Hardial Bains | |
|---|---|
 Bains in 1979 | |
| First Secretary of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) | |
| In office 1970–1997 | |
| Succeeded by | Sandra Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 15 August 1939 Chak 6, Punjab, British India |
| Died | 24 August 1997 (aged 58) Quebec, Canada |
| Citizenship | Canada |
| Nationality | Canadian |
| Political party | Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) |
| Other political affiliations | Communist Party of Ireland (Marxist–Leninist) Marxist–Leninist Party, USA Communist Ghadar Party of India |
| Spouse | Sandra L. Smith |
| Alma mater | University of British Columbia |
| Occupation | Politician |
| Profession | Professor, microbiologist, university lecturer |
Hardial Bains (Punjabi: ਹਰਦਿਆਲ ਬੈਂਸ; 15 August 1939 – 24 August 1997) was an Indian-Canadian microbiology lecturer and the founder of a series of left-wing movements and parties foremost of which was the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist) (CPC (M-L)). Presenting himself as staunchly anti-revisionist and pro-Stalinist until his death, Bains acted as the spokesperson and ideological leader of the CPC (M-L) – known in elections as the Marxist–Leninist Party of Canada. During his lifetime, Bains's outlook swung from supporting the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin to Mao Zedong's China then Enver Hoxha's Albania. Shortly before he died, abandoning his previous sharp criticisms of the country, Bains turned to Fidel Castro's Cuba for inspiration. Spending most of his life in Canada, Bains was also politically active in England, Ireland, United States, and India.