STRUGGLES in this district have been centred on the following major issues : (i) vested and communal land, and tanks under the occupation of landlords, (ii) famine relief, (iii) irrigation facilities, (iv) police repression and anti-social activities of the goondas, and (v) the menace of mushrooming liquor shops. Landlords, goondas, block officials and the police have been the usual targets. The form and intensity of struggles have ranged from demonstrations to seizure of land and crop and even to primary resistance.

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In this districtwise survey of certain major milestones, so far we have restricted ourselves to only a narration of events. Before concluding this chapter, let us have a micro-level view of the underlying process of ideological struggle without which the protracted peasant movement in Bihar could have never become a reality.

An experience of ideological remoulding of a poor peasant fighter

Comrade A, a poor peasant fighter, has always been known for his militancy and bravery; but at the same time, he was also well known as an anarchist with characteristic indiscipline and arrogance.

In 1979-80 his area witnessed a wave of mass movements. As this upsurge encompassed a very wide area and the Party lacked in capable cadres, the movement could not be kept under control. There took place several anarchist acts and unnecessary annihilations. In fact, out of the 15 annihila­tions that took place during this period, only 3 or 4 can be considered as really essential. These acts limited the scope of mass movements, and with the formation of the Bhoomi Sena in 1982, there ensued a veritable war of attrition. All these annihilations were carried out under the personal leadership and initiative of Comrade A. Armed struggle was rendered the principal form of struggle and Comrade A became famous as the individual hero of this struggle.

In view of the fighting capabilities of Comrade A, the local Party organisation preferred to keep mum about his shortcomings, and even the unnecessary annihilations were also not opposed. All this exacerbated the ideological problems in him. He became quite arrogant and started considering himself as above organisation. Cashing in on the enormous prestige that he enjoyed among the masses, he started indulging in whimsical acts and adopted the roving rebel style of work. Around him gathered many militant cadres whose political consciousness was quite low. He did not consider himself answerable to the Party organisation. He would spend levy-money in an irresponsible way and would never submit any accounts. He was then shifted to another area, but there again he assembled many militant youths around him and continued with his old style of functioning. The Party began to consider him as a hope­less case.

At this juncture a programme was undertaken to remould him ideologically. Care was taken to ensure that we did not lose sight of the fact that Comrade A has been with the Party for a very long period, has come from the poor peasant class, is resolute and militant, and has sacrificed a lot in struggle (his father having been murdered by the Bhoomi Sena). His problems had cropped up in a particular situa­tion. And for all his problems, generally no personal interest was involved in his activities. Whatever he did, he did in the name of the Party, and he always regarded his group of 10 to 15 youths as a Party group.

Basing on the policy of ‘curing the sickness to save the patient’, he was patiently explained the new conditions in his area. It was then pointed out how the problems got compounded due to mistakes on his part as well as on the part of others. Accordingly he was urged to rectify these mistakes in order to protect the gains of the struggle. A Party committee was organised in his area and he was brought under its control. He was subjected to organisa­tional discipline and a persistent struggle was conducted against his wrong ideas. On many an occasion, he got irritated, but the responsible Party organiser always kept his cool and took care to integrate with him.

Simultaneously, the youth belonging to his group were also educated in communist conduct and character as well as in the Party’s line, so that they did not blindly follow Comrade A. Gradually their understanding improved and they came to understand some of the shortcomings of Comrade A. But we had to go about this whole thing very carefully so that Comrade A did not misinterpret it as instigating his ‘followers’ against him.

At last, this relentless, painstaking campaign proved to be a success. Comrade A began to realise his mistakes and gradually started identifying himself with the new trend. Now he is quite disciplined and has been promoted to the position of a member of the local Party team.