Who was Lenin and why his statue destroyed in Tripura?

Jessy Chandra

Fashion enthusiast | Posted on 7-Mar-2018

Vladimir Ilyich Ulyanov who is better known by the name Lenin, was a Russian communist revolutionary, politician, and political theorist. He was the head of government of Soviet Russia from 1917 to 1924 and of the Soviet Union from 1922 to 1924.

Lenin was the Russian revolutionist who fought against imperialist rules for the uprising of workers and peasants across Europe and Asia. He protested against anti-colonial rules and motivated downtrodden people of the society for their rights.

Recently, the legacy of the Soviet leader in India received a disturbing jolt when a statue of his in Belonia town of Tripura was brought down by an overzealous crowd of BJP supporters shouting slogans of "Bharat Mata Ki Jai''.

Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, MoS (Minister of state) home affairs said that there is no place for foreign leaders' statues. India has enough icons like Mahatma Gandhi and BR Ambedkar for people to praise. He further stated, "We condemn all kinds of violence and the state government is handling the situation".

However, the motive of the act remains debatable but a lot of people are asking questions about why the statue of one of the most important communist revolutionaries in the world was destroyed. A majority of people don't know that Lenin gave support to the rise of a communist movement in India and to the anti-colonial struggle that gave birth to a free India.

Diya Rajput

| Posted on 22-Aug-2024

Who was Lenin

Vladimir Ilyich Lenin (1870–1924) was a revolutionary leader and political theorist who founded the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, later the Soviet Union. As the main founder of the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917, Lenin played a key role in overthrowing the Russian Empire and establishing a communist government.

Lenin, along with the leadership of the Bolshevik Party, supported proletarian rebellion against the bourgeoisie, deeply rooted in Marxist ideology. His goal was to dismantle the capitalist system and create a government in which the working class would take power. Under Lenin, power was consolidated in the Communist Party, institutions were expanded, and political opponents were brutally prosecuted. His influence extended beyond Russia, igniting communist movements around the world.

Lenin's Influence on Indian Revolutions

Lenin's work and leadership laid the foundations of the Soviet government and its policies and shaped the country until its fall in 1991. Lenin's ideas of anti-imperialism and colonialism were adopted by Indian activists and political influences during the struggle for independence from British rule. M. N. A founding member of the Communist Party of India, Roy was directly influenced by Lenin's ideas.

The socialist and communist movements in India, which emerged in the early 20th century, often included Lenin's reflections and criticism of colonialism. Lenin's legacy as a symbol of leftist and communist revolutions in India. Statues of Lenin were erected across the country, especially in states ruled by Communist parties such as West Bengal, Kerala and Tripura. These statues are not only physical symbols, but also symbols of the commitment of local communist parties to Lenin's principles.

Lenin's statue in Tripura

Communism has deep roots in Tripura, a small state in northeast India. The Communist Party of India (Marxist), CPI (M), was at the helm of the government for more than two decades. At the same time, a statue of Lenin was installed in Bolonia town of South Tripura in 2013. This statue symbolizes the communist revolution in that country.

Lenin's Bastion in Tripura — A symbol of decades of communist ideology that shaped the political landscape of the state. This long-term rule of the CPI(M) and its adherence to Lenin's ideals will remain alive in the minds of the people. The small town in India that houses a statue of Lenin showed how much he controlled the communist movement outside of Russia.

Lenin's statue in Tripura

Political Change in Tripura

The campaign ended in 2018 and coincided with the BJP coming to power in the state elections in Tripura. Driven by right-wing and nationalist sentiment, this victory marked a major ideological shift from the previous left-wing government. The BJP's victory in Tripura is part of a broader trend in the country where the party has strengthened its influence in areas previously dominated by the Left or regional. The event was a milestone in the history of Tripura, celebrated by BJP supporters across the state.

A major post-election crisis in 2018 was the destruction of Lenin's statue in Bholonia on March 5, 2018. A group of people, led by a BJP supporter, the statue was pulled down using a JCB bulldozer, which he did. quickly go viral. in social networks and provoked public outrage. For many, the move marked the end of the communist ideology that had long dominated the Tripura state. For BJP supporters, it is a sign of new political power and a rejection of the legacy of the previous government. While some described the signs as a "wash" from the previous government, others called it an act of political persecution and intolerance.

The fall of the Lenin statue in Tripura is not an isolated incident.

It has wider implications for Indian politics and society. This showed the depth of national political opinion. Questions have been raised about the nature of political change across India, with power transfers and symbolic moves to destroy or erase the legacy of the previous government along the way.

BJP activists argued that the removal of the Lenin statue was part of a larger trend of demonizing the opposition. They also reported on the removal of statues of figures associated with minorities or extremist groups. The defenders of the BJP and the national movements, on the other hand, consider the work as an unnecessary expression of the popular will, and because of the idea of foreigners, it is necessary to validate the identity of the island.

Conclusion

The removal of the Lenin statue in Tripura marks a major political shift in the state and reflects changes across the country. This reflects the deep ideological divide that shapes contemporary Indian politics and the challenges of maintaining a pluralistic and tolerant society.

Lenin's ideas transcended borders and time and influenced politics even in places as far away as Tripura. The controversy surrounding the destruction of the statue is a reminder that symbols and history hold power in the political world.