[1/11] Left Wing Extremism: History

“I have been saying for the last three years that Naxalism remains the biggest internal security challenge facing our country,”-Manmohan Singh, Ex-PM

Naxalism in India, like any other leftist movement around the globe draws its ideological basis from the Russian revolution wherein Lenin successfully fought against the Czar through a combination of peasant movement and an armed struggle. The prime intent was to bestow power in the hands of the exploited and marginalized and enforce societal control over governance and nation building.

After the success of the Lenin-led revolution in Russia, the intellectual class in many countries started thinking of ushering in a change in their respective nations. Prominent amongst them were Fidel Castro and Mao Zedong.

In China, Mao Zedong used this philosophy successfully which led to the origin of ‘Maoism’. Maoism is a doctrine that teaches to capture State power through a combination of armed insurgency, mass mobilisation and strategic alliances. Mao called this process, the ‘Protracted People’s War’. ‘Political power grows out of the barrel of a gun’ is the key slogan of the Maoists.

Naxalites are far-left radical communists who derive their political ideology from the teachings of Mao Zedong.

Improvement in standard of living is something that everyone craves for and deserves it too. It involves, apart from decent food clothing and shelter, quality education and health and also dignified living. It is the absence of these things that incited masses against colonial government. Independence of India brought with it huge popular expectations for upliftment from poverty, from new democratic government. Our leaders were wisely dedicated to democratic principles for redistribution of resources.

Unfortunately, democratic processes are too slow to observe any tangible results soon. Under this it is to be ensured that, in order to deliver justice to downtrodden people, injustice is not done even with privileged ones. This requires every action to be taken transparently and every effected person be given reasonable opportunity of being heard and also right to recourse to courts.

Land reforms were major plank through which the Congress brought rural masses under its fold. But after independence, this subject went under state’s domain. Politics of every state differed and it was driving force for extent and direction of land reforms. States which failed to deliver much at this front were to bear the brunt of left wing movement in coming times.

Further, from very beginning focus was on development of big industries in backward areas. This development included operation of mines, building of big dams, steel plants, fertilizer plants etc. away from urban centers, yet these continued to feed needs of urban India exclusively. So, tribals and farmers were losers in this arrangement as they were frequently displaced. According to an estimate, since independence, about 3-4 crore tribals have been displaced due to various hydro projects.

Apart from this, Indian state repeatedly failed to deliver its services such as maintaining law and order, social infrastructure, relief during epidemics or disasters in the remote areas. These made people indifferent to the democratic principles and some of them even got averse to the state when they were indoctrinated. These places were breeding ground of Naxalism where they established there bases.

Malkangiri district is one of 250 most backward districts of the country. In 1977 a dam was built here which resulted in physically isolating more than 160 villages. This district lies on Orissa- Andhra border. These isolated villages are in Orissa, but are accessible only from Andhra Pradesh side. Since then these areas are practically operating without Indian administration. Consequently, this has become base and a sanctuary for naxalites.

Government’s efforts for preservation of forests and wildlife have also led to some sort of resentment in tribals. Some of their areas came under wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. This made our government appear to be working for animals at cost of tribals.

Evolution of Indian Left wing-

In 1920: Communist Party of India (CPI) was formed under the aegis of MN Roy in Tashkent. At the same time there was wave of Socialism blowing in India motivated from Russian revolution and vagaries of Economic Depression. Colonial government was quite nervous and it frequently cracked any plans of socialist minded people conspiring against it. 1st such crackdown was Peshawar Conspiracy Case, then came Kanpur conspiracy case in 1924, and later Meerut Conspiracy Case in 1929. With all this, people only got more attracted to and aware of socialist ideas. Meanwhile, numerous small and regional organizations came under mainstream Communist Party of India in 1925.

After, 1929 broke away from mainstream politics which was led by congress and took its own course. This was due to decision taken at Congress of Communist International, which branded congress as party of Bourgeoisie, which is colluding with imperialists to further its own ends. Later they opposed Quit India Movement because Britain was with Russia against Germany in World War.

Tebhaga movement: It was the first communist movement which started in West Bengal in 1946 with the intention of getting the land revenue reduced from ½ to 1/3rd. This movement turned violent as the farmers started an armed fight against the landlords.

Telangana Movement: Telangana movement which was led by the people of Telangana in the period of 1946-51 against the atrocities of the Nizam rule also acquired radical dimensions as it progressed.

Extremist Left wing movement was present at time of Independence mainly in Hyderabad and Patiala princely state. Communists affiliated by CPI, here came to rescue oppressed peasants from Jagirdars and biswedars. In Hyderabad they fought against Islamic militia, the Razakars.

Around 2500 villages in the south were organized into ‘Communes’ as a part of a movement which came to be known as Telangana Struggle. This ‘Indian revolution’ follows the Chinese path of people’s war. This revolutionary strategy was based on Mao Zedong’s new democracy

When Indian army liberated Hyderabad in 1948, communists who were deeply influenced by Russian Revolution, decided to continue their struggle against bourgeois Indian government. They were soon pursued by Indian forces and by 1951, movement’s back was broken. Similarly in Punjab, a small band of militia was formed to protect farmer from oppressive biswedars and soon it got eradicated.

After brutal repression by state CPI gave up armed struggle and joined democratic politics. In 1957, it emerged largest opposition party and in same year it came to power in Kerala and EMS Namboodiripad became chief minister. It was 1st democratic government under a communist party all over world.

In 1959: Kisan Sabhas were started by CPI (Communist Party of India) as an informal peasant movement with the intention of finding a political solution to the problems faced by farmers.

In 1962: During the war with China, a faction of the Indian Communists backed the position of the Indian government, while other sections of the party claimed that it was a conflict between a socialist and a capitalist state. The basis of difference in opinion between the two factions in CPI was ideological – about the assessment of Indian scenario and the development of a party programme. This difference in opinion was also a reflection of a similar difference at international level on ideology between the Soviet and Chinese parties. The alleged 'right wing' inside the party followed the Soviet path and put forward the idea of joining hands with the then ruling party – Indian National Congress. Whereas the faction of CPI which later became CPI(M) referred to this as a revisionist approach of class collaboration. It was this ideological difference which later intensified, coupled with the Soviet-Chinese split at the international level and ultimately gave birth to CPI(M).

Hundreds of CPI leaders, accused of being pro-Chinese, were imprisoned. Thousands of Communists were detained without trial. Those targeted by the state accused the pro-Soviet leadership of the CPI of conspiring with the Congress government to ensure their own hegemony over the control of the party.

In 1964: Further, there was growing dissent in party for party’s diversion toward democratic state which was contrary to Communist principle of armed struggle to overthrow the state. It was felt by some leaders that they are getting absorbed into present system. This finally culminated into split in the party in 1964 which resulted in new party called Communist Party of India (Marxist).

In 1967: Dissent and differences didn’t settle in new party, CPI (M) and it fought elections in West Bengal and came in power by forming coalition ‘United Front’. This ridiculed many party members and among them were Charu Mazumdar, Kanu Sanyal and Jangal Santhal.  

In Nov 1967: AICCR (All India Coordination Committee of Revolutionaries) was established by Charu Majumdar, Kanu Sanyal. AICCR was pro-China group.

In Apr 1968: AICCR changed its name to AICCCR (All India Coordination Committee of Communist Revolutionaries)

Naxalbari Incident (25th May,1967):The Communist Party of China hailed the movement as the “Spring Thunder of India”.

Naxalbari, a village near Siliguri North West Bengal, became infamous in 1967 as it revived left wing extremism in India. Charu Mazumdar was active leader of the area and was mobilizing peasants against state for an armed conflict. On the other hand there were repetitive incidences of Class conflicts between peasants and zamindars. One such conflict escalated and zamindar was expelled from his land. After this police came to his rescue and was surrounded by about thousand peasants armed with bows, arrows, lathis etc. One Police officer was killed. Police force few days after responded with brutal force and 9 women and 2 children were killed. This was sanctioned by united front government of whom CPI was part. The CPI (M)-led United Front government cracked down on the uprising and in 72 days of the rebellion, a police sub-inspector and nine tribals were killed. The incident echoed throughout India and Naxalism was born.

The spread and growth of Naxalism in India can be broadly divided into three phases or stages as described below:

The first phase of Naxalism:

In response revolutionary leaders fled the area and declared armed struggle against state of India.

In 1969 Kanu Sanyal was released.

In Apr 1969: AICCR formed and merged into Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and this was motivated and influenced deeply by Communist Party of China. In fact, Charu Mazumdar wrote 8 historical documents which was sort of road map for his group. He sent these documents to China to be approved by Mao Zedong.

This incident fired the imagination of Bengali Youth and there was popular support for Charu. Many university students joined the organization and became part of its different forms of front organizations, which they use for propaganda.

At the same time of formation of CPI-ML some groups retained their separate identities and remained outside of CPI-ML. One such group was Dakshin Desh. Amulaya Sen and Kanai Chatterjee was the leading figures of this group.

In 1975: Dakshin Desh took the name Maoist Communist Centre. Kanhai Chatterjee believed that "annihilation of the class enemy should only be undertaken after building up a mass agitation."

Mizo Revolt (1966-1971), Warli Revolt (1956-58) and Naxalbari Revolt (1967-71) are few of many revolts by tribal’s against land and forest grab in the name of development.

In 1972, Charu was caught and he died under custody. After this, movement went underground.

After Charu Majumdar’s death, the CPI (M-L) was deprived of any credible central leadership and the party broken into 3 faction- pro-Charu (led by Mahadev Mukherjee), anti-Charu (led by Satyanarayan Singh) and Middle faction (led by Jagjit Singh Sohal 'Sharma'). In 1974, Pro group again divided into pro-Mahadev Mukherjee (Pro-Lin Biao) and anti-Mahadev Mukherjee(Anti-Lin Biao). Anti-Lin Biao came to be known as CPI (ML) Liberation and its leaders are Jauhar, Vinod Mishra, Swadesh Bhattacharya.

The movement faced a severe blow during emergency when around 40,000 cadres were imprisoned in 1975.

The Second Phase of Naxalism:

General consensus is that the movement had ceased most activities by the time prime minister Indira Gandhi imposed a state of Emergency on the whole nation in 1975.

Heavy state response kept violent incidents under control in 1970’s but it got push in 1980’s. This time it was from Andhra Pradesh. Their base grew from West Bengal to Bihar to Odisha and also to Andhra Pradesh and Chhattisgarh.

Actually, in 1967 itself movement also started in Srikakulam, Andhra Pradesh. Here revolutionaries tried to mobilize tribals into armed militias called ‘dalams’, by inciting them against landlords, money lenders and government. They resorted to ‘annihilation of class enemy’ under which people those represented state i.e. government servants, Forest officials and other oppressive characters such as money lenders and landlords, were to be identified and killed. They killed about 100 such targets and this was followed by arrest of its main leaders which brought movement to standstill.

In 1977. There was subsequently a split in radical left-wing thinking in India – movement began favouring participation in elections and trade unions, while others still saw armed struggle as the way to move forward.

In 1980 - Kondapalli Seetharamaiah founded CPI (ML) People’s War. Aka PWG. People’s War Group (PWG) line of thought completely rejected the idea of parliamentary democracy - most important of all the splinter groups as the prevalent Naxal ideology and policies of today arise primarily from the principles espoused by the PWG

There were many armed clash between CPI(M) and CPI(ML). Many parties formed based on Maoist thinking and they have tried to succeed politically.

In 1982, formation of the Indian People’s Front (IPF), which would later become the political front of the CPI (ML) Liberation

Original CPI (ML) was committed to an “armed struggle” against the Indian State, the CPI (ML) Liberation adopted a more centrist line advocating participation in the larger parliamentary democratic process

Under the banner of the IPF, its political front, when it emerged victorious in the Arrah Lok Sabha Constituency (in Bihar) in the 1989 elections. This was a feat of sorts as Bihar sent the first ever “Naxalite” to the Lok Sabha in history of India’s Parliamentary democracy.

In 1994, the Indian People’s Front (IPF) was disbanded and the Election Commission recognized the CPI (ML) Liberation as a political outfit.

CPI (ML) Liberation adopting a more moderate stance and participating in the parliamentary process.

It was seen that in 1990’s popular support to Maoist movement waned in backward districts. This coupled with disintegration of USSR and diversion towards market economy by China was a big blow to ambitions of Indian left wing.

The Third Phase of Naxalism:

In Jan 2003: MCC and Revolutionary Communist Centre of India (Maoist), Punjab based group merged into to form MCCI (Maoist Communist Centre of India).MCCI grew in strength in Bihar and carried out large scale attacks on landlords and other upper caste outfits.

In 2004 - Andhra Pradesh’s PWG and Bihar’s MCCI merged to form CPI(Maoist). With this, they gave a statement about their aim. It states that the Communist Party of India—CPI-Maoist (CPI (M)) is representative of the Indian proletariat (working class/labor) and its ideological foundation is Marxism-Leninism-Maoism. Its political objective is overthrow of what it calls the semi-colonial, semi-feudal system under neo-colonial form of indirect rule, exploitation and control in India of the oppressed masses. This struggle will be carried out through armed agrarian revolutionary war i.e. the Protracted People’s War with area wise seizure of power. This is old Maoist principle under which base is made in rural areas and more and more people are gradually brought into its fold. Overtime, influence will be extended to urban areas.

CPI (Maoist) is the major Left Wing Extremist outfit responsible for most incidents of violence and killing of civilians and security forces. It has been included in the Schedule of Terrorist organisations under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967. Over 13 LWE groups are currently operating in the country.

The movement’s capacity to challenge the state has increased enormously considering the incidents of violence and causalities resulting from them. E.g. the 2010 Dantewada ambush in which 76 CRPF armed personnel were killed.

The Maoist insurgency doctrine glorifies violence as the primary means to overwhelm the existing socio-economic and political structures. The Peoples Liberation Guerrilla Army (PLGA), the armed wing of CPI (Maoist), has been created with this purpose in mind.

25 May 2013: 2013 Naxal attack in Darbha valley: In one of the deadliest attacks by Maoists in recent history, 25 leaders from the Congress party were killed including former state minister Mahendra Karma. Chhattisgarh Congress chief Nand Kumar Patel was also killed in a Maoist attack in Darbha valley in Chhattisgarh.

But violence cannot be the only yardstick to measure Maoist expansion. Maoists are also expanding in terms of indoctrination and consolidation. They are also trying to spread their ideology in the Bhil and Gond tribes dominated area, the ‘golden corridor’ stretching from Pune to Ahmedabad.

July 2016: The Union government plans to reduce the number of Maoist-affected districts by about a fifth. This decision has been taken on the basis of the districts’ violence profile, an assessment of the kind of logistical and other support provided to armed Maoist cadres by their sympathisers and “over ground workers”, and the kind of positive changes brought about by development work that these districts have seen.

Most of the worst affected districts fall in the Dandarkaranya region which includes areas of Chhattisgarh, Odisha, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. Maoists have been running a parallel government and a parallel judiciary in these regions.

March 12, 2017: 12 CRPF jawans were killed in a Maoist attack in insurgency-hit Sukma district in Chhattisgarh. The attack was an ambush. After killing the jawans, the Maoists stole 10 weapons from the dead troopers and detonated an IED explosive. The ambush of troopers from 219 Battalion of CRPF was reported from Sukma’s dense forest areas near Kottacheru village near Bheji village. The location is at a distance of nearly 450 km from state capital Raipur.

April 24, 2017: 2017 Sukma attack 24 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) were killed on Monday in Chhattisgarh’s Sukma district in an encounter with Maoists. A road-opening party of jawans from the 74 Battalion of the CRPF was attacked by Maoists. It took place between Burkapal and Chintagufa. The area is part of the worst Maoist-violence affected regions of south Bastar in the state..

12000 citizens of our country have lost their lives in violent activities of the Left Wing Extremists.

Out of these 12000 people, 2700 are jawans of the Security Forces and the remaining 9300 are innocent and simple common people who are not guilty.

The anti-development Left Wing Extremism not only target the Security Forces but also public property like roads, culverts, railway tracks, electricity and telephone towers, hospitals, schools, anganwadi and panchayat bhawans etc., that are created by the Government for benefit of the common man.

It is evident from the destruction caused by the Left Wing Extremists that they do not want people to get facilities and access to the development, in the remote and inaccessible areas, because these facilities provide the path of economic and social progress, to the local people. It also joins them to the mainstream of the nation. The cancer of LWE flourishes in poverty or backwardness. The majority of the civilians killed are tribal’s, often branded as ‘Police informers’ before being brutally tortured and killed. In fact, the tribal and the economically underprivileged sections, whose cause the Maoists claim to espouse, have been the biggest victims of the so called ‘protracted peoples war’ of the CPI (Maoist) against the Indian state. Therefore, the LWE strategy is to ensure that the people of this area stay without electricity, without road, without education, so that the vested interest of the Left Wing Extremists continues unabated.