EP-409 | Inside Bastar: The Journalist Who Made 200 Naxals Surrender | Vikas Tiwari
About this episode
Vikas Tiwari discusses his experiences and challenges as a journalist in Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh and his efforts to help Naxals return to mainstream society.
Vikas Tiwari, also known as Ranu Tiwari, runs the YouTube channel Bastar Talkies. He has helped over 200 Naxals surrender and return to mainstream society. In this episode of the ANI Podcast with Smita Prakash, he talks about how Naxalism began in Chhattisgarh, the challenges of reporting from Bastar, and the goal set by Union Home Minister Amit Shah to make India Naxal-free. He was awarded the Rameshwaram Hindi Journalism National Award in December 2025. This is a simple, first-hand account from a journalist reporting directly from the remote areas of Chhattisgarh. Timestamps 00:00 – Introduction 03:18 – From Truck Driver to YouTuber 11:58 – Dangers in Naxal-Affected Areas 15:34 – Naxalism and Its Causes 22:07 – How Naxals Return to the Mainstream 28:33 – Challenges of Reporting in Naxal Areas 36:41 – Naxals in Bastar: What Has Changed 41:10 – Thulthuli Encounter Explained 44:41 – The Story of Mukesh Chandrakar 50:58 – Why Maoists Resisted Development 56:03 – The Reality of Salwa Judum 58:28 – Life After Maoists’ Surrender 1:00:53 – Youth and Maoist Ideology 1:02:35 – Reporting from Naxal Areas 1:07:22 – Stories from Families of Martyrs 1:14:08 – When Maoists Started Losing…
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