Harbhajan Singh Sohi-A Tribute

Harsh Thakor

The revered Comrade was an outstanding architect in the development of the massline. The Political line formulated by Com. Harbhajan Singh Sohi displayed outstanding polemical understanding on the International Line, the handling of mass organizations and it’s relationship with the party,. the nationality question and the correct work method within the trade Union Movement..I am not a member or supporter of any organisation that Com. Harbhajan Singh Sohi belonged to,but an admirer as a Maoist Historian.
I do not uphold the Communist Party Re-organisation Centre of India(Marxist –Leninist)( C.P.R.C.I.(M.L), Centre of Communist Revolutionaries of India(C.C R.I.) or the earlier Unity Centre of Communist Revolutionaries of India(U.C.C.R.I.(M.L) )as necessary proponents of the mass revolutionary line or implementing mass line in totality. One can question whether armed struggle could have been developed in areas like Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Dandkaranya. Orissa Etc. However even if not totally agreeing with the deferring of armed Struggle,the author sees a very valid contribution and theoretical point made by organizations following The Nagi Reddy Line .
Com. Harbhajan Sohi waged his first struggle by leaving the Charu Mazumdar l;ed C.P.I.(M.L) to form the Fereozepur Bhatinda Committee in 1969 that came to be known as the Punjab Communist Revolutionaries Committee (P.C.R.C.),which demarcated from the left Adventurist line of Com.Charu Mazumdar. Nagi Reddy’ s line was followed in Punjab by the Ferozepur Bhatinda Committee led by Comrade Harbhajan Sohi that revived the mass organisation the Punjab Students Union and built the Naujavan Bharat Sabha ,a popular Youth Organisation.These organizations represented the broad masses of Punjab. The famous Moga Sangram Rally constituting the Naujavan Bharat Sabha,the Punjab Students Union, the Mould and Steel Workers Union and the Wahikar Union was led by the Punjab C-ordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries.(P.C.R.C) On October 22nd 1974.An armed demonstarion of 20,000 people took place. It is of significance that Comrade Harbhajan Sohi was earlier a member of the C.P.I.M.L led by Comrade Charu Mazumdar.On June 20th, 1969 a meeting of Communist revolutionaries was held to discuss the issue of the formation of the party. The 2 questions to be discussed were whether it was justified to form it, and were appropriate methods used? The meeting concluded that the present circumstances were wrong. The party organisation was to be formed from the leadership that emerged from the struggles.
Later he played an instrumental role as a leader of the U.C.C.R.I.(M.L) in leading the Movement of the Punjab Students Union and Naujavan Bharat Sabhja (1974-1979). In fact it was only in 1976 that the P,C.R.C .merged into the U.C C R.I. led by T. Nagi Reddy. In 1979 he split the U.C.C.R.I on grounds of the leadership upholding the Revisionist 3 Worlds theory. In the special Conference I 1982 he upheld his own International line which opposed Deng Xiapoing’s theory of 3 Worlds. He valiantly led a huge mass resistance Movement to combat Khalistan and State terrorism (As a leader of the U.C.C R.I and the C.C.R.I. from 1986-1993)) both on the polemic and practical plane..In 1988 his faction of the U.C.C.R.I(M.L) merged with 4 other groups into the C.C R.I. Harbhajan Singh Sohi played a major role in the formation of the Centre of Comunist Revolutionaries of India in August 1988.This had historical significance, as since the formation of U.C.C.R.I.M.L in 1975 there were so may splits. This organization made a major contribution in the revolutionary democratic movement in the Khalistani period with the Central Team of the C.P.I.M.L and developed cores of mass revolutionary resistance against the Khalistani Terrorism. Major mass resistance rallies were led by a mass resistance front formed by them at Moga in 1987 and at Sewawla in 1991 and 1992.(Memorial conference in memory of the Sewewala Martyrs).It also played a major role in the building of mass agarian revolutionary line of the Adivasi movement in Malkangiri in Orissa.In Andhra Pradesh it’s forces attempted to consolidate the Srikakulam Girijan movement In West Bengal trade Union movement was consolidated and major trade Union struggles were led capturing the Unions. It also had revolutionary peasant Movement work in Bihar which later was absorbed by the Party Unity Section. For some time some struggles carrying the torch of the mass line were implemented, particulary against the Bhagalpur riots in 1989.

Com.Harbhajan Singh played a major role as a leader of the C.C. R .I on an All-India Plane ansd his valiant efforts were crucial in the unity of revolutionary groups into the Communist Party Re-Organisation Centre of India(Marxist–Leninist)(C.P.R.C.I.(M.L) His leadership laid the theoretical base of the later C.P.R.C.I.(M.L) ( Communist Party Re-Organisation Centre of India(Marxist Leninist) ) which was formed in August 1994
Quoting the 1st Issue of their publication, ‘The comrade’, “This Unification brought the Party Question into Sharp Focus. The organisation’s insistence on the distinct political identity while seeking to build the party as the leading political core of the revolutionary mass movement of the Indian People, has not only general orientational validity but also particular relevance to the Particular situation.” .After a continuous process of bilateral transactions this unity took place. The fact that it took such a long, protracted process reflects the principled approach of the. It has not only emphasized the pressing need and crucial significance of the Party Re-Organisation for bringing about a new high tide in the Revolutionary Movement but also projected the line based approach to party re-organization. This highlighted the other facet of the party question, namely the impermissibility of diluting the distinct ideological political identity of the political party.
Theoretically its greatest contribution is that of making a sound theoretical ground for the need of preparation of mass movements and mass resistance to lay the seeds for carrying out peasant armed struggle and protracted Peoples War. There was also a most sound International line demarcating from the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement and deferring the premature formation of a Communist International from the Russian and Chinese Experience. (Remember Stalin’s Comintern was dissolved in 1943 while Mao never called for a Communist International) In Punjab today the organization has adopted a mass revolutionary approach and has made the greatest revolutionary progress. The most significant aspect is maintaining the correct relationship between the mass organization and the political party. A movement of landless Agricultural labourers as well as that of middle and landed peasants has been built demarcating from deviationist tendencies. A Mass Based revolutionary democratic Organisation has been built to give solidarity and sharpen the anti-feudal Struggle which held ralliesof historic significance especially during the elections. The Agricultural and landless peasants organization) has made painstaking efforts to give a mass revolutionary approach by educating the peasantry, similar to the Red Army during the Chinese revolution. However still the resistance is still at the level of pockets in Punjab and a stage has to be reached when agrarian revolutionary struggles are launched at village, district and state level. Stlll, the movement has not reached one where land seizures or direct struggles for land are taking place. The method the struggles have been conducted on all fronts display the efforts to painstakingly educate the peasants in the need for self-organisation to assert their rights and the relationship of their struggles with the agrarian revolution. Peasants in Balahr Vinju district led by the P.M.K.U gave a classical display of mass line approach when hoisting the Red Flag and thwarting the police efforts of preventing them from holding their conference. Historic democratic protests were held. The way the peasant organisation functioned helped spread peasant struggles to other areas quickly.(pocket level)State level agitations have yet to be launched and this being a class peasant mass organization it will have to play amajor role. The graetset achievement of the organization is it's ability to organize the Dalit or backward caste labourers. Toady in the Maxist -Leninist Movement it is a major challenge to organize the Dalit caste agricultural labourers on class lines. (Appraisal from Correspondent in Frontline)The organization has also given solidarity to the struggles of the landed peasantry had participated in revolutionary Election Campaigns. What is significant is that the agricultural labour organisatin has built amovement in various districts Punjab ranging from Bhatinda to Jalandhar,to Ludhiana to Amritsar.
The B.K.U (Ekta-represnting correct trend ) has taken historically correct steps to build a peasant movement of the landed peasantry combating wrong trends and has given a classic example of carrying out mass revolutionary work within a single large body. They have led state-wide agitations and are creating a base for district-level and State wide movements of the landed peasantry. It has been one of the most revolutionary democratic approaches ever displayed where no party politics has been imposed on the mass organization. However still it is only a base for building a revolutionary peasant Movement and is not a class organisation of the landless peasantry revolutionary peasant classes. It has yet to lead or encourage the lower sections of the peasantry. Today a mass agrarian revolutionary peasant armed struggle has yet to be built to lay the seeds for guerilla warfare. There have been historic statewide agitations which is significant.

Avenues have been created for militant peasant struggles of landless labourers in pockets in the State and for miltant district or statewide peasant struggles amongst the landed peasantry. A revolutionary alternative has been projected through the Party Organisation and the manner of projection(especially as projected by the Rajjeana Campaign and the Election campaign) displays strong theoretical correctness. A trade Union movement has also been built in the towns and major cities giving solidarity with the agrarian struggle which is of great significance. Revolutionary movements of the youth and students are taking place and in many areas village youth have displayed enormous revolutionary enthusiasm. In 1998 and 1999 the Organisation carried out election campaigns in Punjab which created a major impact where the tactics of active political campaign in contrast to Active Boycott or Participation were implemented. Other groups could hardly make any effect. The content of the party leaflet encouraged the party ranks and followers to distribute it wide for mass consumption. The wide range of issues were explained in simple language. The immediate practical alternative was projected in the leaflet so that people could easily grasp its contents.
In Orissa in the Malkangiri district an outstanding tribal Movement and Organisation has been built. It has been an example of an organisation with mass character and practicing democratic functioning. It has fought for immediate ,partial demands as well as political demands. It has instilled in the tribals that through their struggles and through the medium of their mass organizations, they can become the alternative centers of power and authority. The Malkangiri Adivasi Sangh has also shown the importance of assistance from the class allies ,particularly the working class. The Sangh has shown that people when organized can govern their own affairs and collectively assert their authority. The tribals were thought to place faith only in their own organized strength. An important activity to achieve this end has been the steadfast exposure of although ruling class institutions and propoganda. The Sangh has also been an effective answer to the Left Sectarian line of Armed Squads of a major revolutionary Group. Who though function with the utmost sincerity and best intentions, do not take the path of involving the people and forming genuine organizations with a genuine mass character. The revolutionary forces working within the Sangh have done their utmost to maintain the balance between de-centralization of Committee Activities (to promote democracy and give the lower mass sections more opportunity to assert their authority), and maintaining proletarian revolutionary leadership (so that the mass organization is prevented from ultra-democratic. In Orissa however peasant seizures of captured land have already started taking place and laying base for armed peasnt struggle. Mao advanced the theory of inseperable link between the agrarian revolution and the guerilla war to establish base areas. A thorough going agrarian revolution which includes the distributoin of landlords land to the poor peasants and agricultural labourers, to develop and consolidate base areas –Mao implemented such a programme,in the period of agrarian revolutionary war. The Red army led by the C.P.C implemented it. Unique forms of struggle have been devised applying the politics of the Chinese Revolution or Mao Tse Tong Thought. It is one of the greatest movements of its kind in revolutionary struggle world over. Most innovative methods of work were innovated and Mao Tse Tung Thought was brilliantly applied.
The correct preparatory mass line application is a necessary perquisite for launching a revolutionary armed struggle .The armed struggle must be linked to the agrarian revolutionary struggle and based on it. A mass revolutionary peasant uprising may not have taken place but there have been demonstrations of peasants in Orissa and Punjab defending their rights or offering mass resistance against enemy forces carrying traditional armed weapons. The party election programmes in 1998 and 1999 in Punjab were striking examples of creating a base for a mass revolutionary political movement, particularly the peasantry...One significant factor as though democratic revolutionary struggles have been launched by the peasantry in Punjab,a stage has not yet been reached when land re-distribution seizures are taking place or land re-distributed. ) I still cannot evaluate the Communist Party Reorganisation Centre of India(Marxist Leninist) as the total protagonists of the mass line.. This is because although in their major mass struggles in Punjab and Orissa they have displayed the correct method of mass preparation for political programmes and the correct concept of the relationship of the party and the mass organization(how a party must democratically function within mass organizations and not impose politics and implemented the mass line in certain struggles),they have still not developed a mass revolutionary military line in practice.,to create condition s on par of the Naxalbari and Sriakakulam Movements. No doubt their mass fronts have led struggles reflecting features of the mass line but do not necceseraily reflect creating conditions for mass revolutionary armed peasant struggle or creation of a Red Army. On Question of guerila Warfare a military line has still to be developed in light of the era of globalisation and changes in the urban and rural areas.The enemy forces in the Urban areas have become much more stronger than before and it is possible now that a form of revolutionary armed struggle would have to be developed in the Urban areas in later stages,even if the main areas of armed combat in the cities.
There is also a weakness regarding the projection of mass political platforms of the party Organisation. An All India level co-ordinating mass political platform is lacking. True the party organisation has to be kept undeground but ultra-secretism can turn a revolutionary party inwards.Adequate mass –political platform s to project the image of the party have not been developed. ’

Many of their mass organization struggles like in Punjab and particularly in Orissa in the agrarian revolutionary Front are creating the grounds for peasant’s eventual armed struggle or uprising or people. However mass peasant revolutionary struggles have not been led which could lead to the formation of a peoples Guerilla Army. This was the stage at which mass armed struggle was built up in Telanagana and for a short period in Srikakulam and Naxalbari (before left adventurism came in). In the author’s opinion the organisation in certain states has made major inroads and is basically correct in it’s view on elections(opposes active boycott and participation as a legal form of struggle) and that the launching of armed struggle is premature. in the majority of areas. It is also correct that in Punjab and Orissa it is still premature to carry out armed struggle. The correct preparatory mass line application is a necessary perquisite for launching a revolutionary armed struggle .The armed struggle must be linked to the agrarian revolutionary struggle and based on it. A mass revolutionary peasant uprising may not have taken place but there have been demonstrations of peasants in Orissa and Punjab defending their rights or offering mass resistance against enemy forces carrying traditional armed weapons. The launching of mass armed demonstrations is of great significance and was predominamt by the mass revolutionary democratic Front in Punjab during the Khalistani period.The struggles have had an effect on surrounding villages and areas and the method by which they have defended their right to hold their own conferences and meetings reflects the mass approach. The same trend took place by the Punjab Students Union and the Naujavan Bharat Sabha in the mass movement they led in the 1970’s.The party election programmes in 1998 and 1999 were striking examples of creating a base for a mass revolutionary political movement,particularly the peasantry.Significantly teams of workers headed the propaganda campaignsOne other significant trend is the self –defence and aggression displayed by the Punjab peasantry in asserting their right to stage conferences or mass protests.In Jethuke by the landed peasantry in 2000, in Chandigarh by the landed peasantry and in Balahr Vinju in 1994 by landless peasants the peasantry displayed heroic defiance against the police forces who attempted to thwart their efforts to organize. One significant factor as though democratic revolutionary struggles have been launched by the peasantry in Punjab, a stage has not yet been reached when land re-distribution seizures are taking place or land re-distributed. In Orissa however peasant seizures of captured land have already started taking place and laying base foe armed peasant struggle. Mao advanced the theory of inseperable link between the agrarian revolution and the guerilla war to establish base areas.A thorough going agrarian revolution which includes the distribution of landlords land to the poor peasants and agricultural labourers, to develop and consolidate base areas –Mao implemented such a programme, in the period of agrarian revolutionary war. The Red army led by the C.P.C implemented it. However the most important historical question is that if one studies the history of revolution no country has taken so long a period to develop revolutionary armed struggle In 1927 after the Nanchang Uprising. China launched it’s struggle only 9 years after formation of their their party (in 1921) and six years of preparatory stage. Columbia,Phillipines,Nepal, Peru,or our very own Telengana Armed Struggle may have taken longer time.Even Peru launched it in 1980 after 16 years of party-re-organsation) but in a far shorter period accomplished the task.- than the preset Indian revolutionary movement has taken to do. It is arguable that today there may have been areas in India where mass armed struggle could have been carried out in certain areas if the mass line was correctly implemented., particularly in Bihar and Andhra Pradesh which had strong revolutionary peasant movements.


Overall Theoretically Com Harbhajan Singh Sohi was sounder than any comrade in the last 3 decades, being an outstanding polemicst. On the International level his trend rejected the erroneous trend of ‘Maoism ‘ in place of Mao Tse Tung Thought and at the internal level struggles in developing a mass agrarian revolutionary line, even if it has not yet developed a mass line yet. He will be remembered for ever in the annals of the Indian Communist Movement.