RAIPUR: For years, Kamla, a former Maoist from Bastar in Chhattisgarh’s Narayanpur district, ran through forests with a gun on her shoulder. This winter, Kamla is running again – but with a rope in her hand, digging her heels in the red soil as she practises the tug-of-war. Kamla, who laid down arms recently, will participate in the final round of Bastar Olympics, scheduled for later this month. “I surrendered this year. Now, every pull on this rope feels like I am pulling my life onto the other side,” she said.Podiyam Bhima, also known as Lokesh, was with the Maoist movement until early this year. He had heard that many of the surrendered Maoists were participating in the Bastar Olympics. “I used to think that one day when I surrender, I would take part too. Bastar Olympics was one of the big attractions for me in deciding to lay down arms,” Bhima said.Today he is training for the archery event. This is the second year of Bastar Olympics, having over three lakh registered participants ranging from block to district and divisional level across the seven districts of Bastar.Union home minister Amit Shah, who had attended last year’s event, will participate on the final day this year on Dec 13, coming close on the heels of his ministry’s call to end Maoist extremism in India by March 31, 2026.At a recent event in New Delhi, PM Narendra Modi cited the Bastar Olympics as a marker of change. He recalled a time when even journalists needed multiple permissions to enter Bastar. “Last year, about 300 surrendered cadres took part. This time, more than 500 rehabilitated ex-Maoists and over 600 participants under the Nuva Baat identity are in the fray, alongside Naxal-affected players with disabilities,” Chhattisgarh deputy CM Arun Sao said.Over 10,000 block-level winners have moved up to district events, and 3,000-3,500 athletes will now compete at the divisional and final stage in Jagdalpur from Dec 11 to 13. Players from all seven districts — Bastar, Kanker, Kondagaon, Bijapur, Dantewada, Sukma and Narayanpur — are competing in 11 disciplines: athletics, archery, kabaddi, kho-kho, football, hockey, badminton, volleyball, karate, weightlifting and tug-of-war.
