UDTR Global Rights of Nature Radar

Marginalization and Violence: The Story of Naxalism in India

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openalex:w2599506833

Authors

Priyanka H Vora · Siddhant Buxy

Reported year

2011

Reported language

en

Source type

article

First detected

2026-11-09T19:14:42.766934+00:00

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2026-11-09T19:14:42.766934+00:00

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Documentary abstract — original language

IntroductionThe typology of interpersonal violence, a method to categorize different kinds of acts of aggression, whether performed individually or collectively, categorizes coordinated destruction as the highest kind, both in the degree of coordination and the degree of destruction (Tilly, 2003, pp. 27-8). The use of violence by salient actors, who otherwise, in their daily lives are peaceful and non-violent, can be influenced by several factors. The motivating factor behind the use of violence for a Naxalite is a conscious response to difference, in order to eliminate it. However, it is indeed illusory, as violence cannot eliminate the difference as such, as much as it eliminates the person himself. Similarly, the ideas themselves can be replaced by ideas alone and a person subscribing to the idea can merely carry the idea, which becomes redundant by the use of violence as it eliminates the very process of a meaningful dialogue between actors, and hence, the possibility of an amicable settlement (Kumar, 2003, pp. 4977-8).The advent of Naxalism has caused this very problem in India today, where the process of replacing the idea of class domination or capitalism with the communist society is being executed through violent means. This in turn is met with an equally violent counter reprisal by the State, making the world witness the grossest abuse of human rights and resulting in the marginalization and the existence of backwardness in most parts of the Naxal-affected regions. Thereby, allowing neither progress in dialogue nor development in the country. Though the root of the problem allowed the advent of such a movement, the condition today has led to much suffering of the poor for which this fight had begun in the first place.In light of this, the paper aims to analyse the inextricable link between the behaviour of naxals, the reason behind using violence against the State and the State's acts for causing this act of violence. It is an analysis of victimization of the local villagers and forest dwellers that are left with a Hopson's choice in the war between the Naxalites and the State. Finally, interdisciplinary solutions consisting of changes in the power of eminent domain, recognition of rights of forest dwellers and a need for societal intervention and engagement on the issue are suggested.The Naxal IdeologyAn analysis of the declared policy of Naxalism leads us to the conclusion of its belief in the class character of Indian State Power, with an assertion that the country is independent merely nominal, and in reality, is semi-feudal and semi-colonial. The semi-colonial nature is exemplified in the belief that the Congress administration represents the interests of the Indian feudal princes, big landlords and bureaucratic comprador capitalists (Dasgupta, 1974, p. 117). This domination transcends the country's boundaries through globalisation where Naxalites believe that after the British left the country, she has subjected herself to the imperialism of the US and revisionism by Russia, ultimately trading its own national interests (Dasgupta, 1974, p. 117). On the other hand, the semi-feudal nature of the economy is evidenced by several facts such as excessive dependence on agriculture for livelihood, ineffective implementation of land reform laws, concentration of land ownership in even smaller number of hands, high rent, eviction of tenants, high rate of interest charged by money lenders and social oppression of scheduled castes which is 'reminiscent of the middle ages' (Dasgupta, 1974, p. 116).This view is supported with evidence by the recent surge of 'development' in the country, which boasts of a nine per cent growth, though the means by which the growth is achieved is at the cost of the poor, many of whom now choose to join this movement. Large tracts of land in the forests and agricultural lands of Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, etc. are being taken over by the government and given to giant multinationals and national conglomerates for setting up industries or mining activities (Peoples Union for Democratic Rights [PUDR], 1997, 2005a). …

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W2599506833

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article

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IN

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• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W2599506833

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• openalex:w1582973007 · CITES
• openalex:w2078028670 · CITES
• openalex:w2080271469 · CITES
• openalex:w2128498671 · CITES
• openalex:w2504345523 · CITES

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