“The struggle for Peace, Land, Bread still resonates”
A message for the 105th anniversary of the Great October Revolution
(25 October O.S.; 7 November, N.S.)
Kat Ulrike
Despite efforts to minimise its significance, the Great October Revolution was pivotal in the history of the twentieth century. That, from the actions of the working classes in St. Petersburg to that Lenin's speeches and writings, had a significant impact on the course of world history and determined the fates of many nations.
From the words “peace, land, and bread” proletariat rose up, took power, and so disrupted the existing order that neighbouring countries felt the tremor of the avenging labourer. On the other hand, the revolution brought social empowerment as available social benefits, the ideals of equability, peace, and interethnic harmony formed in the Soviet Union are still valued today by most countries. Its emphasis on the building socialism has brought the country significant advances in manufacturing, agriculture, energy, and space technologies, laying the groundwork for many industries and new lines of research. So is its achievements in culture, arts, as well as sports, altogether became a legacy for humanity, bringing the Soviet Union worldwide fame and an inspiration for those homelands in struggle for national and social liberation.
That this continues to resonate even in this current context. Today, with people suffering from the socioeconomic crisis brought on by neoliberal capitalism and globalisation, aggravated by the recent COVID19 pandemic as well as wars and various forms of social injustice, the call for "peace, land, and bread" continues to ring out as protest marches to armed uprisings people demand justice for the peoples and liberation for their homelands. Call it idyllic, but the realities that drove people to revolution saw the October experience as an inspiration for the French, Chinese, and other revolutions. However, the legacy of the Great October Revolution—shaking the foundations of an ever-continuing past—brought fear to the oppressor and hope to the oppressed, much like the guns of the Aurora signalled the day of liberation for the working masses.
Again, despite attempts to denigrate, or minimise the significance of the Great October Revolution and its legacy, people are proud of Soviet-era labour feats, scientific discoveries, and Soviet soldiers' heroism. And, despite the absence of the Soviet Union, the folk who carry the torch of struggle are doing our best to preserve and multiply the achievements of predecessors who prioritised values such as freedom, justice, diligence, and equality, using lessons learned from the Great October Revolution and its succeeding contributions in the face of ever existing oppression and social injustice- for the revolution was not some idyllic struggle for some values like those stated earlier, but rather a challenge, the looming social question manifested in three slogans: peace, land, and bread.
Thus, this note cherish the invaluable experience of previous generations, and it means that this serves as a blueprint for successes in various fields.