Punjab: a political history

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1967

Naxalism

IP Singh, December 14, 2020: The Times of India

Even in 1960s, Punjab had its heart to the Left

JALANDHAR: Though fingers are being pointed at the presence of ultra-Left activists and those linked to Naxal elements at the farmers protest, yet it is nothing new for Punjab. The state has had its tryst with Naxalism. The ideology had reached here as early as 1967.

What’s more, the Left movement in Punjab is close to a century old and at one point of time the mainstream Left parties had a considerable presence in electoral politics. Even the elements on the extreme end of the Left idealogical spectrum made serious inroads in Punjab five decades back, only to see a fast erosion within a decade in the base of such organisations. Naxalite movement was crushed in Punjab with elimination of 85 ultra-Left activists, including a freedom fighter turned Naxalite Baba Bujha Singh. Some of those youths who survived when Punjab government crushed the movement later rose to prominence in activism, journalism and literary fields.

For instance, late Harbhajan Singh Halwarvi, who remained editor of a prominent Punjabi daily for several years, was saved by Simranjit Singh Mann — then a fresh IPS officer — after latter found that he was put in a police lock up by a particular police officer known for eliminating Naxalites.

“Naxalite movement reached Punjab in 1967 as soon as it started. However, it remained mainly among students and intellectuals, and no mass leader joined it. Some CPI and CPM cadres did join in,” says Ajmer Singh. He had joined the movement as a student of in 1967 and then went underground in February 1970, when he was third year student of electrical engineering at Guru Nanak Engineering College. After his arrest in late 1970s, and then being freed by his comrades Ajmer, originally Gobinder Singh, remained underground for 31 years, but by that time he was known as a Sikh activist writer.

“Soon after the initial phase of violence by Naxals, it was realised that the path was not correct. From March 1970, the state followed the policy of eliminating Naxalites when Parkash Singh Badal was the chief minister,” he said, adding “it was later that they started organising students under Punjab Students Unions and also formed Naujawan Bharat Sabha, teachers unions and employees unions.”

“Jaswant Singh Khalra, who was later eliminated by Punjab police after he blew lid off the hundreds of forced disappearances in 1995, had also joined and raised Naujawan Bharat Sabha in district Amritsar in early 1970s,” he said.

“For close to a decade their overground organisations grew while core group remained underground. However, in early 1980s with rise of Bhindranwale, decline started and Operation Blue Star became a turning point. A vertical split took place with one group joining the Sikh side and the other turning against the Sikh militants,” said noted Sikh author Gurbachan Singh, who was also among those who started as ultra-left activists but then turned to Sikh side and worked extensively to expose human rights violations.

“I worked in ultra-Left groups from 1972 to mid 1980s. They lost a few of their brilliant minds and cadres to the Sikh movement in 1980s and these were latter who then posed big ideological challenges for them,” said senior Punjabi journalist Major Singh.

“The ultra-Left groups later worked extensively among farmers and formed their unions. In this task, former employees also joined and their organisational skills and passion worked. They worked on issues like debt traps, farmers suicides and compensation. Most of their support base remains among Sikh farmers who have not much to do with their ideology,” said Ajmer, adding, “these groups though remain committed to communist ideology but using revolutionary tactics is a thing of the past.”

“It has been widely known that over a dozen farmers unions are led by Leftist or ultra-Left groups but they have confined themselves to farmers issues only,” said Major Singh.

OLD STORY AND THE NEW TWIST

Initially, the Ghadri Babas, who started the Left movement in Punjab were practising Sikhs. “Bhai Santokh Singh who started Punjabi monthly Kirti in1920s, dedicated it to the cause of peasants and workers. He even put a line from Gurbani on it, which was later removed after his death. Akali stalwart Master Tara Singh even wrote his obituary. Later on, the gap between Sikhs and communists kept on increasing but still they were not opposed to each other. In 1980s, mainstream communist parties also lost considerable base among Sikhs and they never recovered. The farmers’ movement has a combination of Sikh spirit and organisational skills of Left groups, which is more a product of circumstances than any design. That is why bitterness is visible between the two sides at times,” said author and commentator Gurbachan Singh.