Naxalism, India’s longest running internal insurgency is about to turn fifty this month. The Naxalite movement — named after the originating village — led by Charu Majumdar and his associates created a buzz. Although Naxalbari rebellion was put down by strong police action in quick time, its sparks flew to many regions of India. Naxalbari and its ideological avatars continue to pose serious challenges to India.
The discussions at this event will explore why Naxalism attracts believers to its fold, if India has understood the larger appeal of left-wing extremist movement and underlying factors enabling its growth and sustenance, and if current counterinsurgency strategies adequately mark up to the challenges.
Speakers
Ajai Sahni, Executive Director, Institute of Conflict Management, New Delhi
Dilip Simeon, Historian and author
D. Raja, MP, Rajya Sabha), Communist Party of India
K. Durga Prasad, IPS (Retd.), former Director General, CRPF
Nandini Sundar, Professor, University of Delhi
Special address by K. Vijay Kumar, IPS (Retd.), Senior Security Advisor, MHA and former DG, CRPF
Mahendra Kumawat, former Vice Chancellor, Sardar Patel University of Police, Jodhpur and former Special Secretary, Ministry of Home Affairs, will chair the session.