Comrades and Comebacks: Saira Shah’s Book Sparks Debate on the Left’s Future in India
Hamid Ansari, Brinda Karat, Zameer Uddin Shah and SY Quraishi debated the Left’s role in today’s India. From dissent to culture, panelists argued its voice remains vital. Halim, targeting Gen Z, said her book simplifies Left history and calls for a radical, non-violent fight against inequality
New Delhi: “Today’s very popular subject could attract in this city, so many people, it speaks volumes,” said former Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, looking at the full auditorium at the India International Centre, Lodhi Road. Ansari, who also read the last part of the book at the launch, was speaking at the release of Comrades and Comebacks: The Battle of the Left to Win the Indian Mind, authored by social activist and politician Saira Shah Halim. The former vice president also praised the summing of the book.
A Book on Left Politics Across Eras
Halim’s book, which traces the journey of Left politics from India’s freedom struggle to its role in 21st-century electoral battles, was launched in the presence of Salma Ansari, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, and Lt General Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd). The evening brought together political thinkers, academics, students, and activists, reaffirming the enduring relevance of Left ideas in the country’s political imagination.
Distinguished Panel Discussion
A panel discussion followed, featuring former Chief Election Commissioner SY Quraishi, former MP Subhashini Ali, author and translator Rakshanda Jalil, and Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde, with senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta as moderator.
Quraishi applauded Halim’s effort: “First of all, congratulations Saira, for writing the book. The only genuine people, the secular people in the country are the Left.”
Hegde called her work “the next little red book,” applauding her courage in “swimming upstream” against dominant narratives. Subhashini Ali noted that despite repeated declarations of the Left’s demise, Halim had written with “determination and hope.”
Rakshanda Jalil described the book as refreshing and designed to spark conversations. She suggested that Comrades and Comebacks should be adapted into visual or cinematic forms to reach wider audiences, while stressing the cultural dimensions of Left politics: “Songs like Chhodo Kal Ki Baatein carried ideas across India. That kind of messaging matters.”
Sacrifice, History, and Contemporary Struggles
During the interactive Q&A, Halim reflected on the personal and collective sacrifices involved in political change:
“Some people are in jail for just dissenting against these powerful voices. That’s the price for freedom, and that’s the price Bhagat Singh and Che Guevara paid. I think in our own capacity, we all can make a small difference and contribute towards the larger goals.”
She underlined that her book was written for lay readers without jargon, aiming to link world history, Indian history, and economic theories in a way that speaks to Gen Z. By connecting global Left movements with India’s freedom struggle, she sought to create intersections that would make complex ideas accessible.
Voices of Support
Brinda Karat stressed the book’s relevance in a time of widening class divides and toxic politics: “This is important to understand exploitation today and how we counter it.”
Lt Gen Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd), former Deputy Chief of Army Staff and ex-Vice-Chancellor of AMU, called Halim’s effort sincere: “The Left, no matter what name you give it, wants the betterment of the country. Saira has done a great job. I read her book and I must compliment her for the labour she has put in.”
Author’s Vision and Political Journey
Halim, who has been a social and peace activist, educator, theatre artist, and three-time TEDx speaker, joined the CPI(M) in 2022 after years of activism on farmers’ rights, gender equality, and protests against CAA and NRC. Contesting her first election in the Ballygunge Assembly by-poll the same year, she reminded the audience that she had raised the party’s vote share from 5 percent to 30 percent. For her, this was evidence that sustained engagement can revive faith in progressive politics.
In her address at the launch, she said: “With whatever is happening in the country, the price rise, the increase of religious fundamentalism, the difference between the haves and have nots – we need a more radical (non-violent) approach. I feel the country is a little fed up of the soft stand that sometimes secular parties take. I’m here to change things. I’m not here for fame and glory.”
A Collective Reflection
Through Comrades and Comebacks, Halim argues that Left ideology remains vital for countering inequality, authoritarianism, and communalism, while also presenting alternatives to today’s divisive politics. The discussions at the India International Centre reflected the same spirit—blending history with contemporary urgency, and politics with culture—to highlight why the Left continues to matter in India’s democratic journey.
