INDIAN MAOISTS AND CHINA: INITIAL PERCEPTIONS AND A RETHINK

As a part of the series "Continental Catch," the department of International Studies, Political Science, and History organised its sixth webinar on "Indian Maoists and China: Initial Perceptions and a Rethink." The speaker for the lecture was Prof Sreemati Chakrabarti, Editor, China Report; former professor of Chinese Studies. The speaker is the editor of the China Report. She was a Professor of Chinese Studies and Head (Chair), Department of East Asian Studies, University of Delhi. Currently, she also holds the position of Dean (Social Sciences) in the same University. She has been an Honorary Fellow of the Institute of Chinese Studies, Delhi since 2003. The session started with the welcome address and a brief introduction of the speaker by Dr Manoharan N, Associate Professor, Department of International Studies, Political Science and History, followed by the speaker's lecture. The speaker began by expounding on the history of India's Maoist movement, also known as the "Naxalite movement." This insurrection movement broke out in the hamlet of Naxalbari, in Darjeeling district, West Bengal. Initially, it was a symbolic peasant movement that took over the land from their landlords. The Maoists believed that China's path to revolution is the path for India's revolution, followed by the slogan "China's path is our path, China's Chairman is our Chairman." She discussed on how the revolution in China had helped in shaping initial Naxalite ideologies amongst Indian youth. She mentioned the publication of series of journals between 1965-72 in both English and Bengali to spread Maoist ideas and perceptions in India. However, this ideology became irrelevant and lost its context within the Indian population. Prof. Chakrabarti pointed out four factors behind this redundancy: 1. The Naxalites' own experience of revolutionary activities and awareness of Indian realities, from geography to government. 2. The mystery behind the plane crash of Lin Piao, who was to succeed Mao Zedong. 3. The emergence of the Bangladesh Movement. 4. Objections from Chinese Leaders towards the Indian revolution further diluted the China factor in Naxalite politics. Moreover, with the change of leadership in China itself, many Naxalites in India felt Maoism disappear from Chinese politics, while others felt that Maoism is no longer applicable to China. Furthermore, the Naxalites were recognised as "anti-nationalist" in India, and their movement was heavily crushed by the West Bengal government. In the second phase of the movement during the 1990s, the Maoist movement had become very different from earlier. It was now led by the tribals that felt globalization had adverse effects on them. Thus, the Maoist movement has changed its course over time and no longer holds the China factor anymore. The webinar then slipped into the Q/A segment which saw enthusiastic participation from the students. A lot of questions and doubts were raised by the students. The session was moderated by Dr Manoharan N, who helped in generating a very interesting discussion. Overall, it was very informative, engaging, and insightful. Lastly, the event came to an end with the formal Vote of Thanks by Dr Nirmola Sharma, Assistant Professor, Department of International Studies, Political Science and History. Jogita Rajbongshi