Interactive Discourse with Subojit Bagchi of The Hindu at Manipur Press Club
Last Date : 2nd January, 2016

One Day Interactive Discourse on
MAOIST MOVEMENT AND THE ROLE OF THE STATE: CHATTISGARH EXPERIENCE

Key Speaker
Mr. Suvojit Bagchi, Bureau Chief, The Hindu, Kolkatta

on Saturday, 2nd January 2016 from 12. 30 PM onwards

Venue: Manipur Press Club, First Floor Conference Hall.

Co-orgd. by
Centre for Manipur Studies
Manipur University

& Columnist Forum, Manipur
with Media Partner, Imphal Times
will be moderated by Prof. Rajendra Kshetri, Head, Dept. of Sociology, Manipur University. He is also the author of well acclaimed book, "Emergence of Meitei Nationalism in Manipur.

The abstract and the profile of the Key Speaker, Mr. Suvojit Bagchi, Bureau Chief, The Hindu, Kolkata Edition

Abstract of the Lecture by Key Speaker

Communist Party of India – Maoist [CPI-Maoist], the left-wing armed party - is leading a guerrilla ‘war’ against the Indian State in south Chattisgarh in central India. The outlawed party partially controls the seven districts in south Chattisgarh, often referred as Dandakarnya, which is about 30,000 sq. km in size and nearly the as big as most of modern European states. The Maoists have entered the area in the early ’80s and set up a huge network of full time workers, like other Communist parties. The presentation will focus on the Maoist policy to empower the tribals in south Chattisgarh and to build a military base in the area. Following an increase in the activity of the rebels, the state geared up to restrict the rebels.

As it happens, in any country and at any point of time in history, the state adopted the ‘scorched earth policy’ or the policy to heat up everything on ground so much that the enemies, like ants, are forced to leave their bases. In pursuing the policy – often also defined in counter-terrorism parlance as a process “to win hearts and the minds” of the locals – the state has annihilated many, ruining lives and destroying history, which hitherto has never been documented. In this presentation journalist Suvojit Bagchi will focus on the state’s policy to decimate a people and their movement.

Suvojit will also speak on the role of mainstream & social media in conflict areas of Chattisgarh and explain the nature and elements of Maoist movement in Chattisgarh.

Profile of the Key Speaker

Suvojit Bagchi has worked as a journalist, freelance and full time, since 1993 and worked in Bengali daily Ananda Bazar Patrika, Kolkata-based news software producing company Rainbow Productions & BBC World Service in Delhi. Since 2014 he is posted in Kolkata as the Chief of Bureau of The Hindu newspaper, looking after the news gathering operation in Bengal, parts of eastern India and the region. He has travelled in Chattisgarh between 2006/2007 and 2014 and documented lives of the people in southern Chattisgarh.

In 2010 he spent 34 days in various Maoist camps in Bastar Division and wrote a long chapter on his stay in an anthology on south Asian Maoist movement, edited by Singapore University. In 2012 he was posted as the State Correspondent of The Hindu in Chattisgarh. He has produced several audio documentaries & video diaries for the BBC on the Maoist movement and was posted as the state correspondent of The Hindu in Chattisgarh between 2012 and 2014. he was also worked extensively on Kashmir and covered many international events including UN General assembly Sessions, Iran & Russian election and a plethora of major events in India and South Asia.

Luminaries from various walks of life ranging from Academics to Journalism and Activism will take part in the discourse. Distinguished participants include:
Prof. MC Arun, Director, Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University
Iboyaima Khuman, Senior Journalist & Publisher, Imphal Times
Haobam Sanajaoba, Chairperson, National Research Centre,
Prof. N. Joykumar, Former Director, Centre for Manipur Studies, Manipur University
It will be Rapporteured by
Dr. Homen Thangjam, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Political Science, MB College, Imphal
Dr. Hanjabam Shukhdeb Sharma, Asst. Prof., Dept. of Social Work, Indira Gandhi National Tribal University, Regional Campus,Manipur.

Regards
Aheibam Koireng
Coordinator