The Popular Front and the Global Circulation of Marxism through Calcutta, 1920s-1970s

This book explores the global circulation of Marxism in Calcutta, India, presenting it as a historically-sited problem of mass mediation. It demonstrates how the Popular Front was split between the people's group and the intellectuals, with the people's group identifying as Marxists and preferring audio-visual media, while the intellectuals privileged academic rigour and print media. It traces Marxism back to the Bengal Renaissance and the Swadeshi and Naxal movements and shows how debate around its meaning continued throughout the 1970s, eventually engendering Subaltern Studies.

Format: Hardback
Length: 205 pages
Publication date: 30 November 2022
Publisher: Springer International Publishing AG

This captivating book delves into the intricate global circulation of Marxism, focusing on one of its most fervent hubs: Calcutta, India. By building upon existing approaches to global intellectual history, it presents a historically situated problem of mass mediation. Through the lens of media studies, the book explores the ways in which Marxism was disseminated to the public, the technologies employed, and the profound meanings it held in twentieth-century Calcutta. It sheds light on the division within the Popular Front, where the so-called "people's group" aligned themselves with Marxism, embracing audio-visual media like theatre, while the so-called "intellectuals" privileged academic rigor and print media, often referring to themselves as Marxians. This insightful analysis unveils a rich tapestry of Marxisms within the Popular Front. By tracing the origins of Marxism back to the Bengal Renaissance and the Swadeshi and Naxal movements, the book reveals how the debate surrounding the essence of Marxism persisted throughout the 1970s in Calcutta, ultimately giving rise to the renowned historiographical movement known as Subaltern Studies. This profound exploration of the global circulation of Marxism offers a valuable perspective on the complex interplay of ideas, cultures, and historical processes, shedding light on the enduring legacy of Marxism in shaping the world.

Weight: 426g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783031186165
Edition number: 1st ed. 2023