Beyond the Conflict: ‘Rebel Bastar’ Traces the Long History of Maoism

In March 2026, the Government of India announced that the Maoist insurgency had been effectively defeated, marking a significant milestone in the country's internal security journey. Yet, even as the conflict recedes from the headlines, an important question remains: how did Bastar become the epicentre of one of the world's longest-running insurgencies in the first place?

Senior journalist and historian Shantanu Nandan Sharma explores this question in his latest book, Rebel Bastar: History, Maoism and the Search for Answers in India's Heartland. Rather than viewing Maoism solely through the lens of security or conflict, the book examines the longer historical, social and administrative developments that shaped the region over centuries. By placing recent events within a much broader historical framework, Rebel Bastar offers readers an opportunity to better understand a region that has often been discussed but seldom understood in its entirety.

For much of the national conversation, Bastar has been associated with conflict, security operations and insurgency. However, Sharma argues that its story cannot be understood without looking at its historical evolution. Drawing upon years of field reporting and extensive historical research, he traces Bastar's journey through tribal resistance, colonial intervention, changing systems of governance and developmental transitions that have influenced the region across generations.

The narrative navigates significant moments in Bastar's past, from accounts of human sacrifices associated with Dantewada and British incursions into Bastar's forests driven by the demand for teak and mineral resources, to the rebellion of a widely respected prince and the gradual emergence of Maoist influence. Through these episodes, the book examines how history, geography and governance collectively shaped the conditions that enabled the insurgency to take root and endure over several decades.

Importantly, Rebel Bastar does not attempt to simplify a complex story. Instead, it presents Bastar as a region with a distinctive historical identity, where tribal societies, local traditions, administrative systems and external interventions have interacted over centuries. By examining these multiple dimensions together, Sharma encourages readers to move beyond conventional narratives and engage with the deeper historical context surrounding one of India's most discussed regions.

Beyond reconstructing Bastar's history, Rebel Bastar also brings together lesser-known accounts that illuminate the wider intellectual and political currents surrounding the Maoist movement. Among them is former NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar's candid recollection of briefly embracing Naxalite ideology as a student in the 1970s before ultimately rejecting it. His personal account offers readers a rare perspective on how revolutionary ideas resonated with sections of educated youth during that period, while also reflecting on why he now believes such ideology ultimately proved detrimental to India's development.

The publication arrives at a time when questions around governance, inclusive development, tribal communities, natural resources and internal security continue to shape national discourse. As governments, policymakers and researchers increasingly focus on sustaining peace and accelerating development in previously conflict-affected regions, understanding the historical context behind these challenges becomes equally important. Rebel Bastar contributes to these conversations by exploring how historical experiences continue to influence present-day realities, offering context that extends beyond the immediate security narrative.

Sharma's perspective is informed by more than three decades of journalism. Currently Senior Editor at The Economic Times, he has reported extensively from across India and has written at least one feature story from every Indian state. His engagement with Bastar deepened following his reporting from the region after India's 2016 demonetisation, when newly issued currency notes surfaced in insurgent-held areas. That assignment prompted him to investigate the deeper historical processes that had shaped Bastar over centuries, eventually leading to the research behind Rebel Bastar.

Originally from Assam, Sharma moved to Delhi in 1989 to pursue his long-standing interest in history, completing both his undergraduate and postgraduate studies at the University of Delhi. His academic training complements his journalistic experience, enabling him to combine the discipline of historical research with accessible storytelling rooted in extensive field reporting. In Rebel Bastar, these two perspectives come together to create a work that is intended not only for scholars and policy observers, but also for general readers seeking a deeper understanding of one of India's most complex regions.

The book has already drawn praise from internationally acclaimed historian Peter Frankopan, Professor of Global History at Oxford University and author of The Silk Roads: A New History of the World. Describing Rebel Bastar as "an ambitious and thought-provoking exploration of why Bastar became the enduring heartland of India's Maoist insurgency," Frankopan calls it "an engaging and original book that deserves to be widely read."

Combining rigorous historical research with years of on-the-ground reportage, Rebel Bastar: History, Maoism and the Search for Answers in India's Heartland presents a nuanced account of one of India's most misunderstood regions. By exploring the intersections of history, governance, society and development, the book contributes meaningfully to contemporary conversations on India's internal security, democratic evolution and regional histories, making it an insightful read for policymakers, academics, journalists and anyone interested in understanding the forces that have shaped India's heartland.