NEW DELHI (India), August 22— “I was really scared,” said Renu early on July 19th. She had seen gruesome police violence in the streets here. Police attacked several thousand protestors with lathis (batons) aimed at torsos and heads. Renu had seen students with cracked skulls, bleeding profusely, and gasping as tear gas filled the streets. Her mother warned her not to go. But Renu went to the protest with ICWP comrades anyway.
The protests were sparked by an exam leak and cancellation of the results. Millions of youths had wasted precious time and money trying to escape mass unemployment by getting into a medical program. This reflects the corruption throughout Indian higher education. And throughout the twelve years of the fascist Modi regime’s rape culture.
“It’s not just Modi’s BJP, it’s capitalism,” we said confidently. “We need communist revolution.” And by the time the protests ended, nobody was talking about the leak anymore. What started with one thing led to the desire for a much bigger change.
ICWP comrades organized ten teams, about ten people each. Many more friends and neighbours joined us after the police attack, when we called for a communist revolution in the face of ruling-class violence. Our groups grew. Some became as large as fifty.
Renu was scared but determined to bring communism to the masses. She organized dozens early on July 20th.
Day and night, we talked about how we are fighting to change society to serve the masses. The capitalist system, driven by greed for profit, reduces schooling to monetary rewards. The education system acts against serving the masses, however well it works for the elite. Communist society will break down class barriers and create new ways for students and workers to learn and teach collectively.
We discussed how to carry these messages to the angry masses. How to convert reformist slogans into a communist call for revolution.
We talked about how to protect each other and rely on the masses when police attack. Our backpacks held bottled water, Red Flags, and food. We established our ‘command’ centre for all groups to keep in touch. With our cell phones and our enthusiasm fully charged, we embarked on a mission to mobilize the masses for communism.
People Were Everywhere
Renu’s team, over thirty people, found the Metro shut down. There was no internet service. But as they walked toward Jantar Mantar, hundreds became thousands, soon disappearing into the streets far away.
A woman, alone with her newborn infant, said, “ I am here for his future.” She was fearless in the crowd. We saw parents and grandparents supporting students. It looked like all of Delhi had emptied into the streets.
Renu’s group waded through to the front, facing a huge wall of barricades. The mood changed suddenly. Many male students appealed to female students to move away as the police were about to attack. Many women allowed the men to form a protective barrier.
But Renu’s team, with other women, declared, “We want to confront the police. We are not afraid!” Together, female and male students confronted the police. The police were completely taken aback when female students took the lead in fighting them. Amid the lathis and tear gas, we created a gap in the barricade. Entire crowds surged through towards the parliament building.
Police units retreated, unable to control the demonstrators. Then came news that the education minister had resigned.
A Resignation Is Not a Solution
Some greeted the news of the minister’s resignation with jubilation but more with indignation. Our ICWP forces regrouped, at least those who could communicate.
We had walked and marched for more than sixteen hours, sweltering in the humidity and 110°F (46°C) temperatures. We had run out of water bottles. Nobody had eaten all day. The police had banned all restaurants, metros, hotels, and street vendors.
But we were still eager to talk about communism. One minister replacing another is not a victory. It is a call to change a society that creates a class of politicians all set on imposing capitalist domination.
We mobilized between 200 and 300 comrades who were committed to a communist alternative to serve the needs of the masses. We spent the night of July 20th on the streets. Each comrade has seen moments they will never forget. We have collected over a thousand solid contacts.
The masses shouted slogans about unemployment, poverty, food prices, and attacks on women and minorities. Each slogan ended: “What kind of government allows this to happen?” We changed this to: “Only communist revolution will take care of it!” This became very popular. Some comrades shouted until they were too hoarse to speak.
When Renu came home, she could not find her parents. A neighbour said they had joined the demonstration! When they returned, they said, “We want to join your party.”
There are many like them. We are already organizing and recruiting these comrades through regular classes in communist politics.
Read Mobilize the Masses for Communism here