The Naxal Movement
The term "Naxal" comes from Naxalbari, a small village in West Bengal,and started due to unjust
rule and oppression of lower class people which finally exploded into
a revolution. Their belief in the 'annihilation of class enemies' and in
extreme violence as a means to secure organizational goals. They
intend to carry on the new "democratic revolution, which would
remain directed against imperialism, feudalism and comprador
bureaucratic capitalism." They believe that this would cause "fear
among the ruling classes" and would fulfil "the aspirations of the
masses" for a strong revolutionary party that would usher in a "new
democratic society" by advancing towards socialism and
communism.
The HISTORY:
The insurrection started on May 25, 1967 in Naxalbari village when a peasant was attacked by hired hands over a land dispute. Local peasants retaliated by attacking the local landlords and the violence escalated.The revolution was triggered when a police officer called Sonam Wangdi was killed by the peasants in 1967.A section of Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal led a violent uprising in 1967, trying to develop a "revolutionary opposition" in opposition to the CPI(M) leadership.Majumdar greatly admired Mao Zedong of China and advocated that Indian peasants and lower classes must follow in his footsteps and overthrow the government and upper classes whom he held responsible for their plight.Their believed that democracy has failed in India , and the only way out is communist.These people were greatly influenced by the " LONG MARCH" which led to the downfall of "The Republic of China"(Democratic government which is now only restricted to Taiwan only) and establishment of "People's republic of China" which was a communist regime.
NDTV coverage on Naxal History>>
The MOVEMENT:
The Movement based on similar lines of the "Long March" where Majumdar was the leader of the whole naxal movement who ideolised "Mao Zedong" the originator of Maoism. The Naxalites gained a strong presence amongst the radical sections of the students movement in Calcutta.Large number of students left their education to join revolutionary activities and these included best brains in the country from IIT-Kgp,St. Stephens (New Delhi),Jadavpur University and Presidency College Kolkatta, which eventually became their head quarter of operation to fight against police.
The movement was torn about by internal disputes. Large sections began to question Majumdar's line of struggle. In 1971 CPI(ML) was split in two, as Satyanarayan Singh revolted against Majumdar's leadership. In 1972 Majumdar was captured and died in police custody in Alipore Jail. After his death the fragmentation of the movement accelerated.
Emergence of CPI M:
CPI(M) came to power by ousting inefficient Congress Govt in the year 1977, riding on the election manifesto of providing ‘Bekar Bhata’ (Unemployment allowance) to every unemployed youth of West Bengal, on monthly basis. They won the election and paid Rs50/- per month to a few unemployed youths whose name was found for at least five years in the register of Employment Exchange and had Party membership. This ‘Bekar Bhata’ was stopped few years after, when Party stressed on engaging Party Wholetimers.The emergence of CPI M moderated the whole movement under democratic and peaceful process in some areas and the Maoist movement started spreading to nearby areas of West Bengal.
...Read more on CPI M>>
CURRENT::
Today some groups have become legal organisations participating in parliamentary elections, such as Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. Others, such as Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Janashakti, are engaged in armed guerrilla struggles.
During the 1970s the movement was fragmented into several disputing factions. By 1980 it was estimated that around 30 Naxalite groups were active, with a combined membership of 30 000.A 2004 home ministry estimate puts numbers at that time as "9,300 hardcore underground cadre… [holding] around 6,500 regular weapons beside a large number of unlicensed country-made arms.More recent figures put the strength of the movement at 15,000, and claim the guerrillas control an estimated one fifth of India's forests, as well as being active in 160 of the country's 604 administrative districts.India's Research and Analysis Wing, believed in 2006 that 20,000 Naxals are currently involved in the growing insurgency.The Group is popularly known as People's War Group .According to current estimates is active in 156 districts of 13 States that include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and Kerala. The outfit has also been making attempts to establish and expand its presence in several other States such as Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
....Read more on Why NAXALITE movement might be a threat to India >>
....Read India Today coverage>>
rule and oppression of lower class people which finally exploded into
a revolution. Their belief in the 'annihilation of class enemies' and in
extreme violence as a means to secure organizational goals. They
intend to carry on the new "democratic revolution, which would
remain directed against imperialism, feudalism and comprador
bureaucratic capitalism." They believe that this would cause "fear
among the ruling classes" and would fulfil "the aspirations of the
masses" for a strong revolutionary party that would usher in a "new
democratic society" by advancing towards socialism and
communism.
The HISTORY:
The insurrection started on May 25, 1967 in Naxalbari village when a peasant was attacked by hired hands over a land dispute. Local peasants retaliated by attacking the local landlords and the violence escalated.The revolution was triggered when a police officer called Sonam Wangdi was killed by the peasants in 1967.A section of Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) led by Charu Majumdar and Kanu Sanyal led a violent uprising in 1967, trying to develop a "revolutionary opposition" in opposition to the CPI(M) leadership.Majumdar greatly admired Mao Zedong of China and advocated that Indian peasants and lower classes must follow in his footsteps and overthrow the government and upper classes whom he held responsible for their plight.Their believed that democracy has failed in India , and the only way out is communist.These people were greatly influenced by the " LONG MARCH" which led to the downfall of "The Republic of China"(Democratic government which is now only restricted to Taiwan only) and establishment of "People's republic of China" which was a communist regime.
NDTV coverage on Naxal History>>
The MOVEMENT:
The Movement based on similar lines of the "Long March" where Majumdar was the leader of the whole naxal movement who ideolised "Mao Zedong" the originator of Maoism. The Naxalites gained a strong presence amongst the radical sections of the students movement in Calcutta.Large number of students left their education to join revolutionary activities and these included best brains in the country from IIT-Kgp,St. Stephens (New Delhi),Jadavpur University and Presidency College Kolkatta, which eventually became their head quarter of operation to fight against police.
The movement was torn about by internal disputes. Large sections began to question Majumdar's line of struggle. In 1971 CPI(ML) was split in two, as Satyanarayan Singh revolted against Majumdar's leadership. In 1972 Majumdar was captured and died in police custody in Alipore Jail. After his death the fragmentation of the movement accelerated.
Emergence of CPI M:
CPI(M) came to power by ousting inefficient Congress Govt in the year 1977, riding on the election manifesto of providing ‘Bekar Bhata’ (Unemployment allowance) to every unemployed youth of West Bengal, on monthly basis. They won the election and paid Rs50/- per month to a few unemployed youths whose name was found for at least five years in the register of Employment Exchange and had Party membership. This ‘Bekar Bhata’ was stopped few years after, when Party stressed on engaging Party Wholetimers.The emergence of CPI M moderated the whole movement under democratic and peaceful process in some areas and the Maoist movement started spreading to nearby areas of West Bengal.
...Read more on CPI M>>
CURRENT::
Today some groups have become legal organisations participating in parliamentary elections, such as Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation. Others, such as Communist Party of India (Maoist) and Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Janashakti, are engaged in armed guerrilla struggles.
During the 1970s the movement was fragmented into several disputing factions. By 1980 it was estimated that around 30 Naxalite groups were active, with a combined membership of 30 000.A 2004 home ministry estimate puts numbers at that time as "9,300 hardcore underground cadre… [holding] around 6,500 regular weapons beside a large number of unlicensed country-made arms.More recent figures put the strength of the movement at 15,000, and claim the guerrillas control an estimated one fifth of India's forests, as well as being active in 160 of the country's 604 administrative districts.India's Research and Analysis Wing, believed in 2006 that 20,000 Naxals are currently involved in the growing insurgency.The Group is popularly known as People's War Group .According to current estimates is active in 156 districts of 13 States that include Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Orissa, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Uttaranchal and Kerala. The outfit has also been making attempts to establish and expand its presence in several other States such as Gujarat, Haryana, Punjab, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh.
....Read more on Why NAXALITE movement might be a threat to India >>
....Read India Today coverage>>
