top of page

By:

Correspondent

23 August 2024 at 4:29:04 pm

Red Romance

For long, the Naxalite in news was recognisable by the gun. But the more insidious version of Naxalism has never needed a rifle. It has thrived in varsity classrooms and newspaper and magazine columns, fostered by men and women sympathetic to it. These academics and other members of the so-called intelligentsia have long enjoyed their status as ‘respectable dissenters’ even when their politics offered intellectual alibis for Naxals carrying guns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent...

Red Romance

For long, the Naxalite in news was recognisable by the gun. But the more insidious version of Naxalism has never needed a rifle. It has thrived in varsity classrooms and newspaper and magazine columns, fostered by men and women sympathetic to it. These academics and other members of the so-called intelligentsia have long enjoyed their status as ‘respectable dissenters’ even when their politics offered intellectual alibis for Naxals carrying guns. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent Independence Day warning about “dimaagi Naxals” should therefore not be dismissed as another political label. His larger point was that an insurgency does not survive on ammunition alone. It survives on ideas and people willing to make violence appear morally fashionable. The most revealing feature of India’s Maoist movement was never simply its brutality. It was the strange attraction it exercised over sections of the metropolitan Left elite. The Naxalite with an AK-47 could be transformed into a romantic revolutionary while the policeman he killed became an instrument of an oppressive state. This was not merely naïveté. At its ugliest, it was the intellectual laundering of political violence. The fantasy of the romantic revolutionary has always been seductive. In this narrative, amplified through sympathetic media priding itself on telling ‘truth to power,’ India was not a constitutional democracy struggling with inequality and corruption but an inherently illegitimate state waiting to be overthrown. In the minds of this elite Left, Maoist violence has often been recast as resistance while attacks on infrastructure as blows against capitalism. The armed overthrow of the Indian republic was the liberation they craved for. Some of India’s most celebrated intellectuals have flirted dangerously close to that moral inversion. The issue here is whether intellectual prestige can be used to sanitise an ideology whose practitioners have murdered civilians, policemen and public servants and terrorised some of India’s poorest districts. A university cannot be the place where Maoist romanticism acquires the legitimacy of a fashionable campus cause. Professors who turn armed insurgents into heroic revolutionaries are not merely exercising academic freedom. If they knowingly excuse violence, they are helping to construct the moral vocabulary that makes violence possible. Let’s be clear here. A professor who criticises the Indian state is not a Naxal while a journalist who exposes state excesses is not an enemy of India. But an intellectual who repeatedly excuses, glorifies or rationalises political violence cannot hide behind the word ‘dissent.’ India has paid an enormous price for the Maoist fantasy. Thousands have died. Entire regions were held back by fear while development was obstructed. The people supposedly being liberated were often the first to suffer. The armed Naxal is now being pushed towards extinction. But the Indian republic cannot afford to leave behind the romantic mythology that made the gun respectable. A democracy can tolerate dissent. It should never be expected to tolerate the glorification of those who seek its violent destruction.

The Descent Troubleshooter!

Balasaheb Thorat

Congress legislature party leader Balasaheb Thorat suddenly assumed a central role amidst the imbroglio within the Maharashtra Vikas Aghadi (MVA) and in a couple of days the things seem to have been sorted out. The leaders, who were busy giving statements against each other, came together and announced that there were only minor differences over seat sharing which they would do away with it very soon.


Thorat has been playing such role of trouble shooter within the state Congress party for most of the past five years when major senior leaders had fled the party. Born on February 7, 1953, Thorat’s political journey began in the 1980s when he was first elected as a Member of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Sangamner constituency in Ahmednagar district. Since then, he has been re-elected multiple times, showcasing his strong connection with the electorate and his ability to address their concerns effectively.


One of Thorat’s most notable roles has been as the Revenue Minister of Maharashtra, a position he has held multiple times. His tenure in this role has been marked by significant reforms and initiatives aimed at improving the state’s revenue system and ensuring transparency and efficiency in its operations. Thorat’s leadership in this capacity has earned him respect and recognition from both his peers and the public.


In addition to his role as Revenue Minister, Thorat has also served as the Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. This position has allowed him to play a crucial role in shaping the state’s legislative agenda and holding the government accountable for its actions. Thorat’s ability to navigate the complexities of opposition politics while maintaining a constructive approach has been a testament to his political acumen and maturity.


Thorat’s leadership style is characterized by his calm demeanor, strategic thinking, and ability to build consensus. He is known for his inclusive approach, often seeking input from various stakeholders before making decisions. This has helped him build a broad base of support within the party and among the public. Thorat’s commitment to social justice and equitable development has also been a defining feature of his political career. He has been a vocal advocate for the rights of marginalized communities and has worked tirelessly to ensure that their voices are heard in corridors of power.


Beyond his political achievements, Thorat is also recognized for his contributions to the cooperative movement in Maharashtra. He has played a key role in the development and growth of cooperative societies in the state, which have been instrumental in improving the livelihoods of many rural communities. Thorat’s personal life is marked by his humility and simplicity. Despite his significant political stature, he remains approachable and grounded, often engaging with his constituents and addressing their concerns.

Comments

bottom of page