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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

Red flag to green steel

Ex-Maoists forge new destiny in Gadchiroli Gadchiroli: The rugged, forested terrain of Gadchiroli district, long synonymous with the violence and deep-rooted anti-establishment tenets of the ‘Red Ideology’, is now witnessing a remarkable social and industrial transformation. At the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. (LMEL) plant in Konsari, once-feared Maoist operatives are shedding their past lives and embracing a new, respectable existence as skilled workers in a cutting-edge Direct Reduced Iron...

Red flag to green steel

Ex-Maoists forge new destiny in Gadchiroli Gadchiroli: The rugged, forested terrain of Gadchiroli district, long synonymous with the violence and deep-rooted anti-establishment tenets of the ‘Red Ideology’, is now witnessing a remarkable social and industrial transformation. At the Lloyds Metals and Energy Ltd. (LMEL) plant in Konsari, once-feared Maoist operatives are shedding their past lives and embracing a new, respectable existence as skilled workers in a cutting-edge Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) and pellet plant. This ‘green steel’ project, part of LMEL’s push for an integrated steel complex in the region, is functioning not just as an industrial unit but as a crucial pillar in the Maharashtra government’s surrender-cum-rehabilitation policy. So far, LMEL, in coordination with the state government and the Gadchiroli Police, has provided employment and training to 68 surrendered Maoists and 14 members of families affected by Naxal violence, a total of 82 individuals, offering them a definitive pathway back to the mainstream. The Shift The transformation begins at the company’s dedicated Lloyds Skill Development and Training Centre at Konsari. Recognizing that many former cadres had limited formal education, the company implements a structured, skill-based rehabilitation model. They are trained in essential technical and operational skills required for plant administration, civil construction, and mechanical operations. For individuals like Govinda Atala, a former deputy commander, the change is palpable. “After surrendering, I got the right to live a new life,” Atala said. “I am very happy to get this job. I am now living my life on my own; there is no pressure on me now.” Suresh Hichame, who spent over a decade in the movement before surrendering in 2009 too echoed the sentiments. He realized the path of violence offered neither him nor his family any benefit. Moreover, his self-respecct was hurt. He knew several languages and carried out several crucial tasks for the banned organization remaining constantly under the shadow of death. Today, he works in the plant, receiving a steady monthly salary that enables him to care for his family—a basic dignity the ‘Red Ideology’ could never provide. The monthly salaries of the rehabilitated workers, typically ranging from Rs 13,000 to Rs 20,000, are revolutionary in a region long characterized by poverty and lack of opportunities. Trust, Stability The employment of former Maoists is a brave and calculated risk for LMEL, an industry that historically faced stiff opposition and even violence from the left wing extremist groups. LMEL’s management, however, sees it as an investment in inclusive growth and long-term stability for the district. The LMEL has emphasized the company’s commitment to training and facilitating career growth for the local populace, including the surrendered cadres. This commitment to local workforce upskilling is proving to be a highly effective counter-insurgency strategy, chipping away at the foundation of the Maoist movement: the exploitation of local grievances and lack of economic options. The reintegration effort extends beyond the factory floor. By providing stable incomes and a sense of purpose, LMEL helps the former rebels navigate the social transition. They are now homeowners, taxpayers, and active members of the community, replacing the identity of an outlaw with that of a respected employee. This social acceptance, coupled with economic independence, is the true measure of rehabilitation. The successful employment of cadres, some of whom were once high-ranking commanders, also sends a powerful message to those still active in the jungle: the path to a peaceful and prosperous life is open and tangible. It transforms the promise of government rehabilitation into a concrete reality. The plant, with its production of iron ore and steel, is physically transforming the region into an emerging industrial hub, and in doing so, it is symbolically forging the nation’s progress out of the ashes of extremism. The coordinated effort between private industry, the state government, and the Gadchiroli police is establishing a new environment of trust, stability, and economic progress, marking Gadchiroli’s transition from a Maoist hotbed to a model of inclusive and sustainable development.

Art market in a 'crazy boom'

  • PTI
  • Mar 22
  • 3 min read

MF Husain's 'Gram Yatra' sold for record shattering Rs 118 crore

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New Delhi: The record-breaking auction of legendary painter MF Husain's work has thrilled gallerists, art collectors and emerging artists alike, as excitement grows over the "crazy boom" in the art market and the much-awaited entry of Indian artworks into the 100-crore club.


Husain's Untitled (Gram Yatra), billed as one of his most important and sizable works from the 1950s, went for USD 13.8 million (over Rs 118 crore) at a Christie's auction in New York on March 19, setting the new record for the most expensive work of modern Indian art.


The artwork, according to industry sources, is bought by Indian art collector and philanthropist Kiran Nadar. However, the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art (KNMA), where Nadar is a trustee, has declined to comment on the acquisition.


The milestone event has sparked widespread enthusiasm across the art community, some even calling it as a transformative moment for Indian art on the global stage.


“It is an absolute delight to see this world record being achieved for M F Hussain, this was long overdue and the world is finally waking up to the glory of Indian talent. For many years now from the modern and even contemporaries, there's so much talent that's emerging that had not previously found a world stage.


"With this milestone, we would bring attention to what can be achieved with talent that is present in the land of India, M F Hussain has been at the forefront of attention," said Arjun Sawhney, avid art collector and co-founder of Delhi-based Gallery Pristine Contemporary.


Pooja Singhal, founder of Pichvai Tradition & Beyond, echoed Sawhney's sentiments and said the art market is going through a crazy boom, reminiscent of the period between 2000 and 2008, when the sales peaked in 2006 and 2008.


Similarly, buoyed by the over-118-crore sale of Husain's masterpiece, Mohit Jain of the Dhoomimal Art Centre said the staggering figure would undoubtedly impact the market—and the Indian art scene as a whole—which he believed is on an upward trend.


"Fortunately, since 2005, the Indian art market has seen a very positive trend and will continue so. This will also attract new collectors globally, where they can trust Indian Modern Art and also get inspired to acquire. But, I believe the effect of this figure will still be limited to the era, the strength, the subject and the size of each artist," he explained.


Comprising 13 unique panels spanning nearly 14 feet on a single canvas, "Gram Yatra" - meaning 'village pilgrimage' - is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Husain's oeuvre. The work celebrates the diversity and dynamism of a newly independent nation.


The momentous sale nearly doubled the previous record-holder, Amrita Sher-Gil's 1937 "The Story Teller", which fetched around USD 7.4 million (Rs 61.8 crore) at an auction in Mumbai in 2023.


The 1954 painting, which left India the same year, remained largely unseen since its acquisition by the Ukrainian-born Norway-based doctor Leon Elias Volodarsky, who was in Delhi to establish a thoracic surgery training centre for the World Health Organization (WHO).


Volodarsky bequeathed the painting to Oslo University Hospital in 1964. The sale proceeds will support the training of future generations of doctors at the institution.


Born on September 17, 1915 in Pandharpur in Maharashtra, Husain remains one of India's most important and sought after artists whose oeuvre inspires art and conversations across the globe.

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