NAXAL/ MAOISTS- 2010 - Indian Social Institute

ecently termed Naxalites as patriots. He said not only just Naxalites, she has also termed terrorists in
Kashmir as revolutionaries and demanded stern action against her. "If those involved in such acts are
termed as patriots or revolutionaries then no country in the world would be able to run its affairs," she
said. Chouhan also demanded from the Centre to declare all seven districts in the state as Naxal-affected
so that funds can be allocated under Security Related Expenditure (SRE) for ensuring additional security
in these districts. He said that though Naxal activities were effectively curbed in Madhya Pradesh, reports
of their activities are still knocking in border districts like Sidhi, Singrauli, Dindori, Mandla and Anuppur.
The other Naxal-affected districts in the state are Balaghat and Shahdol. Though a proposal in this regard
was pending with the Centre, it has not yet approved the same. (IE, 28/11/2010)
Why ultras using Mao’s name, asks Darwin’s kin
Three prominent personalities — Ming, Mao-Tse and Deng Xioping — are credited to have given their
biggest contribution to the modern China and propelling the country to achieve an unparalleled GDP
growth. Ming established Beijing as the Capital of China, Mao-Tse-Tung started agricultural revolution
and initiated industrialisation in the country and Deng Xioping launched the second revolution to open the
gates of the alienated nation for the outside world and liberalised economy. However, Mao’s name has
become the most commonly used one in the world and in India. The recent controversy of AICC general
secretary Rahul Gandhi, reportedly comparing Gujarat Chief Minister with Mao-Tse-Tung, has again
brought Mao’s name in the light. Gandhi has reportedly said, “Many evil personalities have done great
developmental works.” But the question that haunts a common man is — If the name Mao sparks such a
bad image then why Left wing armed rebels use name of Mao, and euphemistically like to be referred as
Maoists? Felix Padel, the great-great grandson of Charles Darwin, who was on a study trip in Jharkhand,
also share similar views and questions the use of name ‘Mao’ by Maoists. Padel, a writer, scholar, social
anthropologist and environmentalist collecting exact words and sentiments said, “After looking at true
Mao, once I would say Mao is very much like the big companies. He was a very good propagandist
pretending himself as the friend of the peasant. But if you look at the detailed history, he was absolutely
no friend of the peasants at all.” Adding more on Mao, Padel continued his observations and referred him
a person who was ‘out of touch’ of realities but stringently pursued industrialisation. “And if you go into
how he behaved with his comrades — he betrayed people, liquidated and murdered them — left, right
and centre. If you look at industrialisation, no body has imposed industrialisation more closely then Mao.
But the worst of all is that about 30 million people are said to have died in starvation caused by it.” He
stops for a while flips the pages of a magazine and again asks, why Maoists are using the name ‘Mao’
….? Did they don’t know the history? Or they just have taken in by the propaganda? After a while he
answered himself and appended, “One reason for using the name probably is that a lot of funding comes
from China. I heard this from different authentic sources. With Nepal Maoist there is no question of it.”
Padel, currently is a visiting Professor at IRMA, Anand in Gujarat. His two books — Out of this Earth and
The Sacrifice of Human Being: British Rule and the Konds of Orissa — have been hot cake at bookstalls.
(Pioneer, 30/11/2010)