People's Democracy

COMRADE N Prasada Rao's life spans the entire history of organised communist movement in India, to date. Though the party was formed in 1920, it came into existence as a political force only in the thirties after the release of the Meerut prisoners.

The party was founded in Tashkent and its branches sprung up in Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, Punjab and UP. These committees worked underground but were able to spread the ideas of the October Revolution, particularly among the working class, students and peasants. Lenin's slogan of unity with the national liberation movements attracted large masses of colonial people all over the world.

There was great disenchantment in India with the way the Indian National Congress was spearheading the movement for independence. Disappointed youth were drawn towards socialist ideas, leading to the formation of the Congress Socialist Party. It was at this time that the Meerut prisoners were released. The Communist Party took an organised shape in 1934, though it was still working underground. Comrade Prasada Rao, who was studying at the Banaras Hindu University, joined the freedom struggle and, inspired by P Sundarayya, found his way to the Communist Party in 1934 itself.

I also joined the party around the same time, after three years of imprisonment. In those days the present Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and parts of Kerala (Malabar) were part of the composite Madras state. Comrades PS and E M S Namboodiripad were looking after the interests of the party in Madras province. Comrade PS played a significant role in attracting the youth towards the party.

As far as I can remember, I first met Prasada Rao in Bombay during a secret Central Committee meeting. A few months before the first general elections in 1952, the CC met to discuss the changed situation, and the fate of the Telangana peasants’ armed struggle in this context. Prasada Rao was among the Andhra comrades who came to Bombay on this occasion. Arrest warrants against me were also pending. Though I had come in touch with PS earlier, this was the first opportunity to meet the other comrades from Andhra. While it was decided that the struggle must be withdrawn in the changed conditions, it was also decided that we must ensure that the gains were not sacrificed. The land distributed among the peasants must remain with them, no repressive measures must be allowed and the organisations set up during the course of the struggle must be preserved.

The Telangana struggle is an important milestone in the history of the communist movement in the country. It was unprecedented in the history of India. For five long years, armed peasants fought against the landlords, against the Nizam's oppressive machinery and against the army of the central government. While the struggle highlighted the land question, it also compelled the Nizam to accede to the Indian Union, which he was reluctant to do earlier; he was trying to utilise the Mountbatten Award which granted the princely states the right to choose between remaining independent or merging with the Indian Union or Pakistan. Likewise in Kashmir also, it was the movement headed by the National Conference that forced Maharaja Hari Singh to sign the instrument of accession.

In the first general elections held in independent India in 1952, a large number of communist MPs and MLAs were elected from Andhra. In the composite Madras province, there was also the possibility of communists being able to muster a majority. Apprehending such a possibility, Pt Nehru sent the then governor general, C Rajagopalachari, to Madras to foil such an eventuality and instal a Congress government.

My close association with Prasada Rao dates back to 1953 when, after years of underground life, we met openly at Kannur for the All India Kisan Sabha session. I was in charge of the kisan front from the party. At the session, Prasada Rao was elected general secretary and Indulal Yagnik, president.

After his election as AIKS general secretary, Prasada Rao shifted to Delhi. Comrade M Basavapunnaiah, then a Rajya Sabha member, was staying at 2, Windsor Place. Prasada Rao and I also stayed in the same place. Prasada Rao also became a member of parliament soon.

During the course of his stay at Delhi, I found that he was a very hard-working person. He used to meticulously study the various aspects concerning the problems of the peasants in different regions, the stage of development of the movement in various areas, and the slogans that have to be coined to rally the peasantry. His experience in the Telangana struggle was very useful in comprehending the complexity of the peasant question. His deep study and understanding of the problems of the peasants and agricultural workers found reflection in the documents of the Kisan Sabha during those days. As a member of the land reforms subcommittee of the second and third Planning Commission, he tried his utmost to influence the recommendations of the commission.

When the struggle against revisionism began, Prasada Rao was one among the 32 National Council members who left the united CPI and went to form the CPI(M).

After working for six years in the Kisan Sabha, he moved back to Andhra Pradesh and worked in the Agricultural Labour Union. Later on he worked in the CITU till his death. He gained rich experience through years of his work in these various class organisations. His lifestyle was such that nobody could guess that he came from a well-to-do family. He led a very simple life with sparse requirements. He underwent immense sufferings and made tremendous sacrifices. Apart from doing all types of chores like washing his clothes, he would always lend a helping hand to others with whom he lived and worked. Even when he was ill, he tried to see that the routine of others was not disturbed.

I met him last on October 14 at Hyderabad. He was sitting in a chair in the office and had not recovered fully from his illness. When I inquired about his health, he replied that he was doing well and that there was nothing to worry. While he did not want his illness to cause any concern to others, he did not want it to be an impediment in his work either. His devotion to the party and its cause was reflected in his donating his entire property to the party. He integrated the communist world outlook with his personal life.

A good organiser, Prasada Rao was not only democratic but took pains to learn and patiently listen to the opinion of others, wherever they were placed in the party. He wanted to learn from everybody, took criticisms in the right spirit and, whatever may have been his opinion, never took any decision without consulting others.

While paying homage to Prasada Rao, I am reminded of an incident in Lenin's life. Once when Lenin was ill and was undergoing treatment, his wife Krupskaya asked him why they were receiving an increased salary. When Lenin asked his other comrades, Stalin replied that since he was ill, they had decided to increase his salary. Lenin took offence and replied that he was not consulted and the decision was not taken in the committee of which he was a member.

Prasada Rao took inspiration from such examples and emulated them. Therein lies his greatness. Through nearly seven decades of public life, he remained unblemished and set an example for others to follow. There is much to be learnt from his life and work.