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Similar Kizhakkunarum Pakshi, Lal Bahini, Communist Party of India | ||
Lal Salam (Hindi: लाल सलाम, Bengali: লাল সালাম,Urdu: لال سلام, Kannada: ಕೆಂಪು ವಂದನೆ meaning "Red Salute") is a salute, greeting, or code word used by communists in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal, means long live Revolution which is used when both hello and goodbye would be used in English. In Hindi-Urdu and Bengali (as well as in several other South Asian languages) Lal means red, the colour of communism, and salam is an Arabic loanword in use in the subcontinent. In Arabic it literally means "peace", but this usage is in line with the Persian usage, with the meaning "salute".
This greeting is common among all communist parties in India, such as CPIM and CPI. Naxalites often use this phrase, e.g. on recruitment posters.
In Pakistan, the equivalent phrase "Surkh Salam" (Urdu: سرخ سلام) is used interchangeably.
The tribute arranged by comrades after the death of a Naxalite is also called the "Lal Salam".
In Popular Culture
A Malayalam feature film called Lal Salam deals with the growth and deterioration of the Communist government in Kerala, South India.
