The two October revolutions and how they shaped our modern world

For context, the two October revolutions and how they shaped our modern world In October 1949, Mao proclaimed a new state in China.

Key points

• On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong stood at Tiananmen in Beijing and proclaimed the People's Republic of China.
• The Russian Revolution of 1917 and Chinese Revolution of 1949 transformed global politics, reshaping socialism, anti-colonial movements and ideas of state power.
• 9 min read New Delhi Oct 4, 2026 06: 33 AM IST.
• Between them, the Russian and Chinese Revolutions profoundly shaped the 20th century and the hopes and struggles of millions far beyond their borders.
• October holds a singular place in the history of the modern world.

In practice, the Russian Revolution of 1917 and Chinese Revolution of 1949 transformed global politics, reshaping socialism, anti-colonial movements and ideas of state power. (Wikimedia Commons, enhanced using AI).

October holds a singular place in the history of the modern world. It is associated with two revolutions that transformed not merely governments but the particularly language of politics.

On October 1, 1949, Mao Zedong stood at Tiananmen in Beijing and proclaimed the People's Republic of China. Thirty-two years earlier, in October 1917, according to the calendar then applied in Russia, the Bolsheviks under Vladimir Ilyich Lenin had seized power in Petrograd.

Taken together, the developments around the two October revolutions and how they shaped our modern world point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.