Hardial Bains

Hardial Bains
Bains in 1979
First Secretary of the Communist Party of Canada (Marxist–Leninist)
In office 1970–1997
Preceded by	Position established
Succeeded by	Sandra Smith
Personal details
Born	(1939-08-15)15 August 1939 Chak 6, Punjab, British India
Died	24 August 1997(1997-08-24) (aged 58) Quebec, 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 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 Indo-Canadian microbiology lecturer, but was primarily known as 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' outlook swung from supporting the Soviet Union under Joseph Stalin, to Mao Zedong's China, then later to Enver Hoxha's Albania. Shortly before he died, and 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.