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Retracing the 'Roots of Terrorism' in India (BOOK REVIEW) By Hindol Sengupta, Indo-Asian News Service New Delhi, Nov 7 (IANS) In spite of growing military rhetoric, India has only two ways to solve the violence in Jammu and Kashmir -- international pressure on the perpetrators and free polls. That is what professor Kanti P. Bajpai, one of India's top international relations experts, calls the "hard truth" in his latest book "Roots of Terrorism" published by Penguin. "This ... is not to our liking, but we have reached the point where there are no other avenues," writes Bajpai at the end of the 178-page book that looks at various causes and effects of secessionist violence in Indian states. Bajpai begins by grappling with why a liberal, democratic India continuously faces the terror menace that has made its half a century of independent existence "a rather melancholy history". "Are bad governments and broken promises responsible for the turn to violence?" he asks. "Are poverty and social misery the 'swamp' in which violence is bred? "Is India, given its size and social diversity, simply a historical impossibility? Is terrorism an inevitability ... is the problem not with us but rather with the countries neighbouring us?" The bespectacled, suave professor finds that all these are partly true. That terrorism which comes from the Latin word "terrerre" (to frighten), is used by both the state and individual groups to attain their goals. "Both seek to frighten. Both can be bloody. Both may seek to shock and disrupt," writes Bajpai. But there is an inherent difference. "Terrorist organisations usually take, if they do not positively affirm, responsibility for their violence; states on the other hand are reluctant to acknowledge the use of violence to frighten and intimidate," said Bajpai. In the book, the professor of international politics at New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University also dwells on the liberal, conservative and realist viewpoints on fighting secessionist violence. "The liberals think that terrorism is a response to economic, social and political deprivation as well as bad government. "Conservatives think that it arises from the process of nation building ... realists see terrorism as arising out of the competition between states." The violence in India is the result of the centre denying rights and economic and social gains to border states and vicious competition from Pakistan and China, said Bajpai. But he also rises to the defence of successive governments in New Delhi. "A government that is thoroughly lawless, incorrigible, and violent deserves to lose the right to rule. The Indian government has not been any of these things," writes Bajpai. He also argues that India does not have the kind of military superiority over either China or Pakistan, especially under the nuclear shadow, which would make an outright attack successful. "The militarist response is both dangerous and ineffective," said Bajpai, who hits out at those who point to Israel as an example. "If (The Israeli example) tells us anything it is how not to deal with terrorism. "The Israeli forces operating against Palestinians do not have to worry about escalation to nuclear war. It is almost certain that if nuclear weapons exist, they will be used one day." So his solution is de-legitimising violence. "We cannot expect the cult of violence in the borderlands to be extirpated when our own imaginations are suffused with thoughts of violence. "Those who are not made uneasy by the anti-Sikh riots, the destruction of the Babri Masjid, the Mumbai riots, the celebrations when India tested nuclear devices ... and human rights violations of our governments dignify the growing affinity for violence." --Indo-Asian News Service ---------------------------------------------------------- What's On In Goa (WOIG): Nov 05 onwards: Wendell Rodrigues Festival. Altinho, Panjim Nov 05 Bobbin lace-making training, Don Bosco's Panjim (till 17.11) Nov 06 Richard Stallman, free software guru, speaks Farmagudi 4 pm Nov 06 Bob Fitts, gospel music singer, Navelim grounds, 6 pm Nov 06 Fr Britto's health courses, Pilar. Till 10.11. Later Chicalim. Nov 06 ArtHouse, Calangute: Chaitali's acrylics on canvas till 19.11 Nov 07 Creative science, for children, Goa Sc Centre (till 16.11) Nov 17 Goan Engineers and Assoc meet, at Pickering, Canada. Nov 20 Fr Agnelo's 75th death anniversary, Pilar Dec 01 Two day conference, Goa Agenda. IT For Society. (Ends 2.12) Every Sunday: Music therapy sessions at Moira, 5 pm. 278, N.Portugal ----------------------------------------------------------
