A large part of tribal homeland across India, from Dandakaranya in central India to Junglemahal in West Bengal, has been witnessing a civil war between the central/state governments and the banned CPI(Maoist). Half-hearted attempts have been made to hold peace talks between the warring sides from Andhra Pradesh in 2004 to Bengal in 2011 but have ended in killing of key Maoist leaders. As the blame game continues, civil society remains bitterly divided on which side has failed peace. This collection of essays, by well-known activists and academics including the mediators, examines the failed peace initiatives in the context of the governments’ elitist ‘developmental’ policies, doublespeak of the parliamentary parties and Maoists’ follies. Dissecting the paradigms of peace, role of civil society and peace mediators, they offer wide range of views on Maoist violence vis-à-vis State violence while reflecting on the debates about democracy under red power and autonomy of grassroots movements and organisations.

Students and teachers of contemporary South Asian history, studies in development and conflicts, policy researchers, activists, journalists and other discerning readers will find this book particularly helpful.