The Burning Forest : India’s War in Bastar
Since 2005, Bastar's forests have been scorched by conflict. What began with a state-backed militia group, the Salwa Judum, massacring villagers and corralling survivors into detention centres has spiralled into something far grimmer: a militarised zone where the entire region has become a war zone. Civilians, armed forces, communist insurgents, and those fighting for justice have all paid the price. Beneath the soil lies treasure—vast mineral deposits that have only sharpened the appetite for control, turning this crisis into something truly destructive. The consequences have ravaged both the land itself and the cultural fabric woven through generations. Drawing on years of on-the-ground investigation, legal records, official papers, and her own direct involvement in these struggles, Sundar weaves together intimate portraits: accounts from those who lived through the chaos, rebels' perspectives, and soldiers' experiences. Beyond individual stories, she exposes a troubling reality: India's institutions have repeatedly faltered when put to the test. Political organisations, news outlets, advocates for the dispossessed, and courts have all fallen short in confronting this deepening catastrophe.
- Author: Nandini Sundar
- Publisher: Juggernaut
- Genre: Journalism & Media Studies
- ISBN: 978-9393986153
- Pages: 432 pages