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Last modified: 2019-07-21 by ian macdonald
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![[All India Forward Bloc Flag]](../images/i/in}alfb.gif)
image
by Roman Kogovsek, 8 July 2005 and António Martins-Tuválkin, 31
March 2006
I have seen this flag during a party meeting in Kolkata and also on propaganda
material. It is plain red with a yellow-black-striped tiger. Above the tiger’s
back is well known communist symbol in white.
Roman Kogovsek, 8 July 2005
The All India Forward Bloc or Forward Bloc (FB), an ally of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)
in the West Bengal government, and with 3 members in the Lok Sabha, uses a red
flag with a white hammer and sickle and a leaping tiger. One can see the
elements, unfortunately in flash animation and not in flag form, at
this site (the lion on the
site is their party symbol as given by the Electoral Commission). Party
posters with versions of the flag can be seen
here and
here. As one will notice the party is based on the political heritage of
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose, who split from Congess and founded the FB in 1939.
After WWII the party split, and the present FB is the left wing, the FB
(Marxist). The right wing, FB (Ruiker) is said to have used an Indian tricolour
with a leaping tiger on the white stripe, and gained 0.13% of the vote for the
1951 Lok Sabha. Given that Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose
commanded the "Indian National Army" the connection between these two flags is
clear, if not clearly understood.
"Knut A. Berg", 20 October 2004
![[Trade Union Coordination Committee Flag]](../images/i/in}tucc.gif)
image
by Tomislav Todorovic, 23 June 2019
TUCC is the central trade union attached to the All India Forward Bloc. The
flag is identical in textile use. It is identical to the party flag, except for
the letters "TUCC" added.
J.A. Sommansson, 24 January 2005
A photo displaying several copies of its flag can be found at
https://www.indiatoday.in/india/south/story/bharat-bandh-called-by-11-major-trade-unions-disrupts-normal-life-154468-2013-02-20.
Although incompletely visible, they still enable the approximate reconstruction
of the typeface used for the inscription TUCC and also reveal that its color is
the same as that of the hammer and sickle, i.e. white; the tiger is in yellow
and black, just as in the party flag.
Tomislav Todorovic, 23 June 2019
Art. III - The flag of the party shall be a red flag of which the
length shall be one-and-a-half times its width. At the centre of the
flag there shall be a crossed hammer and sickle in white.
Source: http://www.cpofindia.org/cp2.htm
Joe McMillan, 18 August 2003
![[Communist Party of India]](../images/i/in}cpi!1.gif)
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 16 July 2016
The Constitution of CPI does not specify the details of the flag design,
so the size and shape of hammer and sickle may vary depending on the
manufacturer [1, 2, 3]. The color may vary between R and R+, but the latter
of these seems to prevail. However, flags with the hammer and sickle set
close to the hoist, or in the canton, also may appear [4], but rarely and
they seem to be home-made.
In order to distinguish its flag from those of
other Communist parties, whether allies or rivals, the Communist Party of
India often uses various unofficial flags. These are usually derived from the
official flag by addition of the party name initials in white. The letters
are usually inscribed vertically, along the hoist edge; the typeface may
vary, and the letters may be either aligned to the left or centered [5, 6, 7,
8, 9, 10]. Less frequently, the abbreviation is inscribed beneath hammer and
sickle [11, 12], sometimes in other scripts than Latin as well [12]. This
usually appears on small vertical flags used in decorative flag rows [13, 14,
15]. There are also vertical flags with the width greater than the length,
with hammer and sickle at the top and large letters CPI inscribed
vertically in center and fly [15, 16]. It shall be noted that, although these
flags are meant to be used instead of the official flag, they did not replace
it completely and there are also the examples of their joint use with the
official flag [7, 15, 16].
![[Communist Party of India]](../images/i/in}cpi!2.gif)
image by Tomislav Todorovic, 16 July 2016
Another type of unofficial flags replaces the
hammer and sickle with the CPI election symbol - "ears of corn and sickle",
as it is officially called by the Election Commission of India [17]. It is
depicted in white on red field, shade of red varying between R and R+, the
latter seems to prevail again [18, 19, 20, 21, 22]. The shape of symbol also
varies, as does the ratio, which goes between 2:3 [18, 19, 20] and 1:1 [21,
22]. The flag may also have the letters CPI inscribed vertically along the
hoist [21, 22].
Sources:
[1] Wikimedia Commons - Photo of the CPI flags,
Kerala, 2006:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tvpm-cpiconf133.jpg
[2] Wikimedia Commons - Photo of the CPI flags, Kerala, 2006:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tvpm-cpiconf145.jpg
[3] Flickr
- Photo from the XX Congress of the CPI, March 2008:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/solidnet/2484801734/
[4] Wikimedia
Commons - Photo of the erroneous CPI flags, Kerala, 2006:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Tvpm-cpiconf128.jpg
[5]
People's Democracy magazine website - issue of 2007-08-05:
http://archives.peoplesdemocracy.in/2007/0805/08052007_mudigona%20police%20firing.htm
[6] Flickr - Photo of the unofficial CPI flag, Hyderabad, 2008-04-03:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/abhic/2385080547/
[7] TamilNet website -
news report of 2008-11-25:
http://www.tamilnet.com/art.html?catid=13&artid=27577
[8] Flickr -
Photo of the unofficial CPI flag, Pondicherry, 2014-02-08:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/piaser/15764805848/
[9] Wikimedia Commons
- Photo of the unofficial CPI flag, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, July 2013:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rappakal_Samaram_25.JPG
[10]
Wikimedia Commons - Photo of the unofficial CPI flag:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Flag_of_the_Communist_Party_of_India.jpg
[11] Wikimedia Commons - Photo of the unofficial CPI flag, Orissa, 2006:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Orissa081.jpg
[12] Flickr - Photo of
the unofficial CPI flags, Delhi, 2006-02-22:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/kontent/108694042/
[13] Flickr - Photo of
the unofficial CPI flags, Kerala, 2012-03-05:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/dcml/8884606480/
[14] Flickr - Photo of
the unofficial CPI flags, Kerala, 2012-01-08:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alfonso_va/6874253880/
[15] Flickr -
Photo of the unofficial CPI flags, Kerala, 2012-01-08:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/alfonso_va/6874255086/
[16] Wikimedia
Commons - Photo of the unofficial CPI flags, Kolkata, 2015-02-07:
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:CPI_Demonstration_-_Sealdah_-_Kolkata_2015-02-07_2105.JPG
[17] Election Commission of India website - List of political parties and
election symbols as of 2001-04-03, pp. 25, 71 (actual pp. 27, 73 of the PDF
document):
http://eci.nic.in/eci_main/ElectoralLaws/OrdersNotifications/Parties_Symbols_Conditions.pdf
[18] The Hindu newspaper website - photo of political flags from Tamil Nadu:
http://www.thehindu.com/multimedia/dynamic/00497/Nagercoil_1_States__497094f.jpg
[19] Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazagham website - Photo gallery of
2009-05-13:
http://mdmk.org.in/article/may09/election-photos (image:
http://mdmk.org.in/sites/default/files/imagecache/articlefull/article/2009-05/2469/photos/election%20photos-1510.jpg)
[20] Tamil Maanila Congress at Facebook - photo of unofficial CPI flag:
https://www.facebook.com/TMCTN/photos/a.750182625056679.1073741829.738527772888831/1028083160599956/?type=3&theater
[21] Odisha TV website:
http://odishatv.in/odisha/reddy-yechury-slam-anti-people-policies-of-centre-bjd-132744/
[22] Flickr - CPI activities photo album by Dr D Sudhakar:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/26067078@N03/albums/72157638404940033
Regarding the official flag design, the image which is currently
used to represent Communist Party of India (Marxist), may be used for the
Communist Party of India as well, for the photos from sources [1] and [2],
especially the latter of those, display flags very similar to the said image.
Tomislav Todorovic, 16 July 2016
![[Communist Party of India (marxist)]](../images/i/in}cp.gif)
image by
Roman Kogovsek, 8 July 2005From the party's constitution (http://www.cpim.org/documents/constitution.htm):
ARTICLE IIINitesh Dave, 19 Feb 2000
FLAG
The flag of the Party shall be a red flag of which the length shall be one-and-a-half times its width. At the centre of the flag there shall be a crossed hammer and sickle in white.
The Indian Communist Party - Marxist has a seven pointed white star in the canton and the hammer and sickle is a bit different. In the logo, the hammer and sickle is golden bordered white with a black shadow over a red background, and the star (five-pointed is touching the upper part of the hammer. But sometimes the star in the flag is missing or is fivepointed. The flag posted seems to be the flag of the Indian Communist Party (pro-Soviet) or at least the
design is very close.
Jaume Ollé, 27 Feb 2000
I noticed this report I sent in 2000 seemed to be out of line. The flag with seven pointed star was published in Flaggenmitteilung. I also saw a photo with a five pointed star and without star. I wrote to the party and I received an answer several months ago. A correction was issued in Flag Report 25:
"The executive board of the Communist Party of Marxist India, having received a copy of FR #21, makes it known that the organization's official flag does not contain the star in the canton as shown in the image of FR #21, having just the white hammer-and-sickle in the centre. The star appeared in a photo of the flag taken in a demonstration, a flag that obviously was not of the official model".
This can be because several communist parties have very similar flags and
people use an electoral emblem to differentiate themselves, or due to a poor
identification, or even because of regional variants. Later I collected more
photos that confirm the red flag with hammer and sickle, without star.
Jaume Ollé, 18 August 2003
![[All India Kisan Sabha Flag]](../images/i/in}aiks.gif)
image
by Tomislav Todorović, 19 June 2016
Tomislav Todorović, 19 June 2016
![[Himachal Kisan Sabha Flag]](../images/i/in}hks.gif)
image
by Tomislav Todorović, 19 June 2016
Himachal Kisan Sabha is the branch of [CPI(M)-afiliated] All India Kisan Sabha
(AIKS) in the state of Himachal Pradesh [1]. Its flag is derived from that of
the AIKS by replacing the abbreviation AIKS with HKS [2, 3, 4].
[1]
Himachal Kisan Sabha at Facebook - Presentation:
https://www.facebook.com/HKS-Himachal-Kisan-Sabha-1534929213449489/info/?entry_point=about_section_header&tab=overview
[2] Himachal Kisan Sabha at Facebook - Photo of the flag at the photo
gallery:
https://www.facebook.com/1534929213449489/photos/a.1538005819808495.1073741829.1534929213449489/1620077038268039/?type=3&theater
[3] The Tribune website:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/himachal/protest-against-apple-farmers-eviction/231714.html
(Photo:
http://images.tribuneindia.com/cms/gall_content/2016/5/2016_5$largeimg04_Wednesday_2016_005517634.jpg
[4] Himachal Watcher website:
https://himachalwatcher.com/2016/05/04/himachals-small-farmers-reach-secretariat-to-stage-24-hour-protest-to-stop-eviction-claim-community-forest-rights-pics/
Tomislav Todorović, 19 June 2016
Art. 2 - The flag of the Party is the red flag of rectangular size,
the ratio of length and breadth being 3:2, with hammer and sickle in
white inscribed in it in the middle.
Source: http://cpiml.org/pgs/partyconst/const.htm
Joe McMillan, 18 August 2003
Art. II - The flag of the Party is the red flag with a white hammer
and sickle. The ratio of length and breadth will be 3:2.
Source: http://geocities.com/cpimlnd/constitution.htm
Joe McMillan, 18 August 2003
Art. II - The Flag of the Party shall be red
flag with white hammer and sickle in the centre of one-fourth portion on top
left hand corner. The ratio of length and breadth of the flag shall be 3:2.
Source:
http://www.cpimlredflag.org/doc3.htm
Joe McMillan, 18 August 2003
Of all these communist parties, only the last would seem to be significantly
different from any of the others, unless there are variations in the drawing of
the hamer and sickle. There are also a Communist Party of India
(Marxist-Leninist) People's War and an Indian Communist Party. I found no
information on their flags; the first seems to be an underground Maoist group.
Joe McMillan, 18 August 2003
![[Democratic Youth Federation of India Flag]](../images/i/in}dyfi.gif)
by J.A. Sommansson
Democratic Youth Federation of India, the youth wing of Communist Party of
India (Marxist). DYFI is probably the largest political youth organization in
any multiparty state in the world. DYFI was founded in 1980.
J.A. Sommansson, 25 January 2005
![[Ganamukti Parishad Flag]](../images/i/in}trugp.gif)
by Ivan Sache, 26 January 2005
The flag of Tripura Rajaer Upajati Ganamukti Parishad (Tripura State Tribal
Popular Liberation Council, generally just called Ganamukti Parishad). The
movement was led an armed insurgency against the monarchy in Tripura 1949-1951.
Today the organization is the tribal mass front of Communist Party of India
(Marxist) in the state.
J.A. Sommansson, 24 January 2005
![[Indigenous Nationalist Party of Twipra Flag]](../images/i/in}jss.gif)
image by António Martins-Tuválkin, 31
March 2006
JSS is a political party in Kerala (currently sitting in the state
government), formed through a split in CPI(M).
J.A. Sommansson, 25 January 2005
Red flag with stylized white earth globe with black meridians and parallels
charged with a red 5-pointed star on the upper hoist.
António Martins-Tuválkin, 31
March 2006
![[Peoples War Group Flag]](../images/i/in}pwg2003.gif)
image
by Eugene Ipavec, March 2009
PW had been struggling against Indian government since its foundation as
People’s War Group (PWG) in 1967. The organization has a strong portion of
Adivasins and has its roots also in the Naxalites movement. Their name is
derived from the small village of Naxalbari, where a resurrection of Indian
peasants, organized by Communist party of India (CPI-M), was driven down by the
police. The origin of PW was in the states of the later Chhattisgarh, later
Jharkand, Orissa and West Bengal. Everywhere it was banned immediately by
Prevention of Unlawful Activies Act on 30 December 1967, surprisingly except
West Bengal. It later spread out over Andhra Pradesh and also Maharashtra, where
it was banned by Prevention of Terrorism Act on 28 March 2002. The
organization cadre strength was in 2004 estimated 9300 fighters, most of them
in WB(5000); Chhattisgarh(2500) and AP(1300). The organization renamed itself
PW in 1991.
Maoist Communist Centre (MCC)
The organization was
established probably in 1972 and had most fighters in Bihar (700) but also in Jharkhand. From the very first moment it was subject of ban by Prevention of
Unlawful Activities Act.
Source:
Outlook , 20 October 2003, Indian
weekly in English Language, p. 42-43
PW and MCC merged in 2004, forming
the Communist Party of India – Maoists (CPI-Maoists), which is said to have
close relationships with Nepal Maoists. The reasons were better coordination
of “military actions” and the creation of a dense “red corridor” from AP to
WB. The target however is “liberation through revolution” and finally
“hoisting the red flag upon the Red Fort” (of Delhi). The group is said to
have nowadays 15,000 fighters and more than 40,000 non-fighting activists and
numerous supporters.
Source: Lectures: “Actual social and political
conflicts in India and Tibet”; Prof. Dr. Joachim BETZ; WS2008/2009;
University of Hamburg; Hamburg 12 December 2008
Flag of People’s War:
It is a red flag nearly square with white hammer and sickle.
Source:
Outlook , 20 October 2003, Indian weekly in English Language, p.43
Klaus-Michael Schneider, 8 March 2009
![[Trade Union Coordination Committee Flag]](../images/i/in}rcsap.gif)
by J.A. Sommansson
RCS(A.P.) is the peasants organization politically
attached Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist)
(the one led by Kanu Sanyal) in Andhra Pradesh. The
flag is red, with white print. It carries a hammer &
sickle on the left side and the letters Rai Koo San in
Telugu (రై కూ సం) on the right side.
J.A. Sommansson, 24 January 2005
![[Revolutionary Socialist Party Flag]](../images/i/in}rsp.gif)
image
by Tomislav Todorović, 18 June 2016
A red flag with a white disk in the upper hoist bearing a hammer and sickle.
J.A. Sommansson, 24 January 2005
The flag may have the party name initials RSP arranged vertically along the
fly, as visible here:
http://rspwomen.blogspot.rs/2012/07/rsp-revolutionary-socialist-party-flag_2366.html
(photo:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LVqr_rT2EfM/UAAUB95dB7I/AAAAAAAADx0/FsLjnRz5MO8/s1600/RSP+Alipurduar+19th+National+Conference+Photos+%28147%29.JPG)
and here:
http://rspwomen.blogspot.rs/2012/07/rsp-revolutionary-socialist-party-flag_13.html
(photo:
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ttNks_D39rE/UAARPFTztpI/AAAAAAAADxg/3PfpXsUhLUM/s1600/RSP+Alipurduar+19th+National+Conference+Photos+%28146%29.JPG).
Tomislav Todorović, 18 June 2016
![[Revolutionary Youth Front Flag]](../images/i/in}ryf.gif)
image
by Tomislav Todorović, 18 June 2016
The Revolutionary Youth Front is the youth wing of the Revolutionary
Socialist Party. Its flag is derived from that of the party by replacing the
hammer and sickle with a red star. It is depicted in the official letter-head of
the organization:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ryfcal.jpg.
The initials RYF may
be inscribed vertically along the fly, as visible here:
http://rspyouthfront.blogspot.rs/2012/07/rsp-revolutionary-socialist-party-from.html
(photo:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-W96v6U6g0GQ/UAAJHZWf-vI/AAAAAAAADwk/_Jl7jhQ3u_s/s1600/RSP+Alipurduar+19th+National+Conference+Photos+%28142%29.JPG)
and here:
http://rspyouthfront.blogspot.rs/2012/07/rsp-revolutionary-socialist-party-youth.html
(photo:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4iZfdjsxYPM/UAALFiuNmQI/AAAAAAAADww/wSCCLs2U-Tw/s1600/RSP+Alipurduar+19th+National+Conference+Photos+%28143%29.JPG)
Tomislav Todorović, 18 June 2016
There was indeed a single Communist Party of India about the time of
Indian independence. When the two large Communist regimes in the USSR and China
ended their alliance in the late 50s, this split, the pro-Chinese group becoming
the CPI (Marxist). Since then each major change in policy, either in Russia or
in China resulted in the formation of another party in India. In addition some
splits were the result of strictly local disputes. I stopped trying to follow
them when there were 7 of them, and indeed one or two of the groups actually
died out, partly because the multiplication ceased to making much sense, partly
because, as the semi-monopoly of Indian politics by the Congress party faded,
the number of Indian parties got to be harder to follow.
Norman Martin,
23 November 2010
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