Saket Ranjan's writings and activism left a lasting impact on political discourse in Karnataka

By Harsh Thakor*  

2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the deaths of Saket Rajan and Shivalingus, members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist), who were killed by security forces on February 6, 2005. Their deaths sparked controversy, with many questioning the circumstances and alleging that it was a staged encounter to conceal possible torture.

Born around 1960 into an upper-caste Iyengar family in Mysore, Rajan’s early life was shaped by an interest in philosophy and political thought. Initially drawn to the works of Osho and Jiddu Krishnamurti, he later engaged with historians such as Romila Thapar and theorists like Frantz Fanon. He pursued an undergraduate degree in English and Journalism at Maharaja’s College, Mysore, and later completed postgraduate studies in journalism at Bangalore University and the Indian Institute of Mass Communication.

During his time as a student, Rajan was involved in political debates and activism, aligning with Marxist-Leninist ideas. He argued that the Indian state was "semi-feudal and semi-colonial" and played a role in the radical leftist movements emerging in Karnataka.

By the early 1980s, Rajan transitioned from student activism to full-time revolutionary work. He led efforts to oppose industrial projects that, in his view, caused displacement and exploitation. In 1987, he was elected to the Karnataka State Committee of the CPI (ML) (People’s War) and later became an alternate member of its Central Committee. After the party merged with the Maoist Communist Centre to form the CPI (Maoist) in 2004, he retained his leadership position.

Rajan advocated for the creation of a guerrilla base in Karnataka and was involved in organizing movements against mining expansion and industrialization policies he deemed imperialist. He also engaged with the Dalit movement in Kolar, delivering speeches at student hostels and encouraging political activism.

Before going underground, Rajan worked as a journalist, writing about environmental and social issues. His reports covered topics such as uranium enrichment projects, displacement of tribal communities, and bonded labor practices.

His most notable scholarly work, "Making History", is a two-volume historical analysis of Karnataka from a Marxist perspective. The book, based on extensive research, explores Karnataka’s history from British rule in 1799 to the 1857 Revolt. It criticizes colonial and feudal structures and highlights armed resistance movements. Some universities in Karnataka have included sections of Making History in their curricula.

Rajan's death led to widespread allegations of a staged encounter, with activists demanding a judicial inquiry. The state government cremated his body without handing it over to his family or supporters, further fueling controversy.

Following his death, Rajan's intellectual contributions gained recognition, with discussions on his academic work taking place in institutions from Mysore to Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi. Despite his involvement in armed struggle, his writings and activism left a lasting impact on political discourse in Karnataka.

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*Freelance journalist