ABSTRACT
The Left-Wing Extremist movement in India remains a major security challenge. As compared to Jammu and Kashmir and the Northeast, the movement is neither secessionist nor is known to draw funds from external sources. The challenge from Left extremism is much broader not only in terms of area but also issues. It is true that the movement has currently suffered setbacks but the longevity of the current phase, over 35 years now, speaks of the transformation which the movement has undergone. Though the movement is largely seen through the prism of violence, its role in raising the consciousness of the people also needs to be assessed. Were the leaders of the movement to redraw their strategy, putting greater emphasis on open functioning and mass actions, they could well tap into the deep currents of discontent that characterise both urban and rural strands of society.
