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p YOGENDRA SHARMA

p SECRETARY OF THE NATIONAL COUNCIL OF THE COMMUNIST PARTY OF INDIA

p The Great October Revolution not only ushered in a new epoch in world history, but changed the face of the world as well. Not only has this been the greatest event of the twentieth century, but it has materially changed the course of mankind’s development.

p From 1917 onwards, it has been and continues to be a triumphal march of the ideas of the October Revolution. Millions the world over are getting attracted to the ideas of October and new strivings find expression in country after country in its favour.

p If it were only a tally of 400,000 Communists (of them 350,000 in Russia alone who under the leadership of Great Lenin accomplished the great historic task of revolution) and 10 Communist parties in the world in 1918, today we are 55 million strong in 91 Communist parties helping to decisively change the course of world developments in favour of independence, peace, and for socialism and communism. What a mighty force we Communists and our allies are, despite certain detractors and their divisive tactics that affect international solidarity!

p Sixty years ago it was the beginning of socialism in one country-the country of Lenin, brought about by the Party of Lenin. It meant socialism for 150 million people only. 144 Today socialism is a number of countries representing over 33 per cent of the world population and over 26 per cent of world territory and it also has a great ally in the national liberation movement which has already achieved political independence in very many countries. They represent over 48 per cent of the world area and nearly 46 per cent of world population. Colonies and dependent regions today constitute barely 1 per cent of world area and less than 0.5 per cent of world population.

p The world of capitalism is shrinking. It occupies about 25 per cent of world area and represents only 20 per cent of world population. In 1917, Russia accounted for barely 3 per cent of world industrial production; today the Soviet Union accounts for over 20 per cent and together with other socialist countries of the CMEA for about 33 per cent, and by another decade the socialist states will account for almost half of world production. This is the triumph of socialism, this is the visible representation of validity of Marxism-Leninism.

p Every day bears out the correctness of Marxist-Leninist theory about the necessity and inevitability of the replacement of capitalism that is embroiled in the steadily deepening insoluble general crisis of its economic, political, and ideological system. The only way out is socialism. People in developing countries, too, are more and more clearly realising this fundamental truth and veering round to the ideas of socialism. The world of socialism and the national liberation movement are today the most powerful force of world history which will win victory over capitalism.

p The basis of this revolutionary force has been and continues to be the working class as the source of the growing strength of our movement, which is based on common aims, interests and world outlook-proletarian internationalism.

p It is due to the combined efforts of these two forcessocialism and national liberation movement-that already for more than 30 years general peace has been ensured in 145 the world, though aggressive imperialist circles ignited wars in different parts of the world, such as Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, the Middle East, and others. But in most areas, imperialism has been decisively defeated. And though hotbeds of tension still remain in certain areas, imperialism is no longer able to hold sway over the destinies of peoples. The Helsinki Final Act could be signed not because imperialism changed its spots, but because it had no other alternative. That is why political detente has been achieved in Europe and a possibility appeared for its extension to other parts of the world, to be followed up by military detente. It is this innate strength of the forces of peace which has created the possibility of preventing a third world war.

p The tremendous potentiality of concerted actions by the countries of socialism and the national liberation movement is best exemplified by the Indo-Soviet relations which demonstrate not only traditional friendship between peoples of the two countries, but coexistence and co-operation in the mutual interest between two states belonging to different social systems. This friendship is not based on transient considerations and is not circumscribed by immediate interests. That is why this has become an example of mutual relations that any two countries can follow. It has served and continues to serve, therefore, the vital interests of mankind as such.

p The 60th anniversary of the Great October Socialist Revolution coincides with an event of tremendous significance-the adoption of the new Constitution of the Soviet Union. The constitutions, ever since the triumph of October, reflected the historic accomplishments of the Soviet people and represented society at its successive higher stages of development. The new Constitution, thus, represents not only the developed socialist society that has been established in the USSR, but what is gradually growing into a communist society. The document not only testifies to the achievements of Soviet society, but it underlines the 146 higher forms of socialist democracy. Naturally, it is the continuation of the historic process begun by the October Revolution and will ever more inspire the developing countries in choosing ways for their further development. Capitalism does not and cannot provide such an example.

p The crisis-free economy, the steadily rising standards of living of the people, the rapid spurt in industrial and agricultural growth, the material wellbeing of people, together with other dynamic facets of socialism, are beacons of hope and direction of advance for the peoples of developing countries. More and more people come to realise every day that only socialism can provide democracy in the real sense and truly ensure the people’s wellbeing. They are realising that capitalism, a system based on exploitation of man by man, cannot be democratic, cannot guarantee emancipation and liberation of all classes and strata of the population. It is to hide the victories of socialism, to nullify its all-pervasive effect, that protagonists of capitalism paint freedom, democracy, and human rights in absolute terms and claim that they exist in capitalist countries. Their racket about human rights is actually a cry of fear.

p Unfortunately, certain forces do play a role that helps imperialism, seeking to confuse and divert peoples of developing countries or those who are fighting for national liberation and thereby weaken the very process of antiimperialist unity and social transformation. Divisive tendencies, though of a small scale, within the international communist movement also affect this process as well as speedier construction of socialism. Such divisive tendencies find the sharpest expression today in the form of "political regionalism" and “autonomism”. Every Communist must realise that no socialism can be built if it is not scientific socialism, if it is not based on the science of Marxism-Leninism.

p No one visualises that socialist transformation of society will follow only one specific model, but political 147 regionalism in terms of narrow geographical boundaries is not its alternative either. It is no accident that as far as the land of the October Socialist Revolution is concerned, all opportunist trends join together and find a common goalto denigrate and besmirch the achievements of socialism.

p We Indian Communists firmly adhere to proletarian internationalism and Marxism-Leninism- Our recent experience through which we have had to pass and the changes that have come about once again induce us to reaffirm our proletarian internationalism which alone can help us in discharging the historic role that we are destined to perform in a country of 660 million people.

p For us the land of the October Revolution is a continuing and ever increasing source of inspiration, and the Party of Lenin, the most experienced contingent of the world communist movement.

p We shall continue to expand and deepen our fraternal relations and draw lessons from the inspiring march of the world of socialism that began with the triumph of the October Revolution. We salute the Party of Lenin and all those who made the revolution and all those who are leading from triumph to triumph the Land of Soviets.

p Long live the Great October Revolution!

p Long live the CPSU, the Party of Lenin!

p Long live proletarian internationalism!

Long live Indo-Soviet friendship!