The Red Witch Hunt

Thomas Paine, in his book 'Rights of a Man' states that -
"Government's sole purpose is safeguarding the individual and his/her inherent, inalienable rights; each societal institution that does not benefit the nation is illegitimate..."


There has been a sudden surge of interest in combating the Naxal movements since the recent arrest of Khobad Gandhy, a riposte development long overdue, 40+ years, of which the last 15 itself saw the death of 6000+. Of course, one must not forget that the media has never left any stone unturned when it comes to glamorising the unneedful.

If any of you have been following the updates on the Government’s strategies to curb the Naxalite insurgency, you are probably already lamenting the money and resources, in form of arms, artillery and army, that they plan to spend.

So, who exactly will be at the receiving end of this state funded strategic design to crush this internal terrorism? The people of the state - delinquent and innocent alike. The state, it seems, is waging a war against its own people. How may I ask, is that going to help solve the problem? Before you answer that please take a minute and tell me what, do you understand the 'problem' really is?

Who, do you think, the Naxal represent? How, despite their inhuman ways, have they managed to garner the support of over a million people in the last 40 years? What drives the common peasant to take up arms against his own government? What is it that drives the poor, the peasants, the farmers and destitute labourers to such extreme measures?

History and Karl Marx has told us time and again to beware of the wrath of the oppressed and deprived for he has nothing to lose but his blood and that he has in plenty. And despite this valuable lesson we tend to ignore the human needs of the class below us, till the lowest in hierarchy are pushed beyond the bounds of what can be called humanity. The result is in either self incrimination & suicides or armed rebellion.

Our country is familiar with latter, where our revolutionary leaders such as Shivaji Maharaj, Rani Jhansi, Subhash Chandra Bose and Bhagat Singh rose in armed uprisings against their oppressors, something that we teach our kids in school today. Why then are we surprised when the Naxal leaders have managed to exploited the very same sentiments that stood pillar to the Indian Independence struggle? The line 'Give me blood and I'll give you freedom' by Subhash Chandra Bose brought in mass support to his cause then, and still has the charm for Naxal leaders today.

World history also stands witness to similar rebellions, where the oppressed have risen in resistance to their oppressors, most of which we proudly approve of, including the Indian war of Independence against their British oppressors, The French Revolution that uprooted their incapacitated monarchy and The American war of Independence. The victory was always in a progressive change, the need of the hour.



The people most attracted to the Naxal ideology are, as always, the ones who haven't experienced true freedom or justice in the current system but only a hierarchy of oppression with them, mostly, at the bottom rung of the ladder.

Why, you may ask, would these people resort to violence to look for solutions? There could be two reasons to this:

First, less likely, out of fear instilled by Naxals, which would denote the inability of the state in protecting its own people.

Second, more likely, the promise of a solution to their problem backed with action, however savage, unlike that of the promise made by the state with no results. To quote KPS Gill from his recent interview with Tehelka, "Ask the political leaders what they mean by development. How does a good road affect a man who has no means of transport?"

The U.S. Declaration of Independence (1776) of one of the most successful of the world's democracy states in a line -
"That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness. "


As hard as the political leaders may try to portray themselves as the saviours of the common man; this common man, already let down by its own governmental system cannot really relate to these leaders with all that stashed wealth and elating lifestyle. On the other hand, the Naxal leaders not only live amongst their consortium but address their issues at a micro level. This, I must say, plays in their favour.

So, why haven't we been able to provide these tribes, humane conditions for development or an adequate platform to voice their grievances? How many of them are still waiting for application of justice? How many of them are still waiting for reparation for the wrong? How many of them are still waiting for the promised reforms? And how many of you really care...

On one hand, we acknowledged, with standing ovations and awards, a movie like 'A Wednesday!', which depicts the vigilante in the common man and pats his back for taking the stand against the stagnant system; and on the other hand we are preparing to bomb our own countrymen, most of whom are innocent, ignorant and even illiterate.

I am not trying justifying their means or actions, neither their decision nor ideologies, but what I am really trying is to emphasis the root of the problem and that lays in our inadequacy of providing the basic fundamental rights enshrined in our constitution to the one who need it the most. This has eventually resulted in creation of a pool of meliorists for the Naxals to pick their insurgents from, and all they have to do is fine tune them in the art of guilt free warfare.

The solution to this does not rest in counter violence but in drastic reforms. The government cannot silence them with threats and weapons, but has to win them back with dynamic result bearing approach to their issues. It is a much difficult task, one that cannot be accomplished overnight but will guarantee effective results. Naxal rebellion cannot be contained by attacking their leaders, but by attacking their ideology with reformist accomplishments, however little we begin with.

My, fellow countrymen, it is time we stop invoking rights to our benefit and begin exercising our duties toward our compatriots.

Almost 2000 years ago, Confucius said,
"When the good way prevails in the state speak boldly, act boldly. When the state has lost the way, speak softly and act boldly."