Thirupur Guna
[The article does not reflect the views of the magazine, but we are publishing it as it is informative and we hope the readers to get varied views so that they can draw their own conclusions. the article in our view has two major problems : First, and most important, it does not draw a clear line of distinction between revisionism and Marxism, and tends to see CPI/CPM type T as Marxists (maybe with certain deviations). This is sad s it its now over a century since Lenin defined revisionism as nothing but the bourgeiosie within the working class. This lack of distinction is a serious problem of many a liberal. Even in his conclusion he equates the electoral path with that of armed struggle; a clear distinction needs to be made between participation in elections as part of an overall revolutionary strategy and the ELECTORAL PATH, which is outright revisionist. History has shown that no ruling class in the world has handed over power peacefully!!! The second point, is that the author seems to be unaware of the extensive discussions taking place in the revolutionary camp on the issue of tactics. Debates is not an ideal as presented, but a necessary aspect of dialectics. The unfortunate aspect of these debates, it leads to continuous splits due to petti-bourgeois ego that dominates the leaders of these formations. Debates need to be held within the framework of democratic centralism where the minority views must subordinate themselves to the majority, while continuing the debate in a proper forum and manner. Here two wrong trends exist – first, the possibility of anarchic discussion; second the suppression of the minority by the majority in the name of discipline. Due to these two wrong trend s debates result in continuous splits destroying the movement. Finally, it must be stated the cause of the setback is not what is mentioned, but the lack of ability to face (devise effective tactics) a cruel ruling class which has adopted ruthless methods of suppression, similar to those used by a foreign power on a nation state. India’s Brahminical rulers are not only ruthless but highly cunning. it requires much greater sophistication in tactics to counter them.- Editor]
The setback of Communism is global. In India, it is in a dangerous state. The reason is that communists in all other countries are trying to understand the challenges they face; they discuss them with reports and implement new practices.
In India, there are no such efforts. The parties are in a mindset as if everything is progressing on a royal path. If anyone outside the party tries to initiate a discussion, they are humiliated with cheap labels.
Recently in Nepal, the people took to the streets and overthrew all parties, including the communists who were already in power. Indeed, there was provocation from global exploiters behind this. However, there was also an unbearable anger among the people against those who ruled them.
The Nepalese communists, having been rebuked by the people, offered a public apology. They expressed regret, stating that they had become alienated from the people by coating themselves in the luxurious lifestyle of the ruling class in their attire, conduct, and habits, and had become corrupted to that extent.
Even if not as publicly, various communist parties in several countries, including Pakistan, Turkey, and Sri Lanka, are making diverse efforts to identify the reasons for moving closer to the people. In Sri Lanka, various debates are now taking place regarding linguistic national issues, the problems of the hill-country (Malaiyaha) people, and the fundamental concerns of the Islamic community.
The weapon of corruption and political extravagance used by global power centers in Nepal (joined by Indian power centers) is being wielded in every country. This same weapon was used even in our neighboring countries like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
In truth, this weapon has no intention of destroying corruption or political extravagance. Instead, there is a fear that people, disgusted by corruption and political luxury, might move toward true revolutionary forces. That is why global dominant powers, who cannot survive without corruption, join together to stage glamorous political dramas against corruption; they create new parties in every country in the name of ‘people’s power.’
To build such parties with new ‘saviors,’ they do not need to go among the people, mingle with them, answer doubts, or prove themselves. On the contrary, they possess the technology to easily brainwash through digital means.
The digital criminalities committed by X platform owner Mr. Elon Musk and his associate Donald Trump to win the American election are known to the world. Elon Musk used his X platform to ensure that opinions supporting them reached more people.
He had already introduced the ‘Blue Tick’ system for those he wanted to prioritize. To avoid undesirable opinions, he established the ‘Shadow Ban’ method (making posts invisible to others). Through this, Elon Musk made his and his associate’s views reach 1,000 times more people. (According to a study by Queensland University of Technology – QUT – during the 2024 U.S. presidential election period, Musk’s posts reached 1,300% more viewers). At the same time, he suppressed the views of opponents by preventing them from becoming widely visible. After winning, he even admitted to it.
This same technology was implemented in Nepal. Now, it is being implemented in Tamil Nadu, India, as well.
In the same manner, a party called Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam has risen in Tamil Nadu through actor Vijay without any field activity. It is being aggrandized while shouting slogans like “Anti-corruption – Abolition of family rule and monarchy – Pure power as an alternative to evil power.”
To easily understand the digital brainwashing behind this aggrandizement, let’s look at just one piece of evidence.
Vijay’s party has attracted children who do not have the right to vote more than those who do. They are not talking about Vijay’s acting; they are talking about Vijay’s politics.
Furthermore, Vijay was never an actor for children. His cinematic beginning was a center for the titillation of the youth, filled with ‘midnight masala’ songs. Until entering politics, he was a hero for the youth who preferred brawls. In this region, the actor who attracted children was Sivakarthikeyan. Then how are children talking about Vijay’s politics?
Vijay’s party was not built through field activities; it was built entirely through the internet. Although the situation across India cannot be stated precisely, the share of children in internet usage in Tamil Nadu is significant. To appease children (in reality, to escape from them), parents and caregivers thrust cell phones into their hands even in infancy.
Studies show that children, who were once watching comics and cartoons, currently spend more time on YouTube Shorts and Instagram Reels. During a study conducted by a group of students we know two years ago, they found that information about Vijay appeared as advertisements in the middle of the cartoons and comics children watch.
By using the “High-speed visual storytelling” method, digital marketing companies can bring a person’s image to children. (This can be brought not only to children but to all sections of society). By providing information in a “Micro-Staging” manner within 15 to 30 seconds using very fast cuts, aggressive music, and colorful graphics, one can capture children’s attention without letting it scatter.
If a child watches a song or a speech by Vijay, the algorithm will subsequently show videos related to Vijay one after another. This will imprint that image very deeply in their minds. (This also applies to all age groups). The psychology of children always tends to seek a ‘superhero.’ To feed that, ‘Mass’ songs and dances like ‘Vaathi Coming’ were made viral on digital platforms.
Additionally, Vijay has been forcibly imposed through the ‘For You’ method, similar to how specific things are pushed.
In this way, surpassing Sivakarthikeyan, who was a vent for entertainment, Vijay has been brought to children as an identity of personality and ideals (a Role Model). Behind this, the contribution of ‘Digital War Rooms’ operating with a budget of many crores and algorithms would be very high.
Furthermore, to make people believe he truly is a personality fulfilling ideals and to construct an Emotional Branding, certain arrangements were made, such as functions providing incentives to 10th and 12th-grade students through Vijay.
In total, Vijay has been made a leader of children. The tragedy in this is that even in the homes of Communist party workers and leaders, children are blowing the whistle (his symbol) for Vijay; those with voting rights are leaning toward Vijay.
Two dangers arise from this digital politics:
1. This is not just the work done by those who want to capture power domestically or in a state through their money and facilities.
This is a developmental phase of the political game already played by global capital powers in every country through intelligence agencies and media.
Global capital has already created political strategies through loyalists who operated in their institutions like the World Bank, World Trade Organization, International Monetary Fund, and World Health Organization. In India, the key person for this is Prashant Kishor. His election strategies, which played a major role in making Modi the Prime Minister, were entirely based on welfare schemes suitable for the growth and interest of global capital. Now, this has become the only election tactic across India. Those trained by this Prashant Kishor are now the key executives of Vijay’s party, including Aadhav Arjuna, John Arokiasamy, and C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar.
Additionally, include Nellai Ashwitha. Born into an ordinary beedi worker’s family, she studied at Harvard University and grew to be a project operations officer at the World Bank. She is now the campaign ambassador for Vijay’s party.
To put it more clearly, the political goal of corporates in India is a single dictatorship for the whole of India as an alternative to the powers existing at the level of Panchayats and States. The powers of States and Panchayats stand as obstacles to fulfilling the looting plans of corporates. Modi was brought in for this single dictatorship.
Moreover, a politics without policies for laborers and working people is also a corporate goal. To keep increasing the 8-hour workday to 12 or 14 hours and to reduce holidays, there must be an emotional politics devoid of policy.
If this is required in Tamil Nadu, it means that policy-based Communist parties that speak of working-class rights are not wanted even for namesake.
2. The mythical image constructed around Vijay is very dangerous. Those who believe in myths beyond reality become unable to think about real life. They develop a mad obsession with what they believe in. Due to that frenzy, they become indifferent to whatever happens to themselves or those around them.
That is why even when 41 people, including children, died at a Vijay gathering in Karur, and as deaths and faints continue at every gathering, Vijay’s supporters remain unperturbed. They harbor no regret or anger toward Vijay.
Vijay’s party is not creating political supporters; it is creating political mental patients.
It is most painful that the Communist parties of Tamil Nadu remain unconcerned about this dangerous trend.
They simply pass it off, saying that the emergence of a new party is natural and that anyone has the right to start a party in a democratic country. Comrades do not see the truth that the emergence of new parties is not natural, but rather due to the inability of existing parties. There is no concern that Communist parties are also included in the list of parties in a state of inability.
Even in 2009, following the Eelam genocide, youth boycotted all parties and gathered for a new party. Even then, the communists remained idle. The party Naam Tamilar was born with the support of the ruling class.
It is well to remember what the American Marxist scholar James Petras said: “The objective of the Ford Foundation was not to clash with and defeat leftist intellectuals in a dialectical war; rather, it was to possess them by distancing them from leftist positions.” It appears that the objective of the Ford Foundation has been 100% fulfilled in India, particularly in Tamil Nadu. How cruel it is that our parties have moved so far away from political work!
What can be said of those who forgot to uphold their own politics even in elections? All the preparatory works for the assembly elections held in this April 2026 had already begun last year. It must be remembered that last year, 2025, was the centenary of most Indian Communist parties, including the CPI.
What a great opportunity this was for parties that follow the electoral path! If they had undertaken political work combining the centenary work and election work, an uprising or at least a political stir might have occurred. They could have presented a program for the present, carrying past experiences and future needs. They could have attracted new people and the youth.
Nothing like that happened. Specifically, in Tamil Nadu, both parties, CPI and CPI(M), were panting just to secure a minimum number of seats. They did not undertake any political initiatives.
In the 2021 election, the CPI and CPI(M), which received 6 seats each in this same DMK alliance, were allotted only 5 seats each this time. These two parties, who called themselves important and close allies of the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, could not retain their old numbers despite much struggle. In this, the tragedy of the CPI(M) party is that it dragged out negotiations until the end just to show that they were not as weak as the CPI, and yet they lost.
How should we understand the fact that our parties do not show even a small fraction of the effort they put into gaining the trust of the ruling class toward gaining the trust of the people?
Despite how many contradictions exist regarding methods, the catastrophe of the Maoists in India is not bearable. From the time the People’s War Group and the Maoist Communist Centre merged to evolve into the Maoist party in 2004, its growth was extraordinary. During this period of growth, the Indian military had gained the experience of cornering and eliminating the Liberation Tigers, who held influence throughout Eelam. Using the same approach, the Maoist party in India was also cornered and destroyed.
Whether it is the electoral path or the armed path, setbacks continue. To face them, there is no compilation of experience, and there are no studies!
May Day Greetings!
