Echoes of Resistance: Revisiting Sumanta Bandyopadhyay’s Naxalite Translations as Postcolonial Experience Amidst the Waves of Indian Capitalism

Abstract

In South Asian culture, the term “postcolonial” remains a multifaceted concept. Across the Indian subcontinent, Marxism continues to exert a subdued yet persistent influence on democratic culture. Although the radical political tides of the 1970s have largely receded amid the rise of capitalist dominance, academia continues to serve as a vital sanctuary. Within this space, scholars and critics reflect on radical undercurrents emphasizing the necessity of preserving traditions of alterity and dissent to ensure a healthy functioning Indian democracy.

This paper revisits a selection of forgotten Bengali Naxalite poems, translated and compiled by Sumanta Bandyopadhyay to address three central questions:

• First: What lessons and legacies do these literary works offer modern readers and how do they remain relevant in present social context while the eponymous cultural movement has collapsed?


• Second: Do these verses provide meaningful perspectives on the enduring traditions of radical critique in India and how do these persistent currents help us understand contemporary democratic politics?


• Third: Why must we engage with Naxalite poetry today long after the physical collapse of the political movement?

By examining these poetic works, the paper argues that engaging with historical voices of resistance is essential for understanding the ongoing negotiations among the axis of state power, emerging cultures of dissent and ever-evolving political identity in 21^st century postcolonial India.