Indian Social and Political Environment

Assignment 3
Article on

RISE OF NAXALISM/ MAOIST INSURGENCY

Submitted to
Prof. Sanjiv Phansalkar

On
March 11, 2015

By
Subhraprakash Mondal (Roll No.: 144107)

RISE OF NAXALISM/ MAOIST

INSURGENCY
"There is no place for violence, which does no good to anyone. I appeal to those who have picked
up the gun to shun it and pick up the plough. This is your country and work shoulder to shoulder
in developing it."
Narendra Modi, Honorable Prime Minister, Government of India.
Naxalism remains the biggest internal security challenge facing our country,
-Manmohan Singh.

From the above statements from our leaders, one can predict the how much tension
exists there in Government regarding Naxalism or Maoist activities in India. The fact is that
they are not only just worried about this issue but also they are struggling hard to find out an
acceptable way/ approach that would bring peace to the affected districts of several states.
Now to understand the rise of Naxalism or Maoist insurgency in India, we should
start from its origin and almost half a century long way of their journey.It was 1964,
Communist Party of India (United CPI) splits and Communist Party of India (Marxist)
formed. CPI(M) decided to take part in elections. They participated in 1967 polls in West
Bengal and became a partner of United Front government in WB. This decision of going in
the coalition government led a massive ideological fight within CPI (M). In between, Charu
Majumdar wrote and distributed several articles on extreme leftism keeping in mind all the
theories of Karl Marx, Lenin, and Mao Tsetung simultaneously. Those articles are known as
Historic Eight Document, which were containing basics of Naxalite movement and armed
struggle over revolutionary policies. The word Naxal came from a village, Naxalbari of
Darjeeling district in West Bengal. In Naxalbari, a tribal young farmer had legal permission
from the court to plough his own land. However, despite all legal documents, some armed
people who were supported by local landlord attacked him. Villagers mainly the tribal
population stood together against that incident, and they decided to take revenge and started
recapturing their land forcefully from the local landlord. The United Front government,

which was led by CPI (M), of WB, took actions very quickly, and the movement was stopped
in 72 days with the help of Central Government led by Congress. In this Naxalbari rebellion,
nine tribal and a police sub-inspector were killed. Those villagers and the participants in that
movement lost their faith in the legal system, for them Government became a toy in the hand
of capitalist. They lost their faith and control even over the aspects of their lives. Thus,
Naxalism came into light. However, the effect of the Naxalbari incident reached throughout
India in such a giant dimension that some portion of CPI (M) had started supporting them in
all way. CPI (M) in Uttar Pradesh and Kashmir joined with them entirely and from Bihar and
Andhra Pradesh, some lobby of CPI (M) joined. Thus in November 1967, they formed All
India Coordination Committee of Revolutionaries in CPI (M), which was renamed as All
India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries (AICCCR) in next year May
month. AICCCR decided not to participate in elections. Finally a new party was formed,
named Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) on 22 April 1969. Charu Majumdar was
the first elected Secretary of the newly formed CPI (ML) Central organizing committee.
Charu Majumder called the decade of 70s as Decade of Liberation. On 1 May 1969, Kanu
Sanyal announced the news of the party formation at a huge gathering of party supporter on
Sahid Minar Ground, Calcutta (former Kolkata). CPI (M) tried to make this unsuccessful but
that led to the armed clash between CPI (M) and CPI(ML), and this clash started all over
West Bengal. Meanwhile, Maoist Communism came into light on 20 October 1969 when
Kanhai Chatterjee formed Maoist Communist Center. Due to some ideological and tactical
difference and some issues regarding the method of party formation, this Maoist Communist
Center did not support CPI (ML). However, they supported the incident and later movement
of Naxalbari in 1970. In 2004, they formed a new party Communist Party of India (Maoist).
It would be better for us to clear the confusion between Naxalism and Maoist terms.
Naxalism believes in mass organization. The main party based on Naxalism is CPI (ML),
which has been participating, in a democratic system, elections in several states. Sometimes
they may have an armed force with their party. However, Maoist is different from Naxalite, as
they do not participate in elections; even they do not support our country democratic system
at all. They have strong belief in the Mao Tsetungs philosophy, Power flows from the barrel
of the gun." Several times, we found that extreme leftist activist, Naxalites believe in
Maoism, they advocate Mao Communism in India and practice terrorism. However,
existences of Maoists completely depend on their armed forces and terrorist attack. Concisely
Naxalism and Maoist movement, in India, started with a vision of a spontaneous mass
upsurge throughout whole India to create a zone of liberation.

However, for the last forty year we saw only dead bodies in the Jungles of Naxal
affected area. Sometime Naxal or Maoist people are killed; sometimes they kill a police
officer or political leader. Total count of death is more ten thousand. Government has failed
not only to understand the root cause of this type of incident, movement and motive of the
attack but also to provide all democratic rights to all the people in remote villages. According
to my concern, the problem is in the methodology in which government is trying to solve the
issue in several states. Perceptions of all the states are different, now it is very difficult to
have a single way keeping all the perception in mind. Finding a concrete set of solution for
such a problem, which has multi-dimensional cause behind it, is not a tough assignment
rather it is a game with fire or construction of a building without any foundations. After the
formation it is already more than forty years, now Naxalites or Maoists are not regional issues
but they became countrys biggest internal security threat. As per Home Ministry report, more
than twelve thousand persons including civilians, central and state police officers had been
killed during last twenty years of Naxal movement. Is this a success for Naxalite or failure of
Government that fails to control and prevent sustainability of this great threat over decades?
In 1967, when Naxalbari incident took place, then Government of India considered that as a
law and order problem only. Without analyzing the cause in depth, they decided to suppress
the issue by using heavy force. In 1975, that repression by using armed police force became
an issue of human right violation during the emergency. In between State Government of
West Bengal enacted some act to suppress the uprising. As a result, the situation deteriorated
very badly after the emergency period, and it became a war between Naxalite and state police
officers. In 1983, Andhra Pradesh Government enacted an act by virtue of which people
could keep licensed arms to protect themselves from Naxals. Despite all odds against Naxal
movement, the party succeeded to spread over several districts of Andhra Pradesh, Bihar,
Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Odisha, Uttar Pradesh and West
Bengal. Their success story of becoming national from regional does not depend on any
specific issues rather it is a circle of inequity, injustice, ideology, politics, and other socioeconomic factors. Extreme level of poverty is similar for all the Naxal driven regions. For
example: in the district of Karimnagar, Adilabad and Warangal of former Andhra Pradesh,
poverty level was more than 90%. This devastating level of poverty helped Naxalite
movement to grab the interest of common people very easily. During green revolution era,
government of India decided to change agricultural policies throughout India but the
Government did not put required level of efforts to confirm whether the social and economic
situation goes hand in hand or not. Therefore, because of commercialization of agriculture

went flop and rich people became richer and poor became poorer. In meanwhile,
governments decision to put an end to zamindar system from the country resulted in a big
clash between rich zamindar society and poor farmer or backward classes. Naxalite took the
advantages of the situation and as their ideology was equality to all, so they easily grab the
support from those marginalized communities and spread Naxalism and Maoism very
quickly. The situation might be better if that time Government succeeded in land reform
issue. However, the failure of the same affected socio-economic scenario and led to
advantages for Naxalite. From a socio-economic point of view, after 1947, Government of
India had the agenda of abolishment of the Zamindari system and implementation of land
reform. On paper, the whole process was running very successfully with good statistics that
said 20 million tenants had own land property. There were so many loopholes in those acts,
which were supposed to be enacted to protect Bargadars. After the Naxalbari incident, State
government of WB decided to bring some changes in the land reform act to protect the
Bargadars. However, the thing was like that, every implementation was late and all the
leaders failed to predict the cause and effect of the issues in land reform before any
mishappening.
The economical and so-called social backward classes had been living in a pathetic
condition. People from higher class and caste used to exploit those people. In Srikakulam, the
situation was so bad that poverty and destitution became a common thing for all tribal
families. They had no sufficient amount of food or money to live a better life, so they need to
borrow money from the local moneylenders at high-interest rate. Meanwhile, Government of
India decided to restrict the access to forestland and property for general people. With the
implementation of such restrictions, government officials started harassment, and the tribal
people became income less in many places. These tribal people were affected devastatingly,
so the completely socio-economic situation in the forest area became catalyst for the Naxalite
movement. If we consider Naxalbari region then we can find that main community of that
region were Santhal, Oraon and Rajbanshi tribes. They were the victim of commercialization
in agriculture and forest policies. Only socio-economic condition was not bad in the Naxal
affected area rather there was the lack of education, proper infrastructure. Most important fact
is negligence from the leaders, and the Government accelerated the penetration of Naxalite in
the remote forest area and undeveloped area of several states.

Where literacy rate was far below the desired and the average level, even education
infrastructure was very poor, so how the tribal people started their journey of Naxalism?
Answer is; they got political support under the leadership of Charu Majumdar at the initial
stage. Once after the incident of Naxalbari, the movement started getting support from young
educated community. Medical and engineering students from various university went to the
forest to join Naxal movement with the tribal people. Some of them relocated themselves in
underdeveloped remote rural areas just to mobilize people for the movement. Those young
educated people choose to dedicate their lives for their ideology of Naxalism. Until date, so
many educated young students from several Universities joined the Naxal or Maoist
movement. During the emergency period and after that, several times Naxal movement got
sympathy from a certain group of people and from activist who are working for human rights.
Now coming to the point, tackling Naxalism and Maoist insurgency is not an easy job
to do. As the issue is too much sensitive, and its root is embedded in various socio-economic
factors, so it cannot be said that there is a very specific way to solve the Naxal and Maoist
issues. However some possible way out are discussed below:
a) Socio-economic development: All the state government and central government finally
realize that the root causes behind this uprise are inequality, injustice, poverty, lack of
infrastructural development, very poor literacy rate and other socio-economic factors. The
issue of Naxal movement cannot be suppressed by muscle power but can be solved by
sensible steps and by developing the region and people from all socio-economic perspective.
Central Government have granted the Backward Regions Grant Fund of Rs. 2475 crores to
control and monitor the Naxal issues in fifty-five worst affected districts of nine states under
Backward District Initiative Scheme (2003-2004). All the state government took several
initiatives for socio-economic development of the affected region. Government of WB
allotted Rs 50 crores for remote and underdeveloped villages and a separate fund of Rs. Five
crores was allocated for the 74 blocks of the Naxal-affected western region of WB. The state
government of Chhattisgarh has come with the scheme of housing and employment, under
which government would give houses worth Rs. One lakh and one nearest relative or family
member of the victim in Maoist violence would get a job. Pradhan Mantri Gram Sadak
Yojana (PMGSY), National Rural Employment Guarantee Programme (NREGP), Sarva
Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA), Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS) National Rural
Health Mission (NRHM), Bharat Nirman etc central and state government scheme has been

implemented in some of the affected region. Governments are targeting to implement that
scheme and some other project that will increase employment ratio and education level,
improve health condition and living status, and income level. Our leaders and government are
now determined to implement those in reality, not in the paperwork only. Several new
department and special committee and dedicated team are formed at all the different level of
our democratic system. Now time will say whether these initiatives are effective or not.
b) Use armed force to give secure life for those who are not Naxalite or Maoist: The lives of
people of the affected region are now the biggest stake in Maoist insurgency. Government
cannot just ignore the violence and continue with the development program. Ensuring safe
and independent life to all the citizens is the responsibility of Government. However, a
Maoist attack took several neutral people lives then what should be done? Is it ethical or right
from the human rights point of view? Many of us cannot say yes or no. However, the thing is
Government has to ensure law and order situation under control. Whoever is the against
power, does not matter. Therefore, Government should have specific policies to act instantly
in any violence that may take lives of our fellow citizens. Central Government has formed a
committee Empowered Group of Ministers under the leadership of Home Minister.
Government has decided to modernize the existing police force, engage special task force,
involve paramilitary groups along with the state policemen, increase the use of modern arms
and weapons and etc. in the affected region to tackle the issue of violence by the Naxalite or
Maoist people. This approach may help to abolish the fear in common peoples mind in the
affected region and to give a certain strong message to those who are trying to create
violence. However, it cannot be used to create fear among the villagers to prevent penetration
of Naxalite.
c) Legal approaches: For the last 10-15 years, we are observing an increase in violence by
Maoist in the affected states that used to take several lives. Therefore, government took the
decision to reformulate some of the existing laws. Land acquisition in that region and other
underdeveloped region is a major issue and sometimes those issues lead the people to go with
Naxalite or Maoist. Therefore, to narrowing the disparity, government came with some
changes in Rehabilitation and Resettlement Policy in 2007. As per the new law, people will
get a) land in exchange of land that is acquired for industrializations, b) vocational training,
c) housing benefit, d) job for at least one family member. However, this cannot be successful
because each time giving alternate land is not possible for the government; therefore, it is like

a backfire that is killing industrial growth and employment generation prospect. In the forest
region, the tribal people faced the main problem, when they lost their rights in the forest that
leads to poverty, unemployment and changes in lifestyle of those people. Those problems
ultimately resulted in the inspiration for joining Naxalite group, as some of them had no other
option to get back their rights in forest and to fulfill their dream of a better life. In 2006,
government amended some portion of Forest Right Act, by virtue of which one can use onehectare land for non-forest uses in the Forest and Ministry of Environment and Forest will
take care of bitumen road (pukka road) construction in forest region. In 2004, after an
increase in the death toll in Naxalite/ Maoist movement, Government came with some
changes in Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), 1967. Government of India has
banned all associated formations like CPI(ML)-Peoples War, CPI(Mao) and Maoist
Communist Centre. However, those Law are not above questionable status; as if UAPA is not
self-sufficient to distinguish between anti-social and anti-national activities and
implementation of UAPA can create more chaos leading to violence.
d) Political approaches: Another possible approach is political which cannot be done by
government or any administrative. There are several places, which are not accessible by
administration or government, but some of the national political team exists there. Therefore,
all the leaders of all political leaders, if come together with some same agenda to have a
solution of the Naxalite issue then that would be a greater help. They may organize some
campaign to increase awareness among people regarding our democratic system, the
education system, healthcare, pros and cons of violence, our Indian cultural context of peace,
etc. Result of political approach cannot be experienced in a month or year, but the effect of
that would be there for long-term.
Now billion-dollar question is which way out should be taken by the government to
nullify the Naxalite threat in the red corridor of India. As per my concern, a single approach
cannot be able to solve the issue but mix of them can do it. People, who are neglected for the
last decades, in the affected region, just need some more attention. Main reason behind uprise
of Naxalite is socio-economic which cannot be solved by muscle power. Government should
take care of the following points:
a. Provide incentives, employments, houses, right over forests for the tribal people.
b. Proper land reform programs in all the regions.

c. Engage police forces to build trust and faith in peoples mind and to secure life for
all the civilians.
d. Develop some system or financial institute to help those people when they need
money.
e. Ensure justice for all issues.
f. Implement some acts to ensure secure and better life whosoever wants to come
back in the main stream of life.
If all the approach discussed above can be implemented simultaneously, then the
scenario will be changed, and we would be able to see a better India. For successful
implementation, dedication is the main thing to be kept in mind. Until the government and all
statutory bodies are not dedicated fully to solve the issue of Naxalism and Maoist, the
problem will remain there as our bigger internal security threat.