Coming from Andhra Pradesh, I have heard of naxalism all my life. I've heard of them killing policemen, forcefully acquiring land and blowing up jungle resorts. I've also witnessed the enigmatic following the balladeer Gadar had over thousands of people in the state. Being a city - bred, urban, English educated citizen of India, I've always had a well-conditioned, deep-rooted bias against the violence encouraged by the Maoist movement. At the same time, like everybody else, I wondered how a s...

Its a thin book and perfect for those who are scared by fat chunky books.

It has lots of personal stories and background of people who are now part of the Maoist movement. I learnt a lot. What we read in newspapers is always missing in context or the process of how things came to be as they are.

The author understands and reveals the underlying reasons for the huge support that Maoists have.

He also gave an insight into what the ideology is and how the Naxals lives are.

A good and qui...

Just browsing across some titles in flipkart i found this book. It took a second for me to purchase it, and it was delivered in another 7 days. If you think why 7 days, then i wanna tell you that it was delivered at my home which is at BASTAR, as the title says. And 7 days is the best u can expect at such a remote part of country.

Now about the book. First of all i want to thank mr. rahul pandita who gave me a better insight of my homeland, than what i got from the last 22 years. Bloodshed's...

The author Rahul Pandita has so nicely laid out about the Maoist Movement right from its early days to the current scenario. As mentioned by a senior jailed Maoist leader Kobad Ghandy in the end of the book; this book serves a great piece of information to the Reds as well as those who have a curiosity of the Naxal Movement. Its a very unbiased book reported directly by going to the real ground and witnessing the people and the leaders there. Plus some photos from the Red Region.

Very well researched and put forward by author, dwelling deep into the circumstances that led to start of Naxalite movement in India. A very interesting read for anyone interested in knowing about the topic.
However, the author seems to give only one side of the picture, always holding the govt and its agencies responsible for the movement. Would have been better if he could have withheld the romanticism a bit and tried to give a balanced point of view. Nonetheless, a good read!

Rahul Pandita has given great insight on the maoist movement and has left his inedible stamp in the narration tracing its genesis to the present. Good book to read. The narration is complete, chilling and as it is based on a real life story it makes a good reading and offers insight of the maoist movement.

This is fairly good book giving the reader an insight in problems of the underprivileged in the RED corridor belt. But the author tends to somewhat glorify the Naxals by suggesting that whatever actions they have undertaken to uplift the poor people are to a large extent correct. The government on its part is also false by not doing its bid but the writer should have also highlighted the wrongs which the Naxals have done under the name of protectors of the poor. I mean to say that all Robin H...

Although I bought this book from another site, i will recommend you to get from Flipkart without any thought.
Regarding the book, the title is Bastar, but the author never talks about Bastar itself. Rather than, his concentration is more on Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Jharkhand & other Areas. This book DOES give an excellent insight of the Naxal problem & their way of working.
BUT, it DOES NOT stick to only Naxals. This book mixes Naxal & Maoists a lot.
Also, the fact that this book...

I have never read such a vivid history about the formation of the Naxals, their growth, progress, birth of CPI(Maoist) in India. The book also recognizes those never-told faces who sacrificed their lives or still struggling for the betterment of the society. The book also discusses about the structure and other important aspects of the CPI(Maoist)party which were still unpublished to the common people. A great book from Rahul Pandita. A must read!

The author has put in considerable amount of time & effort in the book put I feel in the process of doing so he fails to maintain a unbiased stand. The book talks in detail about the struggles of Maoists but conveniently mentions their exploits mechanically and moves on.

The Maoists invasion, recruitment and plans for future (in the chapter - the urban agenda) shows that after a while in a war, both sides forget what/why they are fighting for.

It deeply affects me to know that a teenager wh...