Students of St Xavier’s and their principal Nicholas Tete, teachers and IG MS Bhatia (above) pay tribute on Thursday to the policemen martyred in Dumka. (Prashant Mitra)

Pakur SP Amarjit Balihar’s death on July 2 afternoon in Dumka to Maoist bullets has given his college professor an ideological jolt.

Now retired, professor Franklin Baxla had taught Balihar history during his graduation years between 1978 and 1980 at St Xavier’s College. Balihar studied in the capital’s premier college from 1976 to 1980.

On Thursday, professor Baxla, at a condolence meeting at Balihar’s alma mater, which was attended by over a thousand college-goers, shared his concern over concepts of Maoism he had given in class.

“While teaching Chinese history, I taught Balihar and other history students that Mao Tse Tung (also known as Mao Zedong) was pro-people and pro-poor, fighting for the rights of farmers, labourers and working classes. I’d said he (Mao) wasn’t the enemy of the common man. In my teachings, I built a positive image about Mao followers. But the way Maoists killed Balihar make me feel I taught him something wrong,” Baxla said.

He also alluded to the “miss” on Balihar’s side.

“In the Maratha history segment, I told my students about guerrilla warfare tactics in forest and hilly areas. Shivaji, who founded the Maratha empire, adopted guerrilla tactics where alertness is the key. Apparently, Balihar forgot the lesson,” he said.

The meeting also remembered others who sacrificed their lives fighting against extremism and terrorism as well as those who protected thousands trapped during the Uttarakhand disaster.

Inspector-general (Ranchi zone) M.S. Bhatia, who had worked with Balihar in Latehar, was also present on the occasion.

“It is a general conception among students that Maoists are brave people who help the poor and wage a war against the state that causes poverty, illiteracy and mismanagement. Youths get attracted towards Maoism based on this belief. But it is far from truth. Maoists are cowards. They wage a war against the state without ideology,” he said.

Bhatia also appealed to students to extend their moral support against internal insurgency.

“This is virtually a war between state and rebels. It is high time for students to decide to whom they will extend their moral support — martyrs or Maoists,” he said.

College principal Nicholas Tete remembered the young Amarjit. “Amarjit Balihar studied in this college for five years between 1976 and 1980. He was humble, soft-spoken and good in studies,” the principal said.

Tete also remembered another IPS from the college, Randhir Prasad Verma, who as Dhanbad SP died while fighting with bank robbers over 20 years ago. “The college has produced real-life heroes such as Amarjit Balihar and Randhir Prasad Verma. The sacrifice of heroes will not go in vain,” Tete said.

Earlier, the gathering observed a minute’s silence for the departed.

A student who attended the event called it an eye-opener. “Many who come to study in St Xavier’s College hail from Maoist strongholds. I hope they realise the hollowness of Maoist claims of giving justice to the poor,” the student said.

How should history textbooks represent Maoism?

Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com