You don’t see Marxism as a dogma, which cannot or must not change with time.

Not at all. If it does not change, then it is not Marxism.

Before we get into current politics, what are the two or three moments of truth in the last 20 years? Say the arrival of Gorbachev, the change in China, the change in India, Gujarat riots...

One turning point in India in the last two decades or so is definitely the rise of Hindu fundamentalism and communalism. The destruction of Babri Masjid is the defining point in the evolution of modern Indian politics, as that brought back to people’s minds the assassination of Mahatma Gandhi. We thought we had settled that issue forever. But its resurrection was the defining point as far as Indian politics is concerned. It brought back the fundamental battle between three visions you had during the freedom struggle. You had a Congress vision of a secure democratic republic, you had a Left vision which said you had to go beyond this. Convert the political independence to the economic independence of the people. Then you had the Right-wing vision which had a twin expression — the Muslim League and the RSS — both talking in terms of religious denomination of society. Now, that battle we thought had got somewhat settled with Independence and Partition. But obviously it had not been settled. That battle continues. The collapse of the Soviet Union has had a very huge impact on the evolution of India.

... contd.