"Lenin" is a thirty-four-line poem by Sukanta Bhattacharya, originally written in 1944 and later published in the anthology book Chharpatra, printed in June 1947. It was published for a second time in Sukanta Samagra on August 15, 1957. The poem describes Bhattacharya's inspiration from Vladimir Lenin, and he imagines himself in the place of Lenin. He found himself inspired after hearing about the Russian Revolution led by Lenin, and wrote the poem wanting a revolution to end imperialism and British rule. He wrote this poem when he was suffering from an illness and was bedridden.
Background, writing and reception Sukanta Bhattacharya found himself upset seeing the pain and suffering of the oppressed people and countries in World War II. He wished for a society that would be free from exploitation, helpful to the lives of the working class and dreamt of a future world. From his youth, he became associated with Communism, particularly Marxism-Leninism. He became an official and recognized member of his local Communist Party of Beliaghata in 1944. His main inspirational individuals were Karl Marx and Vladimir Lenin. Bhattacharya heard of the then Russian Revolution conducted by Lenin, which inspired him to write the poem "Lenin". In the final line, he says "As if I am Lenin", imaging himself in the place of the poem's subject Lenin.
The Soviet Union started its journey being the first socialist country in the world, in the October Revolution, under the leadership of revolutionary Vladimir Lenin. According to Alaat Ehsan, Lenin and his revolution were successful in founding a society that was free from all sorts of exploitation and was in accordance with the country masses. Anti-imperialist organizations began to form in countries under the British rule. Class consciousness began to rise with the revolution. Communist parties in various countries in the world were able to emerge following the actions of Lenin. During this time, Indian people were fighting for independence against the British government that was prevalent on Indian territory. The Communist Party of India and its office in Beliaghata, where Bhattacharya used to work, emerged. Bhattacharya found himself to be deeply inspired by Lenin during his childhood and adolescence.
According to Anindita Chowdhury, the "Lenin" that Bhattacharya describes in the poem is basically Vladimir Lenin, a communist revolutionary and head of the Bolshevik Party. She remarks that Bhattacharya, sitting in Bengal, had come to the realization and recognition of a revolutionary in Russia. Lenin did not seem distant from Sukanta even though he had died two years before Sukanta was born. Sukanta Bhattacharya found in Lenin's revolution and in his political consciousness a connection. Chowdhury writes that in this context, the political party, state, along with time or geographical boundaries were irrelevant. Still, Bhattacharya found Lenin an important person. She writes that the specialty of a person increases with increase in their consciousness, ideology and party.
Before he wrote "Lenin", Bhattacharya described the bombing of Calcutta and the progress of the Japanese army into India in his poem "To Rabindranath" (Rabindranather Prati). He referenced British colonialism in the poem, which was still prevailing by the time he wrote "Lenin". In the poem about Rabindranath, he used the strategy of embodiment where historical material realities are shown to be taking place in his life cycles or in his body itself. He realizes that despair should not have been able to demotivate him, even when all of this was distressing to Bhattacharya. He realizes that for his plans to be successful, other poets too have to come down into the street and participate in the people's protests against mass colonialism and imperialism, and take direct actions themselves would giving rises to famines or deaths. This belief and ideology is reflected in the poem "Lenin", written in 1944. Anastasia Ulanowicz and Manisha Basu write in their book that, Bhattacharya could not remain passive and could not stay away from the political and social crisis. They write that if there is no real-life Lenin present, let him be reincarnated and form a leadership marked by bravery, optimism and political insight. During this time, Bhattacharya worked in relief camps to give out food provisions to people.
Lines
References