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Ashim Chatterjee
Indian politician and former Naxalite leader From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Ashim Chatterjee (born 1944)[1] is an Indian politician and a former Naxalite leader. He was active during the Naxalite movement of the late 1960s and 1970s in West Bengal and is known for his association and later disassociation with Charu Majumdar.
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Early life and education
Chatterjee studied economics at Presidency College, Kolkata, where he became politically active through the Bengal Provincial Student's Federation, the student wing of the Communist Party of India (Marxist).[2]
Political activism
Involvement with CPI(ML)
He joined the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist) and became a close associate of Charu Majumdar. Chatterjee was part of the CPI(ML) Central Committee and was involved in organizing armed peasant struggles in West Bengal, particularly in the Debra–Gopiballavpur region.[3]
Break with Charu Majumdar
In 1971, Chatterjee broke ranks with Majumdar following ideological differences, especially CPI(ML)'s opposition to the Bangladesh liberation war and the failure of armed insurgency attempts.[4] He formed the Bengal–Bihar–Odisha Border Regional Committee of CPI(ML), which later aligned with the CPI(ML) faction of Satyanarayan Singh. Eventually, Chatterjee established the Communist Revolutionary League of India (CRLI).[5]
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Imprisonment
He was arrested in November 1971 and imprisoned from 1972 to 1978. He reportedly spent long periods in solitary confinement during this time.[6]
Later political career
Formation of CRLI
In 1984, Chatterjee formally founded the Communist Revolutionary League of India (CRLI). He distanced himself from Maoist violence and began advocating for democratic and socialist approaches.[4]
Elections
He unsuccessfully contested the West Bengal Legislative Assembly elections twice:
- In 1991 from Rashbehari, as a CPI(M)-supported Independent.
- In 2006 from Beliaghata, backed by the Trinamool Congress.[7]
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Views on Maoism
Chatterjee has criticized the violence of modern Maoist groups, calling it "social terrorism", and has argued that revolutionary change must be rooted in mass struggle rather than armed terror.[8]
Writings
Chatterjee authored the book Naxal Bari Nama in 2022, a memoir reflecting on his decades in the revolutionary movement. It was shortlisted for the 2024 Ananda Puraskar.[9]
Legacy
See also
References
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