Video: Gaddar’s Ballads from Maoist India

This was written by Philip Reeves for All Things Considered at NPR.org and was originally titled: “Rebel on the Mic: India’s Maoist Dissident.”  Gaddar became famous in 1971 for singing a song about the toil and unjust treatment of rickshaw drivers.  He has defended the Naxalites in India and condemned the police  for massacring their supporters in song.  He is now out of exile and singing publicly.

“[May  17, 2006] A man calling himself Gaddar makes no secret about his ideology: He sings it from the rooftops. The Indian man can barely finish a sentence without bursting into song, often describing the oppression of the masses. Gaddar was once a foot soldier in the jungles of India with the People’s Army, a Maoist insurgent militia. Maoists are active in nearly half of the country’s states; hundreds have died in recent violence between the Maoist militias and Indian security services. Years ago, Gaddar turned from violence to music, becoming a revolutionary balladeer and writing hundreds of popular songs. The authorities are taking notice of the power of Gaddar’s music.”

Afghanistan Group Denounces CPN(M) Over Nepali Mercenary Troops

This article appeared on Shola Jawid, the website of a group called the Communist (Maoist) Party of Afghanistan. This group is listed as one of the participating organizations of the Revolutionary International Movement (RIM) — an international grouping of Maoist forces.

 Kasama is posting this piece because it is of interest, but as always posting it does not mean endorsement of its analysis or the claims presented here as facts.

* * * * * * *

Open Protest Letter from the Communist (Maoist) Party of Afghanistan

To the Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist)

(With Copies to the Participating Parties and Organizations of the Revolutionary Internationalist Movement)

The Nepalese Armed Lackeys, a Contingent of Occupying Forces in Afghanistan

The presence of Nepalese armed lackeys was seen in Afghanistan almost simultaneously when the American private security companies appeared in Afghanistan. Since then the issue has been reported in Shola Jawaid, central organ of our party, several times. The new government of Nepal that is lead by the Communist Party of Nepal (M) was expected to pay serious attention; take decisive measures in deploying Nepalese armed lackeys out from Afghanistan. Unfortunately, despite abolishing the Monarchy no measure is taken so far – in fact, the presence of Nepalese armed lackeys is more vividly spreading. The number of these forces stationed only at an important airport of country (Shindand Airport in Herat Province) was estimated to be 700. Groups of armed Nepalese now are seen at Kandahar Airport in Kandahar Province, at PRT(1) headquarter in Ghazni Province and some areas that are critical from security point of view in Kabul and other places. The number of Nepalese armed lackeys is estimated 1500 – 2000.