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The Struggle Pakistan

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The Struggle (Urdu: طبقاتی جدوجہد) is a Trotskyist, Left-wing organization in Pakistan whose main theoretician was Lal Khan. The paper organ or magazine known as "طبقاتی جہدوجہد" is continuously published by the organization for last 42 years.

The Struggle
طبقاتی جدوجہد
FounderLal Khan
FoundedNovember 1980
HeadquartersLahore
NewspaperTabqati Jeddojehd
IdeologyMarxism
Socialism
Trotskyism
Political positionLeft-wing
Website
https://www.struggle.pk

Formation

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The seeds of the genuine Marxist politics was planted in 1980 in the Netherlands, when a number of leftist Pakistani activists who had fled Pakistan to escape Zia’s repression found themselves in Amsterdam in the cold November 1980.[1] The country was ruled by the notorious General Zia.[2] These leftist Pakistani activists were Farooq Tariq, Tanvir Gondal (now better known as Lal Khan), Muhammed Amjad and Ayub Gorya who Brainstormed ideas and strategies to oppose Zia while in exile and came up with the concept for a progressive organisation they dubbed the Struggle Group which would keep the flame of protest alive, even in exile.[3]

In November 1980, the Struggle group decided to start a monthly Urdu magazine called Jidd-o-jehed or The Struggle[1]۔ The Struggle magazine soon developed a cult status among the Pakistani diaspora, and poets like Habib Jalib, Ahmad Faraz and Faiz Ahmed Faiz started contributing to the magazine by writing revolutionary and anti-dictatorship Urdu poems for the magazine.[1] In December 1984, the magazine published a poem[1] Main Baaghi Hoon, written by Khalid Javaid Jan.[4] The poem became a staple in popular culture due to its revolutionary tone and was used in underground protests as a weapon against Dictator Zia.[5]

The Struggle group continued their activism in exile against military dictatorship in Pakistan and went on to organise a mass funeral for Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in front of the Pakistani embassy in Holland with nearly 500 participants. The charged environment also saw participants throw stones at the embassy’s windows and Farooq was briefly arrested by Dutch police.[1] Arrests, activism and attempts by Pakistani authorities to get them arrested made them popular with leftist and progressive movements in Europe. They campaigned on worker issues, against racism, immigrant issues and anti-nuclearisation with local left parties.[1] The group was also in contact with the Committee for a Workers International (CWI), a Trotskyist “international.”

Pakistan Work & Splits

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In 1986, the Struggle group started working from Pakistani soil when Farooq Tariq and Lal Khan returned to Pakistan.[3] The Struggle followed a strategy known as Entryism, a theory that small militant groups should join mainstream workers’ parties in order to pull them to the left.[6] The strategy is employed in an attempt to expand influence and was advocated by Trotsky.[7] The Struggle at this stage was the official section of CWI in Pakistan and thus worked within PPP.[3]

CWI & 1990s Split

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In early 1990s, the Committee for a Workers International (CWI) split in two over the question of Entryism. Peter Taaffe, a prominent member of English section of the CWI advocated an “Open Turn”, implying the building of an independent organization and an end to “Entryism”.[7] Whereas, another faction led by Ted Grant wanted to maintain its “entrist” strategy.[7] The Struggle also suffered the split and Farooq Tariq, along with perhaps one dozen Struggle members, followed Peter Taaffe’s lead and went on to build an independent political party for workers in Pakistan.[3] The other faction, led by Lal Khan, continued with its "entryism" inside the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP). According to this theory a small militant groups should join mainstream workers’ parties in order to pull them to the left.[8] The strategy is employed in an attempt to expand influence and was advocated by Trotsky.[9]

IMT & 2016 Split

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In 2016, the Struggle experienced a significant split over disagreements regarding the party's orientation and approach. A faction led by Adam Pal formed the Lal Salaam organization, arguing that The Struggle had become stagnant and out of touch with evolving political realities. Lal Salaam asserted that the leadership had fallen into a routine, repeating outdated ideas and slogans that were no longer relevant to the current political landscape. This, they claimed, had hindered the organization's ability to adapt and effectively engage with the working class.[10]

In contrast, the The Struggle organization, which also split from the IMT, attributed the split to the IMT's "total degeneration and sectarianism" as well as the "bureaucratic behavior" of its leadership. The Struggle maintained that these factors, rather than differences in political orientation, were the primary reasons for their departure.[11]

ISL & 2023 Split

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After the death of Lal Khan, struggle continue to organize. At end of 2021, a delegation from organization attended first congress of International Socialist League and later decided to be a part of it.[12] At end of 2022 there was debate among ISL over the Russian invasion of Ukraine, SEP Turkish group left the ISL arguing that ISL's focus on the "defeat of Russia" which the SEP considers aligning them with NATO's goals. The SEP argued that socialists should oppose their own imperialist countries.[13] The International Socialist League (ISL), particularly its Argentine branch (MST), has been criticized for its stance on the Ukraine War. Critics argue that the ISL's support for Ukraine contradicts socialist principles. They point to the presence of right-wing elements in Ukraine, including the historical collaboration of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) with the Nazis, as evidence that the ISL is neglecting its anti-fascist values. Furthermore, critics see the war as a US-led proxy conflict against Russia, and believe the ISL is unwittingly supporting a wider geopolitical struggle against China. This alignment with NATO's goals, they argue, comes at the expense of Ukrainian workers and youth, who are being treated as expendable pawns in the conflict.[14] Due to these discussions, a split also happened in The Struggle. Both factions parted their ways and one is still supporting ISL and other want to again return to traditional methods of entryism. The main leadership of The Struggle Pakistan is also accused of moving away from its ideology and drifted towards the "New Left". This was a significant departure from the group's previous commitment to Ted Grant and embraced Morenoite legacy.[15]

Publications

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Lal Khan addressing The Struggle congress.

Lal Khan continued to be the editor of the Struggle magazine and leader of the Struggle group till his death. He also writes articles regularly for the Daily Times[16] and Dunya.[17] The Struggle group has their own publication agency and has published numerous books and leaflets on topics including Marxist ideology, history of Marxist struggle in Pakistan, and various books covering history of Bolshevik revolution. Some of the books are: Partition – Can it be undone?,[18] Pakistan's Other Story – The Revolution of 1968–69,[19] and Kashmir, A revolutionary way out.[20] Books in Urdu language include,[21] whereas translated publications from other language into Urdu include.[22] On centenary of Russian revolution; a 1,200-page translation of Leon Trotsky’s classic work, History of the Russian Revolution has been published into Urdu language by The Struggle group.[23] It is the first time that the book has been translated to any South Asian language.[24]

Working in Masses

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Open work is done by organizing different fronts linked collectively to the organization. The front for workers is known as Pakistan Trade Union Defence Campaign (PTUDC), while Revolutionary Students Front (RSF) & Jammu Kashmir National Students Federation (JKNSF) work among students and youth. In 2015, youth and students fronts started a campaign to bring together prominent left-wing students organizations across the country on a single platform.[25] It holds its regularly its congress which are held to analyse the performance of The Struggle and to formulate new strategies for social change and revolution.[26][27] In March 2013, Malala Yousafzai sent solidarity message to The Struggle congress.[28] In Pakistani general election, 2018 its prominent leader Ali Wazir has been elected as member of National Assembly of Pakistan.[29]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f "Blacked out - The Express Tribune". 12 August 2012.
  2. ^ "Pakistan's Four Dictators: Same Legacy".
  3. ^ a b c d "A View from the Pakistani Left". 10 November 2007.
  4. ^ "نظم-میں باغی ہوں-ڈاکٹر خالد جاوید جان". 4 February 2010.
  5. ^ "Dr Khalid Javed Jan: Dare to think, dare to write - The Express Tribune". 26 April 2012.
  6. ^ "Anybody heard of entrism tactic?". www.revleft.space.
  7. ^ a b c "ZCommunications » Reading Trotsky in Pakistan". zcomm.org.
  8. ^ "International Marxist Tendency in Pakistan | League for the Fifth International". fifthinternational.org. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  9. ^ Struggle, the EC of The (31 March 2010). "Pakistan: The IMT and Manzoor Ahmed ‑ Against unprincipled careerism!". www.marxist.com.
  10. ^ Marxism, In Defence of (2016-12-15). "Pakistan IMT Congress: Discussion on Organisation". In Defence of Marxism. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  11. ^ Moreno, Federico (2022-03-18). "Pakistan: Interview with Imran Kamyana on the 40th Congress of The Struggle". International Socialist League. Retrieved 2024-10-05.
  12. ^ "1st Congress of the ISL: Statutes of the International Socialist League". 11 December 2021.
  13. ^ Codingest (2022-11-12). "Why we have left ISL?". Socialist Laborers Party. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  14. ^ "Ukraine war exposes the pro-imperialist politics of the "Left Workers Front" in Argentina". World Socialist Web Site. 2023-04-18. Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  15. ^ H, J. (2023-08-21). "یوکرائن جنگ اور آئی ایس ایل کی سامراجی گماشتگی". طبقاتی جدوجہد (in Urdu). Retrieved 2024-06-13.
  16. ^ "You searched for test/%C2%A0/483/Lal%20Khan".
  17. ^ "Urdu Columns - Roznama Dunya". www.dunya.com.pk.
  18. ^ "The Sunday Tribune - Books". www.tribuneindia.com.
  19. ^ "Daily Times - Latest Pakistan News, World, Business, Sports, Lifestyle".
  20. ^ "Lal Salaam - لال سلام". Lal Salaam - لال سلام.
  21. ^ "سوشلزم: 50 سوال اور ان کے جوابات".
  22. ^ "دیباچہ کتاب سی پیک: ترقی یا سراب؟".
  23. ^ Rehman, I.A. (2017-11-09). "Soviet revolution's impact". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  24. ^ Reporter, A (2017-12-11). "Urdu translation of Trotsky's book launched". DAWN.COM. Retrieved 2018-08-27.
  25. ^ PYA, the (22 October 2016). "Pakistan: The activities of the Progressive Youth Alliance". www.marxist.com.
  26. ^ "آئی ایم ٹی کے پاکستانی سیکشن کی 31ویں تاریخی کانگریس". 2012-04-25. Archived from the original on 2012-04-25. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
  27. ^ "The Struggle's Regional Congresses". Asian Marxist Review. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  28. ^ "The Malala you won't hear about". SocialistWorker.org. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  29. ^ "Meet Ali Wazir, The Lone Marxist Who Won Assembly Seat Despite Taliban Killing 16 Of His Family". indiatimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-21.
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