Comrades Association

 

 

QUESTION:  Comrades Association

Answer:

Comrades Association during Nizam Period

Introduction

The Comrades Association was a pivotal communist organization in the princely state of Hyderabad during the Nizam's rule, operating as a front for leftist ideologies in a repressive feudal regime. Established in the late 1930s amid growing political radicalism, it represented the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the region and played a crucial role in mobilizing intellectuals, peasants, and workers against autocracy and exploitation. Under the Asaf Jahi dynasty, political activities were heavily censored, with bans on parties like the CPI, forcing groups like the Comrades Association to function covertly through study circles and cultural platforms. It emerged as a response to communal tensions fueled by organizations like the Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and Hindu nationalist groups, promoting secular, progressive ideals. The association's influence extended to the Andhra Mahasabha, transforming it into a militant platform, and culminated in its active participation in the Telangana Rebellion (1946-1951). This era marked a shift from intellectual discourse to armed resistance, highlighting the association's evolution from a discussion forum to a revolutionary force challenging the Nizam's feudal order.

Formation and Background.              www.osmanian.com

The Comrades Association was formed around 1939-1940 in Hyderabad, initially as a reaction to the rise of sectarian communalism. It began as a loose alliance of young intellectuals and poets influenced by Marxist literature, aiming to foster secularism and socialism in a society divided by religion and caste. By 1939, it merged with three other leftist groups to form the Nizam State Communist Committee, effectively becoming the CPI's regional arm. The Nizam's administration, wary of anti-feudal sentiments, had banned the CPI in 1939, prompting the association to operate undercover. Meetings were held in secret, discussing global revolutions, Soviet models, and local grievances like forced labor (vetti) and exploitative land tenure. Its vague objectives initially attracted nationalists, including some Congress sympathizers, but under communist leadership, it sharpened its focus on class struggle. The association used cultural tools like Urdu poetry and literature, published in journals such as Naya Adab, to propagate ideas without direct confrontation.

Key Figures

Prominent leaders shaped the association's direction. Raj Bahadur Gour, a key organizer, steered it towards communism, emphasizing peasant rights. Makhdoom Mohiuddin, a renowned Urdu poet and revolutionary, infused cultural activism, using ghazals to rally support. Ravi Narayana Reddy, often called Narayana Reddy, emerged as a charismatic figure, posing initially as a Congress worker to infiltrate broader movements. Other notables included Baddam Yella Reddy and Chandra Rajeswara Rao, who linked it to national CPI networks. These individuals, many from middle-class backgrounds, bridged urban intellectuals with rural peasants, organizing study groups and training cadres.

Activities and Role in Andhra Mahasabha

The association's activities centered on ideological education and mobilization. It infiltrated the Andhra Mahasabha, a socio-cultural body founded in 1930 for Telugu speakers' rights. By 1944, communists from the association, including Ravi Narayana Reddy as president, dominated it, purging moderate elements and turning it militant. They led agitations from 1944-1946, demanding abolition of illegal taxes, better wages, and tenancy reforms. Non-violent tactics like boycotts evolved into direct action, redistributing land in villages. The association armed villagers against landlords' agents, establishing parallel administrations in affected areas.

Involvement in Telangana Rebellion

The association's pinnacle was its role in the Telangana Rebellion, a peasant uprising against the Nizam's forces and Razakars. Sparked in July 1946 by the killing of Doddi Komarayya, it spread across Nalgonda, Warangal, and Khammam districts. Association members organized guerrilla squads, seizing over 4,000 villages and forming gram rajyams (village communes) that reduced caste barriers and empowered women. Land was redistributed, affecting millions of acres, improving peasant conditions. However, controversies arose; some allege a 1948 shift where, after the Nizam lifted the CPI ban, the association collaborated to resist Indian integration, aiming for an independent communist enclave.

Legacy.              www.osmanian.com

The Comrades Association's efforts weakened feudalism, contributing to Hyderabad's 1948 annexation. Post-rebellion, it influenced land reforms but faced suppression. Its legacy endures in Telangana's leftist politics, symbolizing resistance against oppression, though debates over alleged Nizam collaboration persist.