Kobad Ghandy
Encyclopedia
Kobad Ghandy is an India
n communist and Maoist leader. He is a member of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist. Maoists are also referred as naxalites in the media. He was assigned the task of spreading Maoist influence in urban areas and running its propaganda wing.
The 63-year-old was in charge of the South Western Regional Bureau (SWRB) coordinating the naxalite activity in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, where their activity remained stagnant despite herculean efforts made by the Maoist party. Taking into consideration his ability to analyse the national and international developments, he was also entrusted with the job of building up the naxal movement in urban areas.
Ghandy has admitted that despite the rapid spread of the naxalite movement in Central and North India, it failed to strike roots in other states. Even in Orissa
, Jharkhand
, Bihar
and Chhattisgarh
, the party failed to win over people in plain areas and in towns, while the movement was getting strengthened in tribal belts. With the Maoist party realising that it was consistently failing in garnering support from the middle class and the intellectual sections of society, it had asked Ghandy to devise strategies and identify issues that could win over these two sections. For this purpose, Maoists had formed a Sub-Committee on Mass Organisations (SUCOMO) and Ghandy was heading it.
Though the violent naxalite movement began in Maharashtra in Gadchiroli division abutting Andhra Pradesh three decades ago, it had failed to spread to other areas. In Kerala
also the naxalite party had failed to make much of an impact. Karnataka
where the movement was relatively strong just a decade ago, had seen a split in the rank and file of Maoists after a section of leaders leaders questioned the very principle of area wise seizure of power starting from forest areas. Ever since the split, the Maoist party failed to strike roots in this state.
In Tamil Nadu, the self-styled Maoist think tank had been trying to get a foothold in districts abutting Andhra Pradesh
and Kerala
but instant response from the police agencies had halted the spread of the Maoist movement. The exchange of fire near Theni river in Tamil Nadu two years ago forced the Maoist party to slow down on its plans.
. They lived in a huge house at Worli Seaface in Bombay. His sister, Maharukh, ran a family hotel in Mahableshwar with her husband. His brother, Farokh, ran an ice-cream unit.
He did his schooling from Doon School, where he was Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi
's classmate. He went to St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and did his chartered accountancy from London
.
- to dedicate themselves entirely to the cause of tribal rights, women's issues and campaigns on behalf of lower caste people and women.
He rose to the rank of a politburo member—part of the highest decision making body of the Red Ultras. He was the founding member of Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights. He was also in touch with global ultra-Left organisations.
Ghandy was influenced by Kondapalli Seetharamaiah
. Seetharamaiah’s vision was to spread the movement in Maharashtra and TN. Ghandy’s preference to work in urban areas had triggered a clash between him and Seetharamaiah. He drifted towards T Nagi Reddy’s UCCRI-CPML in the later part of the 80s.
He was arrested in South Delhi
on 20 September 2009 while undergoing treatment for cancer
. He was also known by the names Kamal and Azad.
. She was a communist. She died of cerebral malaria in 2008. Anuradha Ghandy
died of cerebral malaria in April 2008 in the jungles of Dandakaranya in Central India. On her second death anniversary, Kobad Ghandy wrote a 1000-word tribute to her, which was published in the Indian current affairs and features weekly magazine Open. "The Indian people, particularly its oppressed women, lost a blooming flower that spread its fragrance in many parts of the country," he wrote. "Two years is a long time, yet the fragrance lingers on. The sweet scent, like from an eternal blossom, intoxicates the mind with memories of her vivacious and loving spirit. Even here, in the High Risk ward of Tihar jail, the five sets of bars that incarcerate us cannot extinguish the aroma that Anu radiates in one’s memories."
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n communist and Maoist leader. He is a member of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist. Maoists are also referred as naxalites in the media. He was assigned the task of spreading Maoist influence in urban areas and running its propaganda wing.
The 63-year-old was in charge of the South Western Regional Bureau (SWRB) coordinating the naxalite activity in Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala and Maharashtra, where their activity remained stagnant despite herculean efforts made by the Maoist party. Taking into consideration his ability to analyse the national and international developments, he was also entrusted with the job of building up the naxal movement in urban areas.
Ghandy has admitted that despite the rapid spread of the naxalite movement in Central and North India, it failed to strike roots in other states. Even in Orissa
Orissa
Orissa , officially Odisha since Nov 2011, is a state of India, located on the east coast of India, by the Bay of Bengal. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Orissa was established on 1 April...
, Jharkhand
Jharkhand
Jharkhand is a state in eastern India. It was carved out of the southern part of Bihar on 15 November 2000. Jharkhand shares its border with the states of Bihar to the north, Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh to the west, Orissa to the south, and West Bengal to the east...
, Bihar
Bihar
Bihar is a state in eastern India. It is the 12th largest state in terms of geographical size at and 3rd largest by population. Almost 58% of Biharis are below the age of 25, which is the highest proportion in India....
and Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh
Chhattisgarh is a state in Central India, formed when the 16 Chhattisgarhi-speaking South-Eastern districts of Madhya Pradesh gained separate statehood on 1 November 2000....
, the party failed to win over people in plain areas and in towns, while the movement was getting strengthened in tribal belts. With the Maoist party realising that it was consistently failing in garnering support from the middle class and the intellectual sections of society, it had asked Ghandy to devise strategies and identify issues that could win over these two sections. For this purpose, Maoists had formed a Sub-Committee on Mass Organisations (SUCOMO) and Ghandy was heading it.
Though the violent naxalite movement began in Maharashtra in Gadchiroli division abutting Andhra Pradesh three decades ago, it had failed to spread to other areas. In Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
also the naxalite party had failed to make much of an impact. Karnataka
Karnataka
Karnataka , the land of the Kannadigas, is a state in South West India. It was created on 1 November 1956, with the passing of the States Reorganisation Act and this day is annually celebrated as Karnataka Rajyotsava...
where the movement was relatively strong just a decade ago, had seen a split in the rank and file of Maoists after a section of leaders leaders questioned the very principle of area wise seizure of power starting from forest areas. Ever since the split, the Maoist party failed to strike roots in this state.
In Tamil Nadu, the self-styled Maoist think tank had been trying to get a foothold in districts abutting Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh
Andhra Pradesh , is one of the 28 states of India, situated on the southeastern coast of India. It is India's fourth largest state by area and fifth largest by population. Its capital and largest city by population is Hyderabad.The total GDP of Andhra Pradesh is $100 billion and is ranked third...
and Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
but instant response from the police agencies had halted the spread of the Maoist movement. The exchange of fire near Theni river in Tamil Nadu two years ago forced the Maoist party to slow down on its plans.
Early life
Kobad Ghandy was born to Nergis and Adi, a senior finance executive in Glaxo. He hails from a wealthy Gujarati Parsi family in MumbaiMumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
. They lived in a huge house at Worli Seaface in Bombay. His sister, Maharukh, ran a family hotel in Mahableshwar with her husband. His brother, Farokh, ran an ice-cream unit.
He did his schooling from Doon School, where he was Congress leader Sanjay Gandhi
Sanjay Gandhi
Sanjay Gandhi was an Indian politician. The younger son of Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Feroze Gandhi, he was a member of the Nehru-Gandhi family...
's classmate. He went to St. Xavier's College, Mumbai and did his chartered accountancy from London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Political career
Kobad Ghandy was working in England and he got involved in Left-wing politics but was soon arrested and deported. By 1982, he had left Mumbai along with wife Anuradha, a sociology professor. They decided to move to NagpurNagpur
Nāgpur is a city and winter capital of the state of Maharashtra, the largest city in central India and third largest city in Maharashtra after Mumbai and Pune...
- to dedicate themselves entirely to the cause of tribal rights, women's issues and campaigns on behalf of lower caste people and women.
He rose to the rank of a politburo member—part of the highest decision making body of the Red Ultras. He was the founding member of Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights. He was also in touch with global ultra-Left organisations.
Ghandy was influenced by Kondapalli Seetharamaiah
Kondapalli Seetharamaiah
-Early life:Kondapalli Seetharamaiah was born into a rich family in lingavaram village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh. Brought up in Jonnapadu village, Krishna District, Andhra Pradesh.-Political career:...
. Seetharamaiah’s vision was to spread the movement in Maharashtra and TN. Ghandy’s preference to work in urban areas had triggered a clash between him and Seetharamaiah. He drifted towards T Nagi Reddy’s UCCRI-CPML in the later part of the 80s.
He was arrested in South Delhi
South Delhi
South Delhi is an administrative district of the National Capital Territory of Delhi in India.It is bounded by the Yamuna River to the east, the districts of New Delhi to the north, Faridabad District of Haryana state to the southeast, Gurgaon District of Haryana to the southwest, and South West...
on 20 September 2009 while undergoing treatment for cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
. He was also known by the names Kamal and Azad.
Personal life
Kobad Ghandy married Anuradha Shanbag in 1983, whose family was from KodaguKodagu
Kodagu , also known by its anglicised former name of Coorg, is an administrative district in Karnataka, India. It occupies an area of in the Western Ghats of southwestern Karnataka. As of 2001, the population was 548,561, 13.74% of which resided in the district's urban centres, making it the least...
. She was a communist. She died of cerebral malaria in 2008. Anuradha Ghandy
Anuradha Ghandy
Anuradha Ghandy was an Indian communist and Maoist leader. She was a member of the banned Communist Party of India-Maoist. Maoists are also referred as naxalites in the media....
died of cerebral malaria in April 2008 in the jungles of Dandakaranya in Central India. On her second death anniversary, Kobad Ghandy wrote a 1000-word tribute to her, which was published in the Indian current affairs and features weekly magazine Open. "The Indian people, particularly its oppressed women, lost a blooming flower that spread its fragrance in many parts of the country," he wrote. "Two years is a long time, yet the fragrance lingers on. The sweet scent, like from an eternal blossom, intoxicates the mind with memories of her vivacious and loving spirit. Even here, in the High Risk ward of Tihar jail, the five sets of bars that incarcerate us cannot extinguish the aroma that Anu radiates in one’s memories."