Friedrich Engels, a great teacher of the proletariat and bosom friend of Karl Marx, was born on November 28, 1820. Along with Marx, he developed the theories of dialectical and historical materialism as well as of scientific socialism. Marx and Engels together led the world proletariat movement until the death of Marx in 1883 and after that Engels continued the task until 1895. Besides establishing the universal principles of Marxism, Engels also carried out research works in the fields of history, ideology, anthropology and natural sciences in the light of these principles, which are undoubtedly essential and indispensable readings even today for the students of these fields.
In the context of the present situation of our country, Engels’ several works are worth reading, but the one I can particularly think of is ‘The Peasant Question in France and Germany’. Many Narodnik and Nationalist Communists of our country who are occupied with representing the interests and demands of kulaks, rich farmers, upper-middle peasantry should especially read this small but extremely important work. This work made a significant contribution to the Marxist thought on the agrarian and peasant question and later became the basis of Lenin’s understanding on this question.
Red Polemique 