Communism in Kerala : Study in political adaptation

In 1957 the newly formed state of Kerala returned what was the first significant, democratically elected communist government in the world. This experiment in 'peaceful transition' was short-lived. Encouraged by' vested interests in land and private education, the Central Government dismissed the ministry after an alleged breakdown of law and order. After the split in the Indian communist party in 1964, neither wing could repeat the earlier victory, but the communists have played an important role In the coalition
ministries which have governed Kerala since 1967. With one brief interlude, the state's Chief Ministers have been communist throughout this period. Surprisingly, despite valuable articles by marxist and non-marxist authors, there has been no full-length treatment of Kerala, comparable to Franda's account of West Bengal. Fie's Kerala, Yenan of India arguably adopts a narrow perspective, and is in any case dated. Dr Nossiter bases his work on a wide range of sources: official and party documents, English and local language newspapers, interviews, census information, survey data, and an original analysis of election results presented in both map and statistical form. Although his study provides a framework, of political history from the early days of the Freedom Struggle onwards, Communism in Kerala focuses on issues-why Kerala; the distinctive character of the communist movement in the state; the communists' objectives and record in government; their attitude to the parliamentary process; the reality of centre-state relations; communism's electoral and popular basis; and finally its future prospects. Nossiter emphasizes the regional moorings of Kerala communism and shows the complex interaction oftradition, theory and expediency underlying
the strategy and tactics of the communist parties. Their rival efforts to bring about social change through a combination of
constitutional machinery reinforced with mass mobilization, despite their lack of autonomous state power, is important not
only to students of comparative communism and revolutions and social movements, but also to specialists in development in the Third World