‘Hollow, inhuman’

 

ANOTHER batch of Naxalites surrendering in Chhattisgarh indicates that the concerted action by the Central and State Governments has changed the ground reality in favour of the security forces. What is more important is the expression of disappointment by the surrendered Naxalites about ‘hollow’ and ‘inhuman’ Maoist ideology. This expression is significant because it indicates that the violent Maoist ideology is on the verge of failure, thanks to the functional democracy and unity in cultural diversity that have been the strengths of India. When the Naxalism first burst into consciousness in the wake of Naxalbari violence, the Communist China led by Mao Zedong was the first to write an editorial about ‘spring thunder over India’. China predicted that this violent expression of Communist radicalism would engulf India and weaken the country from within. However, the Chinese propaganda machinery failed to realise that India’s inherent cultural strengths built over centuries had greater impact on collective consciousness of Indians. There may have been aberrations that led to violence, but largely the Indians know how to manage peace despite cultural diversity.

 

This is not an art but a civilisational conviction that any problem can be sorted out through socio-legal thought process. Hence, after some years of aberrant spread, Naxalites splintered into several groups and gradually the so-called movement weakened. In 2004, though some groups came together to form the more radicalised version called CPI (Maoist), it stood on a shaky foundation. The Maoists focussed on overthrow of lawfully established and Constitutionally elected Government. They had a firm belief in Mao’s dictum, “Power flows from the barrel of the gun.” They brainwashed impressionable individuals from the countryside as well as urban areas and recruited them. However, gradually, the youths from the countryside got disappointed due to spiral of violence they got involved in. Realisation that they were being used as spears against own people also dawned upon them.

 

The cadres who raised some rational questions were vilified, and were made to apologise. Living a harsh life in hiding, the cadres realised that romanticism of gun was short-lived hollow dream. The frustration stemming from understanding of contrast between so-called ‘championing of people’s cause’ and thwarting of development meant for the people also had a bearing on mostly tribal recruits. While the tribals were getting killed in jungles either as Naxalites or civilians or policemen, the intellectual ideologues enjoyed posh life in cities and their children studied abroad. Slowly, but surely, the lid was blown off this reality of the Red terrorists. With better education, Government’s initiatives expanding the positive ripple effect of development and employment opportunities, and arousal of aspirations in an enabling environment, those who were misled into the Naxalite or Maoist fold to serve as cannon-fodder, felt dejected. This realisation of the fakeness and hollowness of the ideology which knows only violence as a means to settle any issue, does not practice democratic values, and does not recognise the Constitution of India, is waning the support base of the Red ultras. If misled youths from countryside can develop this realisation, time is not far away when people in urban areas also become aware of ‘hollow’ and ‘inhuman’ nature of Maoist ideology.