The Latecomer: Aham Brahmasmi

Book Review - Urban Naxals Urban Naxals – The Making of Buddha in a Traffic Jam , by Vivek Agnihotri, Garuda Prakashan, Gurugram, 2018, paperback, Pages 379, Rs.399, ISBN 978-1-942426-05-9. Naxal terrorism, also known as Maoism, has been waxing and waning in intensity and violence ever since the ‘Sixties. The causes have been manifold, not the least being the utter failure of Nehruvian socialism to pull people out of poverty. Vivek Agnihotri (VA) has travelled through Naxal infested areas (so-called Red Corridor) and gained valuable first hand insight into the menace. The conclusions he has drawn are far from the usual expected ones. Sure, the exploitation of the tribals is there. But the exploiters are a diverse bunch: corrupt government officials and greedy corporate are of course there. But, surprise! surprise! The main exploiters are the Naxal terrorists themselves. The author clubs them with the ubiquitous middlemen. VA thought a film of the subject would be relevan