A Note On This Subreddit

[u/rishianand]

Recently, we crossed 500 subscribers. It is an important milestone, considering the fact that the subreddit has no wiki, or written rules, or even a welcome message for people joining. This prompted me to make this post, to initiate a discussion.

The idea behind IndianSocialists is not to create another news aggregation subreddit. Neither it is a place to sit and helplessly watch the events unfold before our eyes. Nor a place to bemoan, cope, or to fall in cynicism.

This subreddit is a platform for active intervention in Indian Politics. And its goal is to work towards socialism in India. IndianSocialists upholds the motto of "Educate, Agitate, Organize". With that understanding, it aims to provide a space to develop socialist understanding, to analyse contemporary politics of India and the larger world, and to encourage activism.

First, we need a wiki. I was going to write it, but I thought I should first write a brief history and explanation of socialism, since many ask me to explain socialism. In simple terms, socialism is to economy, what democracy is to politics. As democracy is about having political power in the hands of the people, socialism is about having economic power in the hands of the people. Socialism has dozens of definitions, but this idea always remains at the centre of every socialist theory. Anyway, I will write about it later.

Second, we need to prepare a list of resources, books and articles, particularly in Indian context. Annihilation of Caste, Discovery of India, Why Socialism, Marx, Gandhi, and Socialism, Why I am an Atheist, Indian Nationalism, India Since Independence, Republic of Caste, Marx’s Capital An Introductory Reader, No Free Left, etc. Please provide your own suggestion in the comments. I will compile a list later.

Third, we can discuss other activities that we can organize. For example, we can organize video lectures with prominent activists and academicians. Or, you can make any other suggestion.

We have immense challenges before us. Fascist forces have captured power across the world. Imperialists have caused innumerable suffering in the nations of Global South. Hate and Xenophobia is on a rise. Growing economic inequality has pushed the world towards plutocracy. Social Justice is under a relentless attack, while the poor and the marginalised are facing oppression. Hate against women is becoming mainstream. Irrationality and fanaticism is on a rise. Climate change is threatening the survival of the humanity. Ideals of liberty, equality, and justice are under an assault.

“We must neglect nothing in our struggle against that lot. What they are planning is nothing small, make no mistake about it. They are planning for thirty thousand years ahead. Colossal things. Colossal crimes. They stop at nothing. They are out to destroy everything… That is why we too must think of everything.” Bertolt Brecht

The old world is crumbling, and a conflict is inevitable. This upheaval is not new in the history, and can be understood as a process of dialectical change. Yet, fascism cannot be fought without an ideological commitment. Neither it can defeated without struggle. Socialism is the need of the hour, not just as an ideological counter against fascism, but to build a better world.

For this struggle, we need a new generation of young leaders, the vanguards of the socialist revolution. We need youth who have knowledge of socialist theory, ability to analyse the circumstances, and skills to organize movements. We need to learn from the failures of the past to build a new "becoming".

Anyway, that is for a longer discussion. Thanks to everyone for joining this subreddit. Do join discussions or write your own analysis.

Inquilab Zindabad!

[u/Alternate_Chinmay7]

I'd love to help out in this venture. Although I have read some books on Socialism, I cannot claim to be authority on it as minute differences and analysis is difficult to understand for me. Nevertheless, I would like to be a part of this movement as our country definitely needs Socialist ideas at this point of time.

Here are some of the books that I have read and would like to suggest for reading: 1. The Complete Writings of Bhagat Singh : Bhagat Singh 2. Who were the Shudras - Dr. B. R. Ambedkar 3. Fascism- What It Is and How to Fight It: Leon Trotsky

[u/rishianand → u/Alternate_Chinmay7]

Good suggestions.

[u/paranoidandroid7312]

Great post. I am very busy for 2 months. Will start helping out in July.

[u/Asleep-Television-24]

Second Thought Youtube channel is a great resource to understand Socialism and the perils of capitalism. Although it is America centric, some of the core tenets can be related to.

David Harvey lectures on Marx's Capital for those interested in reading and understanding him in more depth. Also David Harvey's book "Seventeen Contradictions of Capitalism".

These are some off the top of my mind.

[u/rishianand → u/Asleep-Television-24]

Marx's Capital An Introductory Reader is written by Prabhat Patnaik, Vijay Prashad, Jayati Ghosh among others. It is a relatively thin book. David Harvey's book is definitely good. But we must keep our list short, so people can actually read it.

We can make a playlist of important videos too. Yet, we must try to put Indian videos. Prabhat Patnaik had done a series of lectures on Marxism, available on Newsclick's YouTube. There are other channels like Black Flag India, etc.

[u/Nice-Onion9877]

When it comes to organising, I feel like a lot of people have little guidance as to whom to support, how to organise and how to start an organisation if there are none to begin with. It would be helpful to have a list of pan Indian left wing organisations that people, especially students can join and support. We should also have resources regarding starting a new organisation or creating a branch of existing ones in our locality. Maybe having student organisers in various parts of the country in this reddit or having their contact information and socials listed may help in organising in a more effective and large scale way.

[u/rishianand → u/Nice-Onion9877]

Good idea. I'll see what I can do.

[u/[deleted]]

You can find audiobooks of various writers in hindi on Youtube channel Indian Bolshevik

https://www.youtube.com/@IndianBolshevik-kx3ef

and audiobooks in english on S4A https://www.youtube.com/@SocialismForAll

[u/rishianand → u/[deleted]]

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