Terrorism means the policy of striking terror in the minds of the people by violent methods to achieve some ends. It is a law of the jungle to use muscle power and force to get things done. It is a barbarian act. Of late, terrorism has become the order of the day.
People who are disgruntled and who are unable to get their desires fulfilled by normal and accepted methods in society are resorting to terrorism. Some othe4r causes for which terrorism is resorted to may be genuine like a protest from people to come out of bondage or fight for freedom. Even such causes do not support terrorism, when there are other channels and methods to solve the problem.
Terrorism has now become an international phenomenon. There are terrorists in developed and advanced countries as well as developing countries like India. We must find out the reasons for emergence of terrorism. There has been exploitation of the weak and the poor for centuries by the rich and the powerful. All representations and appeals of non-violent nature failed to yield any response. Hence the frustrated and the oppressed resort to violence as there is no other alternative. Such protests are also called terrorist activities. There is another type, that is, where one uses force on the weak to gain his ends; sit may be to serve the cause of a religion, a language or to establish a new pattern of government.
The communist movements which resort to force, and the armed protests which Netaji subhas Chandra Bose led, in the name of eh Indian National Army (I.N.A) cannot be termed as terrorist activities. Protests like Khalistan Movement carried on earlier in Punjab, the armed protest marches of Assam and the L.T.T.E. Movement of Sri Lanka are not justifiable movements. They could always use other forums of a non-violent nature if they have any grievances to be redressed. The hijacking of the Indian Airlines Plane in December 1999 is also another ugly face of terrorism. The worst type of terrorism was that of Idi Amin of Uganda who let loose terrorism in his country to serve his personal ends. Whether terrorism is justified or not, it has of late become the normal method for achieving one’s ends.
Terrorism is not confined to any area or activity. It is finding its place in the elections conducted in our country to elect members to legislatures and parliament. Many a time the candidates are found taking the help of terrorists to win their elections, as violence has its own place in and election campaign. As long as violence pays dividends much more easily and is allowed to go unchecked, the animal in man favors its use instead of peaceful methods.
Governments all over the world are doing their best to put and end to terrorism. There are a few who encourage and support terrorism in other countries to meet their own political ends. The U.N.O. also is unable to completely eliminate this evil, even though it is able to contain it. But use of violence to check violence is not a permanent solution.
The only remedy to this evil appears to be the diagnosis of the root cause for each act of terrorism and if there is a genuine reason behind it, it is better to concede the demand. If terrorism is based on issues which are immoral and not acceptable, the sure and powerful weapon against it appears to be non violent “satyagraha” introduced by Mahatma Gandhi.