Question
Write about Manabendra Roy and the leftist movement in India.
Answer
Manabendranath Roy, also known as M.N. Roy, was a Bengali communist leader who played a significant role in the leftist movement in India. He was born in 1887 and became interested in leftist ideals during his time in Europe, where he met and was influenced by Russian revolutionaries.
In 1920, Roy founded the Communist Party of India in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. After returning to India in 1930, he worked tirelessly to promote leftist ideology and unite various leftist factions in India.
Roy believed in the importance of a united front of all leftist powers and even invited Congressmen who shared his ideals to various conferences. In 1939, he formed the League of Radical Congressmen with members from both the left and right wings of Congress. However, this coalition did not last long due to hostility from Gandhian leaders within Congress.
Roy then left Congress and, with like-minded individuals, formed the Radical Democratic Party in 1940. This party supported the British in World War II and aimed to win the trust of the working class in India. Roy’s labour organization, the Indian Federation of Labour, worked to mobilize public opinion in favour of the war effort.
