An Intellectual History of the Early Naxalite Movement in Calcutta from 1967–1972, Focusing on the Role of Maoism within the Indian Left

Date Presented:

February 8

Abstract:

This thesis analyzes the evolution of Marxist, Leninist, and Maoist thought leading up to and within the early Naxalite Movement in Calcutta from 1969–1972. I place the movement in a greater context of ideological development within the Indian Left and its historical relationship with peasant insurgency, urban discontent, and international political ties to China and the Soviet Union. Throughout the movement, the Naxalites negotiated their ideological commitments to Marxism with the diverse demands of their political situation, formulating ideas on revolution, class collaboration, and the role of the agrarian that were deeply imbedded within the Indian context. My thesis draws from archival material from within the movement, interviews, and secondary sources to trace the articulation and impact of Naxalite thought.