Saturday, April 17, 2010

Maoists, Anti-Statism and Indian State

Do we need Government? Why do we need Government?
If the answer is NO, that is a society can exist without ANY kind of Governance, then it would have been OK for me to get on with my life without paying any heed to the Maoists and their ideology.

But the facts of reality point otherwise. Government in any geographical area is an inescapable part of social life. That is, if an individual is not a cast away in desert island. Three fold functions being - protection from foreign attack, inland policing, resolution of civil disputes. If it were not so, each individual would have to fortress his house and initiate a gang-war in case of any threat(apparent or actual).

So the question comes down to, what kind of government. And currently we have 2 options, Indian state or Maoists. So what does each bring to the table, IDEOLOGICALLY - for ideology drives the action.

Whatever be the failings in its part, Indian state has a constitution which defines certain rights protecting individual's life, liberty and pursuit of his goals(albeit only to a certain extent). And there are mechanisms defined to enforce these rights. The principles have worked in certain parts of the country, and there is no reason to believe why it wont succeed in other parts(including Maoists infected areas), if value oriented administration can be instituted. And Liberalization bears testimony that it is possible to reform the system bloodlessly. Though I don't see the most challenging part - Judicial, Executive and police reforms in near or medium term future. But then, its the university rooms of humanities departments and NOT militant camps in jungles where such battles ought to be fought.

Alternative, New Delhi sees a China like communist coup, and we have our own variant of Mao. Given their ideology, what are the actions we can accept from such a dictator. American revolution had American Declaration of Independence based on the principle of Individual rights, Indian Freedom struggle had principle of swaraj. No such positive code of action in case of Maoists. They have no empathy even for their comrades in CPI(M) or Trinamool. The only glue that binds them is the intense hatred for the state in ANY form.
So lets project a scenario where they occupy Delhi. If their current actions are any indication, slaughter of anybody and everybody, PRESUMED to be linked(howsoever loosely) to state.
(For Mao enemy was anything and anybody connected to Chinese religion and culture. For Khymer Rouge in Cambodia, anybody and everybody educated). Here, they start from police and defense services, and go down to Bureaucrats. Of course, given their roots, Industry is their next scapegoat. So have no illusion, intention is to take India down to the level of tribals they claim to fight for.

No expert in military strategy, but here are the few tips. Robotics is not as big a challenge as in previous century. Do invest best minds in stripped down versions of Drones or any non-human tracking devices like satellites. In short term, do audit the air requirements, and reallocate some based on threat assessment. If explicit usage is too risky, at least surveillance to prevent another Dantewada.

A word on the lobby of intellectuals, who see development as a solution. History bears testimony, a sufficient period of peace is necessary for any investment to begin. And Afghanistan a negative barometer to problems of jumping into the latter, without wiping out the menace of former. Therefore I disagree that development can go on side by side with the operation of such a scale. All it does is distract the already lacking security apparatus.

Liberty from force by other men, is a necessary precondition, though not sufficient cause for an individual to excel. And government with a positive legal code, necessary to protect Liberty. Therefore, from intellectuals to media to politicians to administrators to foot soldiers, ought to fight Maoists in our respective battleground.
The current post is my retaliatory ambush...!