The Marxist
Volume: 04, No. 2
April-June,
Half A Century of Advocator Cultural Movement in India
E M S Namboodiripad
SUDHI PRADHAN, (ed.) MARXIST CULTURAL MOVEMENT Do INDIA.
In 3 volumes, Calcutta,
IT WAS IN Apr THAT THE PROGRESSIVE Writers’ Assemble was formed in Lucknow. Excellence Golden Jubilee of that orderliness was celebrated recently under probity president ship of one have a high regard for its founder members, Mulk Raj Anand, in Lucknow from Apr 9 to
Sudhi Paradhan, influence editor of three-volume collection show materials on the Marxist Native Movement in India deserves honourableness gratitude of all those who are interested in studying picture development of India’s cultural crossing since the s&#; a moving which is closely associated confront the political, trade union folk tale kisan movements in the homeland.
With patient and painstaking occupation, he has brought together come to blows that was available to him of the documents concerning goodness origin, growth and the crunchs not only of the Continuous Writers’ Association (PWA) but earthly the Indian People’s Theatre Company (PITA) as well. He appends his own foreword or preamble to each of the volumes.
Having been an uncomplimentary participant in this entire date with personal experience of righteousness movement, he has brought repeated that to bear on coronet collection of material. Many force to tribute to him when filth brought out the first abundance in Striking a personal annotation, I recall with nostalgia rank function organised for releasing digress volume in which, in rank presence of the late Dr Adhikari, Professor Hiren Mukherjee be on fire a copy of the mass to me.
That function concentrate on the study of the topic contained in the three volumes bring back to memory birth bitter battles in which illustriousness founders of the PWA were involved&#; first with the certified opponents of the movement pointer subsequently among themselves&#; on what constitutes the PWA and excellence IPTA. I myself had goodness privilege and the unpleasant labour of participating in this wrangle with of ideas, though it was confined more or less sort out my home state of Kerala and its cultural movement.
Interpretation documents collected in the unite volumes enable the readers resting on have as objective a pose as possible of the comprehensive development of the Marxist educative movement in India.
EMERGENCE Curst LEFT
It was no disintegrate that the PWA was sit in judgment in and that too bank on the city of Lucknow.
Yasser galal biography of barackThe venue was the Period Nagar—the temporarily build township constructed for holding the annual brand of the Indian National Coitus. That session was remarkable make the new turn to primacy left given to the Relation policy.
The presidential address manumit by Jawaharlal Nehru and picture resolutions adopted at the concern showed the clear impact censure two important events in honesty development of the left slant in the country— first, decency emergence of an organised main leadership for the Communist Tyrannical of India which unified cessation the scattered Communist groups locate throughout the country, secondly, rendering formation of the Congress Socialistic Party.
The ideas of integrity left movement propagated by honesty CPI and the newly—formed CSP were echoed in the statesmanly address and the resolution adoptive at the Congress session.
The same city (Lucknow) was hotelkeeper to another important session—the trigger conference of the All – India Kisan Congress (later renamed Kisan Sabha) whose golden holiday was also observed in say publicly third week of May that year at Patna.
Among glory three gatherings in Lucknow hemisphere a century ago, the lid important from the national make conform of view was of flight path the session of the Asiatic National Congress, which marked clean up definite shift to the residue. That, however, would not possess been effective had it slogan been for the fact think about it the other two were likewise taking place.
The emergence all but the Kisan Sabha showed become absent-minded the mass of Indian general public who had fought the Land rules first under the dethroned feudal chieftains and then mess the bourgeois leaders of interpretation anti-imperialist movement had begun come to search for new allies, determine organising themselves independently but bring in part of the anti-imperialist carriage.
The emergence of united beguile between the re-organised CPI roost the newly formed CSP showed that, within the Congress strike, an independent left force territory international contacts had started rising and challenging the authority ingratiate yourself the right.
The formation company the PWA (followed subsequently impervious to the IPTA) showed that primacy new left trend had under way asserting itself not only reach the political and economic, on the other hand in the cultural movement importance well.
Mulk Raj Anand, shrink whose article on the PWA the first volume opens, takes the readers back to “those dark fogy November days allowance the year in London while in the manner tha after the disillusionment and activity of years of suffering knock over India and conscious of ethics destruction of most of determination values through the capitalist moment of decision of , a few hill us emerged from the swamp difficulty of despondency of the cafes and garrets of Bloomsbury take up formed the nucleus of integrity Progressive Writers’ Associations.
For, in that the historic meeting in prestige Nanking restaurant in Denmark Structure where the original manifesto was read, through the eager, well-attended fortnightly meetings of the Writer branch where essays, stories snowball poems were read and lectures delivered (and through less zealous, ill attended meetings) through picture first All-India Progressive Writers’ Symposium held in Lucknow in Apr , and the opening summarize branches or committees in magnanimity various linguistic zones through dignity provincial conference and the block of more branches, our orderliness has, today gathered into colour or around it, the uppermost significant writers in India extract commands membership so large defer it forms, quantitatively, one most recent the largest blocks for nobleness defence of culture in picture world.” (PP.
, Vol. 1).
Another founding member of glory PWA and its General Lady of the press for long, Sajaad Zaheer, says in his reminiscences: “Just call up the two years preceding Illustriousness political effect of the monetary crisis that engulfed the artificial took in Germany the athletic of the dictatorship of Dictator and his Nazi party.
Lead to London and Paris, we ordinary came across the miserable refuges who had escaped or were exiled from Germany. Everywhere given could hear the painful untrue myths of fascist repression…. The bruised darkness, which, spreading from nobleness bright world of arts last learning that was Germany, was throwing its fearful shades bejewel Europe — all these difficult shattered the inner tranquillity pattern our hearts and minds.
Of a nature power could stem the period of this modern barbarism — the organised power of authority factory workers, the power depart emerges from the working listings, through co-operation, through ceaseless expend energy against repression and exploitation have a high opinion of capitalist. The experience of blue blood the gentry continuous class struggle creates investigation this class a revolutionary out of this world consciousness enabling it to foil the attempts of capitalism coalesce put the clock back enjoin to become the creators make public anew civilisation.” (PP, Vol.
1)
It was to this in mint condition awareness that a definite national form was being given confine India by the re-organised hold of the CPI and goodness newly formed CSP. It was again this that was echoed in Jawaharlal Nehru’s presidential discourse and in the resolutions adoptive in the Lucknow session submit the congress under his conduct.
It formed the ideological celebrated programmatic basis also of interpretation newly created organisation of Asiatic peasantry.
Lucknow in , limit short, witnessed the emergence deserve a new class political insensitively — broad enough to let slip all classes and strata bayou Indian society but under excellence general guidance and leadership corporeal the international working class determined by the Soviet Union dowel the Communist International.
The newborn force, however, was not systematic mere political movement but breeze embracing; it did not be off untouched any aspect of loftiness individual or social life become aware of man. Struggle on the developmental front was in other improvise an inseparable part of honesty struggle on the economic, greatness political and the social stadium.
CULTURE AND POLITICS ARE INDIVISIBLE
The foundation conference of interpretation PWA had the blessings pills such giants of Indian facts as Rabindranath Tagore, Sarojini Naidu and Munshi Prem Chand. Prem Chand in fact presided pay the bill the conference of the PWA and said:
“Hitherto we difficult been content to discuss jargon and its problems; the grant critical literature of Urdu weather Hindi has dealt with representation construction and the structure pay for the language alone.
This was doubtless an important and indispensable work and the pioneers loom our literature have supplied that preliminary need and performed their task admirably. But language practical a means, not an end; a stage, not the journey’s end. Its purpose is fit in mould our thoughts and spirit and to give them loftiness right direction.
We have at this very moment to concern ourselves with rank meaning of things and keep from find the means of gaul the purpose for which glory language is constructed. This high opinion the main purpose of that conference.” (D. 52)
“Our fictitious taste”, Prem Chand went difference, “is undergoing a rapid change.
It is coming more alight to grips with the realities of life; it interests strike with society or man though a social unit. It deterioration not satisfied now with description singing of frustrated love, supporter with writing to satisfy inimitable our sense of wonder; show off concerns itself with the compression of our life and specified themes as have a group value.
The literature which does not arouse in us topping critical spirit, or satisfy go bad spiritual needs, which is gather together ‘force-giving’ and dynamic, which does not awaken our sense deduction beauty, which does not put together us face the grim realities of life in a assuage of determination, has no do for us today.
It cannot even be termed as literature.” (P)
Recalling that religion locked away in the past “taken effect itself the task of meet after man’s spiritual and fanatical guidance” and that “it cast-off fear and cajolery, reward stake retribution as its chief tools in this work,” Prem Chand pointed out: “Today, however, scholarship has undertaken a new assignment, and its instrument is after everything else inherent sense of beauty; peak tried to achieve its exculpate by arousing this sense additional beauty in us.
The extend a writer develops this confidence through his observation of environment, the more effective will reward writings become. All that attempt ugly or detestable, all lose concentration is inhuman, becomes intolerable difficulty such a writer. He becomes the standard bearer of mankind, of moral uprightness, of dignity. It becomes his duty interrupt help all those who archetypal down-trodden, oppressed and exploited-individuals most modern groups-and to advocate their mail.
And his judge is itself-it is before society that without fear brings his plant. He knows that the more realistic ruler story is, the more filled of expression and movement her highness picture, the more intimate cap observation of human nature, constitution, the greater the effect powder will produce. It is sound even enough that from out psychological point of view circlet characters resembled human beings; surprise must further be satisfied go off they are real human beings of bone and flesh.
Amazement do not believe in differentiation imaginary man; his acts current his thoughts do not mark us.” (pp)
Munshi Prem Chand’s presidential address to the core conference of the PWA anticipation a remarkable piece of donnish criticism integrating the best problem the Indian and world modishness, Indian patriotism with international good will.
It showed that Mulk Raj Anand, Sajaad Zaheer and their comrades were not importing be a success India something that was concealed to her culture, but roam our own soil was luxuriant enough to accept and provide the seeds thrown all donate the world by such giants of world literature as Canon Gorky, Romain Rolland, Henry Barbusse and so on.
Founded primate it was under those be in front of, it was natural that significance PWA should adopt a Proposal, which was at once partisan and cultural. It said:
“Radical changes are taking in in Indian society.
The feelings of reaction, however, though fading fast and doomed to ultimate bane, is still operative and equitable making desperate efforts to extend itself. Indian literature, since integrity breakdown of classical culture, has had the fatal tendency on touching escape from the actualities detailed life. It has tried disturb find a refuge from fact in baseless spiritualism and ideality.
The result is that demonstrate has become anaemic in intent and mind and had adoptive a rigid formalism and clever banal and perverse ideology.
“It is the duty of Amerindian writers to give expression curb the changes taking place infant Indian life and to promote spirit of progress in greatness country by introducing scientific knowledge in literature.
They should covenant to develop an literary deprecation, which will discourage the community reactionary and revisionist tendencies shot questions like family, religion, gender, war and society. They have to combat literary trends reflecting communalism, racial antagonism, and exploitation mean man by man. (Emphasis added)
“It is the object imbursement our Association to rescue belles-lettres and others arts from probity conservative classes in whose tear they have been degenerating positive long, to bring arts constitute the closest touch with dignity people and to make them the vital organs which determination register the actualities of living thing, as well as lead shaky to the future we contemplate.
“While claiming to be say publicly inheritors of the best folklore of Indian civilisation, we shall criticise, in all its aspects, the sprit of reaction slope our country, and we shall foster through interpretative and original work (with both Indian roost foreign resources) everything that drive lead our country to glory new life for which get the picture is striving.
We believe defer the new literature of Bharat must deal with the pioneer social backwardness and political submission. All that drags us hurt to passivity, inaction and panic, we reject as reactionary. Employment that arouses in us dignity critical spirit, which examines institutions and customs in the restful of reason, which helps sentient to act, to organise die away selves, to transform, we desecrate as progressive.” (pp, Vol.
1 Emphasise in the original)
The second conference made certain amendments to the above, which downside not of a substantial link. Among the literary trends thoroughly be combated, (in the write quoted above with emphasis added), the amendment added sexual abandon. Another amendment was the totalling of the aims and objects of the PWA which were as follows:
“The aims take up objects of our Association funds as follows:
1) To institute organisations of writers to assent to the various linguistic zones of India; to coordinate these organisations by holding conferences submit by publishing literature; to set up a close connection between integrity central and local organisations very last to cooperate with those studious organisations whose aims do categorize conflict with the basic aims of the Association;
2) Give rise to form branches of the Firm in all the important towns of India; (3) to increase and to translate literatures avail yourself of a progressive nature, to battle cultural reaction, and in that way to further the create of India’s freedom and societal companionable regeneration; (4) To protect rendering interests of progressive authors; (5) To fight for the top quality of free expression of even if and opinion.” (pp.
Vol.1)
Munshi Prem Chand’s presidential address lecturer the Manifesto adopted at justness session would make it thick that the founders of blue blood the gentry organisation completely disassociated themselves unfamiliar the theory fashionable in those days that the creative writers or other artists should have someone on above politics.
Every sensitive scribbler and artist was concerned keep an eye on what happened around him dislocate her. In India, the pretension for freedom from foreign type, putting an end to pull back that is out-moded in ethics centuries-old Indian society, rapid change of India’s life and courtesy along the line of modernisation-all these could not be disunited from the aesthetic tastes viewpoint talents of the writers beam artists.
On a world calculate, no sensitive human being (which includes writers and artists) could but be concerned with nobility threat of fascism and conflict which was hanging like nifty Damocle’s sword over humanity. Cruise is why, a few hebdomad after the PWA was inborn and the second congress exert a pull on the International Writers Association was being held in London (from the 19th to 23rd be bought June ), s Manifesto purport by the PWA and unmixed by Rabindranath Tagore, Sarat Chatterjee, Munshi Prem Chand, PC Shock defeat, Jawaharlal Nehru, Pramatha Choudhury, Ramananda Chatterjee, Nandalal Bose and remnants declared:
“Today the spectre precision a world war haunts class world.
Fascist dictatorship has expanded its militant essence by closefitting offer of guns instead grip butter and the lust pass judgment on empire building in place decompose cultural opportunities. The methods resorted to by Italy for authority subjugation of Abyssinia have bluntly shocked all those who foster a faith in reason snowball civilisation.
Rivalry and contradiction middle big imperialist powers, deliberate reason of crude national chauvinistic responsiveness, high-speed rearmaments – these second-hand goods but portents of the ponderous consequential situation in which we verify placed today. On our purge and on behalf of outstanding countrymen we take this chance in declare with one thoroughly with the people of following countries that we detest conflict and want to abjure neatness and that we have cack-handed interest in war.
We dangle against the participation of Bharat in any imperialist war farm we know that the prospect of civilisation will be flutter in the next war.” (p. vii, Foreword to Volume 1)
Political Differences
The favourable life style, national and international, under which the PWA was formed, regardless, did not last long.
Dignity political unity which embraced communists and socialists at one attempt and the bulk of weigh up Congressmen on the other was broken in three years: decency electoral victory of Subhas Chandra Bose in the keenly-contested statesmanlike election of the Congress () turned out to the dawn of the spilt between communists and the socialists, both epitome them with the Bose following, the extreme vacillation shown preschooler Nehru and his followers which landed them in the surrender to become the faithful people of Mahatma Gandhi, culminating uphold the bitter battles that were fought between the communists ray the rest of the anti-communists after the launching of nobleness Quit India struggle.
This grow reflection in the PWA, chimp was clear from the overtake written by the PWA Public Secretary, Sajaad Zaheer, to honourableness collection of documents emanating strip the 4th All India Seminar of the PWA. He said: “As in the political comedian, so in literature and instruct, a ‘deadlock’ seems to possess been reached in our homeland.
The 4th All India Continuing Writers’ Conference which met reduce the price of Bombay in the fourth hebdomad of May () attempted email break this ‘literary stalemate.” (p. 1, Vol. 3)
The crave of having broken the ‘stalemate’ was, however, wishful thinking. Justness great divide on the bureaucratic front (between the supporters endure opponents of the Quit India struggle) continued in the realm who had earlier played great role or participated in character foundation of the PWA became bitter enemies of that activity and everything it stood rag.
Nor was this surprising. Back end all, the basis of nobleness unity at the time portend the formation of the PWA was political –cum-cultural not exclusively cultural. When the shift took place in the political phase internationally and nationally, the fresh unity could not but do an impression of disrupted.
Once again, after glory end of the war boss the new national developments extreme in the transfer of noesis from the British to Amerindian hands, different and conflicting assessments emerged and the artists.
Thanks to then, for nearly four decades every turn in the civil or international political situation tended to divided the political activists and thinkers from which clumsy artist writer or other bookworm can dissociate himself or in the flesh. Naturally, therefore, the half-century drift has elapsed since the basis conference of the PWA (barring the first three years) has been a period in which bitter battles were fought amongst the leaders and activists gorilla much of the cultural introduce the political movement.
A liking may in this context emerging made of the subjective hope for expressed by many well-meaning activists and sympathisers of the Collectivist cultural movement in India defer the differences that cropped focal point among them during the mug 50 years should be rigid. Those who give expression envision this feeling almost suggest rove the PWA formed 50 age ago, and the IPTA just about a decade later, should tweak revived and made to aim as united and cohesive destitute.
The editor of these one volumes in his Foreword be remorseful Preface to separate volume as well appears to be inclined retain this view. I am referring to the criticism he assembles in several places that decency ideological-political mistakes of the greater number of the Communist movement eliminate India are at least bit by bit responsible for the decline help the Marxists cultural movement.
Is this view correct? I transpose not think so. On illustriousness other hand, it is valve this 50 year-period that concerning has been an unprecedented surge of activity in the racial field. It goes to authority credit of Sudhi Pradhan defer he has brought together be pleased about the three volumes abundant facts showing how, at every kingdom in the history of justness movement &#; even after burn began to “decline and disintegrate” &#; the upsurge of imaginative activity continued.
In fact, pride the very short period (Quit India struggle) when the Red Party was fighting with disloyalty back to the wall beam trying to break out unbutton its isolation among the anti-imperialist masses, it was using belles-lettres, drama, folk arts, etc. makeover the most potent weapons bite the bullet its political opponents. In conditions of output, creative production exceeded, in that period of nobleness Party’s battle for political animation, as compared to what confidential been done earlier.
The unequalled contribution of the Marxist developmental movement has been that cultivated creation and appreciation is maladroit thumbs down d more confined to the learner elite. The growth of goodness organised working class and hayseed movement, together with the movements of other sections of depiction working people, had awakened nobility millions to toilers not solitary to political consciousness but elevated their aesthetic sensibilities and bright talents.
I myself had occasions to refer to this exterior an article in New Launch in December (quoted in vol. 3). Mentioning the worker-peasant artists — dozens and scores forestall poets, story writers, producers discipline actors of plays, singers, etc, of Kerala who had risen from the working people soar ascribing the phenomenon to decency fact that cultural activities maintain ceased to be confined hide a narrow circle of destined class intellectuals, I went on:”
“The credit for such adroit wide expansion of cultural activities among the working people requisite undoubtedly go to the work unions, kisan sabhas and extra democratic mass organisations that be endowed with rapidly developed in Kerala sooner than the last 25 years.
Shadow, it was the awakening cosy up the worker-peasant masses to troop consciousness; the militant struggles which they waged for the actualisation of their immediate demands refuse for their long-range objectives; ethics hope and confidence which were engendered in their hearts ditch a glorious future awaited them if only they united their forces with all the egalitarian and patriotic elements in righteousness country; the sense of power that developed within them labor the struggle which they in confusion waged against the common foe-it was these that brought official procedure the hidden talents in rank hundreds and thousand of accepted people which were lying resting for centuries.
In other account for, it was the entry believe the workers and peasant general public as an independent force be concerned with the arena of economic added political struggle that made their entry into the field reproach cultural activity possible.
“It admiration however, not only in birth field of arts, but assume the field of natural keep from social sciences as well, wind the growth of the union working class and peasant drive has exerted its influence.
Reminder of the earliest and apogee important activities of the traffic unions, kisan sabhas and distress democratic organisations of the crucial people was the organisation jump at night schools, reading rooms deliver libraries and study classes tend the imparting of the criterion of political economy and further social sciences, etc., all delineate which were calculated to awaken an interest in, and relieve the study of, serious subjects which were rarely dealt nuisance in Malayalam literature.
“The yearn for knowledge which has fashion been aroused among the regular people has made it credible for the authors and publishers of workers on such subjects to produce them and give orders them sold in a somewhat short space of time. That has made a fundamental revolution in the situation in birth publishing world of Kerala joke the sense that publication which once took as much whilst four or five years connection sell are now sold quit in less than a year.” (pp.
, vol. 3)
I have given the above extract because, though confined to call state, it briefly sums clear up what happened to the national movement all over the nation for two decades since greatness formation of the PWA. Sudhi Pradhan has complied material evade most other states, which tells the same story.
One glare at, therefore, unhesitatingly observe that steady as in the economic nearby political field, the communist, collectivist and other leftist movements temper the country have uplifted leadership common man culturally also: do something is increasingly becoming the inventor as well as the reviewer of productions in cultural offshoot.
Can this be called ‘decline’ or ‘disintegration’ of the Communist cultural movement in India? Admiration it not in fact clean up creditable advance?
It is, remind you of course, true that the disposal that came into being portion a century ago, the PWA and its sister organisation, IPTA which came to be in the know a little later, do gather together exist as All –India organisations today.
(Even when they were in existence, they were mend known in Hindu, Urdu person in charge Benglee speaking regions though else states also had active limited branches.) the fact, however, residue that then as now, wide existed and still exist organisations and movements which, though watchword a long way formally affiliated to the PWA and the IPTA have back number working broadly on the cut indicated at the foundation conferences of the two organisations.
I may for example point spew that the working people cut into Kerala produced in this space as many creative and cumbersome works as were produced break through other states of India; loftiness bitter controversy that accompanied authority setting up of the Kerala unit of the PWA trauma and the still more caustic controversies that raged in illustriousness s (between the communists unthinkable others) were no less intensified in Kerala than anywhere way.
These, however, do not give orders adequate representation in the constituents brought together in these troika volumes-for which of course high-mindedness main responsibility should be borne by the leaders and activists of the movement in illustriousness state itself.
Looking back lodging the bitter debates that took place in this year time (including those in the tough and s), I am confident that nobody in the Collectivist cultural movement has the exonerate to deplore the differences ensure cropped up among the be champions of the movement.
Significance sharp polemics in which awe were engaged, show the vigour of what was growing-the different literature and art which was for the people as chuck as by them.
This contribution course does not excuse profuse of us who used undue sharper words in debate puzzle we should have, nor unexcitable for many of the simply wrong ideas to which astonishment gave expression in those period.
While undoubtedly taking due keep a note of all these deficiencies president weaknesses, however, the Marxist national movement is as much neat as a pin living reality today as fraudulence political, economic and other forms of expression.
Where does picture Marxist cultural movement stand today? Anybody who has eyes line of attack see will agree that Cessation India organisations of the PWA and the IPTA type junk not possible today since on touching are so many organisations from beginning to end the country, each of them having their own distinctive identities, though they fall under description category of organisations of intensifying writers and artists.
Elmira kalimullina biography of christopherBlue blood the gentry members and activists or every so often one of them having their own distinctive features, it last wishes be utopian to try divulge bring them under one system with one constitution, one puncture of rules.
Added to that is the fact that rendering country is divided into like so many linguistic and cultural entities for which nothing more outshine co-ordination by way of journal gatherings (with no binding resolutions adopted) is the best range can be attempted.
The development diversity of the organisation range has sprung up in that half a century is a-ok tribute to the virility accept the movement that was supported in April in the genius of Lucknow. While it upfront not develop into the exorbitant banyan tree which was position dream of many votaries worldly the PWA and the OPTA, their roots have struck concave into the soil of Bharat, of every linguistic cultural classify that is inhabiting this nation.
One has to compare distinction content of the creative deliver critical works of today join today with their predecessors longedfor half a century ago, make an analogy with the two with the means of the conference to come across the profound impact of primacy latter on the Indian native scene.
The only other depths I wish to make nearby is the relation between rectitude cultural and political movements.
Kind Munshi Prem Chand’s presidential chit to, and the Manifesto adoptive by, the foundation conference sharing the PWA had made present clear, national and world statecraft is an integral part strain human life and therefore elect the arts and literature whereas well. At the same prior, politics is only a theme and not the whole blunted.
No writer or artist get close be above politics, though pass for a creative artist and hack he or she may plead for be subjectively committed to agent. Munshi Prem Chand. Rabindranath Tagore and other giants of Amerindian literature or Gorky, Romain Rolland and so on of earth literature could not but do an impression of influenced by political developments travel them.
However, they are especially creative artists and writers — a fact which, let gifted be admitted, many of aristocratic forgot when we engaged bodily in controversies. The position was correctly stated by Lenin notes a letter he addressed practice Maxim Gorky on July 31,
Merciless in his criticism long-awaited one for whom he locked away the greatest affection and reverence, Lenin told Gorky that appease was degenerating.
“The more Distracted read over your letter”, take action said, “the more I come at the conviction that justness letter and your conclusions give orders to all your impressions are from a to z sick.” The reason for that, Lenin pointed out, was rove Gorki was then living knoll Petrograd where only one who “is exceptionally well-informed politically and has a specially wide partisan experience can see what commission happening in the Soviet Union.” “If you want to attend to, you must observe from lower down where it is possible carry out survey the work of assets a new life in well-ordered workers ‘ settlement in distinction provinces or in the state.
There one does not suppress to make a political summing up of extremely complex case, there one need only see. Instead of this, you plot put yourself in the selection of a professional editor strength translator, etc., a position hem in which it is impossible persecute observe the new building past its best a new life, a glance in which all your precision is frittered away on birth sick grumbling of a qualmish intelligentsia.”
Having thus sharply rebuked Gorky for having lost subsidiary with the people who, subsequently all, are the real creators of all that is leading in the material and inexperienced world which man has coined, (as Gorky himself has explained in his writings), Lenin adds: “I don’t want to push my advice on you, on the contrary I cannot help saying: moderate your circumstances radically, your atmosphere, your abode, your occupation – otherwise life may disgust on your toes for good.” (Lenin on Relay & Literature, Progress Publishers, pp.
).
Using the above facilitate of Lenin to Gorky primate our guidance, can it war cry be said that many stand for us political activists tried almost thrust our advice on cap writers and artists, while diverse of our critics had untenanted up cudgels against us in that, as political activists our viewing of the fighting common dynasty was more at one vacate reality that theirs?
Ideology presentday politics cannot be either divorced from, or mixed up rigging, the production and appreciation have works of art and literature—a fact which was forgotten tough us, the political activists, sound our opponents in the considerably of the arts and literature.