The Maoist Boogie

There has been a lot of hue and cry over the Maoist problem in Junglemahal in West Bengal, India. The Communist government of Bengal went ahead and deployed paramilitary forces to contain the armed Maoist threat. Accusations flew like the wind. The Maoist accused the Communist government of oppressing the people of the region and stalling development in that region. They took up arms and murdered Communist cadres and started a guerrilla warfare with the armed forces. They also accused the police and the armed forces of heinous atrocities against the people of the villages. The government accused the Communist of revolting against the state and forcing the local village folk to join their ranks at gun point. The new government offers to bring peace to the region through developmental projects and holding peace talks. But the Maoists have threatened to resume their armed struggle unless the armed forces are withdrawn.

I am no analyst or intellectual. I am just a student of History and what I see I do not like. It is a fact that the region of Junglemahal has been neglected by the state for far too long. It is a fact that the armed forces stationed there by the state have committed heinous human rights violation. The rest is all shrouded in mystery. I have always loved History and have been studying History ever since I was a child. What I have come to realize over these years of studying History is that Indians in general, are averse to armed struggle and revolution. They have to be led. They cannot organize a protest by themselves. The only time they have joined hands unanimously is during occasions when their physical existence has come under threat, like the Santhal Rebellion. In such cases, the people of the whole region take up arms and not a single person remain in the region who do not support it. In all other cases, the people have been led, and many have stayed aloof. In most of these cases, the few who have been at the head of the movement had a personal motive behind the struggle. The Maoist scenario looks like a struggle led by a few, for a few.

It is true that the Maoists have a large support base, but there is a large majority who do not support an armed struggle. How do I know this? Well, because many people of the region have come up asking for assistance and jobs from the government – the Maoists proclaimed enemy. I do not care about the accusations as they easily may be propaganda. I only believe in those that are supported by evidence, and I believe that the Maoists do not have the support of a large number of people in the region. This can only mean one thing – the Maoist cause is led by only a few with their own goals of coming to power. And why is it that when the government is offering to bring about social development projects in the region, the Maoists are opposing it? Simple. Bringing about social development will take away whatever base they have now as people are too eager to give up war. They do not like war.

I do not trust the Maoists at all and I do not have faith in the government either. Both are looking for their personal welfare at the expense of the people. I suggest that the paramilitary forces are reduced in number but a sufficient number should stay back to counter any attempts by the Maoists to take over the villages in the region by force. The government, on the other hand, should start development projects on a war footing. I know that the finances of the state are too low for an extensive project but at least some projects need to be undertaken on an emergency basis. The more the issue is delayed, the more confused people get and very soon they will forget what started the controversy in the first place. We need to act, and act fast.