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Moscow 1921: Days and Nights at Hotel Lux

In late December 1920, members of the émigré CPI formed in Tashkent travelled by a slow train to Moscow. It was a luxurious journey. Despite the civil war induced scarcity heating was provided along with comfortable blankets, sheets and pillows. On the way, they talked about socialism and argued over politics in India. In Moscow, the former Muhajir students, Abdul Majid and Shaukat Usmsani, along with A.Q. Khan, an undercover British agent (and a great favourite of the Roy family) stayed at Ho[...]

न्यूज़क्लिक के साथ खड़ा है लेफ़्टवर्ड बुक्स

पिछले कुछ महीनों से देश भर के खेतिहर मजदूर और किसान केंद्र सरकार के तीननए कृषि कानूनों के खिलाफ एक साहसिक आंदोलन कर रहे हैं। ये श्रमिक और किसान कड़कड़ाती ठंड में भी डटे रहे, इन्होंने हर तरह के �[...]

LeftWord Books Stands With NewsClick

Over the course of the past few months, agricultural workers and farmers from across India have been in the midst of a brave agitation against the three farm bills passed by the Indian government. The agricultural workers and farmers have held their line in the cold winter months, braving repression, and harassment; they have been called terrorists and anti-nationals. Nothing has broken their will. They remain resolute: they will defend their livelihood and their lives. The views of the agricul[...]

LeftWord Books salutes the memory of Prof DN Jha

LeftWord Books salutes the memory of Prof DN Jha. He was a historian who believed above all in evidence-based history writing. No matter how much vitriol and abuses were thrown his way by the Hindu Right, he continued to assert the truth as he saw it. Whether it was to argue that the Gupta period was no ‘golden age’, or to argue that there was no evidence for a Hindu temple under the Babri Masjid, or to argue that the consumption of beef was quite prevalent in ancient India, he consistently [...]

Before he was M. N. Roy

The climate of war in 1914 activated the revolutionary underground in Kolkata. Securing funds and ammunitions became a priority, in the backdrop of a wider plan to overthrow British rule. A synchronised insurrection was envisaged with the aid of German armaments, from Lahore to Singapore, in consultation with Ghadar, pan-Islamist, bhadralok and other revolutionary groups within India and abroad. The Jugantar revolutionary cells carried out several robberies to acquire arms and ammunitions. In Oc[...]