Historical conditions and the awareness that existed of modern colonialism offered fertile ground for the growth of a strong left-wing movement in India after 1919. Marxism and Communism met with little ideological, political or organisational hostility from the established nationalist leaders and cadres. After the First World War, the national movement entered a period of political struggle based on the masses and politicisation, and from 1920 onwards, at different times, most parts of the country were engulfed by vigorous peasant movements. With the relatively rapid development of capitalist industry, plantations, transport and communication systems there emerged a large working class; with it came trade unionisation and its attendant trade union struggles which were militant in nature. The communist and socialist parties attracted a large number of idealist youth and intellectuals who responded positively to Marxist ideas and leaned increasingly leftwards after 1927. In Jawaharlal Nehru, the Left found a popular leader, propagator and symbol. During the 1930s and 1940s they occupied a strong position in the Congress organisation, especially at the grass roots level.