The Many Shades of Red: Kanhaiya Kumar, Communism and Free Speech

There are many shades of red – with Maoists at one end, and the CPI, to which Kanhaiya Kumar belongs, on the other.

There’s something a lot of people seem to have forgotten in the polarised debate following the crackdown on Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) – there’s more than one kind of Communist.

Let’s say there are many shades of red – with the Maoists at one end of the spectrum and the Communist Party of India (CPI), to which Kanhaiya Kumar belongs, at the other.

In fact, among the more democratic Left formations and sympathisers, there is some resentment, because JNU Student Union President Kanhaiya Kumar may have stood up for those who wouldn’t do the same for him.​

The Left and Right of Indian Communism

The organisers of the event commemorating Afzal Guru, which took place on 9 February, were former members of the Democratic Students Union (DSU) – a student organisation with ultra Left sympathies.

Communist parties in India can broadly be differentiated by their attitude to the Indian Constitution, democracy and the state. At first, there was the undivided Communist Party of India (CPI). But in 1964, the party split with the CPI(M) becoming the larger faction. Soon after, those now known as Naxals split from the CPI(M) because the latter were not ‘revolutionary’ enough and took part in the democratic process. There have been many splits and realignments since then, but broadly speaking, there are those parties that participate in India’s constitutional politics and those that are fighting the state, not just particular governments.

What is now the CPI, supports the Indian Constitution, contests elections and has been an ally of the Congress on some occasions. Slightly to their left is the CPI(M), and then of course, the Maoist or Naxal parties which are waging a guerilla war against the state.

For those to their left, the CPI has been ‘revisionist’ i.e. not revolutionary enough and true to the principles of Marxism-Leninism. The CPI(M) too has faced similar charges as various groups broke away from them once they gained power in West Bengal.​

That’s basically calling them sell-outs.

The All India Students Federation (AISF) and the CPI(M)’s Student Federation of India (SFI) have faced that accusation constantly from more ‘radical’ groups, because they are a part of India’s mainstream political processes. For their comrades to the Left, they are sometimes almost too democratic to be communists.​

A Sprinkling of Resentment, Overcome by Idealism

Members of the AISF, SFI and their sympathisers are understandably upset about the arrest of Kanhaiya Kumar. He has, on record, professed his loyalty to the Constitution of India and to democracy.

There is another question, barely whispered in these polarised times. Would those he has gone to prison for, stand up for him?

But the idealism trumped the factionalism.

Kanhaiya did not agree with the alleged anti-India slogans, but standing up for the right to dissent was more important. It’s a right enshrined in our Constitution.

Member, SFI

For now, it is not just communists who are against the crackdown in JNU but many opposition parties, including the Congress. The police action in JNU has certainly created a sense of solidarity and camaraderie among groups that have been rivals for a long time now.