Solving the Naxalites & Maoists problem

Every day we read about some crisis or the other caused by Maoists & Naxalites and how the government is responding with massive force. Yet the situation gets only worse with each passing day.

History always provides interesting lessons, if only we attempt to learn.
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Herman Cortes a young Spaniard, had visions of conquering Mexico for Spain and making himself very rich by plundering the huge stockpile of gold the powerful Aztecs possessed.

In 1518 landing on Mexico's east coast with just 500 men, the 33 year old Cortes set up the town of Veracruz and then began to study his quarry.
The fierce Aztecs had 500,000 warriors. They were ruled by the powerful Moctezuma from his palace at Tenochtitlan, 250 kms west of Veracruz .
Herman Cortes learnt from local tribes and through his spies that Moctezuma ran a highly centralised system with Moctezuma at the very centre. Cortes hatched a daring plan. When Moctezuma granted Cortes an audience in his court, Cortes lunged and killed Moctezuma in front of many of the king's subjects.

The Aztecs thought Cortes to be a powerful God, for he had with great ease decapitated the all powerful Moctezuma. The powerful Aztec army meekly surrendered. Thus Cortes conquered Mexico.
The weakness in the strong kingdom came from its reliance on an individual at the centre. The organisation structure could be called a spider structure.
This is based on the observation that if one were to cut the head of a spider, in spite of its eight legs it will die almost instantaneously .

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In similar fashion the Spanish tried to conquer several of the Indian tribes of what is now the southern part of The United States of America by adopting the same approach that Cortes used with Moctezuma and the Aztecs. Yet for two hundred years they were unable to overpower the seemingly primitive Apache Indians. Why did the Spanish fail in this endeavour in spite of being stronger and more powerful than ever?

At this point, let's look at another type of organisation called the starfish structure.
This is based on a creature called the starfish. If one cuts a starfish into many parts , each part will grow into another starfish.

The Apache Indians unlike the Aztecs or some other Indians times had a highly decentralised existence. They lived in temporary camps and were always on the move. They had a distributed democratic leadership which was shared by all individuals.
What the eldest (called Nant'an) did everyone simply followed. If a Nant'an died in battle or in a hunt a new one would take his place and everyone followed him.

The Spanish found it exceedingly difficult to attack the highly mobile Apaches. Even if the attacked and killed the Nant'an, a new one would rise immedeately. The Apaches frustrated the efforts of the Spanish for over 200 years.

The American settlers eventually conquered and killed off the Apache by giving them cattle. Once they accepted the valuable cattle the Apache settled down at various places. The Apaches got rooted and set up a centralised system to fight and control the scare resources of the cattle. After that they were easy pickings for the kill and therefore soon conquered.

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Let us return to the topic at hand.
If one looks at the parallel from history it is not difficult to see why the Government administration is having so little luck in tackling the Maoists and the Naxalites.

They are using classical war techniques to attack a spider organisation whereas the challenge is a starfish organisation. Therefore all efforts under the present strategy and approach are doomed to fail and that to at great cost to the Indian state and people.

33% of India's land mass is covered by forests. These forests are rich in wildlife, forest products and mineral resources.

Corrupt and crooked politicians often lording over various ministries have the entire government machinery including the law and order aspects at their disposal, treat these lush and lucrative areas as their private fiefdom.

Many of these 'leaders have their own private armies', mercenaries who get a small share in the plunder of the lands and its people.

Many of the 'leaders' are small timers. They lack the capital, technology and the management to exploit the huge mineral resources that lie in the lands belong to locals and tribal people.
Now enter the capitalists who want access to these rich mining areas. They let the politicians use the government machinery do the dirty of work of getting them the mining concession on highly attractive terms and also provide the local infrastructure.

Developing lucrative mining areas is a good idea if the local people benefit from the development. All too often the lands are virtually stolen, toxic waste pollutes ground water and the air and many locals get a very bad deal. They do not even get the pittance that is promised to them and payable by law for seizing and depriving them of their lands.

When the locals attempt to protest, many are beaten up, tortured or even killed. Often trumped up charges are made against innocent people and they are then incarcerated to rot in the jails for a long time.

Locals and oppressed people may get intimidated, but a fire burns within them. This huge tinderbox awaits the arrival of someone to light the fire and start a movement.

Once started no matter how many 'leaders' are killed more people will keep on coming. The government has to realise that they are dealing with a starfish and not a spider organisation. The current efforts are doomed to fail because of a faulty strategy.
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Then what is the solution?
There are no quick fixes and war definitely is not a permanent answer. War only serves to make forces of evil stronger.

Unless inclusive development starting with decent infrastructure, education, health services and job opportunities are provided along with a suitable law and order machinery backed up by a genuine judicial system the Maoists and Naxalites will grow in strength.
Deny the leaders the cause which they claim to champion and their war will end.

Huge amounts of money are now being invested in the so called fight against the so called Maoists or Naxalites, this has set up a huge money spinning opportunity for people to supply equipment, resources, people, and even fake rehabilitation schemes.

Development is the only solution.
It makes great social and economic sense to spend on genuine development which will bring greater and permanent gains as compared to the huge amounts of funds currently being spent and likely to be spent on waging war.
People's representatives and democracy must serve the needs of the people rather than their own. In our present value system and the apathy of the average Indian, no changes are expected to take place any time soon. Again taking a cue from history, things will need to get a lot worse before there is any hope of them getting any better.

We compound our folly with even greater follies. We then top it off with tough and unproductive rhetoric. Alas this is all in vain.
Troubles can bloom all so easily in a divided and unjust home.

It will be impossible to win this war, but it is definitely possible to win the peace.