Gangadhar Adhikari
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Dr. Gangadhar Adhikari (8 December 1898 – 21 November 1981) was a prominent
Marxist theoretician In Marxism, a theoretician is an individual who observes and writes about the condition or dynamics of society, history, or economics, making use of the main principles of Marxian socialism in the analysis. Derivation of the term In ''The Povert ...
and prolific writer from India. He was the former general secretary of the
Communist Party of India The Communist Party of India (CPI) is a political party in India. The CPI considers the Foundation of the Communist Party of India, December 26, 1925 Cawnpore (Kanpur) conference as its foundation date. Between 1946 and 1951, the CPI led m ...
(CPI), one of the oldest political parties in India. He was a chemical scientist who earned his Ph.D. degree in
Berlin Berlin ( ; ) is the Capital of Germany, capital and largest city of Germany, by both area and List of cities in Germany by population, population. With 3.7 million inhabitants, it has the List of cities in the European Union by population withi ...
in 1927.


Biography


Early life

Gangadhar Moreshwar Adhikari was born on 8 December 1898 in Panvel, Colaba district, near Mumbai in a
Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu Chandraseniya Kayastha Prabhu (CKP) or historically and commonly known as Chandraseniya Prabhu or just Prabhu is a caste mainly found in Gujarat and Maharashtra. Historically, they made equally good warriors, statesmen as well as writers. Th ...
family. His grandfather was a small landlord in Ratnagiri, but losing property, became a clerk in district collector's office. Adhikari;s father shifted to Bombay, living in a chawl. In this typical urbanized Maharashtrian family, Gangadhar passed his formative years. His early schooling was in Education Society’s High School at Dadar, and matriculation from Wilson College in 1916. He was 8th in the whole Presidency, getting a scholarship.


In touch with politics

Gangadhar attended his first political meeting in 1918, addressed by Tilak. He also listened to speeches at Marathi Literary Society established by S. A. Dange and others in the College. Adhikari was deeply impressed by
Khudiram Bose Khudiram Bose (also spelled ''Khudiram Basu'') (3 December 1889 – 11 August 1908) was an Indian nationalist from Bengal Presidency who opposed British rule of India. For his role in the Muzaffarpur Conspiracy Case, along with Prafull ...
and Dr. R. G. Bhandarkar, and had great regard for scientist J. C. Bose. He passed his Intermediate science exams in 1918 topping in the entire state. He graduated in 1920. He was awarded scholarship at every stage of education. Gangadhar Adhikari joined IISc (Indian Institute of Science), Bangalore as a research scholar. Impressed by the achievements of Germany, he learnt German. He wrote MSc dissertation on extraction of salts from barium sulphate, passing MSc without having to appear for viva. He was one of those rare students who was awarded Master's degree in absentia.


In Germany

Preferring Germany to England for monetary reasons, he set sail for Germany in July 1922 from Colombo, joining Frederick Wilhelm University (Humboldt University) in Berlin. He joined Technische Hochschule in Charlottenburg to study physical chemistry. Scientific attainments and knowledge of German language enabled him to complete doctorate in three instead of six years. Prof Vollmar helped Adhikari in every way, their friendship lasting lifetime. Adhikari later met him again in GDR in 1964. After PhD Gangadhar became Dr Adhikari, later known as ‘Doc’. Adhikari met many world famous scientists and also collaborated with scientists like
Leo Szilard Leo Szilard (; ; born Leó Spitz; February 11, 1898 – May 30, 1964) was a Hungarian-born physicist, biologist and inventor who made numerous important discoveries in nuclear physics and the biological sciences. He conceived the nuclear ...
and
Eugene Wigner Eugene Paul Wigner (, ; November 17, 1902 – January 1, 1995) was a Hungarian-American theoretical physicist who also contributed to mathematical physics. He received the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1963 "for his contributions to the theory of th ...
. The latter two later worked in the Manhattan atom bomb project in USA. Lack of money forced him to live on one meal only. So his professor found him work of measuring expansion coefficient of ceramics and then as research assistant. He even worked as chemist in a factory in 1927. It was during his work at University laboratory that
Einstein Albert Einstein (14 March 187918 April 1955) was a German-born theoretical physicist who is best known for developing the theory of relativity. Einstein also made important contributions to quantum mechanics. His mass–energy equivalence f ...
came to see him, as he wanted to ‘have a look’ at the young Indian scientist. Among those whom Adhikari tutored was Dr. Hussain Zaheer, the future Director General of CSIR.


Political contacts

While in Berlin, Adhikari met
Virendranath Chattopadhyaya Virendranath Chattopadhyaya (31 October 1880 – 2 September 1937), also known by his pseudonym Chatto, was a prominent Indian revolutionary who worked to overthrow the British Raj in India using armed force. He created alliances with the German ...
, a revolutionary and Communist, who founded Indian Association, whose meetings Dr. Adhikari attended. Adhikari met Zakir Hussain,
Abid Hussain Abid Hussain (26 December 1926 21 June 2012) was an Indian economist, civil servant and diplomat. He was India's ambassador to the United States of America from 1990 to 1992 and a member of the Planning Commission from 1985 to 1990. Personal ...
, M. Mujeeb and others, who later founded
Jamia Millia Islamia Jamia Millia Islamia is a Public university, public and research university located in Delhi, India. Originally established at Aligarh, United Provinces of Agra and Oudh, United Provinces (present-day Uttar Pradesh, India) during the British R ...
. Adhikari attended political lectures of Max Beer and others at India House, read John Reed, RPD, etc. RPD's ''India Today'' finally "converted" him! He regularly visited bookshop in central office of
Communist Party of Germany The Communist Party of Germany (, ; KPD ) was a major Far-left politics, far-left political party in the Weimar Republic during the interwar period, German resistance to Nazism, underground resistance movement in Nazi Germany, and minor party ...
for Marxist literature. Adhikari soon became president of Indian Association.
Motilal Nehru Motilal Nehru (6 May 1861 – 6 February 1931) was an Indian lawyer, activist, and politician affiliated with the Indian National Congress. He served as the Congress President twice, from 1919 to 1920 and from 1928 to 1929. He was a patriarch ...
,
Muhammad Ali Muhammad Ali (; born Cassius Marcellus Clay Jr.; January 17, 1942 – June 3, 2016) was an American professional boxer and social activist. A global cultural icon, widely known by the nickname "The Greatest", he is often regarded as the gr ...
,
S. Srinivasa Iyengar Seshadri Srinivasa Iyengar CIE (11 September 1874 – 19 May 1941), also seen as Sreenivasa Iyengar and Srinivasa Ayyangar, was an Indian lawyer, freedom-fighter and politician from the Indian National Congress. Iyengar was the Advocate-Gener ...
, and others visited as CPG leaders as well. Adhikari delivered his first speech in German on Jallianwalan Bagh anniversary. He was deeply moved by the film ''Battleship Potemkin''. He met Jaisurya Naidu, Suhasini Chattopadhyaya (sister of Virendranath),
Sarojini Naidu Sarojini Naidu (Birth name, née Chattopadhyay) (; 13 February 1879 – 2 March 1949) was an Indian political activist and poet who served as the first Governor of Uttar Pradesh, Governor of United Provinces, after Independence Day (India), Indi ...
and others.
Agnes Smedley Agnes Smedley (February 23, 1892 – May 6, 1950) was an American journalist, writer and activist who supported the Indian Independence Movement and the Chinese Communist Revolution. Raised in a poverty-stricken miner's family in Missouri and Col ...
, a friend of India and China, was ever present.


Joining Communist Party of Germany

Soon Adhikari joined
Communist Party of Germany The Communist Party of Germany (, ; KPD ) was a major Far-left politics, far-left political party in the Weimar Republic during the interwar period, German resistance to Nazism, underground resistance movement in Nazi Germany, and minor party ...
in 1928. Virendranath brought him in contact with CPG. It had its headquarters in Karl Liebknecht's house. His membership application was signed by Virendranath and
Willi Münzenberg Wilhelm Münzenberg (14 August 1889 – June 1940) was a German Communist activist and publisher who served as the first head of the Young Communist International from 1919 to 1921 and as a member of the Reichstag from 1924 to 1933. He also foun ...
, leader of youth section of CPG and general secretary of League Against Imperialism. Adhikari also met M. N. Roy and Clemens Dutt, elder brother of RPD in the League. He wrote for ''Kranti'' (Marathi, Bombay) and translated Engels's ''Questions and Answers on Communism'' directly from German into Marathi. Adhikari also met Lester Hutchinson, later his comrade in
Meerut Conspiracy Case The Meerut Conspiracy Case was a controversial court case that was initiated in British Raj in March 1929 and decided in 1933. Several trade unionists, including three Englishmen, were arrested for organizing an Indian railway strike. The Briti ...
. He regularly attended mass meetings of
Ernst Thaelmann Ernst is both a surname and a given name, the German, Dutch, and Scandinavian form of Ernest. Notable people with the name include: Surname * Adolf Ernst (1832–1899) German botanist known by the author abbreviation "Ernst" * Anton Ernst (born ...
, general secretary of CPG, who became famous after contesting presidential elections, receiving 12.6 percent of votes. Adhikari went to his factory every day with a copy of party paper ''Rote Fahne'' (Red Flag) and discussed with workers. Adhikari approached Virendranath to help him go to Soviet Union. Though Virendranath could smuggle him in, he advised against as the British CID would harass him badly. So it was off.


Return to India

Adhikari felt isolated from events back home. Wanting to return, he met
Meghnad Saha Meghnad Saha (6 October 1893 – 16 February 1956) was an Indian astrophysicist and politician who helped devise the theory of Thermal ionization, thermal ionisation. His Saha ionization equation, Saha ionisation equation allowed astronomers to ...
,
Satyen Bose Satyen Bose (22 January 1916 – 9 June 1993) was a film director from India. He has directed both Bengali and Hindi language films. Among his most notable films are '' Raat Aur Din, Chalti Ka Naam Gaadi, Dosti'', and ''Jagriti''. ''Jagriti ...
, and Sir C. V. Raman for future prospects. They promised help. Adhikari returned to Bombay in December 1928, secretly carrying Theses of 6th Comintern congress on colonial question. Top CID officers searched his belongings from morning till afternoon at the port but only got hold of Marxist literature. They were displayed as ‘evidence’ in Meerut Conspiracy Case in 1929.


At Communist Party of India meetings

Adhikari contacted C. J. Desai and M. G. Desai of Workers’ and Peasants’ Party (WPP). During WPP meeting in Calcutta in 1928 end, a secret meeting of CC of CPI was also held on 27–29 December 1928. It admitted Adhikari as CPI member and also included him in CC. He got to know prominent CPI leaders more closely. In Bombay, he lived in a workers' chawl, doing his own cooking. He got a paltry sum of Rs 25 p.m. from his father towards expenses. He did Marxist education among workers. Later he shifted to Girni Kamgar Union (GKU) office.


In Meerut Conspiracy Case

Adhikari was arrested on 20 March 1929 along with 31 others and lodged in Meerut Jail in most inhuman conditions. He was made secretary of the Jail Group and drafted many documents. Motilal Nehru and others came to meet him and other prisoners. He was released in March 1933.


General secretary of CPI

As the party outside was in a bad shape, Adhikari and some others organised a meeting of available comrades, forming a provisional CC with Adhikari as general secretary. He played a key role in the party’s unification at the time. He was very active in the widespread strike movement those days. He was arrested in May 1934, sent to Byculla Jail and then Bijapur Jail. In February 1937, he made a dramatic escape from Bijapur helped by Ajoy Ghosh, reaching Calcutta. There he drafted a Manifesto of CPI, titled ''Gathering Storm'', circulated in Faizpur session of Congress. P. C. Joshi became acting general secretary. Back in Bombay, Adhikari became one of the architects of party organ ‘National Front’. Adhikari lectured at Mantenavaripalam Summer School of Politics (AP), where C. Rajeswara Rao first met him. Adhikari was elected to Bombay Provincial Congress Committee in 1939, defeating Shantabai Vengarkar. Dilshad Chari was Adhikari's polling agent and
Bhulabhai Desai Bhulabhai Desai (13 October 1877 – 6 May 1946) was an Indian independence activist and acclaimed lawyer. He is well-remembered for his defence of the three Indian National Army soldiers accused of treason during World War II, and for attem ...
polling officer. He also became Politburo member of CPI along with P. C. Joshi, Bhardwaj, and Ajoy Ghosh. He went underground when Second World War broke out. One of his hideouts was the flat of D. G. Tendulkar, biographer of Gandhiji.


First party congress and later

Adhikari was elected to CC and PB at the First Congress of CPI held in 1943 in Bombay. In June 1943 Adhikari became editor of ''People's War'' and then of ''People's Age''. His analyses of the battle fronts in World War II were widely read. Adhikari was married to Vimal Samarth in 1943 in a simple wedding in the Commune, where they lived too. Their son Vijay died while swimming at Juhu Beach in 1963, affecting both of them deeply, particularly Vimal, who got mentally upset. Adhikari was sent to Lahore in 1943 to sort out organizational problems. Patiently conducting a three-day GB of Punjab party members, he guided formation of new leadership. He also attended All India Bhakna Kisan Conference. Being actively involved in
Royal Indian Navy mutiny The Royal Indian Navy mutiny was a failed insurrection of Indian naval ratings, soldiers, police personnel and civilians against the British government in India in February 1946. From the initial flashpoint in Bombay (now Mumbai), the revolt s ...
of February 1946, he persuaded RIN ratings not to blow up the ammunition dump at Castle Barracks, which would have endangered people’s lives. Adhikari attended a conference of CPs of British colonies in London in February-March 1947, representing CPI.


BTR period

Adhikari was elected to the CC and PB at 2nd congress of CPI in Calcutta in February 1948.
B. T. Ranadive Bhalchandra Trimbak Ranadive (; 19 December 1904 – 6 April 1990), popularly known as BTR, was an Indian communist politician and trade union leader. Personal life He was elder brother of Ahilya Rangnekar, a CPI-M leader and 6th Lok Sab ...
(GS), Bhowani Sen, and Somnath Lahiri were other members of PB. Adhikari supported BTR line, and as such was responsible for it. The party elected a new PB in 1950 and suspended BTR leadership including Adhikari. Adhikari made a remarkable self-critical analysis. He then went to Punjab to work as an ordinary member in 1951. He worked there in general elections of 1952. He also worked as an ordinary member in Parliamentary Office in Delhi and later in Bombay. Dr Adhikari was elected to CC in Madurai (1953-54) and Palghat congresses (1956). He delivered Report on new Party Constitution at Amritsar (5th) congress. He was elected to NC and CEC and then again at Vijaywada (1961).


Split and later

He wrote extensively during ideological-political discussions in 1960s, including an important work ''Communist Party and India's Path to National Regeneration'' in 1964. He played important role in formulating new program and delivered the Report on Party Program at Bombay congress (1964). He was elected to Central Secretariat with specific responsibility of Party Education. At the Patna congress, he was elected to CEC, heading the Party Education and Studies Department. He was also entrusted with collecting, editing and writing ''Documents of History of CPI'', of which several volumes were published. He meticulously collected materials from all over the world, building rich Archives. He continued this work till he almost lost his sight and till death. Later he withdrew from all party posts, devoting himself entirely to study and research. He was Chairman of Central Control Commission in his last days. Adhikari died at 83 years of age on 21 November 1981 due to heart attack. His wife Vimal had died at the beginning of the year.


Bibliography

Adhikari's position on the national question, published in 1943 under the name ''Pakistan and Indian National Unity'', was inspired by
Joseph Stalin Joseph Vissarionovich Stalin (born Dzhugashvili; 5 March 1953) was a Soviet politician and revolutionary who led the Soviet Union from 1924 until Death and state funeral of Joseph Stalin, his death in 1953. He held power as General Secret ...
's ''
Marxism and the National Question ''Marxism and the National Question'' () is a short work of Marxist theory written by Joseph Stalin in January 1913 while living in Vienna. First published as a pamphlet and frequently reprinted, the essay by the ethnic Georgian Stalin was reg ...
'' as it stressed the importance of a nationality to share a common language, a defined territory and a common national consciousness. He compiled the ten volume ''Documents of the Communist Party of India''.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Adhikari, Gangadhar 1898 births 1981 deaths Communist Party of India politicians from Maharashtra 20th-century Indian politicians Indian Marxist historians Indian Marxist writers 20th-century Indian historians Indian independence activists Indian independence activists from Maharashtra Prisoners and detainees of British India