COMRADES AND COMEBACKS BY SAIRA SHAH HALIM EXPLORES ITS HISTORY, DECLINE, AND ROAD TO REVIVAL

IS THE INDIAN LEFT DEAD? COMRADES AND COMEBACKS BY SAIRA SHAH HALIM EXPLORES ITS HISTORY, DECLINE, AND ROAD TO REVIVAL

 Reframes the Indian Left as a freedom movement protagonist – challenging the notion that it was only a post-independence force and spotlighting how left-leaning activists and revolutionaries were central to India’s anti-colonial resistance.

Unearths forgotten stories from the Cellular Jail – revealing that many inmates were committed leftists with a clear ideological vision, rather than faceless prisoners of history.

Challenges conventional narratives on iconic leaders – advancing the provocative idea that both Subhas Chandra Bose and Jawaharlal Nehru may have had stronger left-leaning affinities than traditionally acknowledged, placing Netaji within a radical socialist framework.

Connects history to the present – making a compelling case for the revival of the Indian Left by rooting its comeback in its original ideological spirit, not merely electoral strategy.

A New Indian Order: Challenging Concentrated Privilege: There is a growing call for a new political and economic order—one that dismantles the entrenched ownership and advantage of a few and replaces it with a system that is just, equitable, and inclusive. Comrades and Comebacks gives voice to this shift, making the case for a republic that works for all, not just the privileged few.

Calls young Indians to action – urging the country’s youth to engage deeply with political discourse instead of retreating from it.

ADVANCE PRAISE FOR THE BOOK:

‘In a time of historical amnesia and muffled dissent, Saira Shah Halim’s book dares to ask: What happened to conscience? With lucidity, humour and rage, she exhumes the soul of the Indian Left. This isn’t nostalgia—it’s necessary reading for anyone who still believes in justice, poetry and the possibility of change’

–          Naseeruddin Shah, veteran actor

With piercing clarity, Saira Shah Halim revives forgotten struggles and defiant voices, posing not the tired question of whether the Left is dying but the vital one: How must it rise to shape the future of India and the world?’

–          Prof. Irfan Habib, eminent Indian historian and professor emeritus, Aligarh Muslim University

‘Saira relates a difficult topic in such an easy, chatty manner that one can’t put it down. She has covered a wide and complex area of communism—past, present and future— with the ease of a raconteur’

–          Jawhar Sircar, former member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha

‘If you’ve ever wondered whether resistance still has relevance, read this. This book doesn’t just ask questions; it demands answers’

–          S.Y. Quraishi, former chief election commissioner of India

‘Saira doesn’t offer easy slogans but clarity, courage and fire. Comrades and Comebacks reminds us that the struggle isn’t over—it’s just waiting for new voices, new dreams and new battlegrounds’

–          Lt Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah, former deputy chief of army staff and former vice chancellor, Aligarh Muslim University

The history of Left politics in India runs deep into the very heart of the freedom struggle. It can hardly be denied that both the freedom struggle and the political landscape of free India was, for the longest time, hued in various shades of red. Peculiarly, Leftism in India has developed in close ties with the culture in which it was rooted. A movement consisting of diverse forces—-with moderate socialists at one end of the spectrum and extremist or revolutionary communists at the other—-The Indian Left has had a complex and evolving role in Indian politics. While historically it has played a pertinent role, primarily in states such as West Bengal and Kerala, its influence and relevance, have both waned in recent years. It has been struggling to adapt itself to dynamic electoral politics and, therefore, finding it hard to regain its lost ground.

Tracing the red thread through India’s factories, farms, universities, and freedom movements, Comrades and Comebacks by Saira Shah Halim rejects simplistic Cold War binaries. Instead, it reveals the Left as a deeply Indian expression of justice, solidarity, and rebellion.

This book is about an ideology that is under threat or, as many say, almost extinct, at least in India. It tries to sketch a rich historical narrative that foregrounds left politics in world history, locates its relevance in India and charts a future of its revival.

The book asks crucial questions. Can it still resonate with a generation shaped by consumerism and increasingly radicalized identities? Has it lost its moral clarity or simply its vocabulary? Through essays, narratives, and reflections, Halim charts not just the fall, but the possibility of a resurgence. ‘Comrades and Comebacks’ is a love letter to a bruised idea, a field guide for reimagining resistance, and a call to listen for the quiet stirrings of change in unexpected places.

About the author:

Saira Shah Halim

Saira Shah Halim is a social and peace activist, educator, politician, theatre artist, three-time TEDx speaker and writer. Raised in various parts of India and the Gulf due to her father’s army career, she travelled across the country and experienced a variety of cultural and social environments. She began her career in the corporate world, working with top multinational corporations in multiple training and development roles.

Hanging up her corporate boots after 17 years, she metamorphosed into one of the more prominent social and gender activists of the country. Saira has been a strong advocate for the marginalized and disenfranchised–she was associated with the farmers’ movement, the anti-CAA and-NRC protests, and has protested against educational institutions in Karnataka banning the hijab in classrooms. She is associated with multiple associations and platforms promoting secularism, democratic values, gender equality and diversity(LGBTQ), and has worked on various social agendas reflecting these values.

An extremely well-known face on national television, Saira voices her progressive and secular opinions vociferously. Saira made her political debut in March 2022 with the Communist Party of India (Marxist). She contested the Ballygunge Assembly by-poll, demonstrating her commitment to political activism and change. She broke the TMC-BJP binary and defeated the contestants of two national parties, the BJP and the Congress, increasing the CPIM vote share from 5 per cent to 30 per cent. Saira lost by a narrow margin to the TMC candidate.

About Penguin Random House India

Penguin Random House India publishes over 250 new titles every year and has an active backlist of over 3000 titles. With a strong fiction and non-fiction list, it publishes across every segment including biography, travel, business, politics, history, religion and philosophy, lifestyle, cookery, health and fitness, sports and leisure, visual books, and children’s books. The children’s titles are published under the Puffin imprint.

Penguin Random House India’s illustrious list includes Booker Prize-winning novels and winners of virtually every major literary prize, including the Nobel Prize, the Magsaysay Award, the Jnanpith Award, the Sahitya Akademi Award, and the Commonwealth Writers’ Prize. Several of PRHI’s authors are also recipients of the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan, India’s highest civilian honours.

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