'Hello Bastar' - by Rahul Pandita. An insight

“Hello “Hel lo Bastar Bastar” ” – My My reading reading experi experience ence of t h eb o o k  The very frst chapter chapter brings-orth the basic reason reason behind Naxalism/Maoism, i.e inequalities  be it in development or social status. These inequalities urther got accumulated through exploitation o the !ea"er groups. The state ailed in addressing this basic eature o the problem or quite some time.  Treating  T reating the issue as a mere mere la! and order order problem, problem, or loo"ing at the maoists as people !ho destabili#e the state is not the right perception o the problem. This mista"e o the state gave the movement ample time to gain the support o the exploited sections. $ revolution doesn%t come out o vacuum. &eople cannot be motivated to "ill their ello! beings 'ust by providing them the ammunition. $ strong eeling o  in'ustice accumulated over long periods o time is !hat that fnds solace through their violent action against their perceived enemy. $nd the main cure lies in fnding that cause o o  in'ustice and providing the right panacea or it. $nd or this problem i elt the solution lies in ()*)+&M)NT, ())NT$+0$ ())NT$ +0$TN TN and strengthening o ()1)N2) inrastructur inrastructure e or the vulnerable sections. 3((( ormula4 5y ()*)+&M)NT,  mean it to be multidimensional. $nd the basis or this !ill be education and health at a t the core. These t!o orm the crux necessity in the upliting o the vulnerable sections. 6hen these get supported !ith employment opportunities, they slo!ly tend to move the people and their systems to!ards economic stability. )conomic stability ma"es the people more involved !ith their living and thus ta"es o7 the sense o in'ustice rom their minds. This contributes to political stability and later to societal stability. 5y ())NT$+0$TN, ())NT$+0$TN,  mean to cater the solution as per the needs. The boo" clearly sho!s ho! maoism got spread to di7erent areas areas ma"ing itsel available to di7erent needs o the people. n 5ihar, it spread through addressing caste inequalities. 1or the 8hond tribes o bastar region it got assimilated into their culture by providing a script to their language. They thus could better communicate !ith the people and address their problems. problems. n Naxalbari, its the peasants that played a ma'or role. They addressed !omen exploitation by giving !omen an equal status in their association.  elt it is this 9exibilty in their unctioning that gave them a lot o credibili credibility ty among the exploited. $nd this is !hy they got the cooperation o people and their committed engagement. This is a lesson the state needs to learn. (ecentralise and frst provide the basic amenities to the people as per their

requirements. This not only increases the e7eciency in the unctioning o the democratic state but also avoids misuse and !astage o valuable and limited resources as !ell as time. Next comes strengthening o ()1)N2) inrastructure. 5y this i mean t!o points. :. strengthening (eense inrastructure to the vulnerable sections rom the exploiters. ;. strengthening the ethical character o (eense orces o the state.  The frst point relates to the legislative measures. 2tate has come or!ard !ith many la!s against exploiters o the !ea"er sections. 5ut !hy do they ail in implementing themcient to the exploited. This is because they give instant punishment to the exploiter. 6hether the magnitude o punishment is right or !rong doesn%t matter to the tribal. =e only eels 'ustifed in punishment. The 2tate ailed to give him that support and trust. This is a very important aspect that the state need to consider in its policy ormulation. 2econdly, !hy do the agent o the state in protecting the vulnerable, i.e the police/paramilitary orce ail in gaining the confdence o the the !ea"er sections and the naxalites could !in the same< This is because a naxalite is a result o the problem !here as police act as an agent o state to eliminate the result. The mismatch lies here. ts the problem that needs to be solved. ?nless you solve the problem the right !ay, its di7erent products emerge continuously in ne! orms. ne more mismatch here is the naxalite !ing !or"s both as a acilitator o protection to the exploited as !ell the initiator o a!areness and development to the do!ntrodden. 6hereas our police orces have a single agenda o protecting state institutions and development is something dealt !ith a di7erent !ing o the state. 2o the humane angle gets missed in their unctioning. There is a need to fnd a solution to this mismatch. The training o the paramilitary and police orces should address this issue. The morale and also the humane angle o their unctioning need to be strengthened as part o their training. This also avoids the orce rom acting sometimes to the protection o the exploiters. 1inally coming to the ethical issue, i.e !hom do you support< Naxalites or state. (on%t you thin" both are involving some times in misuse o their po!er. Naxalites through destroying state%s inrastructure 3includes lie o state representatives4 and inormers 3sometimes innocent4. $nd state orces through aiding exploiters and sometimes a"e encounters.  elt the issue here is not !hom o the both is right. The issue is the !elare and protection o the people. nce addressed, it gives the ethical and moral support to the

acilitator  be it a naxalite or the state.  the state could gain the trust o the exploited, that itsel ma"es a !ay or the !ea"ening o the maoist movement. Their strength lies in their morale and support o the people. 2o irrespective o !ho is right i eel the state should gain righteousness through reorming its path o upliting the !ea"er sections in an e>cient and trust!orthy !ay. ts important that the state does this rather than naxalites because the e7ecient unctioning o the state results in peaceul society and this cannot be achieved through extremist movements.  This is !hat  elt !hile going through the boo" @=ello 5astarA by ahul &andita