The little space on the first floor of this old building at 48 Lenin Sarani, Kolkata had inspired many to see a new dream—dream to pave the way for establishing a new India free from exploitation of man by man and all inequalities. It also spurred them on to take a new pledge to be an unwavering soldier of the revolutionary movement that would bring about the desired social change and thereby lead an honourable life keeping the head high and braving all odds with grit, determination, valour and vigour. This was the office of the SUCI(C) since 1950 which bore the footprint of Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, the Founder General Secretary of the SUCI(C) and an outstanding Marxist thinker and philosopher, who valiantly and with revolutionary audacity took upon himself the responsibility of building, rearing and steering a genuine revolutionary party on the soil to develop and intensify the revolutionary movement along correct line and in correct process. Sitting in this small office, Comrade Shibdas Ghosh used to create worthy legions of the revolution, educating and guiding them with utmost care and affection. Those who had the opportunity to see him sitting in the main hall of the office, interacting with the comrades on various issues, gathering feedback about public mood and reaction and create spark within every comrade, know how those teachings, those motivations, those living discussions on many intricate and complex issues had infused life in that hall. The comrades used to return with new enlightenment, renewed inspiration and firm resolve to carry out the task history has adjured to the Party and Comrade Shibdas Ghosh wanted them to be worthy of shouldering.
Since that building was getting dilapidated more and more with the passage of time and space falling far short of the increasing manifold activities of the Party growing speedily and firmly, it needed to be dismantled and replaced by a newly constructed building based on public contribution. Now the new central office building is buzzing with activities. But the old building tinged with the unforgettable memories and associations of Comrade Shibdas Ghosh had been a mark of history, a heritage of revolutionary movement of India. So, the Party leadership decided to create a miniature replica of that building and keep it in the new office.
Inaugurating the replica, Comrade Asit Bhattacharyya said: Two years after the foundation of the party, in 1950 the work and activities of our party began in a small room in this house. From our student-days we observed how Comrade Shibdas Ghosh from morning hours till late in the night, sometimes up to 11 p.m. stayed here, engaged in various tasks and holding discussions. From different places comrades used to come and so many new contacts came paying a visit, and so did junior and senior leaders and cadres; and Comrade Shibdas Ghosh freely mixed and interacted with one and all. Through his close association with them, his personal and individual talks with them and common discussions with all, he imparted to them a new, a heightened understanding of the true meaning of life. Thus when they stepped out from 48 Lenin Sarani on to the road ahead while returning to their place or sphere of activity, they did so enlivened with abiding inspiration. In June, 2012 the old structure was demolished and the work for a new building began. Throughout India, the party workers, supporters and sympathizers began to contribute and collect funds for it. At that time, the artist comrades of the party had taken initiative to create an exact replica of the old building. After the inauguration of the new building on 7 November, 2014, they embarked on their task of creating a replica of the old building. Even though their work was greatly affected by the situation arising from the pandemic, finally with deep dedication, expertise and hard toil they succeeded in their endeavour to create a wonderful replica. Under the stewardship of Comrade Mihir Roy, veteran comrade of Kolkata district, after a long toil could successfully produce that replica which is now placed in a glasscase for the visitors.
In course of an arduous all-embracing struggle to found, rear and steer SUCI(Communist) and concretizing Marxism-Leninism on Indian soil, Comrade Shibdas Ghosh emerged as a leader and authority of the international working-class movement. It is our duty to preserve the memorabilia of this great leader. He observed that when it comes to the great personalities in human history whose stellar role has helped the advancement of this civilization, in particular, in today’s perspective, those great leaders, starting from great Marx to Mao Zedong, with the help of whose teachings, or rather, by imbibing whose teachings the working class is advancing on the path of emancipation of humanity—centring round those great personalities and leaders, there has been an endeavour to keep and preserve the memorabilia of their revolutionary life. In the same way, the preservation of the revolutionary memorabilia of their worthy successor, the great leader Shibdas Ghosh, too, is a historical necessity. He said, that the memory of all these would inspire the coming cadres of the party in their revolutionary activities. Mentioning the effort that has been made to preserve his memorabilia in Ghashila, in the Marxism-Leninism-Shibdas Ghosh Study Centre with the statue of Comrade Shibdas Ghosh, as well as the Tallah Banamali street commune in Kolkata where Comrade Shibdas Ghosh used to stay, Comrade Bhattacharyya highlighted the necessity of installing a statue of this great leader in different states.
Where Comrade Shibdas Ghosh infused new concept of life among the comrades
