Hare Krishna Konar

Michil l

Hare Krishna Konar (1915 – 23 July 1974) was a prominent Indian communist leader and a key figure in the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). He played a significant role in the land reform movement in West Bengal and was instrumental in the Naxalbari uprising.

Early Life

Hare Krishna Konar was born in 1915 in Kamargoria, a village in the Burdwan district of West Bengal. He was deeply influenced by the socio-economic conditions of the rural poor and became involved in the freedom struggle against British colonial rule.

Political Career

Konar joined the Communist Party of India (CPI) in the early 1940s. He was actively involved in organizing the peasant movement and was a key leader in the Tebhaga movement of 1946-47, which demanded a two-thirds share of the produce for the sharecroppers.

Role in CPI(M)

After the split in the CPI in 1964, Konar became a founding member of the CPI(M). He was elected to the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and served as the Minister of Land and Land Reforms in the first Left Front government in West Bengal. His efforts were crucial in implementing land reforms and redistributing land to the landless peasants.

Naxalbari Uprising

Konar's role in the Naxalbari uprising of 1967 was significant. Although the movement was initially supported by the CPI(M), it later led to a split, with the formation of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI(ML)). Konar, however, remained with the CPI(M) and continued to advocate for land reforms through legislative means.

Legacy

Hare Krishna Konar is remembered for his dedication to the cause of the rural poor and his efforts in land redistribution. His work laid the foundation for the agrarian reforms that transformed the socio-economic landscape of West Bengal.

See Also

• Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Naxalbari uprising
• Tebhaga movement
• Land reform in India
• West Bengal Legislative Assembly