“Our dearest possession is life, and since it is given to us to live but once, we must so live as to feel no torturing regrets for years without purpose; so live as not to be seared with the shame of a cowardly and trivial past; so live that dying we can say, ‘all my life and all my strength were given to the finest cause in the world, the liberation of humankind.’”
[Nikolai Ostrovsky]
Welcome!
This archive is to commemorate the life of Abhimanyu (Manu) Manchanda,
revolutionary Marxist, political organiser, activist, teacher and homeopath.
Material on the site has been deposited at the Marx Memorial Library,
37a Clerkenwell Green and is available for researchers.
Please ring 020 72531485.
Use the title buttons at the top of each page to navigate the site. The titles of sub-pages appear when you hold your mouse over the titles of primary pages. Easier still, scroll down to contents list and links below.
Abhimanyu Manchanda Remembered is compiled by Diane Langford, Manu’s partner from 1968 till 1982, and Claudia Manchanda, his daughter. Commentary is by Diane Langford unless otherwise stated. Ostrovsky’s words, quoted above, were used by Manu during his oration at the funeral of his former partner and comrade, Claudia Jones, [d. January, 1965]
Biographical notes, photographs and links About the life and work of Abhimanyu Manchanda, revolutionary Marxist, organiser, activist, teacher and homeopath.
Manu and Claudia - correspondence between Manu and Claudia Jones, plus photographs
'Do Somethin' Addy Man!' - West Indian Gazette, October, 1962, review by Abhimanyu Manchanda (attribution by Claudia Jones in her letter dated October 25).
Located January 2016 by Dr Henry Stead, Leverhulme Early Career Research Fellow, Department of Classical Studies and English Department, Open University, https://henrystead.wordpress.com/ in the British Library, General Reference Collection, Mic. B967.
Transcribed by Michele Valerie Ronnick, Professor, Classical and Modern Languages, Literatures and Cultures, Wayne State University, Detroit, MI, February, 2016.
The archive is hugely grateful to both Dr Stead and Professor Ronnick for their work and generosity.
Letters to Marika Sherwood - by Diane Langford, Claudia Manchanda and Richard Gibson, to correct factual errors.
Claudia's Funeral - Manu's speech at the graveside, photographs.
Left of Karl Marx - Links and other information about Carol Boyce Davies's books 'Left of Karl Marx' and 'Beyond Containment' - a collection of Claudia Jones's writing: speeches, articles and poetry, collected, edited and introduced by Carole Boyce Davies.
The Communist Party - Documents concerning Manu's relationship with the party, from joining to expulsion, including the bizarre Frank Bailey affair.
Claudia Jones' Letter to editor, The Daily Worker Claudia's letter to John Gollan pointing out party's narrow focus on 'economics' rather than acknowledging historical racism.
Partners in Aggression - In his West Indian Gazette editorial, dated April/May 1965, "Partners in Aggression," Manu spelt out the co-operation between the United States and the Soviet Union through the United Nations "peacekeeping" force in the Congo.
Vietnam Solidarity
Mary McCarthy on The Demo: '...something to cherish in our memory book, for, short of Utopia, we shall not see it again...'
"We invited Mary McCarthy to cover London's anti-Vietnam war demonstration of October 27 exclusively for the Sunday Times magazine. She has observed the American and North Vietnamese theatres of war and has written books about both. And in May she watched the anti-deGaulle riots raging in the streets around her home on the Left Bank in Paris. So much controversy and confusion surrounded the events and personalities of October 27 that we believe they deserve observation by a commentator of Miss McCarthy'd stature." - The Sunday Times Magazine, October, 1968 - also published in New York Review of Books, December 19, 1968.
plus: Letter to Jay Rayner about misappropriation of "The Demo" history by Tariq Ali
Manu Vs. Bertrand Russell
Letters exchanged between Bertrand Russell and Manu concerning the dispute over how to give solidarity to the Vietnamese people and the walk out from the Vietnam Solidarity Campaign inaugural meeting.
The Indian Workers Association
Pictures of demonstrations organised by the IWA.
Bimal Roy Productions
1959 letter from Indian film-maker regarding possibility of Manu's return to India. Not sure whether this was written by the legendary Bimal Roy himself, or a colleague. Efforts are being made to contact Bimal Roy memorial organisations to find out more. Signature could be 'Roy bhai'. Includes interesting commentary on plight of Indian film industry.
Document Review:
Inventory/listing of papers of Est. A. Manchanda, plus copies of Pan Africanist Congress of Azania press statement "The Anti-Apartheid Movement Practices Apartheid on the Liberation Movements" and "A Revolutionary Reception."
Letter to Eric Levy
Family and Friends
Tributes from family and friends at memorial meeting, with photo gallery
In Memorium
List of signatories to memory book
The Manchanda Connection - a political memoir by Diane Langford
Diane Langford with photo of Manu and Claudia, depositing archive at Marx Memorial Library, 9th September, 2015. Photo: Marion Macalpine
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Diane Langford, signing donation papers at Marx Memorial Library, 9th September, 2015
Photo: Marion Macalpine
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