Every now and then, governments take different types of steps to fight Naxal’s propaganda. But in Gadchiroli, an IPS officer’ found a unique way to counter it. 2010-batch IPS officer of Maharashtra cadre, Ankit Goyal launched a comic strip under the title of ‘Gadchiroli Files’ that reflects the ground realities of the affected area in Gadchiroli. This comic strip is based on the theme of how Naxals harassed the people and how they try to stall development in the area.
A brainstorming story with thought-provoking caricatures comes up on social media in ‘Gadchiroli Files’ every fortnight. These comic strips are published in 3 languages, English, Marathi and Gondi and a local artist draws the caricatures. The first comic strip was published on 2 January this year. Indian Masterminds interacted with IPS officer Ankit Goyal to get more details.
GADCHIROLI FILES
‘Gadchiroli Files’ shows on-the-ground happenings of the Gadchiroli district. It puts forward the real picture of the district and counters the Naxal propaganda.
Talking to Indian Masterminds, SP of Gadchiroli, Ankit Goyal, said, “We wanted to inform the common people in very few words how Naxals were misleading them. We wanted to let them know how Naxals are obstructing developmental work in the district. That’s when the creative idea of this comic strip came up and we started working on it. We thought a comic strip would be catchy and convey our message more effectively. It is a better idea than circulating long pages of material among people.”
FIRST COMIC STRIP
The inaugural comic strip went live on 2 January this year as ‘Gadchiroli Files #001’, published by the Gadchiroli Police on its social media handles in three languages — English, Marathi and the local tribal language of Gondi.
It was a three-panelled strip with the first panel showing a supposed Naxalite with a gun strapped to his chest telling a boy outside a Zilla Parishad school to come and join the Naxal movement with him. In the second panel, the boy tells the visibly angry militant that he will not join the movement as he wants to go to school and become an engineer instead. Next, the Zilla Parishad school that was standing in the background is ablaze, smoke rising from it, and the school board knocked down. Then, the Naxalite laughs and says, ‘Lal Salam’.
RESPONSE
Talking about the response to the comic strips, Mr. Goyal said, “It’s only been a month since our initiative. But its response is very good. People are becoming aware. Along with this, our responsibility has also increased as we must continue delivering the right things to them. When the ground realities reach the common people and the whole picture gets clear, then all Naxal propaganda will be demolished.”
The officer also informed that they plan to keep publishing the Marathi and English versions on social media because it is a powerful medium. But for the remote tribal villagers who have little or no access to Internet, we will distribute the Gondi version of comic strips. “We will print the strips and distribute them like pamphlets in these tribal areas as Gondi is the native language there.”
