Underdevelopment and Naxalism in India: Reflexive Discourse and Debates

Book Details

• Author: Smita Verma

• Binding: Hardcover

• Pages: 243

• ISBN: 9788131609316

• Language: English

• Publication Year: 2018

• Sale Territory: India

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

About the Book

Underdevelopment and Naxalism in India examines the persistent inequalities and disparities within the country's development trajectory, particularly in relation to the marginalized regions and populations. Despite the Indian government's efforts to tackle poverty, inequality, and resource distribution, the gap between the wealthy and the poor continues to widen, fostering a sense of alienation among the underprivileged.

At the core of this underdevelopment lies the Naxalite Movement, which began as a peasant uprising in Naxalbari, West Bengal. What started as a small protest has evolved into a violent and pervasive insurgency, driven by the marginalized and oppressed. The movement, rooted in the dissatisfaction of the poor, landless, and deprived, has undergone numerous transformations and now raises serious questions regarding its ideological foundations.

This volume brings together contributing authors who discuss the multifaceted nature of underdevelopment and Naxalism at both micro and macro levels. They delve into the social, political, and economic conditions that fuel the movement, addressing issues like development, resource distribution, and the plight of indigenous people. Through a detailed and intellectual discourse, the book aims to shed light on the struggles faced by the marginalized, exploring the pain and resentment that perpetuate the Naxalite insurgency.

The book includes critical insights into the evolving dynamics of the Naxalite movement, its relationship with social movements, its impact on tribal communities, and the role of gender and media in shaping public perceptions of the issue.

Contents

1. Discourse on Underdevelopment and Naxalism: An Introduction / Smita Verma

2. Youth, Naxalism, and Terrorism: The Politics of Development in the Indian Subcontinent / Felix Padel

3. Terrorism Interrogated: Naxalism to Maoism / Partha Nath Mukherji

4. Social Roots of Terrorism: A Critical Appraisal of the Maoist Movement in India / Biswajit Ghosh

5. Development Paradigms and Naxalism: Resource, Development, and Indigenous People / Bikramaditya Kumar Choudhary

6. Maoists’ Tactical United Front (TUF) and Urban Movement / P.V. Ramana

7. Women and the Naxal Movement: Retrospect and Prospect / Rajat Kumar Kujur

8. Contemporary Social Movements in Tribal Regions of Central India / S.N. Chaudhary

9. Naxalism and the Problems of Development of Tribes / S.N. Tripathy

10. Securitization, Exceptions, and Suspects: The Case of State-Maoist Interface in India / Mohammed Sirajuddeen

11. Origin and Growth of Left-Wing Extremism in Scheduled Tribes Dominated Areas of Central India / Rajneesh Kumar Gupta

12. Role of Media in Reporting Terrorism in India: Perspective of Complicity between Media and Terrorists / Pallav Mukhopadhyay

About the Author

Smita Verma is an Associate Professor and Head of the P.G. Department of Sociology and Women’s Studies at Isabella Thoburn College, Lucknow. She completed her higher studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi, and has held various academic positions, including IASACT Fellow in Hong Kong and Visiting Fellow under UGC-SAP at Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Lucknow. She has worked as a consultant for a UNICEF-Government of India project.

Her research interests include gender studies across the lifespan, higher education, youth and globalization, and social gerontology. She has authored and co-authored several books, including Directions in Sociological Theory: Disputes, Discourses and Orientations, Ageing among Elderly Middle Class in Urban India: Reflections on Issues and Challenges, and Labour Migration in the Context of Globalization: Challenges and Perspectives. She has also published numerous research papers and book reviews in reputed journals.