Spread of Socialist and Marxist Ideas, Youth Activism and Trade Unionism
Modern History › Swarajists, New Forces and Revolutionaries in the 1920s · Topic 18.3
In the 1920s Marxist and socialist ideas spread, creating communist groups and a Congress left wing around Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose. The Communist Party of India was formed in 1920 at Tashkent and formalised at Kanpur in 1925. Students' leagues grew, and the All India Trade Union Congress was founded in 1920 to lead a rising trade union movement.
5 min read · UPSC Prelims · History · Swarajists, New Forces and Revolutionaries in the 1920s
At a Glance
- Decade The 1920s, a watershed in modern Indian history
- CPI Formed at Tashkent in 1920; formalised at Kanpur in 1925
- Congress left Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose
- AITUC Founded in 1920; Lala Lajpat Rai first president
- Exam link UPSC Prelims, Modern History: Swarajists, New Forces and Revolutionaries in the 1920s
Where Does It Fit?
This is the third topic of the category on the Swarajists, new forces and revolutionaries in the 1920s. The previous topic covered the work of the Swarajists and the No-Changers. This topic covers the new forces of Marxism, youth activism and trade unions. The next topic covers peasant agitations and caste movements. Previous topic: Swarajist Activity in the Councils and the No-Changers’ Constructive Work.
Why Was the Third Decade a Watershed?
The third decade of the twentieth century is a watershed in modern Indian history. It marked the entry of the Indian masses into the national movement and the basic crystallisation of the main political currents. These currents owed their origin partly to Gandhian satyagraha based on truth and non-violence, as they embodied a positive or negative reaction to it. International influence on Indian thinkers was also more pronounced than before. The movement that brought the masses in is described in Evaluation of the Non-Cooperation Khilafat Movement.
How Did Marxist and Socialist Ideas Spread?
Ideas of Marx and socialist thinkers inspired many groups to come up as socialists and communists. They also produced a left wing within the Congress, represented by Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose. These young nationalists, inspired by the Soviet Revolution and dissatisfied with Gandhian ideas and programme, advocated radical solutions to economic, political and social ills.
| The younger nationalists | Position |
|---|---|
| Criticism | Critical of both Swarajists and No-Changers |
| Goal | A more consistent anti-imperialist line with the slogan of purna swarajya, complete independence |
| World view | Influenced by a still vague awareness of international currents |
| Social justice | Combined nationalism and anti-imperialism with social justice and raised the question of internal class oppression by capitalists and landlords |
How Did the Communist Party of India Emerge?
The Communist Party of India was formed in 1920 at Tashkent, now the capital of Uzbekistan, by M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji and others after the second Congress of the Comintern. M.N. Roy was also the first Indian elected to the leadership of the Comintern.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1920 | CPI formed at Tashkent |
| 1924 | Communists S.A. Dange, Muzaffar Ahmed, Shaukat Usmani and Nalini Gupta jailed in the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case |
| 1925 | The Indian Communist Conference at Kanpur formalised the foundation of the CPI |
| 1929 | A government crackdown led to the arrest and trial of 31 leading communists, trade unionists and left-wing leaders in the Meerut conspiracy case |
Workers’ and peasants’ parties were organised across the country and spread Marxist and communist ideas. All these groups remained an integral part of the national movement and worked along with the Congress. The Meerut case is also treated with the working-class movement in Working Class Movement: AITUC, Trade Union Act 1926 and Meerut Conspiracy Case.
What Was the Activism of Indian Youth?
Students’ leagues were established all over the country and students’ conferences were held. In 1928 Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the All Bengal Students’ Conference. As an analytical point, youth activism gave the nationalist movement a new generation that was drawn to radical ideas, which links with the revolutionary groups in Revolutionary Activity in Punjab, United Provinces and Bihar.
How Did Trade Unionism Grow?
The trade union movement was led by the All India Trade Union Congress, founded in 1920. Lala Lajpat Rai was its first president and Dewan Chaman Lal its general secretary. Tilak was associated with the effort, though he died on 1 August 1920, shortly before the body was founded.
| Aspect | Detail |
|---|---|
| Major strikes | Kharagpur Railway Workshops; Tata Iron and Steel Works at Jamshedpur; Bombay Textile Mills; Buckingham Carnatic Mills |
| Bombay textile strike | Involved 1,50,000 workers and lasted five months |
| 1928 | A number of strikes involving five lakh workers |
| May Day | The first May Day in India was celebrated in Madras in 1923 |
Why Is This Topic Important?
- Origin of the left The CPI and the Congress left wing are stock Prelims facts
- Labour in the national movement AITUC and strikes link with economic history
- Background to later events Leads to purna swaraj and the revolutionaries’ socialism
What Came Next?
The next topic describes peasant agitations and caste movements of the 1920s. Next topic: Peasant Agitations and Caste Movements in the 1920s.
Key People and Terms
- M.N. Roy Founder of the CPI at Tashkent; first Indian on the Comintern leadership
- Comintern The Communist International
- Purna swarajya Complete independence
- AITUC All India Trade Union Congress, founded in 1920
- Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case 1924 case against several communists
- Meerut conspiracy case 1929 trial of 31 communists, trade unionists and left leaders
Exam Corner
Points to Remember
- CPI formed in 1920 at Tashkent by M.N. Roy; formalised at Kanpur in 1925.
- Kanpur case 1924; Meerut case 1929, 31 accused.
- AITUC founded 1920; first president Lajpat Rai.
- Bombay textile strike: 1,50,000 workers, 5 months.
- First May Day in India: Madras, 1923.
Do Not Confuse With
- CPI 1920 and CPI 1925 Formed at Tashkent in 1920; formalised at Kanpur in 1925
- Kanpur case and Meerut case Kanpur 1924; Meerut 1929
- Swarajists and the Congress left The left criticised both Swarajists and No-Changers
Memory Hook
Tashkent 1920, Kanpur 1925, Meerut 1929: the left walked from exile to the courtroom.
Mains Angle
Questions ask about the new forces of the 1920s. These points add depth.
- Left in Congress Nehru and Bose with purna swarajya
- Communists Parties and prosecutions
- Labour AITUC and strikes
A Question You May Face
An original practice question, not a past paper question.
“Discuss the growth of socialist ideas and trade unionism in India in the 1920s and their relationship with the national movement.”
How to Answer
- Context Watershed decade and Soviet influence.
- Ideas and parties Congress left and the CPI.
- Labour AITUC and strikes.
- Conclude Working along with the Congress.
GS Relevance
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where was the Communist Party of India formed?
The Communist Party of India was formed in 1920 at Tashkent, now in Uzbekistan, by M.N. Roy, Abani Mukherji and others after the second Congress of the Comintern. The Indian Communist Conference at Kanpur in 1925 formalised its foundation in India.
What was the Meerut conspiracy case?
In 1929 a government crackdown on communists led to the arrest and trial at Meerut of 31 leading communists, trade unionists and left-wing leaders. An earlier case, the Kanpur Bolshevik Conspiracy Case, had been held against communists in 1924.
Who represented the left wing of the Congress in the 1920s?
Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose represented the left wing. Inspired by the Soviet Revolution and unhappy with Gandhian programme, they criticised Swarajists and No-Changers, wanted purna swarajya and stressed social justice and class oppression.
What was the All India Trade Union Congress?
The AITUC, founded in 1920, led the trade union movement. Lala Lajpat Rai was its first president and Dewan Chaman Lal its general secretary. Strikes in the 1920s included Kharagpur railway workshops, Tata Iron and Steel Works and Bombay textile mills.
What was the scale of labour unrest in the 1920s?
The Bombay textile strike involved 1,50,000 workers and lasted five months. In 1928 a number of strikes involved five lakh workers. The first May Day in India was celebrated in Madras in 1923, which shows organised labour marking its own calendar.
PYQ Practice — Statement Analysis
1 The Communist Party of India was formed at Tashkent in 1920.
M.N. Roy and others formed it.
2 Lala Lajpat Rai was the first president of the AITUC.
It was founded in 1920.
3 The Meerut conspiracy case involved 31 accused in 1929.
They were communists, trade unionists and left leaders.
4 The first May Day in India was celebrated in Bombay in 1923.
It was celebrated in Madras.
5 Jawaharlal Nehru presided over the All Bengal Students' Conference in 1928.
Student leagues were growing.
Related Topics
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