Naxals/Maoists: Creation of mindless governance

The recent incidents in Lalgarh near Jhargram, West Bengal by Maoists / Naxals, brought back some memories…

In 1988-89, when Joy of Having or JoH went to work in the Champaran districts of Bihar, he had come face-to-face for the first time with the reality called “Naxals.” During one of his adventurous trip beyond Narkatiaganj, a sleepy hamlet near the Indo-Nepal border, covered by dense forests, he had met a group of people lazing in the backyard of what appeared to be a school building. At a first glance these people appeared to be downtrodden villagers or poor students from adjoining villages in their lungis, folded trousers and vests.

JoH was taken there by a local acquaintance named Dinkar Verma. After the initial exchange of pleasantries and his introduction, what they showed him was enough to understand the gravity of the situation. Hidden in a box and buried under ground were a large number of stenguns, semi-automatic rifles, sophisticated foreign made revolvers, pistols, and grenades, besides others. At that time their collection of arms would have put our security forces to shame.

After leaving that place, JoH had asked Dinkar who were those people and what were the arms for. Dinkar only gave JoH a silent smile and whispered not to mention this to anybody. Later JoH learnt that those people were “Naxals/Maoists.”

Having studied and lived in Hazaribagh, Giridih and Dhanbad districts, now in Jharkhand, JoH had often interacted with these people, now called Naxals, shared meals with them and enjoyed the warmth of their simple hospitality. Oops, not to forget using their sexy bow and arrows. Simple questions like…“Kuch khane ko hai? (Is there anything to eat?)…would bring out a broad smile of disbelief on their faces. It was because they could not believe that a “babu” will eat with them. Amidst them JoH felt absolutely secure, because they would give their lives to protect him.

Today, JoH is sad because he knows how one of the purest and simplest tribe of existing mankind, have been forced to become “Naxals” or “Maoists.” These people were primarily known as “Santhals” or “Adivasis” who lived in the most backward areas of Bihar (Now Jharkhand), Bengal, Orissa, Andhra and MP (Now Chattisgarh). Though backward in terms of development, these areas are undoubtedly the richest by virtue of abundant natural resources including Coal, Mica, Iron Ore, Bauxite, rich forests and natural habitat.

These tribes, despite living in the heart of abundant natural resources for ages have never made commercial gains from them. They only depended on and used these sources for their day-to-day survival, worshipped these natural resources and were fiercely protective about them.

Since Independence, these mines were owned by private owners who exploited the richness of these natural resources. Illegal mining was rampant and these local people were ill treated and exploited to the hilt. Their source of survival was snatched from them and they were made to feel as total outsiders in their own land. Post ‘70s when the government took over these mines, they hoped that things will change for better but things became unbearably miserable for them. Their girls and women were raped at will, men treated like slaves and also killed brutally at the drop of a hat. The culprits were the very people who were supposed to protect them. With no hope of justice and no where to go, those simple hearts were forced into armed revolt and are now termed as “Naxals” or “Maoists.”

It is an irony that a classmate of JoH is presently posted as a CRPF Commandant in Champaran to fight these Naxals/Maoists…JoH often wonders…will his friend kill these people who have been subjected to years of injustice…or will he be…