Comments on: What’s Mao got to do with India? http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/what%e2%80%99s-mao-got-to-do-with-india/ The MBA Graduate Program at Cal Poly Tue, 22 May 2012 22:00:37 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Chase Janvrin http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/what%e2%80%99s-mao-got-to-do-with-india/#comment-17665 Chase Janvrin Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:27:23 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2443#comment-17665 "Establish a state by the poor and for the poor"? At first glance the ideals of this group are easy to agree with, until you get to this one. While this goal is reminiscent of a philosophical argument, a bigot is still a bigot no matter which direction he travels. To be sure, wealthy are frequently powerful, and sometimes try to hoard that power. But democratic and capitalist societies are about prosperity, not hatred. While money may be the root of some evil, it's not the root of all evil; power is. And no matter where the money is someone will still be fighting for power somewhere else. I wonder who will lead this great state of the poor once it's created? Because that's what this world needs, another great, big, poor state. “Establish a state by the poor and for the poor”? At first glance the ideals of this group are easy to agree with, until you get to this one. While this goal is reminiscent of a philosophical argument, a bigot is still a bigot no matter which direction he travels. To be sure, wealthy are frequently powerful, and sometimes try to hoard that power. But democratic and capitalist societies are about prosperity, not hatred. While money may be the root of some evil, it’s not the root of all evil; power is. And no matter where the money is someone will still be fighting for power somewhere else. I wonder who will lead this great state of the poor once it’s created? Because that’s what this world needs, another great, big, poor state.

]]> By: Jordan Wente http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/what%e2%80%99s-mao-got-to-do-with-india/#comment-17640 Jordan Wente Sat, 27 Feb 2010 03:07:53 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2443#comment-17640 I looked into this attack myself recently and found that India is taking measures to end violence. They are responding with a paramilitary and police campaign, Operation Green Hut, with intent of isolating Maoist fighters. Maoist fighters thrive by recruiting the under represented Indian population, where spending on health, infrastructure and education is low. Given this I would have to say that an alternative to fighting would be to increase government attention to these neglected areas so the citizens have an option and thus are not easily recruited. This may seem tough to accomplish but as India continues to prosper, hopefully the prosperity will begin to spread to these underrepresented areas. Additionally, policing is the responsibility of the government. It must be a challenging task to police a country so large and with such rapid development. As we in the United States have learned, putting down any type of a terrorist organization is complicated and even the most sophisticated countries have trouble eliminating the threat. Finding an alternative to fighting will not be easy. On another note, while Maoist fighters are fighting for what they believe in, you have to consider they have limited resources so there are not very many options to build legitimacy. Terrorist tactics arise due to this lack of resources as a way of getting their message heard. Like Hemanth mentioned they are going to fight for what they believe in no matter how bloody the fight might become. Similarly, Mao also fought for what he believed in even if the fight turned bloody. On a final note, I highly doubt that as tourists we have to worry about a threat from this group. I looked into this attack myself recently and found that India is taking measures to end violence. They are responding with a paramilitary and police campaign, Operation Green Hut, with intent of isolating Maoist fighters. Maoist fighters thrive by recruiting the under represented Indian population, where spending on health, infrastructure and education is low. Given this I would have to say that an alternative to fighting would be to increase government attention to these neglected areas so the citizens have an option and thus are not easily recruited. This may seem tough to accomplish but as India continues to prosper, hopefully the prosperity will begin to spread to these underrepresented areas. Additionally, policing is the responsibility of the government. It must be a challenging task to police a country so large and with such rapid development.
As we in the United States have learned, putting down any type of a terrorist organization is complicated and even the most sophisticated countries have trouble eliminating the threat. Finding an alternative to fighting will not be easy.

On another note, while Maoist fighters are fighting for what they believe in, you have to consider they have limited resources so there are not very many options to build legitimacy. Terrorist tactics arise due to this lack of resources as a way of getting their message heard. Like Hemanth mentioned they are going to fight for what they believe in no matter how bloody the fight might become. Similarly, Mao also fought for what he believed in even if the fight turned bloody.
On a final note, I highly doubt that as tourists we have to worry about a threat from this group.

]]> By: Jason Silver http://calpolymbatrip.com/2010/india/what%e2%80%99s-mao-got-to-do-with-india/#comment-17633 Jason Silver Wed, 24 Feb 2010 21:54:05 +0000 http://calpolymbatrip.com/?p=2443#comment-17633 I'm glad that you are able to share a better understanding of these rebels. I am in no way scared of these rebels and am not fearful of traveling to India one bit. I must have been caught up in the Western media's fascination with the Maoists. I understand that groups like these operate underground and what they are fighting for would be severely diminished if they were to target tourists. After reading your article, it seems that there is more of a connection with China than I originally thought. India- China relations are very important for world peace and economic stability. Supporting separatist groups would undermine both of those processes. I’m glad that you are able to share a better understanding of these rebels. I am in no way scared of these rebels and am not fearful of traveling to India one bit. I must have been caught up in the Western media’s fascination with the Maoists. I understand that groups like these operate underground and what they are fighting for would be severely diminished if they were to target tourists. After reading your article, it seems that there is more of a connection with China than I originally thought. India- China relations are very important for world peace and economic stability. Supporting separatist groups would undermine both of those processes.

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