Mao and Modern China

Yuba Nath Lamsal

December 26 marks the 120th birth anniversary of Mao Zedong— the greatest political personality of China. On this occasion, Mao is remembered all over the world for his role and leadership to liberate China and also the ideological contribution he made in the international revolutionary communist movement. Mao is, thus, revered worldwide as a legendary icon of revolutionary people.

World opinion is sharply divided over Mao’s role, deeds and ideological works. While majority of the people in the world—revolutionary, poor and proletariat—revere him as a source of inspiration,  handful of capitalists, reactionary and rightist often try to vilify him as ‘ world’s one of the worst dictators’ and propagate hate message against him.

Mao is by far the most respected leader in China even today.  He led the Chinese Revolution and established modern People’s Republic of China in 1949 through a protracted people’s war under the banner of Communist Party of China, “The Chinese people have stood up" declared Mao, standing in Beijing’s Tiananmen Square, on October 1st 1949 upon victory of Chinese Revolution, which is China’s greatest political achievement. This was an important turning point in the history of China but it was a mere beginning to transform China into a modern, stable, strong and prosperous country, which was the passion and dream of this great revolutionary icon. Although China has made tremendous progress in different sectors, much still remains to be accomplished in way and manner the founder of modern China had envisioned.  Though Mao passed away 37 years ago, the Chinese Communist Party seems to be determined to realize Mao’s dreams of creating modern, stable, strong and prosperous China.

With the success of the revolution, Mao liberated China and made the Chinese people free and sovereign citizens. Apart from national liberation, China achieved and accomplished much under Mao’s vision and dream for which a strong foundation was created during his life. He laid down important basis for internal governance, self-reliance, revival of China’s old glory and also a basis of international relations. His successors have pursued most of his initiatives and accomplishments with much innovation and reforms. The founding of the People’s Republic of China led by Mao brought about most profound changes in China that also sent strong ripples worldwide. In fact, it was the first step of great leap forward for China’s modernization and independence upon which the rebuilding the Chinese nation and rejuvenation of China’s glory was accomplished. Even after 37 years since Mao passed away, his ideas, ideals and thoughts continue to inspire and influence the world.

There is no shade of doubt that Mao was one of the greatest personalities the world has ever produced. But he is not far from criticism. Despite his huge contribution to China’s liberation and modernization, and also to international communist movement, he had some weaknesses, too. If we are to make true analysis and evaluation of this political icon, both of his accomplishments as well as weaknesses must be debated in a candid and constructive manner, which would alone be genuine tribute to him. Praise for the sake of praise sweeping aside his weaknesses and pointing out only weaknesses and mistake grossly ignoring his achievements and contributions would not do justice to Mao and also to history. In this connection, Deng Xiaoping's remarks about Mao's life are correct. According to Deng, Mao was "70 percent right and 30 percent wrong". This represents scientific and Marxist view and analysis about Mao Zedong.

The Cultural Revolution is the issue that has divided the world opinion especially in the leftist revolutionary camp. Some hail the Cultural Revolution as a necessary evil to save China from ideological, social and cultural degeneration. But others criticize it as a great mistake and claim that some extremist elements used the Cultural Revolution as a pretext to take political revenge against their political rivals. In the political vendetta perpetrated in the name of the Cultural Revolution, even some genuine revolutionary leaders had become victim. Deng Xiaoping, the architect of China’s reform and opening up, also had to suffer. But this should in no way underestimate the other great contributions Mao has made both in China and in the international communist movement.

Despite some weaknesses and mistakes, Mao’s contributions are huge and people regard him highly both in China and elsewhere.  The Chinese Revolution that was spearheaded under the leadership of Mao changed the world to a large extent.  In many countries, communist parties were formed and Chinese types of revolution launched, which also succeeded in emancipating the oppressed people, to some extent. Even now, many revolutionary communist parties in Asia, Africa and Latin America regard Mao as their source of ideological inspiration and Chinese Revolution as their role model. 

Much change has taken place in China and the world. Now China has achieved stunning success in various fronts, thanks largely to Deng Xiaoping’s reforms and opening up. Although Deng initiated the reforms only in 1978, the basic foundation of reforms had been laid right during Mao’s time. Mao was never against reforms and modernization. He had to concentrate all his energy and time to save the revolution and consolidate its achievements because he had faced rightist and imperialist conspiracy both from within China as well as from outside. Mao, perhaps, did not have much time to think of other sectors including reforms. But Deng came in within a few years after Mao’s death to realize the great vision and goal of modernizing China through reforms and opening up, which has paid China well.  
Now China is firmly marching on the path of development and modernization. China has already become the second largest economy and poised to become the first one in near future. China is also a global power and its clout in the international level is getting stronger and more influential. Had Mao not been there and had he not successfully spearheaded the Chinese Revolution, China would not have stood the way it is. Thus, Chinese people feel proud of Mao and the Chinese Revolution under the banner of the Chinese Communist party.

So far as Mao’s weaknesses and mistakes are concerned, no person can be perfect and totally correct. Every person does have his or her strong and weak points. This is applicable to Mao’s life as well. While evaluating Mao, it should be done in historical perspective. He led the revolution at a time when China was semi-feudal condition. Even after the success of the Chinese Revolution, there had been numerous efforts to sabotage the revolution and its achievements, in which the loyalists of the defeated feudal class and international imperialists had been working together. In such a situation, Mao had to be tough to safeguard the achievements of the Chinese Revolution. While doing so, some incidents and excesses might have been committed, which was natural in course of armed revolution, as armed revolution by its nature is cruel and violent. Thus, Mao’s evaluation should not be made on the basis of some isolated incidents. His best analysis should be done on the basis of his overall role and contribution in leading the revolution to a success and transforming China into a strong and stable nation, which is the basis of the present China’s progress and prosperity.

We must evaluate the Chinese Revolution and its principal leader Mao on the basis of the results the revolution has brought about. Chinese revolution has brought about positive results on Chinese society. It helped China get out of poverty and put it on the right track of other social, cultural and economic development. Thus, Mao is a great historical personality who, even 37 years after his death, commands respect and admiration among most of the Chinese and revolutionary socialist people all over the world. On this occasion, we, too, salute this great revolutionary leader—Mao, who not only changed China’s entire course but also inspired the national liberation movements in the oppressed countries of Asia, Africa and Latin America.