Towards retreiving the revolutionary essence of Marxism!

De Omnibus Dubitandum
(Doubt everything)
was the favourite methodological principle of Karl Marx.

In an early passage, which may serve as a motto for any worthwhile scholarship, Marx wrote, "Our task is the ruthless criticism of everything that exists, ruthless in the sense that the criticism will not shrink either from its own conclusions or from conflict with the powers that be."

Formed in 1996, the Institute of Marxist Studies aims at addressing the broader theoretical questions coming up in the course of revolutionary Marxist practice both at the national and international levels. For disseminating basic Marxist ideas, the Institue has published two booklets, namely, What is Communism and Basic Marxism. To address the questions of cardinal importance being faced by the revolutionary communist ranks the Institute has planned to hold seminars on these questions. These seminars helped in promoting mutual learning, broadening the horizon of thinking and intervening in the current discorse on Marxist thought in India. Through these initiatives the Institute aims at developing close relations with various sections of Marxist intelligentsia.

The Institute has organised a series of seminars entitled DD Kosambi Memorial Seminars in various cities across the country. These were:

• Economic Nationalism and the Left (Delhi)
• Women’s Liberation Movements (Bangalore)
• Caste and Class (Hyderabad)
• On Panchayati Raj (Calcutta)
• Marxism and the Jharkhand Question (Ranchi)
• Land Reforms in Bihar (Patna).

The Institute has planned to convene an Internation Seminar Marxism-2001 in 1998. It is expected that leading Marxist theoreticians from various communist parties all over the

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