Origins and ideological foundations
Centenary of the Communist Party of India: The Communist Party of India (CPI) marks 100 years since its formal founding in 1925, making it one of the oldest political parties in the country. It emerged at a time when revolutionary ideas were spreading globally after the Russian Revolution of 1917.
The earliest roots of CPI can be traced to 1920, when Indian revolutionaries such as M.N. Roy, Mohammad Ali, M.P.T. Acharya, and Mohammad Shafiq met in Tashkent. This meeting marked the formation of the party in exile and reflected the internationalist character of early Indian communism.
Static GK fact: Tashkent was a major centre for revolutionary political activity among colonial nationalists in the early 20th century.
Formal establishment at Kanpur
The CPI was formally established at the Kanpur Communist Conference on 26 December 1925. This conference unified scattered communist groups operating across British India into an all-India organisation.
Singaravelu Chettiar became the first President of the CPI. S.V. Ghate and J.P. Bagerhatta served as the first General Secretaries, laying the organisational framework of the party.
Static GK Tip: Kanpur was an industrial hub, making it a natural centre for early labour movements.
Leadership and organisational expansion
Over the decades, CPI leadership included figures such as S.A. Dange, E.M.S. Namboodiripad, P.C. Joshi, A.K. Gopalan, P. Sundarraya, and Ajay Ghosh. Several women revolutionaries, including Evelyn Trent-Roy and Rosa Fitingov, also played key roles.
The party expanded its influence by building strong mass organisations among workers, peasants, students, and women. This approach allowed CPI to penetrate rural and industrial regions alike.
Static GK fact: Mass organisations were a core strategy of communist movements worldwide during the inter-war period.
Role in India’s freedom struggle
The CPI played a significant role in mass mobilisation during the freedom struggle. It worked through organisations such as the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) and the All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) to mobilise workers and peasants.
The party consistently advocated land rights, minimum wages, and collective bargaining, bringing economic issues into the national movement. CPI cadres were active in strikes, peasant uprisings, and anti-imperialist campaigns.
Static GK Tip: AITUC, founded in 1920, is one of the oldest trade union federations in India.
Social reform and Kerala experience
CPI strongly supported Dalit rights, gender equality, and Hindu–Muslim unity. It opposed caste discrimination and communal politics at a time when social reform was inseparable from political freedom.
In Kerala, leaders such as A.K. Gopalan and P. Krishna Pillai led the Guruvayur Satyagraha, demanding temple entry for the oppressed castes. This linked the communist movement with social justice struggles.
Static GK fact: Kerala later became the first state in the world to democratically elect a communist government in 1957.
Constitutional vision and Poorna Swaraj
CPI was among the earliest political forces to demand Poorna Swaraj. It raised the demand in its manifestos to INC sessions in 1921 and 1922, years before its formal adoption in Lahore in 1929.
M.N. Roy proposed a draft constitution in 1934 and argued for a Constituent Assembly to frame India’s future governance. This constitutional vision influenced later debates on democracy and rights.
Static GK Tip: The idea of a Constituent Assembly gained official acceptance in India only in the 1940s.
Static Usthadian Current Affairs Table
Centenary of the Communist Party of India:
| Topic | Detail |
| Year of CPI formation | 1925 |
| Place of formal founding | Kanpur |
| CPI origins | Tashkent meeting in 1920 |
| First CPI President | Singaravelu Chettiar |
| Mass organisations | AITUC, AIKS |
| Key freedom struggle role | Mobilisation of workers and peasants |
| Social reform focus | Anti-caste and anti-communal movements |
| Constitutional contribution | Demand for Constituent Assembly |
