Walking with the Comrades

Walking with the Comrades  Ms. Roy describes the desperate fight in the forests of India by very large groups of people trying to save their way of life and their environment. The exploitative forces of international capitalism have come to India where, as we see in the U.S. and elsewhere around the globe, profit and greed rule. While people in the U.S. may think the fight of the so-called Maoists in India has nothing to do with them, they need to think again. The battleground between international corporations and the people is everywhere. It's also a fight to save our planet from moving into runaway climate change that will change life as we know it today. Ms. Roy describes the hardships and suffering of ordinary people pushed to the edge of existence by powerful corporate/government forces attempting to exploit every last resource of the forest and land in India. What we see today in the U.S. with massive exploitation of our environment in coal mining, fracking operations, tar sands mining in Alberta, may create an environment here where ordinary people will need to fight back as they are currently in central India. The ominous message of Ms. Roy's book, "Walking with the Comrades" is that a low level war against the corporate/government forces may be in our future here in North America. A must read book, beautifully written, for those who care about justice.

Although much of the information in Comrades was in Roy's "Capitalism a Ghost Story" it was exceptional because of her experience with the Maoist and their supporters. Nowhere have I seen anything like this story. It exposes the superficiality of stories such as the (horrible) rapes on buses.It was as if I was reading about the First Nations of the Americas (as they were being slaughtered and driven off the land which they needed to survive) in real time. The historical data about former (Naxalite etc) struggles was essential. Roy is courageous in her writing and in her travels with the rebels. She has reinforced in me the fact that I, by my own lifestyle contribute to the murderous international consumer capitalist insanity....and therefore remain an armchair socialist and a hypocrite.

This is an amazing account of a people's struggle against enormous odds. It is very important to know about them and what they are going through and to raise concerns. Without someone as astute and courageous as Arundhati Roy we might not know about them

There is a fascinating struggle underway in India between it's past and present. We need to ask ourselves whether the price for this so called development is worth paying. What Ms. Roy presents in this book is an alternative way of life that is struggling for survival in modern India. You don't hear about this in the mainstream media. Indians are living in polluted, over crowded and chaotic cities and are being told that this is development. It is time to reassess this model of development.

A truly spectacular and inspiring read. Roy is intellectually brave, as always, but the book swimmers with authenticity--she has actually walked with the comrades, and by the end you will feel as if you have, too...

A beautifully written book, extremely comprehensive introduction to the situation in India. I would recommend it to anyone interested in Indian current events, leftist politics, or the struggle of corruption and capitalism. Great read, definitely give it a go

By hanging with these courageous people and understanding the necessity of supporting them, Roy, had to confront her own views on the violence / non-violence question. Her challenges to herself become challenges to us, her readers, because of her facility with her craft and willingness to expose herself. Arundhati Roy is a gift to the living.

I found this book eye opening. There are so many parallels which can be drawn between the situation in India and in so many other countries where native people and poor peasants are being dispossessed and exterminated in the name of "civilization" and economic gains which ar in the hands of a few.I would highly recommend this book. It shows the way in which general opinion is manipulated and the public is made to believe an alternate reality which is non existant.

I read this book mainly to know why it got banned. In most parts the book gives an account of the Maoist and Naxal movement but otherwise the book seems like a sympathy note to the naxal actions be it even raiding police station, killing innocent. The book speaks of ambush as if it is a romantic encounter between the forces and the Naxals. However the author fails to address the point that the movement is dead and no longer holds a place. I have personally travelled around Odisha Madhyapradesh and Andra Pradesh border villages. Most of the villages are poverty stricken. But there are many govt organisations working to uplift the place. And right when I was there the Naxals attacked a road laying party. Many speak against mineral mining in these areas. Ofcourse the villages that are vacated need to be compensated but these minerals are necessary for trade and development. The government should work towards compensating in a right manner. Overall the book is a boring Naxal sympathising travel account. If one wants to know the actual plight of tribals then read, "Everybody Loves a good drought" by P Sainath

A really interesting account of the life in the jungles of Bastar in company with naxals. This book gave me the idea why naxalism is not terrorism. If you oppress the have-nots and fuel capitalism in the society what will the deprived people do? I donot support naxalism but equality in distribution of basic necessities of life should be there. You cannot expect patriotism from a hungry man. Hunger is more dangerous than anything else. Our Govt Machinery needs to be cleaned and our leadership must care for the poor.Arundhati Roy has very beautifully portrayed the life of the rebels who are fighting for survival. A must read for everyone to know the reality of the naxal movement.

After reading this book/merits of Arundhati roy i am giving 5 start,you will gradually understands the pain of the people/dissents & ugly side of govt."no matter what happens govt always sucks"(all the goverments r bad" no comments just read it and make your point/view about both goverments .

Unabashedly partisan & unapologetic, Roy passionately takes a stand and lets herself be its voice. To paraphrase her words, it's important to make secret histories public. This book, like its author, will be hated by those who believe any form of criticism of the State is an anti-national act. Love her or hate her, this is a perspective essential to be imbibed by society so that a peaceful way forward can be figured out. Still valid years after it was written, it only suggests that it's past high time for intelligent citizens of India to take cognisance of the issues at hand in the teeming jungles of Dandakaranya.

An account of atrocities made by state to Jungle loving and Jungle living people. When administration fails people take the charge to make their own administration and protest against state's oppression, mining companies who snatch their resources. Most of all they are being displaced, being migrated. Rape,kill,beating, burn the everything are tools police and armed forces use. Building dams also make their lives hell as it submerges their house and all past history and tradition like their ancestors worshiping place, their reminiscences of thousand years history all destroyed. And when they take up their arms to protest we labelled them as militant. Where they'll go for getting justice? Dharna, Judiciary, parliament... are all these institutions protecting the vulnerables ??