Naxalbari: Marx, Mao, Majumdar and a town that birthed insurgency

Naxalbari, a small town in India, holds a significant place in the country's history as the birthplace of a communist insurgency that erupted in 1967. Inspired by the ideologies of Marx and Mao, the movement, known as Naxalism, led to a period of intense political and social unrest. The name "Naxalbari" itself became synonymous with this radical left-wing peasant revolt. The insurgency spread across various parts of India, challenging the established political order and leading to decades of conflict in several regions. However, in Naxalbari today, the physical remnants of this history are scarce. The once potent symbols of the movement are reduced to a few red sandstone statues of left icons, standing by the roadside. These statues serve as the only visible reminders of a history etched in blood and a past that once defined the town's identity.