KOZHIKODE: “Creating a base for the unity of Communist parties in India would not be possible unless these forces could reach a consensus on the national political status.” This was said by Chathunni Master, an expelled CPM leader from Kozhikode, on ‘Left Unity’ way back in 1978. He was one among the ten members of the first state secretariat of the CPM that included leaders A K Gopalan, E M S Namboodiripad and E K Nayanar and was instrumental in setting up Karshaka Sangham.After 34 years, when CPM’s 20th Party Congress is underway in Kozhikode, this statement by the former Parliamentarian and LDF convener of the state holds much significance. For, the 20th Congress actively discusses the launching of a broad-based Left and Democratic Alternative by rallying all democratic forces against the neo-liberal policies pursued by the Congress-led UPA and the BJP-led NDA coalitions. The recently concluded 21st Congress of the CPI at Patna had also exhorted the same political approach.It can be seen that the views expressed by Chathunni Master on Left unity, need for making changes in political and ideological approaches based on Indian conditions according to developments in Communist Forces, national alternative and neoliberal policies during the late 1970s and 1980s in a series of articles are still being discussed by the Party leadership. A collection of such articles - ‘Selected Essays of Chathunni Master’ - was published in 2008, which was compiled and edited by his son Lenindas K. In the article ‘Two Communist Parties Should Unite’, Chathunni Master speaks about seven political duties to be pursued by those who strive for Left unity. These include resistance to American imperialism, maintaining national stability and unity with stress on anti-imperialism, democratic governance and secularism, organising mass agitations against imperialist and corporate exploitation by rallying the working class, promotion of public sector and cooperatives, strengthening the relationship with Socialist countries and establishing good relationships with the neighbouring states. It was Master who started ‘Chintha’ weekly way back in 1964, before the formation of the CPM. He also started the magazine ‘Sambhavana’ to speak about his political stance in 1985 and later, following difference of opinion with the CPM leadership, he was expelled from the party. Master later joined Communist Marxist Party. In the preface of the book, CMP leader and expelled CPM leader M V Raghavan notes that Chathunni Master was the leader who strongly advocated the need for rectification in the party and the importance of giving a human face to it.
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