Naxalism.

-Pragti

A movement that began in a small town called Naxalbari in the eastern state of Orissa has metamorphosed into something that has taken over many parts of India, and even described by former Former PM Manmohan Singh described as the greatest internal threat to Indian sovereignty.

Naxal, Naxalite and Naksalvadi are generic terms used to refer to various militant communist groups operating in different parts of India. In the eastern states of the mainland China, they are usually known as, or refer to themselves as Maoists while in southern states they refer to themselves with other titles. The Naxals are considered far-left radical communist, supportive of Maoist political sentiment and ideology.

 

THE BEGINNING OF NAXALISM

The term Naxalites comes from Naxalbari, a small village in West Bengal, where a section of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) led by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal, and Jangal Santhal initiated a violent uprising in 1967. On 18 May 1967, the Siliguri Kishan Sabha, of which Jangal was the president, declared their support for the movement initiated by Kanu Sanyal, and their readiness to adopt armed struggle to redistribute land to the landless. The following week, a sharecropper near Naxalbari village was attacked by the landlord’s men over a land dispute. On 24 May, when a police team arrived to arrest the peasant leaders, it was ambushed by a group of tribals led by Jangal Santhal, and a police inspector was killed in a hail of arrows. This event encouraged manySanthal tribals and other poor people to join the movement and to start attacking local landlords.

These conflicts go back to the failure to implement the 5th and 6th Schedules of the Constitution of India. In theory these Schedules provide for a limited form of tribal autonomy with regard to exploiting natural resources on their lands, e.g. pharmaceutical and mining, and ‘land ceiling laws’, limiting the land to be possessed by landlords and distribution of excess land to landless farmers and labourers.

Mao Zedong provided ideological leadership for the Naxalbari movement, advocating that Indian peasants and lower class tribals overthrow the government and upper classes by force. A large number of urban elites were also attracted to the ideology, which spread through Charu Majumdar‘s writings, particularly the ‘Historic Eight Documents‘ which formed the basis of Naxalite ideology.

At the time, the leaders of this revolt were members of the CPI (M), which joined a coalition government in West Bengal just a few months back. Leaders like land minister Hare Krishna Konar had been until recently “trumpeting revolutionary rhetoric, suggesting that militant confiscation of land was integral to the party’s programme.” However, now that they were in power,CPI (M) did not approve of the armed uprising, and all the leaders and a number of Calcutta sympathizers were expelled from the party.

Subsequently, In November 1967, this group, led by Sushital Ray Chowdhury, organized the All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries (AICCCR). Violent uprisings were organized in several parts of the country. On 22 April 1969 (Lenin‘s birthday), the AICCCR gave birth to the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) (CPI (ML)).

Practically all Naxalite groups trace their origin to the CPI (ML). A separate offshoot from the beginning was the Maoist Communist Centre, which evolved out of the Dakshin Desh group. The MCC later fused with the People’s War Group to form the Communist Party of India (Maoist). A third offshoot was that of the Andhra revolutionary communists, mainly represented by the UCCRI(ML), following the mass line legacy of T. Nagi Reddy, which broke with the AICCCR at an early stage.

During the 1970s, the movement was fragmented into disputing factions. By 1980, it was estimated that around 30 Naxalite groups were active, with a combined membership of 30,00O.

 

REASONS FOR NAXALISM

There are various factors responsible for Naxalism. These are the political, social, historical and economical fators. It should be bared in the mind that the naxal problem are nOt barely a media propaganda.

The main reason is India’s long neglect to develop the tribal areas whIch has created large pockets of alienation against the government and these pockets have become the spawning ground of Maoist terrorism. The government concerned have to take note of the genuine grievances of the tribals and deal with them in a sympathetic manner. There has to be a system for prompt enquiry into all allegations of excess. Naxal problem has its origin in deeply rooted negligence of tribal and landless people by the Governemnt. After 70 years of independence the government is unable to provide the basic neccesities to the bottom half of the population. Naxalism has flourished not in the northern parts of India, but the obscure central and eastern parts of India. In this part of the country, basically the states of West Bengal, Bihar, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, are basically hugely tribal dominated areas. Historically the tribals in these areas are more freedom minded, they are also deeply attached to their forests, land. But the development of the economy definitely affects the interest of the common man. Here the lack of basic governance is main problem. In these areas there is lack of communication, basic health care facility and education, banking facility etc. Therefore the government machinery are virtually failed.

The decentralisation of the local government has not been fulfilled here as Government officials are scared to be posted here. These peoples are alienated from the mainstream of the nation. This vacuum has been fulfilled by the Maoists in these areas.

Economically, the problem of poverty and economic inequality can be identified as vital in accelerating the pace of movement. The absolute numbers of the poor have fallen over the decades. According to the planning commission report now the people below poverty line is 22% of the population ( NSSO Report); the statistics being averages do not capture the intensity of distress in certain pockets despite the high growth in recent years.

The situation has further worsened by the opening up of the Indian economy to trade and investment; the entry of the multinational companies in Odisha and Chhattisgarh poses a threat to the livelihoods of tribal and their way of life. These MNCs are eyeing on the vast natural resources like minerals, forest products etc.

The impact of Naxalism on economic growth and development is very severe. For sound development of the economy it requires a peaceful environment. But Naxalism is now creating a war like situation in certain states. They are operating a parallel rules in that states. Unfortunately these areas are increasing day by day. For example the Bastar region of Chhatisgarh, undivided Koraput district of Odisha is the hotbed of Maoist activities. In these areas the rule of law is absent. Therefore economic activities remain standstill.

Committees formed by the national Government to understand the gravity of the situation found the the social, political, economic and cultural discrimination faced by the SCs/STs across the country as a key factor in drawing large number of discontented people towards the Naxalites

“We have two worlds of education, two worlds of health, two worlds of transport and two worlds of housing…”  were the words of a committee  appointed by the Planning Commission and headed by D. Bandopadhyay, a retired IAS officer instrumental in dealing with the Naxalites in West Bengal in the 1970s.  

 

CAN THE PROBLEMS BE SOLVED?

In order to comprehensively dissolve the Naxalite threat, the government has to address its root causes. Socio-economic alienation and the dissatisfaction with the widening economic and political inequality will not be solved by military force alone, which seems to be the main instrument employed by the government. The problem calls for a three-pronged solution: social and economic development, multi-lateral dialogue and military force.

As the Naxalites are fuelled by discontent from the marginalised and the poor, a larger percentage of the national budget must be allocated to addressing the needs of these regions. More of the national expenditure needs to be focused on developing these poorer regions through initiatives regarding health, education, social welfare and rural and urban development. Government service delivery should be improved in these tribal areas. Both state and government must ensure that things such as statutory minimum wages, access to land and water sources initiatives are implemented. In coming up with strategies for national economic growth, the government must always bear in mind the possible effects of fast growth for all socio-economic groups in a country as large and diverse as India. If the social needs of these marginalised people are addressed, there will be no discontent to fuel the Naxalite’s movements.