This is a statement of solidarity endorsed and signed by over 200 intellectuals, artists, academicians, lawyers, journalists, and students in support of the five arrested in connection with Bhima-Koregaon case. In the 43rd year after Emergency was declared in this country, this statement was issued on June 25th 2018 condemning the arrest of such voices of democracy and demanding their immediate and unconditional release.]
Rona Wilson
We condemn the arrest of five human rights activists, professors and lawyers in connection with the Bhima-Koregaon clashes early this year. The alarming arrest of Advocate and General Secretary of Indian Association of Peoples’ Lawyers (IAPL) Surendra Gadling, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP) Public Relations Secretary Rona Wilson, Head of English Department Professor Shoma Sen of Nagpur University and member of Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), cultural activist and founder of Republican Panthers Jaatiya Antachi Chalwal Sudhir Dhawale and anti-displacement activist and Prime Ministers Rural Development Fellow (PMRDF) Mahesh Raut is a clear manifestation of state terror to crush the voices of dissent in this country.
The intemperate use of sections of the IPC and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) on all five reveals legal over-reach and exposes the desperation to foist extraordinary and excessive charges on all five to ensure they remain in the clutches of the Fadnavis-Maharashtra government. All the arrested have consistently worked for the assertion of oppressed and marginalised communities against majoritarian forces, spoken out against Brahmanical patriarchy, upheld peoples’ rights to land, life and dignity, and have strived for the release of political prisoners.
Today, after standing for the assertion of dalits, adivasis, Muslims, women, workers, farmers, marginalised sexualities, and oppressed communities, upholding the principles of democracy, and, consequently, being a thorn in the side of a vengeful police force, they are under the custody of impunity. Meanwhile, the perpetrators of violence during the Bhima-Koregaon clashes enjoy the protection of the state, patronage of the RSS and walk free. Now, with concerted efforts to implicate the arrested, egregious narratives of plots of assassinations is being weaved to defame and keep them in jail. These retributive actions are intended to threaten anyone who speaks out for them and drive a wedge between all struggles for peoples’ rights. In the last few years, wherever people have asserted their rights, the political establishment has clamped down on them with brutal force – be it in Saharanpur or Una, Bhima-Koregaon or Thoothkudi. The assault on the democratic fabric of this country, through the abuse of the legal and judicial process, the stage-managing of media for public trials, and deliberate efforts to build a climate of fear is blatant and pervasive. Today, more so than ever, it is crucial to reiterate unity in the face of divisive majoritarian politics that uses structural hierarchies to violently suppress different sections of people and communities. We strongly condemn the arrests of these voices of democracy, demand the immediate and unconditional release of all five human rights activists, professors and lawyers and stand united in our opposition to the onslaught of Brahmanical Hindutva fascism.
In Solidarity,
(Alphabetically)
- Abha Bhaiya, Jagori Rural, Himachal Pradesh and One Billion Rising
- Abha Dev Habib, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Abhay Regi, Department of History, SOAS, London
- Abhijnan Sarkar, editor, Towards a New Dawn and documentary filmmaker
- Achin Vanaik, Retired Professor, International Relations and Global Politics, University of Delhi
- Adil Jussawalla, poet, magazine editor and translator
- Aditya Shekhar, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
- AK Ramakrishnan, School of International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Alok Rai, former faculty, Department of English, University of Delhi and writer and translator
- Alokananda, alumni, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Hyderabad
- Amandeep Kaur, Panjab University, Chandigarh
- Amar Kanwar, filmmaker
- Amit Bhaduri, Professor Emeritus, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Amit Bhattacharyya, Professor, Jadavpur University and Secretary General, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)
- Anand Patwardhan, filmmaker
- Anand Teltumbde, writer and General Secretary, Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights (CPDR), Mumbai
- Ananya Vajpeyi, fellow, Centre for Studies in Developing Societies (CSDS), Delhi
- Aneeb PA, journalist
- Anirban Kar, Associate Professor, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
- Ankit Grewal, advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
- Anu Arunima, Professor, Women’s Studies Department, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Anubha Rana, School of Languages, Cultures and Linguistics, SOAS, London
- Anubhuti Sharma, research scholar, School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Anupama Potluri, Hyderabad Central University, Hyderabad
- Arijeet Mandal, Assistant Professor, Department of Film Studies, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Arjun Sheoran, advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
- Arun Khopkar, director and actor
- Ashok Bhowmick, artist
- Asiya Shervani, Independent Consultant, Diversity and Social Inclusion, Hyderabad
- Atamjit Singh, Punjabi playwright and Dakshinayan Abhiyan
- Atul Dodiya, artist
- Basavaraj Sulibhavi, activist and publisher of Ladai Prakashana, Karnataka
- Benu Mohanlal, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Bhupinder Choudhry, Maharaja Agrasen College, University of Delhi
- Biswajit K. Bora, Syama Prasad Mukherjee College, University of Delh
- Bittu Karthik Kondaiah, Associate Professor, Ashoka University, Sonipat and Telangana Hijra Intersex Transgender Samiti
- Buta Singh Nawanshahr, Association for Democratic Rights, Punjab
- C. Sadasiva, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Chaman Lal, professor in Hindi translation at Jawaharlal Nehru University and Punjabi writer
- Damodar Mauzo, Konkani writer and Sahitya Akademi awardee
- Deachen Angmo, student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Debaditya Bhattacharya, Kazi Nazrul University, Asansol
- Deepak Yatri, mime artist
- Devika N Menon, School of Arts and Aesthetics, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Farhana Latief, research student, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Feroze Mithiborwala, National Convenor, Bharat Bachao Andolan
- Freny Manecksha, independent journalist,
- G Haragopal, Visiting Professor, NLSIU, Bengaluru
- Ganesh Devy, Dakshinayan Abhiyan
- Gauhar Raza, former scientist, CSIR
- Gauri Gill, contemporary photographer, Delhi
- Ghanshyam Shah, social researcher, Ahmedabad
- Githa Hariharan, writer
- Govindi Joshi, Retd. Associate Professor, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Hany Babu MT, Associate Professor, Department of English, University of Delhi
- Hari Sen, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Hemlata Manishwar, Professor, Jamia Millia Islamia
- Himo Aronno, student, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Ila Ananya, journalist and student, Department of Gender Studies, SOAS, London
- Imran G, Advocate, J & K High Court and Subordinate Courts
- Indira Jaisingh, Advocate, Supreme Court of India
- Isha Khandelwal, Advocate, Jagdalpur Legal Aid Group
- Jagmohan Singh, Association for Democratic Rights (AFDR), Punjab
- Janaki Nair, Professor, Centre for Historical Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Jatinder, Assistant Professor, Punjabi University
- Jawari Mal Parakh, writer
- Jhelum Roy, activist, Bastar Solidarity Network (Kolkata Chapter)
- Jhuma Sen, OP Jindal Global University, Sonipat
- John Dayal, human rights and political activist, Secretary-General, All India Christian Council
- Jose Maria Sison, Chair, International League of People’s Struggle
- Joyraj Bhattacharjee, theatre practitioner, Kolkata
- Kalyani Menon Sen, feminist researcher and activist and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
- Kamayani Bali Mahabal, feminist and human rights activist, Mumbai
- Kanji Patel, poet and novelist in Gujarati and editor of journal Vahi
- Karuna DW, researcher, Chennai
- Kavita Srivastava, President, Rajasthan chapter of People’s Union of Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jaipur
- Keki Daruwalla, poet, writer and former IPS officer
- Keval Arora, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
- Kiran Nagarkar, novelist, playwright, film and drama critic and screenwriter in Marathi
- Kiran Shaheen, independent journalist and Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS), Delhi
- Krupa Desai, research student, Birkbeck, University of London
- Laltu (Harjinder), Hyderabad
- Laxmi Murthy, journalist, Bangalore
- Loi, Global Secretariat, International Indigenous Peoples Movement for Self-Determination and Liberation (IPMSDL)
- Madhu Bhaduri, former diplomat
- Mala Dayal, author and editor
- Malem Ningthouja, writer and Chairperson, Campaign for Peace and Democracy, Manipur (CPDM)
- Manasi Pingle, Bangalore
- Manshi Asher, activist, Himachal Pradesh
- Marie Boti, International Women’s Alliance
- Meena Kandasamy, poet, writer, translator and activist
- Megha Pansare, Assistant professor and head, Department of Foreign Languages, Shivaji University, Kolhapur and District President, National Federation of Indian Women (NFIW)
- MN Ravunni, Vice President, CRPP, Wayanad, Kerala
- Mohan Rao, Retd. Professor, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Monica Sabarwal, Assistant Professor, Punjabi University, Patiala
- Mridula Garg, writer
- Mrittika Biswas, MA Social Work, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Mukul Kesavan, historian, novelist and essayist
- Mukul Mangalik, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- N Raghuram, Professor and Dean, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi
- Nachikethas MJ, engineer
- Nalini Nayak, Retd. Associate Professor, PGDAV (M) College, University of Delhi
- Nancy Adajania, cultural theorist, art critic and curator
- Nandakumar KN, activist, writer and freelance journalist
- Nandini Chandra, Department of English, University of Delhi
- Nandini Dutta, Associate Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Nandini Sundar, Professor, Department of Sociology, Delhi School of Economics, University of Delhi
- Nandita Narain, St. Stephens College, University of Delhi
- Narender Thakur, B. R. Ambedkar College, University of Delhi
- Naveen Gaur, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Navsharan Singh, author and independent researcher
- Neha Sonawane, advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court, Chandigarh
- Nikhil Jain, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Nirmalangshu Mukerjee, Retd. Professor, Department of Philosophy, University of Delhi
- Nisha Biswas, scientist and activist, Kolkata
- Niti Saxena, feminist activist
- Nivedita Menon, Professor, Centre for Comparative Politics and Political Theory, Jawaharlal Nehru University
- P K Vijayan, Hindu College, University of Delhi
- P. Koya, Professor, Calicut, Vice President, CRPP
- Padma Velaskar, Retd. Professor, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Padmakar Shaw, Retd, Professor, Journalism, Osmania University
- Pankaj Tyagi, advocate, Punjab and Haryana High Court and People’s Union for Civil Rights, Haryana
- Pargat Singh, teacher, GMSS Sector 26 Model, Chandigarh
- Patricia Mukhim, social activist, writer, journalist and editor of Shillong Times
- Paul Zacharia, short story writer, novelist and essayist in Malayalam
- Pratik Sharma, student, University of Delhi
- Prithvi, student, University of Delhi
- Pulin Nayak, Retd. Professor, Department of Economics, University of Delhi
- Pushpa Achanta, journalist and consultant, Bangalore
- Radhika, lawyer and independent researcher
- Rajeev Bhargava, political theorist, former director of CSDS and former professor at Jawaharlal Nehru University
- Rajesh Azad, Lok Shikshak Manch, Delhi
- Rajvinder Singh Bains, High Court advocate and human rights lawyer, Chandigarh
- Rakesh Ranjan, Associate Professor, Shri Ram College of Commerce, University of Delhi
- Ranbir Kaleka, contemporary multimedia artist
- Ratna Raman, Sri Venketeswara College, University of Delhi
- Ravinder Goel, Retd. Associate Professor, Satyawati College (E), University of Delhi
- Ridhima Sharma, Centre for Women’s Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Rina Ramdev. Associate Professor, Sri Venkataswara College, University of Delhi
- Rita Kothari, Ashoka University, Sonipat and author and translator
- Rita Manchanda, writer and human rights activist
- Rita Sinha, Janki Devi Memorial College, University of Delhi
- Ritu Dewan, feminist economist and Director, Centre for Development Research and Action, Mumbai
- Rohini Hensman, writer and independent scholar, Bombay
- Roopa Dhawan, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Rosemary Dzuvichu, Head, Department of English, Nagaland University, Kohima
- Rossi D’Souza, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR
- Rudolf C. Heredia, Indian Social Institute, Delhi
- Rukmini Bhaya Nair, linguist, poet, writer and critic
- S Anand, publisher, Navayana
- Saba Dewan, filmmaker
- Sachin N, Dyal Singh College, University of Delhi
- Sachinderpal Singh, editor, Mashaal
- Sadhi Binning, Punjabi writer and activist, Canada
- Sadhna Arya, Satyawati College, University of Delhi
- Sagari Chhabra, writer and film director
- Sagari R Ramdas, Veterinary Scientist and Member, Food Sovereignty Alliance India
- Samantha Agarwal, PhD student, John Hopkins University
- Samit Basu, writer
- Samuel John, actor and cultural activist
- Sananda Dasgupta, activist, Bastar Solidarity Network (Kolkata Chapter)
- Sandeep, film editor and writer, Mumbai
- Sandhya Devasan, Assistant Professor, Jesus and Mary College, University of Delhi
- Sanjay Kak, filmmaker, Delhi
- Sanjay Kumar, Assistant Professor, Department of Sociology, Mahatma Gandhi Central University, Motihari, Bihar
- Sanjeev Kumar, writer and office-bearer, Janwadi Lekhak Sangh
- SAR Geelani, Professor, Zakir Hussain College, University of Delhi and President, Committee for the Release of Political Prisoners (CRPP)
- Saswati Ghosh, academic and activist, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Kolkata
- Satyam Varma, journalist
- Seema Azad, writer, activist, editor of Dastak and Secretary, People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Uttar Pradesh
- Shabnam Hashmi, social activist
- Shabnam Sengupta, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression
- Shafey Danish, Assistant Professor, KKM College, Munger University
- Shailza, International Politics, SOAS, London
- Shakeel Anjum, research student, School for International Studies, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Shanta Gokhale, writer, translator, journalist and social critic
- Shashank Kela, writer, Chennai
- Shaswati Mazumdar, Professor, Department of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi
- Sheba Chhachhi, photographer, activist, writer, filmmaker and artist, Delhi
- Shefali Saini, student, Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai
- Shinzani Jain, MA Sociology, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Shobhana Warrier, Kamala Nehru College, University of Delhi
- Shovon Chowdhury, writer
- Shreya K, Chhattisgarh
- Shumona Goel, filmmaker, Bombay
- Skand Priya, Assistant Professor, Shivaji College, University of Delhi
- Sohini, activist, Jan Jagran Shakti Sanghathan, Bihar
- Soumya Datta, South Asian University (SAU), Delhi
- Sourav Banerjee, Jadavpur University, Kolkata
- Srijani Kar, student, Department of Mathematics, University of Delhi
- Sudha Bharadwaj, trade unionist and human rights lawyer
- Sujato Bhadro, Vice President CRPP, Kolkata
- Sukrita Paul Kumar, poet, critic, academician
- Sumangala Damodaran, Associate Professor, Ambedkar University, Delhi
- Sunil Kumar, Professor, Head, Department of History, University of Delhi
- Surabhi Singh, freelance journalist
- Susie Tharu, writer, professor, publisher, editor and activist
- Suvojit Bagchi, journalist, Kolkata
- Svati Joshi, Retd. Associate Professor, Miranda House, University of Delhi
- Tamoghna Halder, PhD student, University of California, Davis
- Tathagata Sengupta, Homi Bhabha Centre for Science Education, TIFR
- Teena Anil, visiting fellow, Centre for the Study of Developing Societies, Delhi
- Teesta Setalvad, civil rights activist, journalist and Secretary, Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP)
- TM Krishna, musician and author
- Tultul Biswas, Madhya Pradesh Mahila Manch, Bhopal
- Ujwal Punyark, Faculty of Law, University of Delhi
- Ushmayo Dutta, University of Kashmir
- Venugopalrao Nellutla, Editor, Veekshanam
- Vidhya, student and activist, Women against Sexual Violence and State Repression (WSS)
- Vidya Rao, Hindustani classical singer and writer
- Vijay Singh, Retd. Associate Professor, Satyawati College, University of Delhi
- Vijaya Venkarataraman, Associate Professor, Deparment of Germanic and Romance Studies, University of Delhi
- Vijender Singh Chauhan, Zakir Hussain Delhi College, University of Delhi
- Vikas Bajpai, Assistant Professor, Centre for Social Medicine and Community Health, Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi
- Vikas Gupta, Assistant Professor, Department of History, University of Delhi, Joint Secretary, Sambhavana
- Vineet Tiwari, National Secretary, All India Progressive Writer’s Association
- Vineeta Bal, scientist, Pune
- Vinita Chandra, Ramjas College, University of Delhi
- Virginia Saldanha, Secretary, Indian Christian Women’s Movement, Mumbai
- Vishnu Nagar, writer and poet
- Vivek Narayanan, writer, poet and co-editor of Almost Island
- Waseem RS, Secretary, Fraternity Movement
- Windel Bolinget, Chairperson, Cordillera People’s Alliance and Co-Convenor of KATRIBU Kalinpunan ng mga Katutubong Mamamayan sa Pilipinas
- Xavier Dias, former editor, Khan Kaneej aur Adhikar, Jharkhand
- Yogesh Puri, Retd. Associate Professor, Kirori Mal College, University of Delhi
- Yuvraj RS Singh, Law Student, Raipur
- Zulaikha Jabeen, social activist, Delhi
(… More names are being added daily.)