Tuesday, February 14, 2012

[Naxalite Maoist India] Documentary on Chandrashekhar Prasad Jnu : Ek Minute Ka Maun : A Moment's Silence


Synopsis:  Late afternoon in Siwan. A small town in the Indian state of Bihar. A young leader, after already having addressed four street corner meetings, is on his way to JP Chowk to address another, quite unmindful of his apparently impossible dreams in a very cynical present. He is sighted by some associates of a local Member of Parliament, a notorious mafia Don. The young leader is Chandrashekhar. Seconds later he is killed on March 31, 1997.

The news spreads. Reaches Jawaharlal Nehru university in Delhi. The premier institute of whose students' union Chandrashekhar was twice the president. There is an anger, a fury which refuses to subside…

This is what 'Ek Minute Ka Maun' sets to establish. Piecing together scenes from the agitation and combining with it the portrait of Chandrashekhar. An unwitting pawn, but a willing activist, caught in the spidery web of criminal – political nexus.

In times when guilty still roam at large, unpunished, friends of Chandrashekhar found it befitting to bring this film together.

Chandrashekar Prasad JNU Documentary 

Language : Hindi with English Sub-Titles
Duration 60 Minutes


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmHv8pbUKhc

Profile of Chandu on Wikipedia :  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chandrashekhar_Prasad

Director's Profile: Ajay Bhardwaj was a street theatre activist for many years before moving into television. He holds a double Masters in Political Studies and Mass Communications. Since 1990, he has directed and produced a wide range of programmes with television production companies in New Delhi. Ek Minute Ka maun is his first independent documentary.




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Posted By Abhay to Naxalite Maoist India at 2/14/2012 10:45:00 PM

[Naxalite Maoist India] Interview with Swedish writer and political commentator : Jan Myrdal


Eighty five-year old Swedish writer and political commentator Jan Myrdal was in India recently. Son of Nobel laureates Alva Myrdal and Gunnar Myrdal, Jan talks to Business Standard on elections, politics and the Left-wing extremism in the country



Though India is the largest democracy, the most prominent party, the Indian National Congress, is completely dynasty-dominated. Is that a healthy sign?

Well, I somewhat knew Jawaharlal Nehru. He was an interesting person and a leader, and I have great respect for him. But I don't think dynasty politics is good in a democracy. I see not only his grandson, but his great grandson taking part. Heredity is usually not the best way to select leaders.


Though voting is a democratic right, elections here are dominated by the caste factor. Instead of voting for developmental issues, caste and wealth are predominant. What are your views on it?

The caste system in India is deep and destructive. Many believe caste is exclusively Indian, but it is not. You have social organisations in other countries, including mine, where voting is not carried out rationally, but on the basis of caste, clan and tribe. Through this, some people move up and distort the entire thing. The main question in India is the deep class divide; farmers commit suicide here because they cannot repay loans. The rapid development process in the country is not designed in a way that benefits the people at the bottom. While some are becoming extremely rich, others are extremely poor.


You had said there was a possibility that the movement started by Communist Party of India (Maoists) chief Ganapathy could end in a civil war, which the Maoists might lose. Why?


The situation in India is grave. It started, if you remember, in 1967 with the Naxalite movement. Even now, you have a big struggle around the area rich in mineral and water resources. If the government says the only road to development is to get rid of farmers or people in the area, and is able to convince the classes or intellectuals to agree on this, we have a grave situation.

On the other hand, if the government accepts the possibility of a strong solidarity movement, the entire situation would be different. I am not saying this movement would develop into a civil war, but in reality, you have a situation of a civil war in the country. And, the question of who is going to win is, to a large extent, one of whether you can have a solidarity movement here. People in tribal areas are struggling for their rights, and this struggle is necessary.

It is important for the urban middle class to understand this is not the only way to development in India. Economic development is not limited to utilising resources. If the government wants to get rid of farmers, it should understand agriculture can be organised in a different way, and mining can be organised in a different way. The question is who organises it? Would it be organised by the people from below or not? People in adivasi areas are struggling.

It was not started by the CPI (Maoists), it is only a part of it. There is a huge class difference in India. Tribals are not struggling for forest produce or land rights; there are huge mineral deposits being developed by foreign companies, which would affect the environment. People living in the area should alone have the right to decide who does this and how. If they are ready to convince the government, it would be a victory for the people.

You are upset about the death of Maoist leader Azad. And, you partly blame yourself for it. Do you think you were tracked by intelligence agencies to narrow down on Azad?

Well, I don't blame myself for Azad's death. But, after my interview with Ganapathy, Azad made certain statements and continued with our correspondence and discussions. These went on until Azad was taken by the authorities and killed. I have no possibility of knowing if his killing was decided at the top or the lower level, but I can say my interview with Ganapathy played a small part in the development, which could have led to negotiations.

In a manner similar to the land rights' movements started by tribals in Chhattisgarh and Andhra Pradesh, in the ongoing Assembly elections in five states, especially Uttar Pradesh, we have seen huge movements against the state governments taking over land from farmers. How is this issue growing in India?


These are cultural movements by people who are struggling hard, and it is not limited to tribal areas. There are other parts of India where people are struggling, and it is vital for the development of the country.

You were in touch with Azad and you had interacted with him at length. Do you think talks between the Union government and the CPI (Maoists) could have taken place? You were the last person to interview Ganapathy. Do you think there is scope for talks between the Maoists and the Union government?


Talks are always necessary. How they are conducted or how they should be conducted is for the parties to discuss. But I think the ruling classes swindled the CPI (Maoists) in this matter. The CPI (Maoists) has tried, and tried several times. But every time, the ruling class has used the negotiations to eliminate leading figures, which I think is dangerous for all parties.

The Chhattisgarh government has received many awards for its public distribution system. Has the state government managed to reach out to the financially weak?


The main issue for the Chhattisgarh government is how it should end the exploitation of resources that is going to take place. I don't think the people are against the use of natural resources. But how it would be done is important. The manner in which it is being done in India is similar to the way the British did it, or the Russians did it in Central Asia — both led to disruption. You can either have a development process based on the needs of the people, or you can displace the people. I thing the Chhattisgarh government would do certain things, but it is not solving the main problem.

The Union government feels security personnel should be deployed in areas where the CPI (Maoists) has its presence and development activities should be carried out. How do you view this strategy of the government? Would it result in winning the hearts and minds of the people who are unhappy with the government?

I don't think you win the hearts and minds of the people by the policy of operation 'green-hunt'. There would be a way out. However, I don't think the government is honest. Though it is working with big foreign groups, I don't see any of these seriously talking about a different way of development — one in which the tribals would have a say. Development is a different issue.

Source :

http://www.business-standard.com/india/news/heredity-is-notbest-way-to-select-leaders-jan-myrdal/464411/


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Posted By Abhay to Naxalite Maoist India at 2/14/2012 10:36:00 PM

[Naxalite Maoist India] Discover your own model, Myrdal tells communists


Discover your own model, Myrdal tells communists

KOLKATA: There is no fixed prescription to turn around the beleaguered fortunes of the Communists in India, feels Swedish author, political writer and columnist Jan Myrdal. His comment comes in the wake of huge electoral setbacks the Communists have suffered in the past three years.

Speaking at an informal discussion with writer Mahasweta Devi at the Kolkata Book Fair, Jan - the son of social democrats and Nobel laureates Alva and Gunnar - said each country needed to evolve its own model instead of following a foreign one.



"Discover your own model instead of trying to ape the Soviet, Chinese or Latin American model," Jan said at the interactive session organized by Frontier Weekly, founded by poet and journalist Samar Sen.

"There are no easy solutions to major setbacks, no quick fix to resolve issues and escape from hard times. I cannot do crystal ball gazing or offer a prescription. All I can suggest is that a broad alliance or front can be formed. This is the crucial time to emphasize on practice and organization," Myrdal said.

Jan has lived in India, Iran, Afghanistan and the United States at varioustimes of his life. Two years ago, Myrdal had interviewed Maoist general secretary Ganapati.

Politically, Myrdal belongs to the far Left and has been an advocate of anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist causes. His influence on the political life of Sweden was most prominent during the 1970s, when he was one of the main intellectuals of the radical Left of the time, which culminated in the Vietnam War protest movement, of which he was a central figure.

Unlike many of his former supporters, Myrdal has maintained his views to this day. Though his direct political influence is less evident outside radical Left circles, he remains a notable figure in political and cultural debate and a popular author.

Mahasweta Devi, who spoke of her work with a denotified tribe in the Jangalmahal and described the abject poverty and lack of basic amenities like water, healthcare, sanitation and roads, said the hardships they faced on a daily basis could not even be imagined by someone not acquainted with life in Jangalmahal. "The problems in Jangalmahal cannot be solved from outside. To do so, one needs to integrate with the people," she said in reference to "the government's attempt to tackle insurgency in the area through firepower on the one hand and development blitzkrieg on the other".Swedish author, Left political writer and columnist Jan Myrdal feels there is no fixed prescription to turn around the beleaguered fortunes of the Communists in India. His comment comes in the wake of developments, controversies and disillusionment surrounding Communists in the country following electoral setbacks over the past three years.

Speaking at an informal discussion with writer Mahasweta Devi, Jan who is the son of social democrats and Nobel laureates Alva and Gunnar, said each country needed to evolve its own model instead of following a foreign model.

"Discover your own model instead of trying to ape the Soviet, Chinese or Latin American model," he said at the interaction was organized at the Kolkata Book Fair by Frontier Weekly founded by poet and journalist Samar Sen.

"There are no easy solutions to major setbacks, no quick fix to resolve issues and escape from hard times. I cannot do crystal ball gazing or offer a prescription. All I can suggest is that a broad alliance or front can be formed. This is the crucial time to emphasize on practice and organization," Myrdal said.

Jan has lived in India, Iran, Afghanistan and the United States at various times. Two years ago, Myrdal had interviewed Maoist general secretary Ganapati.

Politically, Myrdal belongs to the far-Left and has been a fervent advocate of anti-colonialist and anti-imperialist causes. His influence on the cultural and political life of Sweden was most prominent during the 1970s, when he was one of the main intellectuals of the radical Left of the time, which culminated in the Vietnam War protest movement, of which he was a central figure.

Unlike many of his former supporters, Myrdal has maintained his views to this day. Though his direct political influence is less evident outside radical Left circles, he remains a notable figure in political and cultural debate and a popular author.

Writer Mahasweta Devi, who spoke of her work with a denotified tribe in the Jangalmahal and described the abject poverty and lack of basic amenities like water, healthcare, sanitation and roads, said the hardships they faced on a daily basis could not even be imagined by someone not acquainted with life in Jangalmahal.

"The problems in Jangalmahal cannot be solved from the outside. To do so, one needs to integrate with the people," she said in reference to the government's attempt to tackle insurgency in the area through firepower on the one hand and development blitzkrieg on the other," he added.

Source :

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-01-29/kolkata/30675592_1_communists-jangalmahal-laureates


Maoist movement may end up as a bloody civil war

Swedish author and columnist Jan Myrdal - known for his close interaction with Indian Maoists since the '80s - admits that he is unable to gauge where the radical Left movement, led by CPI (Maoist) chief Ganapathy, is headed for.

"There is even a negative possibility...it could even end as a bloody civil war which they (Maoists) may not survive..." he says. Myrdal (85) had traveled to Bastar's core area two years ago, and interacted extensively with cadres and leaders, including party general secretary Ganapathy. His interview of Ganapathy was the last face-to-face interaction of a journalist that was published.

While giving an insightful account of his experience to TOI on Saturday, Myrdal's face fell for a moment as he blamed himself to some extent for the killing of Maoist leader Azad. "I have a bad feeling... partly responsible for the killing of Azad. We had mentioned what Ganapathy said about the ceasefire... Azad took it up and it is possible that the situation was used to trap him," Myrdal said in retrospect.

He is in India for the launch of his latest book, "Red Star over India", which is an account and his analysis of the visit to the Red zone in Bastar. Jan, the son of Nobel laureates Alva and Gunnar Myrdal, has penned over 80 books, including fiction and plays.

He stresses that he quit the Communist party since he felt that it has taken a wrong direction, but does not consider himself to be a "renegade." Is he a chronicler of the Maoist movement or a sympathizer? "I follow my father who insisted that a social scientist or writer cannot be unbiased. I am not an unbiased observer," is his common refrain.

Myrdal points out a potential area of tension between the atheist Maoist leadership and their constituency tribals and non-tribal farmers and rural folks, who are entrenched in religious and cultural rituals and customs.

No wonder, he says, the Red ultras are "very careful about religious shrines etc and on account of hurting local sentiments and they are trying to address the issue". "But, this could develop into an area of conflict in spreading the movement," he warns.

What does he perceive to be the way forward for the movement? The support of urban middle class that is sorely lacks, he says.

He has three tips for the naxals to woo the middle class: highlight human rights violations committed by security forces, inclusive development in rural areas and persist with social struggle in urban pockets.

Source :
http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-02-05/india/31026621_1_maoist-leader-azad-maoist-movement-indian-maoists




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Posted By Abhay to Naxalite Maoist India at 2/14/2012 10:26:00 PM

[Naxalite Maoist India] Friend of Indian Maoists Jan Myrdal ends visit to India


Jan Myrdal, the well-known communist writer and friend of Indian Maoists, concluded his visit to India on February 13th. He addressed gatherings of Maoist front organizations in Kolkata, Hyderabad, Ludhiana and Delhi during his visit between January 26 and February 13.

In blatant violation of visa conditions, he freely criticised the Indian State. He voiced the usual Maoist propaganda about state brutality, which people of India have largely learned to ignore. But his prescription to the CPI (Maoist) Party is interesting. Try to win over the middle-class through propaganda against the state.

The dilemma of the Maoists is that the day they drop arms, they will be kicked out by local populations in the tribal heartland, and if they do not drop arms, the middle-class will view them as thugs and criminals. This is the existential dilemma of an outdated ideology.

Source :
http://news.webindia123.com/news/Articles/India/20120214/1927692.html




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Posted By Abhay to Naxalite Maoist India at 2/14/2012 10:17:00 PM

[Naxalite Maoist India] FSRN Interview with Arundathi Roy On Indias Growing Maoist Movement FSRN On Indias Growing (Maoist) Naxalite Movement


Free Speech Radio News 

Language : English


In India's rural forests, mining corporations and state militias have launched a violent assault on the Maoist guerillas and landless tribal communities.

Activist and author Arundhati Roy spent weeks with the Maoist fighters in the conflict zone and her time there is the subject of a new book called Walking with the Comrades.

It's a first-hand account of the hidden side of the global economy and an analysis of a long-running and often misunderstood armed movement. She joins us from New York. More at http://fsrn.org/


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Posted By Abhay to Naxalite Maoist India at 2/14/2012 10:07:00 PM