariesdonotwantviolenceorarmedconfrontation withanybody.Inunavoidableconditiononlytheytakeuparmsandresisttheirenemiesandtheyare wagingliberationwarbylearningfromthehistory.So,weseethisasawarofselfdefense.Inthis contextofalloutwar,wemustrecognizethatthestateofAndhraPradeshhas130thousandforces; thereare45thousandforcesinChhattisgarh(tosoonincreasethisbymorethan20thousand forces),160thousandforcesinMaharashtra.Thuseachstatehasapoliceforcewhichismorethan thenationallevelforcesofmanyEuropeancountries.Themostcruelanddangerousspecialforces havebeentrainedbythestatealongwithvariousantipeopledraconianlaws.Bengal,Bihar,Orissa, Jharkhand,Chhattisgharh,Maharashtra,AndhraPradeshalongwithUttarPradeshandMadhya Pradeshhasbetweenthemmorethan700to800thousandofpoliceforces.Outofthis,250to300

thousandpoliceforcesaredirectlyengagedagainstthepeople.Andalongside100thousandcentral paramilitaryforceshavebeendeployedintheseareas.Herepeoplearecombatingagainstastronger forcethanthemovementsinNorthEastandJammuKashmir.Thisisabrutalandviolentrepression campaignaimedatthesuppressionofthepoliticalmovementofthepeople,andforexploitationof theminerals. Inthiscontext,ifpossiblewecanhopeforsomerespite.Thelongertherespiteisthebetterfor people.Democraticworkneedsthiscontext.Butwhilegovernmentisholdingtheautomaticgunon onehand,onecannottalkaboutthis.Peoplewillkeepfighting.Whilepumpingbulletspeoplenever dropweaponsandpeopleneversurrender.Alldemocratic,progressive,patrioticforcesneedtounite andfightagainstthealloutwaronthepeoplebythecentralandstategovernments.Toput conciselythemaindemandsthatthepartyhasplacedinfrontofthegovernmentforanykindoftalks are 1.Alloutwarhastobewithdrawn; 2)Foranykindofdemocraticwork,thebanonthePartyandMassOrganizationshavetobelifted; 3)Illegaldetentionandtortureofcomradeshadtobestoppedandimmediatelyreleased. Ifthesedemandsaremet,thenthesameleaderswhoarereleasedfromjailswouldleadand representthePartyinthetalks. IntroductionontheDevelopmentofourParty SinceJanMyrdalwrotethebookIndiaWaitsin1980sinwhichhetalkedaboutthemovement therehavebeenseveraldevelopmentsinvariousaspectsbothpoliticalandmilitary.Itwassince then,thatwesawthedevelopmentofaperspective,takingintoaccounttheconcreteIndian specificity.TherewereonlyfewexperiencedleadersthatwereleftfromthedaysofComradeCharu Mazumdar.Manyhadgoneintorightdeviation,someintoleftdeviationandonlyfewhadcome here.So,largelyitwasanewgeneration,anewyouth,andtoturnthemintoexperiencedcadre,a lotoftimehadtobeinvested.Whenyou,JanMyrdal,hadcomeherein1980,thepartywasstill undergoingthisproblem. Itwasonlyanother67yearsthatproperleadershipwouldemergeinthecontextofPeoplesWar. WhenJanMyrdalvisitedAndhraPradeshin1980,thattimetherewasonlyCommunistPartyofIndia (MarxistLeninist)statecommitteealongwiththeTamilNaduStateCommittee.Therewasalsoa CentralCommitteebutofcourseonlyconfinedtothesetwostates,itsscopewaslimited.TheMaoist CommunistCentrewasworkinginBengalandBiharinthatperiod;howeverinBengalitwasvery weak.InthesamewayPeoplesWarwasworkinginAndhraPradeshandTamilNadu,butin Telenganaitwasveryweak.Itisaretrospectiveobservationofworkinthesetwocenters,inthese tworegions.ComradeKobadGandhiandsomeothercomradesfromMaharashtralaterjoined PoplesWar.IntheMaoistCommunistCentreComradeKanhaiChatterjistartedsomeworkincluding Assambutinaverylimitedway.Nowwehavepresencein20statesbutthePartyisstillveryweakin manyoftheseareas.Sothereisanunevendevelopmentundertheprotractedpeopleswarwhere accordingtoourstrengththerearedifferentlevelsofthemovementindifferentregions.Inthis context,wemustobservethedevelopmentandtheroleofarevolutionarypartywhichisimportant andwhichIwillsay. Comrades,in1980sthePartywastryingtoemergefromasetback.Itwastryingtoreorganizeand consolidate.Ontheoneside,therewastheproblemofsectarianismandontheotherhand,themass

basewaslargelylost.Sowehadtoreviveeverythingbothintermsofmassstruggleandmilitary. Accordinglyourtacticsalsochanged.Atthattimeitwasmainlytheantifeudalstrugglesandthe antiimperialistpropagandaagitationthathadbeenlaunchedtocreateanantistateopinionand openmovementsintheurbanareas. Previously,underComradeCharuMazumdarthelinehadbeentodisregardmassorganizations. Laterwerethoughtandaftergoingthroughanintenseselfcriticalreview,weacknowledgedthat thereweresomemistakesintheearlieryearsandonthatbasis,inordertoadvance,werebuiltthe movement.TheSelfCriticalReviewwasmadein1974;itwasby1977Augustthatforceswithinthe partywereconvinced.AndinpracticeitwasreaffirmedbyPartyAndgraPradeshStateConferencein September1980thatmarksthebeginningofanewpractice. Itwassincethen,thatwesawthedevelopmentofaperspective,takingintoaccounttheconcrete Indianspecificity.Therewasonlyfewexperiencedleadershipthatwereleftfromthedaysof ComradeCharuMazumdar.Manyhadgoneintorightdeviation,someintoleftdeviationandonly fewhadcomehere.So,largelyitwasanewgeneration,anewyouth,andtoturntheminto experiencedcadre,alotoftimehadtobeinvested.Whenyouthenhadcomehere,thepartywas stillundergoingthisproblem.Itwasonlyanother67yearsthatproperleadershipwouldemergein thecontextofPeoplesWar. Firstarevolutionarypartyneedsaleadershipforunderstandingnationalandinternational conditions,aswellastheeconomicandpoliticalconditionstomaketacticsaccordingly.Someofthe perspectivesthatItalkedof,inthepost80speriod,ifweaddthoseexperience,wewouldseethatin lateryearswehadmadesomedevelopmentsinthissphereofunderstanding. Secondly,arevolutionarypartyneedstoorganizepeopleandleadclassstruggle.Fromthestrategic perspectiveplansweremadeandspotswereselectedandsomedevelopmentwasmadesince1980s intermsofpeoplestrugglingunderleadershipofthepartywhichcameupasaconcrete development. Thirdly,forarevolutionaryparty,itisimportanttoorganizearmedstruggle.TheChandraPullaReddy grouphadthenameoftheCommunistPartyofIndia(MarxistLeninist)andwaspartofthe ProvisionalCentralCommitteeundertheleadershipofSatanarayanSingh.Itwasonlytheywhohad somesquadsintheGodavariareaatthattimewhichyouhadvisited.PeoplesWarhadstartedsome armedsquadsintheshapeofpeasantsquadsonlythen,whiletheyalreadyhad6070armedcadres bythattime. Lateraswedevelopedclassstruggleaccordingtotheideaofareawiseseizureofpower,tobuild peoplesarmy,thePeoplesWarhereandtheMaoistCommunistCentretherestartedmakingarmed guerrillasquadsatthelevelsof5,7,9,11.Someplatoonsandguerrillazonestherebyemerged.In someareasjustbeforethe2004merger,evencompaniesemerged.TheerstwhilePeoplesWarhad thePeoplesguerrillaArmywhiletheMaoistCommunistCentrehadPeoplesLiberationguerrilla Army.InthemergerprocesswefoundedthePeoplesLiberationguerrillaArmyunderCommunist PartyofIndia(Maoist).Thenextstageisbattalionsmovingprogressivelytowardstheformationofa PeoplesLiberationArmy.Dependingonthebasictenets,wehaveevolvedthehigherstagesof politicalandmilitarypowerandthepoliticalpowerofthepeople.Thevisionwasthereevenbefore

the80s.TheMaoistCommunistCentrewasalsothere.Butpracticallyitwasonlyachievedinterms ofconcretedevelopmentafterthemerger. TherearetwomoredevelopmentsthatIwouldliketopointout.Apartywhichinpracticeisevolving tacticsorpolicyinvolvingalargemassinitsrankandfileshastopracticeinvolvingpeoplein thousandsandlakhs(alakhequalsonehundredthousand).Inpractice,whilefacingtheproblemand whilerectifyingthemistakestherewerebitterinternalandexternalstruggle.Itisonlythroughthe processofthisbitterideologicalandpoliticalstrugglethatwehavereachedtodaysposition.After therectificationandreviewof70s,thePeoplesWarhademergedandithadtofacegraveinternal crisisintheformof:1.Sectarianismanddogmatisminthemid80s,and2.thehurdleposedbythe leadershipofComradeKondapalliSeetharamiahinthebeginningof90s. Thenagain,theclashesbetweentheMaoistCommunistCentreandthePeoplesWarhadbeena bitterandunforgettableexperience,ablackchapterinhistory.Inordertofaceideologicaland politicalchallenges,thepartytacticallyevolvedtwoapproaches:discussionandreviewandstruggle. Allthreetimesthepartyemergedsuccessfullyfromthecrisis.TheMaoistCommunistCentrealsoin thesamewayemergedfromitsowninternalcrisis.Asectionofitintendedtocontinuethefight; therewerealsodifferencespertainingtoMaoismanddogmatismthroughwhichitemerged successfully.ThePartyUnitytoofoughtagainstforcesthatopposedprotractedpeopleswarand agrarianrevolutionandemergedsuccessfully.ThePeoplesWarandtheMaoistCommunistCentre evenatthisstagegetsmallerwhiletheVinodMishraandSatyaNarayanSinghgroupsgetstronger andinfluential.WhileVinodMishramovedtoleftopportunism,SatyNarayanSinghmovedintoright opportunism.Andinpractice,theysplitandfinallyfacedvirtualliquidationwithextremelynominal presencetoday. Earlier,alongwiththefightagainstrevisionismwefacedtheproblemofhavingalinethatonlytalked ofseizingstatepowerandthatotherpoliticalquestionlikethenationalityquestion,thewomen question,thedalit(untouchablesorscheduledcastes)questionandthequestionofreligious minoritieswouldautomaticallybeaddressed.However,laterwerectifiedthisstandandmerged bothimmediateslogansandultimatesloganstogether.ThiswasamustforthesuccessofNew DemocraticRevolutionanddevelopmenttowardsit.WhilevariousotherMarxistLeninistgroupsonly raisedimmediateslogansandtherebywentintoreformism,weforalongtimeonlygavethe ultimateslogan.Butnow,byputtingtogetherbothimmediateandultimatesloganswemove towardsbetterdevelopment. ForPartyeducation,thereareseveralPartyMagazinesatCentral,StateandDistrictlevel.Around25 ofthemarePartys.SeveralothersareMassOrganizationsMagazines,e.g.centrallyweare publishingPeoplesWar/LaalPathaaka,anIdeologicalandPoliticalMagazinesimultaneouslyin EnglishandHindiandinotherlanguages;AwamiJung,aMilitaryMagazineindifferentlanguages; MaoistInformationBulletininEnglish.InDKwearepublishingthefollowingMagazines: 1.Prabhath(Hindi,PartyPoliticalMagazine); 2.Viyyukka(IdeologicalandPoliticalMagazine,inGondi/Koyam); 3.PadiyoraPollo(MilitaryMagazine,Gondi/Koyam); 4.SangharsharathMahila(KAMSMagazine,inHindi); 5.Jhankar(LiteraryandCulturalMagazinemultilingual).

AtDivision/DistrictlevelinGondi/Koyam: SouthBastarDivision:Pituri(Rebellion); WestBastarDivision:Midangur(Fireplace); DarbhaDivision:MoyilGudrum(Thunder); NorthandSouthDivisionsofGadichiroli:Poddhu(Sun); MaadandNorthBastarJointDivision:Bhoomkal(Earthquake); EastBastarDivision:BhoomkalSandesh(RebellionMessage). OtherthanthistheJanatanaSarkaralsohasmadeaMagazinecalledJanatanaRaj(PeoplesState). Therearealsostudyclassesthatareorganizedwithstudynotesandsyllabus.Politicalclassesare organizedatdifferentstatelevels,sometimesrectificationcampaignsareorganizedfor46months tooneyearwhenthehistoryoftheChinese,PhilippinesandPerurevolutionsarediscussedfor politicalandideologicaltraining.TherearemilitaryinstructorteamsformilitaryschoolsandAwami JungasthemilitarymagazineofCentralCommittee. ThePartyintheDandakaranyaareafacestheproblemofilliteracyandlackofprimaryeducationand soweorganizedtheMAS(mobileeducation)forthepurposeofprimaryacademiceducationofparty cadres.Hundredsofcadreshavebeentrainedsinceitsbeginning.Themassorganizationsalsorun academicprogramswiththeirownsyllabuswhichismadeinconsultationwiththeleadershipand committeemembers. IntroductionontheDevelopmentofPeoplesArmy(atpresentcalledPeoplesLiberationguerrilla Army) Irequestyoureferourcentraldocumentsforcompletepictureofourarmydevelopmentinspecific conditionsofthecountryandinwhichinternationalsituationitisformed.Irequestyoutogive attentiononthisduetoitsvitalityinanyrevolution IntroductionontheDevelopmentofUnitedFront Intermsofmassorganizations,weovertheyears,developedinseveralfrontsincludingpeasant, women,students,youth,civilrightsgroups,literaryandculturalgroups,children,nationality, workers,employeesandsoon.Thestrongerthepartyinastate,thelargertheorganizationandthe fronts.Intheweakerareastherearefewermassorganizationsatthestatelevelinaccordancewith thestrengthoftheparty.Rightnow,thepartyhasmassorganizationsbothatthestateandallIndia level,andtheideaistorepresentthefourclassorganizationsinaccordancewiththefourclass allianceandothersectionstoo.Withtheemphasisisbeingtomassorganizations,wepresentlyhave 3040ofthemworkinginvariousfronts.Duringthe80sthevMaoistCommunistCentrehadfewmass organizationsworkingsecretlyinalimitedscope.InAndhraPradeshthepeasantry,thestudentsand theliteraryculturalsectionsalongwiththeyouthhadsomeinfluence butnowwiththe developmentofourunderstandingdifferentmassorganizationsfromvillageleveltothestatelevel totheallIndialevelexist.Inthe9thCongressofthePeoplesWaritwasdecidedtodevelopmass organizationsandunitedfrontswhichwouldbeissuebasedandtactical.Atsomeissuesevenenemy classesandlocalleaderscouldcometogetherinimmediateandmediumterms.Thesedeveloped furtherafterthemerger.Sotheclassstruggleneedstobewagedatsectional,undergroundaswell asopenlevels.Legalopportunitiesneedstobeutilized,therearesomemassorganizationsworking

withMarxistLeninistMaoistgeneralguideline,whiletherearesomethatareworkingunder completecoverevenwithothers. OnInternationalRelations Inthe1980sbeginningboththeMaoistCommunistCentreandthePeoplesWarhadbeenregional inscope,becauseofwhichwefailedtoalargeextentinconnectingatthelargerinternational movements.However,mid1990sonwards,bothPartiesandparticularlyaftertheformationofthe CommunistPartyofIndia(Maoist)arenowplayingaroleinternationallytoo.Weareparticipatingin internationaldebatesandsendingdelegationstointernationalforumsthoughmuchprogressneeds tobemadeinthisfront.Itisnonethelessbetterthaninthe1980sand1990s.Intermsofthe RevolutionaryInternationalistMovement,theMaoistCommunistCentrehadjoineditin2002.The PeoplesWarhoweveropposedtojointheRevolutionaryInternationalistMovementasitbelieved thatitisonlyafterthoroughdeliberations,understandingsanddiscussionsthatsuchaninternational platformcouldbeevolvedinordertoavoidasectarianapproach.ThereforethePeoplesWardidnot jointheRevolutionaryInternationalistMovement,whiletheMaoistCommunistCentrewentahead. Aftermerger,thoughitwasdecidedthatwhateverthenewPartydecidedwouldbeputtopractice. AndsincethenasperthedecisionofthewholeParty,itkeptitselfoutofRevolutionary InternationalistMovement.WekeptoutsidetheRevolutionaryInternationalistMovementwhichby nowhasbecomevirtuallydefunct. ItisimportantforthesuccessoftheIndianrevolutionasaninseparablepartofgreatworldsocialist revolutiontoactivelydefendMarxismLeninismMaoism,fightimperialismandsupporttheclass strugglethroughouttheworldandalsotakethesupportoftheInternationalMaoist Parties/Organizations/Forces,proletariatandpeople.Forthispurpose,wemaintainfraternal relationswithMaoistandantiimperialistforces.Webelievethatitisbothimportanttoextendhelp aswellastakeinternationalhelpforthesuccessofanyrevolutionbutbecauseoftheongoing repression.Overall,IonceagainsaythatwestucktobasicsofMLM.Weinvitecriticalsuggestions fromanyMaoistParty/Organization. WebelievethatCPI(Maoist)isadetachmentofworldproletariatrevolution.Ifitsucceeds,wewould sayonepartoftheworldwouldsucceeditisnotindependent.Itwouldworkasapartoftheworld socialistrevolutionanditisstrictlyrelatedtothesuccessorfailureoftheworldsocialistrevolution. Moreworkingclassstrugglesintheimperialist/capitalistcountrieswillhaveafavorableimpacton Indianrevolution. JanMyrdalisaSwedishauthor,politicalwriter,journalist,andadvocateofanticolonialist,anti imperialistandpopularliberationmovements;GautamNavlakhaistheeditorialconsultantof EconomicandPoliticalWeeklyandalsoaleadingdemocraticrightsactivistattachedtoPeoples UnionforDemocraticRights,Delhi. *** AccordingtotheauthorizedtranscriptofthesetalksSecretaryGeneralGanapathyendedbyalso saying:

IdidnoteditintroductionsonthedevelopmentofPartyandUnitedFront.Inspiteofit,youcantake thisfullyorpartiallyasourofficialinformation.IrequestyoutoreferourPartysbasicdocumentsfor moreinformationandtocometoanassessmentoftherevolutioninIndia. IfeelitisnecessarytoprepareabookontheIndianrevolution. ***