Header: The arduous journey scroll series (万水千山屏) | 1961. Ying Yeping (应野平) and Wang Huanqing (汪欢清). © Chineseposters.net
Long March and the Civil Disobedience Movement
A comparison between the arduous Long March that formed the basis of the Chinese revolution, and the striking events of Gandhi's civil disobedience movement which won India her freedom may seem counterintuitive to many. However, profound parallels between the two emerge at a closer look.
The Long March
The Chinese peasantry suffered long under the rule of the Manchus of the Qing Dynasty who allowed the plunder of China by Western powers for personal gain. In 1911, the Qind dynasty was overthrown and the Republic of China established under the nationalist Kuomintang party, and Sun Yat Sen elected as its first president. However, following Sun Yat Sen's death, the Kuomintang began to split into left and right. The KMT began a purge of its communist members, and carried out attacks on communists throughout the country. The Communist Party of China was still small at this stage.
To carry out their self defense and the defense of the Chinese people, the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was created by the CCP. The Communists took power in different parts of the country creating liberated red zones. A ten year civil war between the CCP and the KMT began.
In the tumultuous course of the civil war, the Long March was an epic 6,000-mile strategic military retreat of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army from the Kuomintang that took up to two years. Armed with class consciousness, ideals of new democracy, and the vision and leadership of Mao Zedong, workers and peasants marched through marshlands and snow-capped mountains for freedom. The Long March consolidated the leadership of the Communist Party of China and its relationship to the people. As American journalist Harrison Salisbury wrote, “No event in this century has so captured the world’s imagination and so profoundly affected its future.”
The Long March won the people's trust for the Red Army. Wherever they went, they would educate the people through music and plays. The army worked on the principle that they never took from the people what they did not pay for. Seeing the upright and principled conduct of the Red Army Soldiers, the people responded with generosity and trust. The ranks of the Red Army grew from this. In contrast, the KMT army was oppressive and arrogant toward the peasantry.
One of many herioc episodes of the Long March was the crossing of the Tatu river by the Red Army. The bridge was old, with thick iron chains and wooden planks. Below, the Tatu river rapid and chaotic current revealed sharp boulders and white froth. The thundering roar of the water was deafening. The Kuomintang waited with weapons at the other side of the bridge. They had also removed half the planks from the iron and wood bridge, setting the rest on fire. The first few soldiers to cross were facing sure death. Yet the disciplined soldiers of the Red Army crossed the river, making the ultimate sacrifice so their comrades could continue the march towards freedom for the Chinese people.
To carry out their self defense and the defense of the Chinese people, the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army was created by the CCP. The Communists took power in different parts of the country creating liberated red zones. A ten year civil war between the CCP and the KMT began.
In the tumultuous course of the civil war, the Long March was an epic 6,000-mile strategic military retreat of the Chinese Workers’ and Peasants’ Red Army from the Kuomintang that took up to two years. Armed with class consciousness, ideals of new democracy, and the vision and leadership of Mao Zedong, workers and peasants marched through marshlands and snow-capped mountains for freedom. The Long March consolidated the leadership of the Communist Party of China and its relationship to the people. As American journalist Harrison Salisbury wrote, “No event in this century has so captured the world’s imagination and so profoundly affected its future.”
The Long March won the people's trust for the Red Army. Wherever they went, they would educate the people through music and plays. The army worked on the principle that they never took from the people what they did not pay for. Seeing the upright and principled conduct of the Red Army Soldiers, the people responded with generosity and trust. The ranks of the Red Army grew from this. In contrast, the KMT army was oppressive and arrogant toward the peasantry.
One of many herioc episodes of the Long March was the crossing of the Tatu river by the Red Army. The bridge was old, with thick iron chains and wooden planks. Below, the Tatu river rapid and chaotic current revealed sharp boulders and white froth. The thundering roar of the water was deafening. The Kuomintang waited with weapons at the other side of the bridge. They had also removed half the planks from the iron and wood bridge, setting the rest on fire. The first few soldiers to cross were facing sure death. Yet the disciplined soldiers of the Red Army crossed the river, making the ultimate sacrifice so their comrades could continue the march towards freedom for the Chinese people.
The Civil Disobedience Movement
The people of India long suffered under oppressively British rule that legitimized itself through inciting differences among the people and dividing them. There was a drain of resources from the peasantry and village economy especially, and the soul of India was impoverished. It was for the first time in the history of mankind that a nonviolent method of struggle was fashioned in the Indian freedom struggle. The experience of the Indian people during the first war of independence in 1857 and its brutal repression by the British caused the people to look for an alternative to violent struggle. They embraced the methods of Gandhi, who drew on the ancient non-violent tradition in Indian civilization, from the Jains, the Buddha to the Gita. Gandhi gave the people a method by which every child, woman and man could fight for their freedom.
Through the symbol and tool of the spinning wheel, and through active programs, the Indian people grew into a disciplined force under the leadership of the Congress cadre. The cadre of the Congress went to every village, educating the people on their history and potential, and carried themselves with pride and honesty. The people became soldiers in the non-violent war for independence from the British.
After Gandhi's arrival, at every stage the independence movement saw mass participation. The movement reached its crescendo in the Quit India Movement. The Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan) of August 1942 started with the call for immediate self-rule by Indians and against sending Indians to World War II. The movement urged teachers and students to leave their schools, and Indians of all walks of life to leave their workplaces and take part in India's independence. The people responded with enthusiasm and discipline. During the movement, Gandhi and his followers continued to use non-violence against British rule. "Do or Die!" became the rallying cry of the Indian people. The people, and specially women, became disciplined soldiers of Indian freedom.
The British responded to the movement with violence and repression, as well as efforts to foster disunity and suppression. However, the people of India acted as soldiers willing to be martyred in the cause of freedom, in many occasions walking into direct firing by the British with their head held high.
Through the symbol and tool of the spinning wheel, and through active programs, the Indian people grew into a disciplined force under the leadership of the Congress cadre. The cadre of the Congress went to every village, educating the people on their history and potential, and carried themselves with pride and honesty. The people became soldiers in the non-violent war for independence from the British.
After Gandhi's arrival, at every stage the independence movement saw mass participation. The movement reached its crescendo in the Quit India Movement. The Quit India Movement (Bharat Chhodo Andolan) of August 1942 started with the call for immediate self-rule by Indians and against sending Indians to World War II. The movement urged teachers and students to leave their schools, and Indians of all walks of life to leave their workplaces and take part in India's independence. The people responded with enthusiasm and discipline. During the movement, Gandhi and his followers continued to use non-violence against British rule. "Do or Die!" became the rallying cry of the Indian people. The people, and specially women, became disciplined soldiers of Indian freedom.
The British responded to the movement with violence and repression, as well as efforts to foster disunity and suppression. However, the people of India acted as soldiers willing to be martyred in the cause of freedom, in many occasions walking into direct firing by the British with their head held high.
The Emergence of a New Asia with the Peoples Sacrifice
The people of both nations carried out great sacrifice in the cause of freedom. The late 1940s saw the emergence of a new Asia, one of principled soldiers who had a sense of their history and self worth. Although differentiated by tactics, both the Indian and Chinese struggles were people's wars against imperialism and Western domination. They both sought to re-energize their ancient civilizations in order to form a new society free from illiteracy, poverty, war and hunger.
The struggle for freedom in both nations gave rise to a new consciousness among the people. This was a generation which was aware of the historic significance of the moment, the potential of the revolutionary struggle, and were willing to give their lives for it. They made the conscious sacrifice of their lives for their people. The Indian and Chinese states were won through this sacrifice and struggle.
Below are two episodes from the series Bharat Ek Khoj which shows the civil disobedience movement in a small Indian village. Along with these are two episodes of a documentary series on the Long March. We think these seen together capture the nature of the struggle in the two nations.
The struggle for freedom in both nations gave rise to a new consciousness among the people. This was a generation which was aware of the historic significance of the moment, the potential of the revolutionary struggle, and were willing to give their lives for it. They made the conscious sacrifice of their lives for their people. The Indian and Chinese states were won through this sacrifice and struggle.
Below are two episodes from the series Bharat Ek Khoj which shows the civil disobedience movement in a small Indian village. Along with these are two episodes of a documentary series on the Long March. We think these seen together capture the nature of the struggle in the two nations.
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