the labouring masses is their
liberation too. They are also
exploited, the difference being, the
workers and peasants are more
directly exploited. They have to
come to the united front of
revolutionary classes. There is no
other way.
Students are the exploited
section, not only in an economic
sense of the term, but also in the
sphere of education. The edu-
cation they receive, unfit to serve
the masses, only make them adept
in exploiting the people. The
bookish knowledge they get,
unrelated to reality, they realise
later, have made them cogs in a
vast machine. They find themselves
on the opposite side of the
barricade, arrayed against the
people. This perverted system has
produced only weaklings, whose
lives are centered round pay-
packets.
A student has no choice before
him in the matter of subject he
wants to learn, chances of getting
a job is the criterion. One who
wants to learn English literature
goes in for Economics. In this
system the talk of free development
of personality is humbug.
Extracurricular activities are
discouraged. Their talents are
wasted. Their youthful vigour is lost
in the welter of economic, social
and political taboos. Students have
no say in making the syllabi or in
the mode of instruction. On the
other hand, the authorities enjoy
absolute liberty of actions, of
serving the interest of the
exploiters. They sow the seeds of
reaction at the behest of the ruling
class and its mentor, US imperialism
and propagate the virtues of
Yankee culture.
Liberation of the student
community is impossible unless this
system is resolutely fought and
crushed. To achieve this student
must join the ranks of people’s
democratic forces, the workers and
peasants.
6
Come Forward Young Intelle-
ctuals, Students & Youths
The intellectuals and the
students have to mix thoroughly
with the working class and the
peasantry. They have to be one
with them. They have to serve the
people. Their petty-bourgeois
mentality which tries to keep them
away from revolution will disappear
gradually if they try to be one with
the people. Only in this way can
they become real revolutionaries
and can dedicate themselves to
the bigger cause by giving up their
own class interest. Only then can
they be able to unite with the
progressive classes and give up
their own class position. But the
task is not easy. They have to
bring this change.
The intellectuals and students
have to go among the workers and
peasants to unite and organise
them. The main task will be to
propagate politics among them.
The intellectuals and students will
in this way help in forging a political
united front of the toiling masses.
What is the class character of
the Students?
A large section of young
intellectuals is the student
community. Students do not belong
to any particular class, because
young men and women of all
classes are there among them.
They are young in age. So the
forces of reaction can influence
them little. They have a
tremendous life-force. They are
very much interested to learn new
things. They have less conser-
vatism in their thought. They have
a strong sense of Justice. They are
always ready to oppose injustice.
A great advantage for them is than
they have time at their disposal.
They can spend this time in
revolutionary work. For all these,
the student community as a whole,
is always progressive and a party
to the people’s democratic front.
Build yourself in the light of
Mao’s Thought
Mao wrote, “How should we
judge whether a youth is a
revolutionary? How can we tell?
There can only be one criterion
namely, whether or not he is willing
to integrate himself with the broad
masses of workers and peasants
and does so in practice. If he is
willing to do so and actually do so,
he is a revolutionary; otherwise he
is a non-revolutionary or a counter
revolutionary. If today he integrates
himself with the masses of workers
and peasants, then today he is a
revolutionary; if tomorrow he
ceases to do so or turns round to
oppress the common people, then
he becomes a non-revolutionary or
counter-revolutionary.”
The Chinese youths and
students occupied the front rank
during the historic May 4 th
Movement in China in 1919. How
could they do this? Intellectuals and
students were the first to realise the
need for a revolution to win freedom
from the yoke of exploitation, as
they possessed some progressive
consciousness derived from their
education. If political consciousness
and the sense of revolutionary self-
sacrifice
intermingle,
the
intellectuals acquire a revolutionary
character. Youths and students
fought from the forefront during the
May 4 th Movement because they
believed in revolutionary politics
and were ready to sacrifice
everything for the interest of the
masses. As a result, they could
show courage and take a leading
role in the movement.
Moreover, the Chinese working
class was not advanced and united
at that time. The Communist Party
of China was not yet there. As a
result, the movement was deprived
of such a party leadership. So the
working class could not come to the
forefront of the movement. In this
situation the intellectuals and
students came to the forefront of
the movement with their
Class Struggle