Lenin’s Birth Anniversary Commemorated
Samprikta Bose
THE CPI(M) West Bengal state committee organised a meeting to mark the 156th birth anniversary of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin at the Pramod Dasgupta Auditorium in Kolkata, on April 22. The programme reflect on Lenin's enduring relevance in the current political situation.
The meeting was presided over by Polit Bureau member Sridip Bhattacharya, with CPI(M) General Secretary M A Baby and Polit Bureau member and West Bengal state secretary Mohammad Salim addressing the gathering. Polit Bureau members Nilotpal Basu and Ramchandra Dome were also present.
In his address, M A Baby emphasized Lenin’s revolutionary legacy, calling it an essential framework for understanding the challenges of today’s world. He said, “We gather today not only to remember the life of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin but also to carry forward his revolutionary legacy – a legacy that challenges us to rethink the present and act towards a transformative future. Lenin was not merely a leader of a revolution; he was a thinker and a fighter whose writings and actions continue to illuminate the path of liberation for the working class.”
Baby highlighted the continued relevance of Lenin’s critique of imperialism, especially in a global economy dominated by multinational corporations. He pointed out that the unchecked pursuit of profit by these corporations exacerbates inequality and creates global conflicts. “Amidst rapidly shifting geopolitical tensions and ever-rising global disparities, his call for a proletarian revolution remains more urgent than ever,” he added.
Baby also discussed Lenin's theory of a revolutionary vanguard party. Lenin argued that a disciplined, professional revolutionary party was essential to guide the working class in overthrowing capitalism. “A party of committed revolutionaries is indispensable – not only to lead the working class but also to resist the ideological and material forces deployed by the bourgeoisie to suppress revolutionary fervour,” Baby stated.
Quoting Lenin: “Without revolutionary theory, there can be no revolutionary movement," Baby emphasized the importance of grounding the struggle in both theory and practice, ensuring that each informs the other.
Mohammad Salim, in his address, spoke about the current situation in India. He noted the attempts to divide the working class along religious, caste, and regional lines, stressing that such divisions are deliberately engineered to hinder class solidarity. Salim emphasized the role of the vanguard party in uniting the working class and preparing for revolutionary change.
Salim also noted Lenin’s contribution to adapting Marxism to the conditions of economically underdeveloped countries, highlighting how peasants and soldiers became central to revolutionary movements. He pointed to the farmers’ movement in India as a contemporary example of this dynamic.
The meeting served as a timely reminder of the relevance of Lenin’s revolutionary thought in navigating the current socio-political challenges and reaffirmed the commitment of CPI(M) to continue the fight for a society free from exploitation and oppression.
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