Ashim Chatterjee
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| Born | 1944 (age 80–81) West Bengal, India |
| Alma mater | Presidency College, Kolkata |
| Occupation(s) | Politician, writer |
| Known for | Former Naxalite leader, founder of CRLI |
| Political party | Communist Revolutionary League of India |
| Movement | Naxalite movement |
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.
Early life and education
[edit]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
[edit]Involvement with CPI(ML)
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Imprisonment
[edit]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
[edit]Formation of CRLI
[edit]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
[edit]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]
Views on Maoism
[edit]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
[edit]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
[edit]He is popularly referred to as "Comrade Kaka".[10][11]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ "Asim Chatterjee, Former Naxal and leader, Communist Revolutionary League of India". India Today Conclave. Retrieved 14 April 2024.
- ^ Akbar, M.J. (19 February 2010). "Naxal enigma". Deccan Herald. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ Bandopadhyay (13 December 1998). "In Marxist bastion, Hindu and Muslim students live separately". The Indian Express. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ a b Cite error: The named reference
conclavewas invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Chatterjee, Ashim (18 June 1999). "Real issues are clouded by national chauvinism". The Asian Age. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ "All Red In The Rear View Mirror". Outlook India. 2024. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ Datta, Sujan (25 April 2006). "'70s' nemesis, now comrade - Ex-Naxal leader Ashim Chatterjee on same side as Ray". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 4 February 2011. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ "Maoist violence 'social terrorism', says legendary Naxalite". IANS / TwoCircles.net. Retrieved 20 July 2025.
- ^ Ashim Chatterjee (2022). Naxal Bari Nama. Dey’s Publishing.
- ^ Banerjee, Aloke (24 September 2009). "The new face of Naxalism". India Today. Retrieved 19 February 2010.
- ^ Chattopadhyay, Suhrid Sankar (8 October 2005). "'Thunder' is just a memory". Frontline. Archived from the original on 7 February 2010. Retrieved 19 February 2010.