Sidra Tariq
Sidra Tariq is Research Officer at the Institute of Regional Studies.
DOI: http://DOI Number
Keywords: India, democratic power, India shining, Naxalite movement, mass movements, Naxal rebellion, response
Abstract
The last two decades have seen India emerge as a global democratic power with a thriving economy and a formidable military. Despite hopes of a “India glowing,” the country is increasingly divided between the city and the countryside. India is no stranger to rebellions. Over the past decade, the Naxalite/Maoist Movement has grown to become the country’s deadliest insurgency. The Naxalites have proven themselves to be a credible political alternative, able to win over a sizable portion of the population it claims to serve. The movement is a metaphor for the reality that India’s underprivileged have not benefited from the country’s supposed economic miracle. Due to the movement’s aggressive and violent campaigning, its rising support base in tribal and backward areas, and its advanced fighting capabilities, the present Naxalite insurgency has emerged as the most significant threat in the country. The paper hence provides an overview of the Naxalite movement, its causes and longevity, whilst explaining the causes for its revival and motivations for violence against the Indian State. Lastly, the paper also provides recommendations and policy implications for the future.
First Published
September 25, 2012
How to Cite
Sidra Tariq, “India’s Red Tide: The Naxalite Movement,” Regional Studies 30, no.4 (Autumn 2012): 27-52, https://regionalstudies.com.pk/wp/article/indias-red-tide-the-naxalite-movement/
Issue
Volume 30, Issue 4