Published on : 05/10/2025

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The paradox of Naxalism

The paradox of Naxalism

Author Details

Ms. Sowmya, B.A. HEP

India is the world’s largest democracy and one of the fastest growing economies, yet it remains vulnerable to the challenge of naxalism. Naxalism is the ‘single largest internal security threat to India’ according to former PM Manmohan Singh. Government of India is committed to completely eliminate naxalism by 2026.

During 18th and 19th century industrial revolution began in England and Germany led to mass production by machines, which also cause shift from rural villagers to urban cities. Owners are getting profit from it and labours are exploited ( like long working hours with less pay ) . On the other hand karl marx (father of communism) from Germany explain how capitalists are exploitating workers in his book communist manifesto, his idea to establish class less socity and suggested armed rebellion to fight against capitalists. Russian revolution (1917) and Chinese revolution (1949) common idealogy to rise of communist revolutions in both countries was unequal distribution of wealth between social classes.

Failure and weak implementation of land reforms (1950) was one the key factor led to naxalism.. class struggle between land owners and workers . Naxalism movement originated from naxalbari (west Bengal) in.1967 to fight against money lenders, land lords for land rights and against exploitation ,equality , social justice, dignity and the movement inspired by Maoist ideology of china.

In middle of 80’s and 90’s reservation policy and LPG (Liberalization , privatization, globalization ) reforms are further intensify the naxalism. Introduction of private license gradually led to more investments and construction of developmental projects arisen mass displacement of people , according to some officials ‘displaced people are more vulnerable to naxal iealogies’ .

Apart from these forest polices like forest conservation act (1980) made by the government restricted their livelihood , culture identify and now they take police permission to gather wood, leaves, fruits from forest and now tribal people deprived, that administrative gap filled by naxalism ( by killing administrators led to joining of tribals). Naxals  mostly receive their support from landless peasants , tribals like Dalit and Adivasis , what is common among these groups are unemployment and qualification. Internal issues like lack of human development, socio-economic inequalities, corruption in society , administrative vaccum and governance issues, unequal distribution of resourcess, injustice and lack of education, health facilities, infrastructure development . All these reasons made naxals far distant from society, they feel like alienated and excluded from the existing society.

Initially aim of naxalism is to seizing the land from landlord s/oppressors and redistributing it amongst the landless peasants and tribals. Now it completely forgot about initial aim of social justice and deviated from its original ideas and become violence insurgency and obstruct development and created conditions for external influence in India’s internal security. Naxalism also replaced with left wing extremism , whish is Maoist ideology. All maoists are naxalites but all naxalites are not maoists. 

By the time passes naxalism movement became a movement against its own cause like civilians became victims, frequent use of guns without any conflicts and guns replaced the conversation / dialogue between the people ( militarization soon overshadowed social reform) , ideology completely shifted from empowering of people to controlling them, promise of justice and protection turned into fear installation among people or faith replaced into fear, ignored the demands of people and running towards profit oriented which cause more exploitation of people than before from oppression. It is a movement that consumed it’s own people through forced livelihood, massive attacks, mass displacement , recruitment of youth etc.

Social justice became entangled in violence 

   At first naxalism movement is fight for land rights, equal distribution of resourcess to all classes ( social reform) , armed rebellion means use of traditional tools, sticks to increasing the use of guns, explosives and guerrilla warfare tactics in dandakaranya against state. Naxals didn’t use guns precisely instead they shot the civilians who didn’t give food, shelter and money to them for their maintenance of livelihood and also for the guns equipments. Persons who use guns feel sense of privilege compare to other commoners and they like superior in front of civilians and acted as protectors to uphold social justice and equality, but in reality the situation is quite the opposite.

    Increasing executions of civilians by Naxals and often they named civilians as police informant , which is an excuse used by Naxals to execute them and sometimes Naxals believe civilians are conspiring with state against them. They also run people’s courts , which are operate outside the law for executions and punishments. If they had doubt on any one, without thinking they shot the people to death. As they increase violence against their own support base , stray from original idealogy and the civilians who earlier loyal are seen as untrusty and criminals. Naxals collect money from villagers and even take away PDS rations from poor tribals, if they refuse to give use violence against them is a common scenario. Extortion also conducted by them for money. DANTEWADA ATTACKS in Chhattisgarh targeted the harming of civilians. Civilians pay highest price in naxalites insurgency. Naxals increasingly used of attacks not just on state but also on anyone opposing them.

Naxalites recruited mostly the students and youth , particularly those from working class. They especially select educated youth as recruitents because they help in spreading of communist teachings. To expand their base, movement relied on youth to spread communist philosophy to uneducated rural and working class communities. Sometimes parents of youth did not plan to sent their children as a naxalites, then naxals use the violence like burn their houses and forcibly taken the children and prepare them to align into naxalites activities. In Jharkhand many tribals children has been recruited as BAL SANGHAM members ( child soldiers).

Aside from all in the above violence committed against women are drastically increasing. Their role shift from care takers to victims of exploitation. Women are recruited for naxal fights and show how much women are empowered but in reality they are subjected to abuse, harassment. Among all naxal leaders committed physical and sexual violence against women which replicate loss of safety and dignity to women. Extreme inequalities against women both within and outside of naxal camps. Wife swapping, forced marriages are often among tribals and also practiced in naxal regions. In recent naxal operations mostly women are killed in Chhattisgarh since 2024.

Police are considered as service provider and protector of citizens rights, but violence posed by Naxals created an insecurity for industry corporates police forces who are in naxal regions. It discourage the people from joining police forces in the districts with high naxal presence which showcase the state non potential to take adequate measures to control them from entering into state and corporates give more taxes to them in turn ask for safety from naxal attacks.

Shift from social movement to violent extremist insurgency (radicalization of Naxals). Naxalites use violence to achieve their objectives and their primary method of opposing the government is guerrilla warfare.

Hindrances to development

Naxalites motto to fight against state which not given equal employment opportunities, rights and resources to them. It is not a emerging problem but also existing rom decades but people  voices are not risen against state which is a powerful institution. Later naxalism fuled their idea to fight against state by joining them.

Naxals destroy many developmental infrastructure like schools, hospital centers, roads, bridges, railways, telecommunication towers which are saw as symbol of state (to prevent state presence )instead these infrastructure used by citizens for their necessities. They burn more than 300 Schools which are for tribals people in baster district. Illiteracy, non scienfic knowledge made people even more isolated from society which made no assest for next generations. There were no hospitals in rural areas , which made it difficult for people to access adequate treatment , no adequate infrastructure in hospital side peripheral regions and seen a death of person in middle of the journey led to less population in tribals areas which is impact on demographic changes . 

Red corridor states(Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, west Bengal, Odisha ) are in underdevelopment for decades. Red corridor overlaps with mineral rich ( coal, iron ore, bauxite) States. Naxalites are mostly in these areas who are poor and they don’t know how to utilize resources properly for the development. Doctors, teachers, engineers are refuse postings in remote naxal areas result in loss of human capital .Forced displacement of tribals to another places because of developmental projects and naxal violence in those areas preventing tribals youth jobs and loss of employment which gradually reduced growth in local economies. Discouraging private investments in red corridor areas shows unemployment, less standard of living and less purchasing power and doesn’t lift people out of poverty.

KORAPUT MINING ATTACKS in Odisha obstructing development.

Cycle of poverty and marginalization of rural population which is one hindrance to development. Naxalism thrives in areas covered with forests, where very easy to fight gouriella tactics against state police forces. Forests  are one of the most abundant natural resources which some plants there  used as traditional medicines, some herbal plants are used for scent, flavor, serving in medicine, cosmetics and culinary art. State use those resources for development and growth of a nation and Still there is a dilemma for Naxalites vs state is a contest of claims over natural resources .

Naxalites cultivate illegal opium as for the source of money and they are also profiting from harvesting and trafficking cannabis ( one of the most drug used in south Asia ) Indian government seized 352 tonnes of trafficked cannabis and illegal drug trade as another obstacle to development.

Harm those it vowed to help

Spread of naxalism led to increase of recruitment of youth into it , does not only effect individuals who are recruited and lose their lives over refusing to contribute to the cause , civilians became victims of crossfires and targeted attacks. Disruption of public services and infrastructure like schools, healthcare centers , roads not only limit public opportunities but also accessibility of tribals to it. Children(psychological trauma) and women ( physical and sexual violence) are most vulnerable in naxal affected areas. Exploitation of food, money from villagers and mining corporations .It Start with protection of citizens but in the end violation of human rights. Villagers turn into strangers from loyal persons.

Enables foreign interfere 

The naxalites have been known to seek the support of other insurgent groups in order to fulfill the aim and success of operation. Funds and resources required for weapons, naxalites cannot entirely rely on voluntary donations, forcibly taxes, looting police outpost and mining corporations. Naxalites are in need of external support them.

 Funding for naxal groups come from cultivation of illegal drug trade (opium, cannabis ) and trafficking had links with south Asia. Major hub of illegal opium cultivation in Jharkhand and harvesting and trafficking of cannabis from Orissa. 

Involvement of China in support of naxalism by directly or indirectly , naxalism idealogy inspired by Mao Zedong doctrine of protracted people’s war. Nepal had powerful Maoist insurgency which influence naxalism in India . Naxal affected areas like west Bengal, Jharkhand, Bihar are proximity to Bangladesh and from here smuggling routes for guns, fake currency happen, ULFA ( United Liberated Front of Assam) working with naxals to smuggle drugs and money along Indian Bangldeshi border. They have links with Pakistan ISI( Inter services intelligence) , later establishment of ISI naxalites link for carrying operations which also consistently troubled Indian authorities.

India grows globally as an emergency power , still internal unrest like naxalism in India rising drastically with gap between economic progress and inclusive development. Naxalites fight for JAL, JANGAL, JAMEN (Water, Forest, Land ) , rise their voice against democratic country by turn democratic country into communist form of government . 

Government taken many efforts to tackle Naxalism like security operations like operation steeplechase and operation green hunt, developmental activities like rehabilitation, resettlement and surrender policies, capacity building, civil action plan , skill development programmes, aspirational district programme , targeted policy implementation , integration of technology into policies, by following multi prolonged strategy like SAMADHAN. 

Coordination between state and center can tackle Naxalism with its effective implementation. Another solution is Integrated Action Plan, integrating SCS, STS and tribals into mainstream society by giving them equal opportunities. To resolve the issue government follow the principle of VIKAS, VISWAS, SURAKSHA ( Development, Trust, security).