The April Uprising and the Pride of the Oppressed!
By Gamini Muthukumarana
A reflection on political comradeship as 55 years pass since the April 1971 struggle…
History is not merely the passage of time; it is a living testimony written in the blood and tears shed by people in the pursuit of justice. The Sri Lankan state machinery was shaken for the first time on April 5, 1971. The gunfire that rang out that day was not just a rebellion, but an armed challenge by an oppressed generation of youth seeking to break the chains of five centuries of subjugation.
Even today, there are various interpretations as to why the April uprising emerged. Many in our society believe in simplistic explanations—like saying a falling turtle is due to its own fault—while only a few recognize the true scientific cause, gravity. Similarly, most observers of the 1971 uprising focus only on its surface-level causes. The capitalist class viewed it as a conspiracy to seize state power, while others dismissed it as the reckless adventurism of Rohana Wijeweera. However, from a true Marxist perspective, it was an armed uprising against capitalist oppression.
The so-called independence gained in 1948 was, in reality, nothing more than a limited dominion under the British Crown. The heroes of April understood this clearly. By 1970, the United Front government had come to power by effectively auctioning off the hunger of the people. Leaders who promised “two measures of rice even from the moon” ultimately left the people with nothing but empty ration books. Jobs went to political loyalists, while the rulers enjoyed comfort in rest houses. The ordinary citizen was left only with the curse of endurance. The gunfire of April 5 was directed against this very ruling class.
The sword once raised by heroes like Puran Appu during the Matale Rebellion against British imperialism found its modern counterpart in the hands of armed youth in 1971. This was no accident—it was a decisive strike against a corrupt, nepotistic capitalist state. For more than five decades since, every popular uprising against socio-economic exploitation in this country has drawn strength from the noble struggle of those April heroes. Despite its shortcomings, that first organized challenge instilled a lasting fear in corrupt rulers, and it is something we must commemorate with pride. They sacrificed their lives for our tomorrow.
Some mock the crude weapons used by the youth during the uprising. Yet the oppressed class never has access to the advanced weaponry of the ruling elite. As Fidel Castro once stated in court, when people decide to win their freedom, they fight with whatever they have—throwing stones at airplanes, overturning tanks. The determination of people committed to freedom is more powerful than any weapon. Thus, what mattered in April 1971 was not the sophistication of their arms, but the strength of their conviction.
The April uprising did not fade away as an isolated “insurrection.” Over the past five decades, it has inspired every mass movement against exploitation. Its impact pushed rulers toward reforms such as the 1972 Republican Constitution and the 1975 land reforms.
Today, the blood of that historical continuity flows through the veins of the youth who take to the streets against injustice. However, there is a vast geopolitical difference between 1971 and the present. In this context, the diplomatic restraint required when dealing with powerful global states and financial institutions is sometimes misinterpreted as a betrayal of principles. Karl Marx, through the Communist Manifesto, highlighted the importance of understanding social dynamics scientifically. We must not analyze new political realities through rigid, outdated doctrines, but rather through the evolving socio-political conditions, just as Marx himself advocated.
Unlike the domestic crisis of the past, today we face a complex global crisis. Due to decades of corrupt and short-sighted governance, the country’s productive economy has collapsed, dragging it into bankruptcy. In such a context, for a nation without a solid production base to blindly challenge the international system would only result in starving its people.
What the country needs today is not to be trapped in old slogans, but to adopt a scientific strategy that leads the people toward maximum gains. The foundation of Marxism is dialectical materialism. A true revolutionary carries history in their heart while shaping the future based on the harsh material realities of the present. Even present-day Cuba’s struggles demonstrate the difficulty of such a path.
Transforming a decayed political structure built over 76 years cannot be achieved overnight. To eyes accustomed to the polished performances of traditional rulers, the conduct of those now in power may seem unfamiliar. They are governing while learning. This recalls the proud slogan of the student movement: “Learn to struggle – struggle to learn.” This is equally relevant to those in power today, as they must simultaneously fight a rotten system and learn the science of building a new state.
The old corrupt ruling groups, along with individuals who thrived under them, now seize upon even minor mistakes of the government to launch smear campaigns and conceal their own past crimes. The future of a government should not be judged by its minor errors or inexperience, but by the strength of its principles. These leaders are heirs to a generation that sacrificed their lives for this country. Their political foundation lies in fields and factories, not in luxurious mansions.
An “honest learner” is far superior to an “experienced thief.” In the face of organized attacks by corrupt forces, protecting the legacy nourished by the blood of the April 1971 heroes is a historic responsibility of our time. All genuine leftist parties, groups, and progressive individuals must set aside their differences and unite around a common political purpose to defend this historic achievement of the oppressed.
April 5 is not merely a day to remember the fallen, but a day to renew our determination to transform society through a scientific vision. A poignant verse once inscribed on the walls of Magazine Prison in the aftermath of the 1971 struggle captures this spirit:
O comrades who gave your lives, in the graves where you rest,
They are altars where we lay flowers of devotion.
When red flags flutter across the land,
Monuments of remembrance shall rise in history.