Arjun Prasad Singh on Revolutionary Democracy

Arjun Prasad Singh on Revolutionary Democracy:  Indian Communists Rejecting Peoples’ Revolution, a Strategy Suitable to Indian Conditions!

Harsh Thakor*

Arjun Prasad Singh, now convenor of Democratic People’s Front of India, played a very formative role in the crystallising of revolutionary peasant resistance in Bihar in the late 1980’s to mid-1990. He has stressed a departure from the mechanical understanding of the Chinese path of practice to promote a broad-based character in people’s movements.

I first met Arjun ji in Mumbai in 1990 when he was convenor of Lok Sangram Morcha, and the second time during the convention of All India Peoples Resistance Forum on 50 years of Independence in Mumbai. In 2001, I met him when I made my first visit to Bihar, in Patna and then again in the Mumbai Resistance at Mumbai in 2004. Since 2013, we have frequently met in Delhi, where he has patiently discussed his political views with me on past history and current scenarios.

Arjun Prasad Singh has undertaken painstaking work on the urban front amongst organised and unorganised workers and written some of the most coherent and lucid articles diagnosing the nature of Indian Brahmanical fascism. Arjun’s writings have illustratively explored the anti-people dynamics of neo-liberal economic policies. Today, he dips his ink in the journal ‘Morcha’ where he has written extensively on diverse aspects. including a 6-part series on aspects of the mass line of the erstwhile CPI(ML) Party Unity Group and Naxalite movement of Bihar, and the switch towards left adventurist deviation, later.

Below is an interview I conducted with Arjun Prasad Singh, who is now convenor of the Democratic Front of India, and was formally secretary of the Progressive Democratic Front of India and joint secretary of the All-India Peoples Resistance Forum. It is a more detailed interview than one conducted recently, addressing subjects of Russia, Maoism and the Maoist Movement in more detail, Caste Question and Fascism more intensively.

Q1 Can you summarise your long political journey?

A1 I started my political journey in 1972, while in the final year of my MA at Patna University. Firstly, I joined the Bihar Students Association, the first open Revolutionary organisation of students, supporting the Naxalbari Peasants Upsurge. Later on, we formed CPI (ML)Unity Committee in 1974. I came in touch with Arvind Sinha, who drew me towards a Marxist political orientation. During students’ elections I campaigned with Baldev Jha., A protest was organised against the arrival of Lalo Prasad Yadav.

I played an active role in a roadblock protest in 1974. Many students were arrested, but I evaded arrest. Still, I went to see them in Bankipur prison. That year, I was appointed area secretary of CPI (ML) Unity Committee of Patna area, which adjoined with Bhojpur, Muzzafarnagar, and Rohtas. I set up a youth organisation unit in my area.

In 1977 I was attracted towards the politics of CPI(ML) PCC group during elections, reposing faith in their stand to participate in the elections. I actively campaigned for PCC candidates who went on to join PCC and were assigned tasks of working amongst Koyla workers in Paliganj region for 2 years, and later building Bihar Kisan Samiti in Sasaram region, with Paltu Master.

In 1983, I was sent by the secretary of the PCC, Ashok Chaterjee, to work in Bhojpur-Rohtas, where I worked in a Dalit Basti.

In 1984, I operated as the chief election agent of the election candidate of Pharsani Ram to contest against Jagjivan Ram. I confronted Jagjivan Ram when he wished to wipe away the name of Pharsani Ram.

In 1984, in the central conference of the PCC in Bengal, I came head-on in confrontation with leaders like Satyanarayana Singh and Devnathan, who boycotted the conference. I was now appointed leader of Bihar Kisan Samiti with BN Sharma. Soon, I parted ways with BN Sharma in 1985.

In 1986, I joined the CPI(ML) Party Unity Group and played role of an organiser of the later-banned Mazdoor Sangram Samiti, an organisation of peasants and landless workers. 1990’s, steering land movements in regions like Jehanabad, Daltangaunj, Aurangabad and Khagaria. The Mazdoor Kisan Sangrami Samiti, later resurrected as Mazdoor Sangrami Parishad, played a pivotal role in infusing mass character to the peasant movement led by the Mazdoor Kisan Sangrami Parishad and not letting it be dictated by armed squads. 

From 1988,, I became the convenor of Lok Sangram Morcha, a mass front comprising 7 mass organisations. It marshalled democratic forces through the Lok Sangram Morcha built in 1988 in Delhi, and steered a wave of revolutionary democratic protests against state repression.  

I chaired various conventions and protests of the All-India Peoples Resistance Forum formed in 1994, which waged struggles on a wide spectrum from peasants, workers and tribals to that of nationalities. Being appointed joint secretary of the All India Peoples Residence Forum, I presided over its 2^nd national conference in Sangrur.  I was also a regular columnist in journals like Mukti Marg, People's Resistance and Jan Pratirodh. Illustratively, summarising developments in peasant struggles, particularly in Jehanabad. He has stressed a departure from the mechanical understanding of Chinese path of practice to promote a broad-based character in people’s movements.