50th Anniversary of China’s Cultural Revolution

On May 16^th China silently mourned the Grand Proletarian Cultural Revolution, brainchild of the legendary Mao Zedong fifty years ago. As the citizens ruefully recollect the infamous decade of the calamity, the mouth piece of Communist Party of China, breaks silence promising that another Cultural Revolution would never happen. While there was no official event reckoning the decade of chaos there were muted discussions on the same in the Chinese social media platforms. But unlike the Tiananmen Square incident discussions on Cultural Revolution are not censored by Chinese government. Ironically, China which claims to be an emerging power has one of the severely repressed media and government overtly controls the internet too. Together, lack of credible information and absence of clear media reportage on events past and present impeded common understanding of contemporary Chinese history. Hence any firsthand account of individuals who lived through the tiring times can help in unraveling the past events. To this end, my own curiosity of the initial days of China were comprehensively satiated by a poignant, intense and gripping family memoir- “Wild Swans- the Three Daughters of China” authored by Jung Chang.

After the tumultuous defeat at the hands of Allied powers, Japan was forced to withdraw from China. Soon China slipped into a civil war and the Communist Party of China under the helmsman ship of Mao Zedong seized power and established Peoples Republic of China (PRC) by defeating Kuomintang Forces who fled to Taiwan subsequently. By 1949, the fledgling nation was marred by rampant poverty, lawlessness, corruption and espionage broke the backbone of the economy. Persons who served the party and ingrained veritable principles and ideals of Communism held all the official positions. Soon the party cadres at various positions brought about massive changes reflecting party’s ideology in all spheres of live. People were disenchanted with policies like community kitchens and regulated rationing of fuel, food and other essential supplies. Common man was disappointed by the authoritarian travails of Mao regime. To placate the public who silently moaned an oppressive government Mao announced hundred flowers policy in 1956 to promote to arts, literature and scientific research. In 1957 Mao appealed intellectuals to criticize officials who made concessions and tripped communist ideals. Oblivious of Mao’s tactics, intellectuals enthusiastically expounded their views. These were subsequently labelled as “rightists”. About half million of such individuals from all walks of life were effectively purged off from their jobs and sent off to country side to do manual jobs. Their families were treated as second-class citizens. Mao thus effectively annihilated opposition and completely silenced new ideas (capitalist and western).

Soon, Mao launched an initiative, The Great Leap Forward to transform the traditionally agrarian Chinese economy and ambitiously embarked producing steel. While his vision for a resurgent China is commendable, the path employed to achieve it was utterly ridiculous. People were prohibited from cooking food at home and fuel supplies were pooled to incessantly burn steel furnaces. Scrap metal was collected fed to steel furnaces. While Children collected metal pieces, adults were expected to keep the furnace burning uninterruptedly. Farming was neglected and trees were indiscriminately cut and fed to burning furnaces. Consequently rainfall became erratic, crop production drastically fell leading to severe food shortage. Eventually the nation stared at a famine from 1958 through 1961, The Three Bitter Years, resulting in the death of around 40 million people. Soon officials and party officials began to denounce Mao and condemned the ludicrous Great Leap Forward. In a bid to assert control over party cadres and to destroy his enemies (supporters/sympathizers of Kuomintang) Mao unleashed the fiery campaign of Cultural Revolution.

Mao came up with the idea of Cultural Revolution in 1966 spear headed by his wife Jiang Qing designed to annihilate any revisionist ideas. The May 16^th notification document of the party announced that party was “infiltrated by counter-revolutionary revisionists who were plotting to create a dictatorship of the bourgeoisie”. By June 1^st the movement commanded by paramilitary force of students spread like a wild fire. Following a warning call from the party mouth piece, the student force christened as “Red Guards”, carried out all-out assault on persons, who failed to conform to norms dictated by party. In the process, they eliminated “capitalist-roaders” in other words-dissidents in party cadres, scholars, official and intellectuals. The movement also called for destruction of four olds-old customs, culture, habits and ideas. Overpowered by the support from the Chairman Mao students went on rampage and anything/ anyone objectionable to the principles enunciated by Mao were destroyed. Having beautiful lawns, pleasurable lives, poetry, art forms, enjoying a tea in coffee shops were all considered “bourgeois” and pulled down. Life soon became insipid, dull and moreover violent. Even the traditional structures, paintings, monuments, artefacts, books in the library with classical literature were ruined. Schools, museums, libraries, shops and private homes were ransacked. High officials who questioned the destruction were condemned at denunciation meetings and publicly humiliated. Within the first two months of the Cultural Revolution nearly 1800 people lost their lives.

By 1968 situation spiraled out of control, Red terror began to spread at tremendous pace. Realizing the crux of the deterioration, Mao ordered the Army to restore order. In the meanwhile, children of capitalist-roaders were packed off to country side especially to counties in hills. They were assigned menial and arduous jobs. Unable to bear the rampant cruelty, torture and suspicion several thousands have committed suicides. With Army called in to take control, death toll increased. The revolution lasted for a decade resulting in persecution of 1.5 million people with lives of several millions were brutally trampled. Economy was reduced to tatters and country was socially destabilized. The political careers of several communist leaders were upended- these included Deng Xiaoping, Xi Zhongxun, father of President Xi Jinping. The 13 year old Xi, at the time of revolution witnessed the brutal attacks endured by his family. His family was forced to flee and one of his sisters were persecuted. Curtains finally rolled over the entire massacre with the death of Mao on September 9^th 1976 and normalcy was finally restored. Significantly, to keep morale of the red guards high, reading sessions of the cultural revolution’ official hand book, The Little Red Book were held. With over billion copies of the book printed so far, it is one of the most printed book on earth.

Cultural Revolution was marred by sheer high-handedness, strict control and flagrant repression. Government brutally clamped down fundamental rights like the freedom of expression, speech and liberty of the citizens. Reckoned as the darkest days of Communist, the bone chilling stories of brutality in the worst affected regions of southern province of Guangxi reported incidents of cannibalism too. The cries of hapless people tried for no fault of theirs evokes pity.  Amidst this crisis, Richard Nixon visited China to “re-establish” ties between both the countries. Between 1971 and 1976, China has virtually slipped into a military dictatorship. Truly “(Mao) was as evil as Hitler or Stalin and did as much damage to mankind as they did”. But he was smart enough to pass off European despots without much condemnation and without denting his image. After the death of Mao, a trial was conducted and the Gang of Four- Jiang Qing, Wife of Mao, Zhang Chunqiao, Yao Wenyuan, Wang Hongwen and General Lin Biao were indicted for the travesty that prevailed in China.

Through a disguised civil war (Cultural Revolution) Mao aspired to project China as lodestar of communism. By 1980 retraced its path, steadily charted out economic reforms, embraced Capitalism, reaped economic boom and emerged as predominant manufacturing hub. Ironically, even now Communist Party exercises greater restrain in condemning the atrocities of the Cultural Revolution. Just 10 days before the start of the 50^th anniversary, a concert was held at Beijing’s Great Hall of People praising Cultural Revolution, singing accolades to Mao Zedong and Red Songs. Though China proclaims that a Cultural Revolution can never make a comeback an increasingly assertive China evoking nationalism at drop of hat can never be immune to extreme leftist ideology.

For all the loud admonitions, outlandish remarks and spurious aggression condemning Indian government of intolerance, the Elite Indian Leftist intellectuals may first thoroughly introspect their ideological affiliations. Deafening silence, muted responses commemorating 50^th anniversary of Cultural Revolution from the tempered Indian liberals reflects their duplicitous stance. As citizens of largest democracy, Indians must be eternally grateful to the founding fathers of our constitution for the priceless treasure of fundamental rights and uncensored media.

 

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India’s World War II Parable

Last year countries that emerged victorious and those resurrected from the clutches of imperialism together enthusiastically celebrated the 70^th anniversary of the bloodiest and the most destructive war fought so far- World War II. World War II eventually led to creation of the UN, end of imperialism of European powers, rise of two world superpowers, independence for countries in Middle East, Africa and South Asia and East Asia and birth of Israel.

India’s trivialization so far as opposed to unabashedly acclaiming its contributions towards World War II is exceptional. The way India has been disassociating itself from the commemorations needs a serious rethinking. While the World War II has been a defining moment for many countries like Russia and China. India was largely a divided camp with the architect of Indian Independence movement, Indian National Congress sternly opposing British’s war preparations and the hardened chunk of disguised leftists shifting their stance after Germany attacked Soviet Union in 1941. While the Indian National Congress expressed its strongest concerns towards Fascism and Nazism, it was against joining British forces whose imperialism had ushered India into depravation, underdevelopment and misery. Indian leaders contradicted its involvement in the war for decolonization when basic democratic rights and individual liberties of Indians were interdicted. In sharp contrast Muslim League having supported British war efforts gained strength and garnered enough thrust for its campaign for creation of Pakistan leading to partition of India along religious lines. On the other hand, Congress was not consulted and banned by British before declaration of India’s entry into war in September 1939.

Despite obstinate opposition from the Indian leaders as a British Colony, India being a least industrialized nation became potential supplier of raw materials, food grains, ammunitions, woolen clothing, iron ore, timber etc. Further the British received invaluable military assistance, and huge donations from five hundred Indian princely states. Nizam of Hyderabad had funded 2 RAF (Royal Air Force) fighter squadrons and in return British gifted him a captured German Bf-109 single engine fighter Indian Forces fought on land, sea and in air. During the initial two years of the war when British was embattled by German invasion and Axis victory seemed imminent, fierce display of courage by Indian troops turned battle in favor of Allied forces.

British were no strangers to courageous contributions of Indian troops that fought alongside its soldiers during the 150 years long colonial association. While British acknowledged unsurpassed battle valor of Indians, “Indianisation” of army and its modernization received less prominence. As a result, Indian Army was critically short of battle ready troops for its size in 1939. But following declaration of war troops were quickly raised and by the end of the war India Army emerged as the largest Allied forces contingent. India contributed over 2.6 million troops (2, 581,726) that were pulled to fight in Germany, Italy, North African deserts, West Africa, defend Suez Canal, Burma and along valleys of Kohima. They also helped in liberating British Colonies after Japan’s surrender in August 1945. Due to its strategic location India acted as base for American forces ferrying supplies to Chinese Nationalist efforts, supported British that fought against Germany in Middle East and against Japan when it seized Singapore, Malaya and Burma. Indian Army excelled on battle field and gave an edge to the Allied Forces by floundering German blitzkrieg. Around 14 million Indians worked continuously to keep up with the war requirements. Right before onset of war, over 60,000 British troops received special training under American supervision in Ramgarh (Bihar) with the finances drawn from the treasury of Government of India. The exceptional battle prowess of Indian troops greatly reduced the death toll of the Common Wealth troops. The bloodied war claimed lives of 36,000 Indian troops and left 64,354 severely injured. In all 4000 gallantry awards and 31 Victoria Crosses were awarded to Indian Army men.

By 1941 the political upheaval in India reached its zenith with congress leaders stirring up independence campaign by linking India’s independence to its participation in the War. In 1942 Gandhi launched Quit India Movement that triggered massive riots and protests across India. British nipped the movement in its inception by arresting over 60,000 national and local Congress leaders, who remained in jail till the end of World War. Subhash Chandra Bose a revolutionary Congress leader steam rolled India’s independence movement in 1942 by raising Indian National Army (INA) from the exiles and Prisoners of War from Singapore and joined the Japanese troops against British and its Common Wealth Forces in Burma, Imphal and Kohima. He also headed the Provisional Government of Free India that controlled no Indian Territory. Japan by 1942 captured Andaman and Nicobar Islands and handed over nominal control to Provisional Government of Free India in 1943.

British over-exploited India’s natural resources and ruthlessly diverted food grains to the war functionaries. The Oxford Encyclopedia of Economic history succinctly estimated that nearly 35% of India’s annual cotton production or approximately 5,000,000,000 yards went into making of war supplies. In total 196.7 million tons of coal, 6 million tons of iron ore, and 1.12 million tons of steel, timber, woolen clothes, ammunition were supplied by India. India manufactured 50 different kinds of arms and ammunition and nearly three-fourths of it was diverted for war. Reports released by FAO too endorsed that rampant deforestation occurred in India during colonial times. British through enactment of Forest Act of 1876, declared forests as national resources ending the control of Zamindars. Millions of trees were fell to build ships, railway lines, sleepers etc. Records indicated that first era of deforestation coincided with enactment of the new forest act and the next debilitating phase of deforestation occurred in 1940.

By 1943 India was reeling under a man-made catastrophe that led to starvation deaths of 3.5 million people in Bengal. MadhuSree Mukherjee’s in her meticulously researched book “Churchill’s secret war: the British Empire and ravaging of India during the World War II” categorically expounds the heart-rending tales of people during the Great Bengal Famine and the reasons for such an adversity. She emphatically propounded that while the British war cabinet received several warnings of impending shortage of food grain it conveniently chose to ignore the looming disaster. Bengal used to import of 2 million tons of rice from Burma whose transit was stopped during Burma Campaign. Despite food grain deficit, Bengal was ordered to export 260,000 tons of rice to other South Asian countries that could no longer receive rice imports from Burma. Viceroy of India Linlithgow, appalled by the catastrophic proportions of Great famine pleaded Churchill to ship 6, 00,000 tons of grain to avert the disaster. Churchill armed with an excuse of shortage of ships sent less than five percent of requirement and diverted merchant ships in the Indian Ocean to Atlantic. Meanwhile as the war expenditure of India increased by tenfold, government ordered for printing of paper currency. With inflation soaring, poor people especially artisans, craftsmen, labor who could ill afford succumbed to starvation. Despite the debilitating Bengal famine British government turned down the 100,000 tons of Burmese rice voluntarily offered Subhash Chandra Bose, wheat from Canada, rice and wheat gifted by Americans were turned down. Famine finally came to an end when Bengal harvested its crop in December 1943. Apart from India the callousness of Churchill caused famine in British colonies of Kenya, Tanganyika, and British Somaliland. Regardless of the acute shortages of the food grains and various agricultural products, the British insolently kept on importing tons of sugar, wheat, meat, live cattle, fish, rice, tea, cocoa, gallons of wine for storage. As a result Britain had highest ever stock pile of food grains and their overflowing stocks had to be stored outdoors covered by tarpaulins.

While Germans were censured for unleashing an orgy of genocide British weren’t far behind in enacting a similar act on India. British followed scorched-earth policy when India’s eastern frontier was attacked by Japanese and INA forces. Consequently all the modes of transport like ships, boats, bullocks, elephants were impounded in Bengal. Thus the movement of people was literally halted and the impoverished people of Bengal province had no chance of escaping the grueling food crisis.

The Axis powers desideratum of Greater Co-Prosperity Sphere eventually propelled Japanese armies in 1941 to venture into Burma’s jungles and launch surprise attacks on the US Pacific Fleet’s base at Pearl Harbour. Enthused by triumphs in Hong-Kong, Malay Peninsula and Singapore, Japan invaded Burma with a primary objective of shutting off supplies to the nationalist forces led by Chiang-Ki-Shek through Burma Road. Further Burma being Gate way to India, Japan believed that Indian insurrection towards British could facilitate the entry of troops into the Indian Territory through Assam. Japanese forces had sizeable Indian troops captured after fall of Malaya and Singapore along with Subhash Chandra Bose’s INA troops who hoped to liberate India from clutches of British launched attacks on Imphal and Kohima to destabilize India simmered by independence movement. British launched Burma campaign in 1942 but the inexperienced Burma Corps (Bur Corps) comprising of Indian and Burmese troops commanded by British lost ground in 1942.  A quick overhauling of the attack by the 14^th Army comprising of the British, Indian and African formations registered initial success by capturing Mandalay in March 1945 and by May 3^rd Allied troops firmly established their position in Rangoon. 14^th Army Battalion of India led by Lt. General William Slim, has been instrumental in scripting first convincing victory for the Allied Powers in Burma. Last of the Japanese troops were pushed out of the Kohima valley by June 22^nd ending Japanese seize of Kohima.

By the end of World War II, India was critically depleted of resources and economy was in ruins. The financial benefits reaped by British personnel in India was enviable. The technical and administrative personnel working in India used to earn 2,000, 000 pounds a year and the civilian pensions paid by India in UK were 3,000,000 pounds a year.  Finally the British rewarded India’s outstanding contributions towards their victory by destroying several air crafts and other war supplies before retreating. They carried back the B-24 Liberator Bombers built during the World War II by Walchandnagar Aircraft Company (precursor to Hindustan Aeronautical Limited) Bangalore. The Maintenance Command of the British at Kanpur deliberately destroyed expensive rudimentary components of bombers labelling them as excess and aircrafts were crash dropped on to the ground by their tail with their nose hitting the ground from a height. These wanton acts of sabotaging strategic assets were an irreparable loss to already deteriorated Indian economy.

Official records World over had credible records of the losses incurred by the Allied and Axis Powers involved in the war, sacrifices rendered and financial hardships endured by colonies of the European Imperial powers were sparingly commemorated. Pathetically, India’s role in the World war is unappreciated. After the war while claims over wealth and territories were equally distributed among the allies India was forced to shell out $24 million towards UN Relief and Rehabilitation Administration (UNRRA). While Britain and France during the war were bailed out of bankruptcy through the Lend-Lease Act of 1941 and later by Marshall Plan of the US, India inherited a shattered economy. The only major war gain for India is obtaining Full-Independence. The monumental sacrifices rendered by over 90,000 of India soldiers in their fight against fascism and Nazism laid foundations for a new world order. Unfortunately, incoherent Indian nationalist response that existed during the World and later grossly failed to pay a fitting tribute to the supreme sacrifices made by the Indian Army personnel. It is important to recall the invaluable contributions of India else there is danger of being written off from the history.

 

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