MANIFESTO
OF THE FORWARD BLOC
(As adopted by the Working Committee
of the A.I.F.B. in its Bombay Session on 10-6-1946)
The post-war world has been
caught in a whirlpool of upheavals and revolutions. The political and social
basis of a vast section of mankind is changing.
In India itself a situation frought with
revolutionary possibilities faces us. The India of 1946 is a country which has
awakened to its historical role of smashing imperialism, establishing
nationalism and ushering in a new era of freedom, democracy and socialism.
India stands at the cross roads of history. With correct lead the country can
march along the road of revolutionary glory and heroic achievement, or else take
the wrong path and get lost in the labyrinth of metaphysical and pseudo-
religious shibboleths, and the
perpetuation of slavery.
At such a stage of Indian
history, the Forward Bloc sounds its clarion call to all progressive, radical and
uncompromising anti- imperialist elements in the country at large and in the
Congress in particular, to gather together under the steadfast banner of Netaji
Subhas Chandra Bose, and in an organized, planned manner lead the Indian
Revolution.
The Forward Bloc armed with a
full fledge revolutionary programme appeals to the workers and peasants, the
intellectuals and the students, the men in the Army, the Navy, the Air Force
and the Police to rally round the battle cry of Netaji – “All Power to the
Indian People”
The Forward Bloc is a Socialist
Party accepting class struggle with its fullest implications, which means that
seizure of power shall take place by the workers and peasants, and that
capitalism and landlordism, along with all remnants of feudalism, shall be
abolished, and all means of production shall be nationalised.
The Forward Bloc stand for
undisguised and immediate preparation for the establishment of Azad Governments
on the models of the Azad Hind Government of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose and the
Satara Prati Sarkar, Midnapur, Balia and Bihar parallel governments established
during 1942-45.
The Forward Bloc stands for the
formation of panchayats in the villages and the towns, in the fields and the
factories, which will function as organs of struggle and seizure of power
during the revolutionary epoch, and as organs of administration when the power
has been established.
The Forward Bloc stands for
convening a Constituent Assembly freely elected on the basis of universal adult
suffrage of both sexes, which will draw up finally the constitution of a free
India.
The Forward Bloc stands for rapid
industrialization and planned economy in the interests of the masses
themselves, and under the aegis of a real toilers’ government.
The Forward Bloc stands for full
cultural, linguistic and religious freedom of all sections of the people.
It stands for the freedom of the
Press, freedom of Thought, Expression and Association for all.
It stands for complete equality
of sexes.
It stands for full opportunity
being given for growth and development of individual genius of every son and
daughter of the soil in the service of Indian Society,
The Forward Bloc stands for the
Fundamental Rights of Man.
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