Naxals are at door, state stand still

Finally I got a chance to visit my ancestral home last week, almost after 4.5 years. It is said that change is the only constant and so is it. Village has changed....changed a lot. Some changes were brought by its own people who for the look of opportunities have swamped the locality with shops, though the economic viability of them looks bleak to me; and some by the local government which has recently been focusing on road, electricity and education. Change was evident, so was the beauty of farms during this time of the year. I might have been looking those fields for the first time from a third point of view and believe me they looked beautiful. I might have looked at them thousands of times earlier but never was interested in its beauty. Wheat (locally called Gehu in Hindi) harvesting time is near, so it was all golden over the fields as far as I could see. Intermittently were Maize cultivation...still young and timid plants...so they were still green. The mix of green maize and golden wheat plants spread all along as far as I could see, it was beautiful, indeed mesmerizing. Mango and Litchi orchards are ready for the harvesting season in May and June. This time it is going to be abundance of mangoes and no doubt trees were full of manzars. River had some water but they will soon get dry in coming summer months. Our village is so beautiful, I had never realised this; but today I am proud and optimistic.

Amidst all this beauty came the incident that left me worried and a bit frightened. I and my father were sleeping on the roof top and we heard one blast. Papa said that it might be celebration of a marriage party and we slept off. We woke of next day with the news that a local police station, some kilometres away, had been exploded by the naxals. Ours was never a naxal infested area but situation seems to have changed. Next day was full of police round ups, vehicles carrying commandos plying on the village road; some said they were on round, some said for attack, some said for arrest. Whatever it was...it was not a sign to be proud off. I knew naxals were active in some districts of Bihar, predominantly Gaya and Jehananbad. But Saran was never on card. If they have reached Saran, it means they might have reached other parts as well. Some reports say Bihar government have secretly given consent for operation green hunt, not publicizing it as it is wary of impending state election. Whatever it is....its time state (be it centre or state) act or it would not be too late when naxals reach delhi through state capitals. Reports say they plan to attack cities now. They are marching ahead...they can’t be allowed.....they have options either sit, have dialogue and solve the problems together or go to the gallops of history. I agree they have some genuine demands but gun cannot be the means to get your demands fulfilled. Either come to negotiation table or else be prepared to be sent to a faraway place called hell. A state cannot be held hostage to whims of some organization. Chidhambram is acting swiftly, I am sure he will succeed. Till then I have my fingers crossed.