Resurgence of the Left?

During the Cold War, Militant Trade Unionism was the main weapon that workers had relied on for acquiring their rights. The fear of a general strike was not far away, and this kept the exploitation of the Capitalists at Bay. With the end of the World War, the Left was losing its potential and was on the decline throughout the world. Now, however, the Left Party has become resurgent in the World's Largest Democracy, India, and the Left Parties have called for an All-India strike. The CITU (Centre for Indian Trade Union) sponsored Bandh has paralyzed life in West Bengal, Kerala and several other parts of India.

This bandh by the Left Paries has several demands. These include the Appointments of the workers on Compassionate grounds. They are also demanding the banning of Outsourcing, Privatization and increasing of FDI, among several otheres. However, when the country is supposedly on the path to becoming an Economic superpower, is the Left halting its progress? Will these strikes increase the power of the Left, or will it be considered an irrelevant aspect in the India of this century? Is there a resurgence of the Left in India?

On the face of it, the strikes might seem to show that the Left is in charge. However, it may need a complete change in the mindset of the Left Parties towards the economics of the country. India, in adopting a mixed economy from Independence till 1992, is today playing Catch up to potential economic giants like China, US and Japan. The process of Reforming the economy as well as Decentralization is taking place, although not quickly as anticipated. At this point of time, are these actions of the Left required?

On the other hand, the Left parties have been vigilant at least in the case of the Farmers in the Singur case. The Singur episode has without doubt shown us that Farmers and peasents are subject to exploitation under the Financial might of the Big companies. Although, politically, the West Bengal government wants to satisfy both sides, the Singur case has shown us that the poor in India are in a desperate situation.

Communism and Marxism declined throughout the world because it was a very rigid system, as far as economics is concerned. However, if the Left parties show a degree of flexibility in the economy of the country, only then will we witness the true resurgence of the Left party. General Strikes in today's world is not the means by which the ends will be achieved. By using General strikes as a weapon, it risks two things. One, it will show to the masses that they are interested in only their gains and second, it will paralyze life which will disrupt the nation's productivity.

Under these circumstances, the Left has to have a flexible doctrine to help the government, not destabilize it. It is with the flexibility of the Marxist doctrine, along with the policy of vigilance, which will ensure that no section of the India populace is shunned away from the economic growth which we are witnessing in this century.