Why 'red' is closely affiliated with communism

The Soviet communist era that prevailed in Russia since the Great October Revolution in 1917 till the fall of communism in Russia and East Europe in 1991 has been all along a focal point for political discourses.

 The rise of a huge socialist state at the outset of the twentieth century through the blood-spilling abolition of monarchy was a massive political upheaval of that time that rocked the world. The boundless spontaneity and sky-high enthusiasm of Russian peasants, workers, students and intellectuals paved the way for the emergence of Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR).

The ideology of Karl Marx and the charismatic leadership of Vladimir Ilyich Lenin gave birth to an unprecedented political phenomenon that the world had never witnessed before.

The watchwords of eradicating class inequity and providing state-sponsored privileges to all citizens equitably resonated through all towns and villages of Russia. Lenin became a paragon of iconic heights -worshipped, applauded and venerated by his countrymen.

 Ten Days That Shook the World, an illustrious book by American writer and journalist John Reed narrates the thrill and melodramatic effect of the October Revolution that overwhelmed the Russian masses in 1917.

Most of the people often wonder what makes the color red so intimately allied with communist ideology. Soviet Union had a Red Army during the October Revolution and afterwards while the flags of former Communist Russia and present China both have eye-catching red colors.

In many parts of the world till today the term "red" is synonymous with the themes of revolutionary sentiments.  History says that red was associated with leftist movements in Europe long before the October Revolution took place. The flags having attachments with the European upheavals in 1848 as well as the flag of the Italian nationalist Garibaldi were red - indeed his followers were called Camicie Rosse (Redshirts).

 The flag of the Paris Commune of 1871 was also red. Red flags were waved by people across France during the French Revolution as well, according to movies and stories.

However, the color red so deeply connected with the Russian and Chinese flags today are believed to represent the blood of the workers and revolutionaries who gave away their life for the establishment of equal rights for all in their respective countries. The color red means to honor the sacrifices and tribulations of the proletariats.

While Mao Tse Tung was the supreme Chinese leader, a text titled "The Red Book" was adored by the Chinese masses and The Red Book is still adulated by communist ideologues in China and beyond.  Far left groups in Japan and Germany during the 1970s called themselves "The Red Army."

However, paradoxical it sounds though, in the United States, the conservative Republican Party, the extreme opposite of Marxism, is now correlated with the color red. In recent polls, states like Alabama and Nevada which favor Republicans are called "Red States," while liberal Democrat-leaning states like New York and Massachusetts are called "Blue States." The color red is thus an important part of American politics too though the American politicians never promoted the Russian or Chinese style of socialism in their country.

The color red appears to have a longstanding constructive affiliation with Russian culture - from long before the advent of communism. Most of the Russian dolls found in shops in Moscow, St. Petersburg, Voronezh and other cities and towns are red in color. Red still remains a part of the Russian flag even after communism collapsed in Russia over two decades ago.

Stephen Crane's novel The Red Badge of Courage sketches a young American soldier fighting during the American Civil War to abolish slavery of black people. His head was injured during the war while a red bloodspot appeared on his bandage which the young soldier regarded as the sign of his bravery on the battlefield.

To judge from a linguistic point of view, the Russian word for red is very similar to the word for beautiful. Red also stands for the struggle of Russian communists to eradicate class discrimination from society.  In fact, Moscow's well-known "Red Square" got its name centuries before Vladimir Lenin was even born, according to Russian historians.

Red signifies love too. Romantic poetry in different countries strongly depicts the notion of love with revolutionary leanings while the aura of red roses, red sun and red tulips are abundantly found in poems by romantic bards all over the globe.

Red is also prominent in the processions and vestments of the Russian Orthodox Church though this church does not have very warm ties with the communists, political analysts often say.

Most of the Russian people uphold the idea that red is the color of beauty, brilliance and delight.  Red is widely found in illustrated books for children as well as grownup readers across Russia which have been there for many years till today. It seems to be an evident fact that the color red has succeeded to adhere to the thoughts and spirit of Russian people overcoming the fall of communism.

Red is the color of resistance, combat, courage and victory. For this reason whenever artists portray antiestablishment ideas, they resort to red shades among other hues. In this way the color red cannot be isolated from revolutionary views including the ideals sustained by political platforms who strive for social justice and equal privileges for all.


The writer is Assistant General Secretary, Communist Party of Bangladesh (CPB)