The Left’s Story …is a Living, Breathing Fight for Fairness: Saira Shah Halim

Kolkata: Political activist and writer Saira Shah Halim has been making news among book-lovers with her newly-launched Comrades and Comebacks: The Battle of the Left to Win the Indian Mind, published by Penguin Random House. The book was recently launched in New Delhi and Kolkata, and saw the attendance of eminent members of the intelligentsia in both the cities.

The 90,000-word hard cover book is written around the author’s belief in the return of the Left amidst the so-called ‘arid landscape’ in the political arena today.

In Delhi, the book was launched t India International Centre. Among the guests of honour were former Vice President of India Mohammad Hamid Ansari, his wife Salma Ansari, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat, and Lt. General Zameer Uddin Shah (Retd.), the author’s father.

The event featured a panel discussion examining the historical role and contemporary relevance of Left-wing politics in India. It brought together distinguished voices, including former Chief Election Commissioner S.Y. Quraishi, former Member of Parliament Subhashini Ali, author and translator Rakshanda Jalil, and Supreme Court advocate Sanjay Hegde, with senior journalist Paranjoy Guha Thakurta as moderator.

The book, which traces the history of Left politics from India’s freedom struggle to 21st century electoral dynamics, was formally released by Ansari in the presence of political thinkers, academics, students, and social activists. In Kolkata, the event was held at The Lalit Great Eastern Hotel.

In a recent conversation with NewsClick, Halim was candid about her belief in the imminent comeback of Left in the electoral landscape of the country. Edited excerpts:

Sandip Chakraborty: What made you pen this book?

Saira Shah Halim: I wrote this book because I was tired of hearing that the Left is “dead.” It isn’t. It’s in the air we breathe, whether it’s your right to free education, a 40-hour work week, minorities’ rights or gender equality. I wanted to tell young readers that the Left’s story isn’t an old textbook chapter; it’s a living, breathing fight for fairness that’s happening right now.

SC: Electorally, the Indian Left has faced a setback. What are its comeback chances, as per you?

SSH: Politics runs in cycles. Right now, the Left may not have big numbers in Parliament, but on the streets, in universities, and in climate protests, you’ll find it alive and kicking. Every time young people demand dignity, better working conditions, or a cleaner planet, the Left is in action. Its comeback will come from this restless energy, not from nostalgia.

SC: What message do you want to send to your readers through this book?

SSH: That you can’t write off an idea that keeps coming back. Inequality, climate change, gender justice aren’t solved problems. They’re our generation’s problems. My message is: don’t be cynical. The Left isn’t about the past, it’s about the courage to imagine a fairer future.

SC: How did you prepare yourself for writing this book?

SSH: I prepared by listening, really listening, to people: workers, students, activists, even critics. I mixed that with my own family’s political legacy and countless hours of research. But I didn’t want this book to be a dry academic text. I wanted it to feel like a conversation, like the kind of debate you’d have in a college canteen late into the night.

SC: What kind of response are you getting from your readers?

SSH: The response has been heartening. The book is doing really well on Amazon and has found shelf space and strong support in bookstores across India. I’ve been invited to events and panels in Delhi, Kolkata, and beyond, which shows that there is a genuine curiosity and energy around the theme.

Younger readers tell me that the book makes politics feel personal and urgent, while older readers say it brings back memories of a more idealistic time. That balance is exactly what I hoped for.

SC: Any other thing that you would like to say about this book?

SSH: Yes, this book isn’t a eulogy. It’s an invitation. If you’ve ever been angry at unfairness or felt the urge to speak up, you’re already part of this story. Comrades and Comebacks is a reminder that the Left is not about statues and slogans, it’s about you, me, and the courage to demand better.