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Month: August 2020

Shoma Sen: Teacher, Dissenter, and More

Shoma Sen: Teacher, Dissenter, and More


Pic: Koel Sen / Gauri Lankesh News

Gauri Lankesh News / By Gauri Lankesh News Desk

Shoma Sen’s exemplary contributions to the field of education and her prolific ability to mobilize people and especially women from across locations had brought her under the State’s scrutiny.
A reputed academician, a Dalit and Women’s Rights activist, a teacher, and dissenter, Shoma Sen is all of the above and more. Born and raised in Mumbai, she moved to Nagpur with her partner and daughter with a strong resolve to protect and promote the democratic rights of the most marginalized people in society.
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Varavara Rao’s neurological status unstable: Medical report

Varavara Rao’s neurological status unstable: Medical report

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dodhia

The report further states that depending on Rao’s condition and as per hospital protocols, they would permit Rao’s family to speak to him over video call.
The Bombay high court (HC) has highlighted that a part of the medical report of Telegu poet P Varavara Rao from Nanavati Hospital, where he was admitted for treatment Covid-19 and other comorbidities, has stated that though Rao’s electrolyte levels have normalised, his neurological status is unstable as he is still disoriented in his talks.
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NHRC to get Maharashtra govt’s health report on Varavara Rao examined by expert panel

21/08/2020

Deccan Herald / by Shemin Joy, DHNS

The National Human Rights (NHRC) on Friday decided to refer the medical report of jailed poet-activist Varavara Rao, who is admitted to a Mumbai hospital after testing positive for Covid-19, submitted by the Maharashtra government to its own expert panel.
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The Making of Varavara Rao: Part One

The Making of Varavara Rao: Part One

Newsclick / by N Venugopal Rao

Varavara Rao’s life as a man of letters started at a very early age.
Varavara Rao is someone I have known ever since I opened my eyes to the world around me. In the 80 years of his life, he has lived around 21 years more than me. I came to know of his life in the years I missed through our conversations, family-legends, his writings and speeches. Initially, he was only an uncle who played with me; my mother’s youngest brother and just that. However, over the 50 years from then, I grew up in the kaleidoscopic shadow of his thoughts-praxis — conversations, writings, speeches, rebuttals, inspiration, rage, consolation and reconciliation.
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‘To sir, with love’: Students write letters to jailed Delhi University professor Hany Babu

‘To sir, with love’: Students write letters to jailed Delhi University professor Hany Babu

Scroll.in / by Vijayta Lalwani

Babu was arrested by the National Investigation Agency on July 28.
„Birthday wishes Hany Sir. It pains me to write a birthday wish this way. I hope you are safe there. I hope you come out of this, back to your family and friends, back to the University, soon,” a student of Delhi University wrote in a letter to professor MT Hany Babu on his birthday on August 16.
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Webinar Aug 22: Dr Hany Babu – His Work and the Way Forward (Part 2)

Webinar Aug 22: Dr Hany Babu – His Work and the Way Forward (Part 2)

Click to enlarge poster / call above

By Dalitbahujans For Prof Hany Babu / Dalit Camera

Webinar
Aug 22
5pm
“Prof. Hany Babu, an anti-caste scholar and activist, was arrested in connection to the Bhima-Koregaon case by the National Investigation Agency on July 28 in Mumbai. We would like to discuss aspects of his work, including his struggles to ensure equal opportunities…”

Also watch Part 1: Dr Hany Babu – His Work and the Way Forward
Aug 13, 2020
Watch video

Rakesh Ranjan’s interrogation by NIA is a ‘witch-hunt’, say academics

Rakesh Ranjan’s interrogation by NIA is a ‘witch-hunt’, say academics

Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff

Ranjan, an associate professor of economics at Shri Ram College of Commerce, was questioned on August 14.
A group of activists, academics and students on Wednesday expressed solidarity with Delhi University professor Rakesh Ranjan, who was summoned for questioning by the National Investigation Agency in connection with the Bhima Koregaon case.
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HC Directs Hospital To Allow Varavara Rao’s Family To Talk To Him, Seeks Fresh Medical Report Of Sudha Bharadwaj

HC Directs Hospital To Allow Varavara Rao’s Family To Talk To Him, Seeks Fresh Medical Report Of Sudha Bharadwaj

Live Law / by Nitish Kashyap

The Bombay High Court on Monday directed the Nanavati hospital authorities to again allow Varavara Rao’s family to interact with him via video call after the family expressed anxiety for not receiving any updates on his health by hospital authorities…
Thereafter, Sudha Bharadwaj’s appeal against rejection of bail came up before the same bench.
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A Month on, Varavara Rao’s Family Says ‘No Update on COVID Status’

18/08/2020

The Quint / by Asmita Nandy

After a video call, Varavara Rao’s family said his health was improving but he remained physically weak.
Jailed poet and activist Varavara Rao’s family said the 80-year-old, who was admitted to Mumbai’s Nanavati hospital after testing positive for COVID-19 on 16 July, continued to remain physically weak.
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High Court: Let Varavara Rao make video calls to his family

18/08/2020

Hindustan Times / by K A Y Dohiya

The Bombay high court (HC) on Monday directed the state to allow activist and poet P Varavara Rao contact his family using video calls, while following hospital protocol. HC also directed court officials to provide Rao’s family and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) copies of Rao’s medical report, which was submitted to the court last week. The next hearing will be held after two weeks …
In another hearing for an appeal filed by lawyer and activist Sudha Bharadwaj, advocate Ragini Ahuja appealed against a special court’s decision to deny Bharadwaj interim bail … The court has also sought Bharadwaj’s latest medical report. The matter will be heard after two weeks.
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Prisons become breeding grounds for the coronavirus

Prisons become breeding grounds for the coronavirus


Drawing by Arun Ferreira

Frontline / by Divya Trivedi

Overcrowded prisons across India have become fertile breeding grounds for the coronavirus.
As early as May, the International Legal Foundation, which has two decades of experience in protecting detainees impacted by infectious diseases, warned that it was not a question of if, but when, COVID-19 would overwhelm incarceration facilities.
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More than 400 students, faculty members sci-tech institutes demand bail for Varavara Rao, GN Saibaba

More than 400 students, faculty members sci-tech institutes demand bail for Varavara Rao, GN Saibaba

Hindustan Times / by Priyanka Sahoo

More than 400 students, faculty members, and alumni from various science and technology institutes in the country have signed a petition to the Central government, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), and Chief Justice of India (CJI) SA Bobde, demanding bail and medical care for Varavara Rao and GN Saibaba, who are in jail for their alleged Communist Party of India (CPI)-Maoist links, and the release of other political prisoners.
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Student support has been outstanding: DU Prof PK Vijayan who was summoned by the NIA

Student support has been outstanding: DU Prof PK Vijayan who was summoned by the NIA


Solidarity poster

Edex Live / by Johanna Deeksha

The professor is a English teacher at the University’s Hindu College and was summoned for an investigation by the NIA on August 14.
Three days ago, Delhi University Professor PK Vijayan was asked to appear before the National Intelligence Agency for an investigation into the Bhima Koregaon incident. Just a few weeks ago, another DU professor, Hany Babu was taken into custody by the NIA.
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