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Author: Rani

‘Shocked at the arrest of human rights defenders’

‘Shocked at the arrest of human rights defenders’

The Citizen / By MADISON, NJ

As an associate professor in political science at Drew University, New Jersey, who teaches and researches on human rights in India and the United States, I have been shocked to hear about the arbitrary arrest of prominent human rights activist and journalist Gautam Navlakha (as well as PUCL lawyer/ activist Sudha Bhardwaj, eminent poet Varavara Rao, lawyer Arun Ferreira and others) under the draconian Unlawful Activities Prevention Act that undermines basic due process rights.
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The Dispossession and Criminalisation of Adivasis in Central India

The Dispossession and Criminalisation of Adivasis in Central India

First published: Aug 3, 2010

Sanhati / By Stan Swamy

The dispossessed Adivasi is hunted as a criminal;
the looter-outsider has become ‘honourable citizen’.
1. The sad story of impoverishment of the Adivasi : A few examples will suffice. Gladson Dungdung is a young human rights activist and writer. His family had 20 acres of fertile land in Simdega district, Jharkhand . It was forcibly acquired by the govt for the construction of a dam at a terribly low rate. The compensation for the 20 acres fertile land the family got was Rs. 11,000. Even by minimal standards, it should have been at least Rs. 20 Iakhs. This is just one example among many many such deprivations. Is this not deliberate impoverishment of a people ?
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Is the owner of land also the owner of the minerals?

Is the owner of land also the owner of the minerals?

First published: Jun 6, 2015

Sanhati / By Stan Swamy

‘Minerals are an essential part of the land …the ownership of sub-soil/mineral wealth should normally follow the ownership of the land” – (SC:CIVIL APPEAL NO. 4549 OF 2000, delivered on July 8, 2013)
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The poet as the revolutionary – Talking with Varavara Rao (Part 1& 2)

The poet as the revolutionary – Talking with Varavara Rao (Part 1& 2)

Varavara Rao

First published: 2016

■ A POET AGAINST THE STATE: TALKING WITH VARAVARA RAO (Part 1)

RAIOT / By Ramu Ramanathan

In the first of the two part interview with Varavara Rao, founder member of Virasam (Revolutionary Writers’ Association), by playwright Ramu Ramanathan, the Maoist ideologue and Telegu poet reaffirms the role of an intellectual and reflects on the history of repression of the Indian state, and on the issues surrounding the statehood of Telangana
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■ The poet as the revolutionary – Talking with Varavara Rao (Part 2)

RAIOT / By Ramu Ramanathan

In the second part of the ongoing series of interviews with Varavara Rao, founder member of Virasam, by playwright Ramu Ramanathan, the Maoist ideologue and Telegu poet narrates his revolutionary journey, about people’s movements in Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh, about writing and publishing revolutionary literature and how the movement has produced some great writers.
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A poet against the state : Talking with Varavara Rao

A poet against the state : Talking with Varavara Rao

First published: Jun 30, 2016

RAIOT / By Ramu Ramanathan

In the first of the two part interview with Varavara Rao, founder member of Virasam (Revolutionary Writers’ Association), by playwright Ramu Ramanathan, the Maoist ideologue and Telegu poet reaffirms the role of an intellectual and reflects on the history of repression of the Indian state, and on the issues surrounding the statehood of Telangana.
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Statement condemning concerted persecution of democratic rights activists

Statement condemning concerted persecution of democratic rights activists

Sanhati India / By Sanhati India Collective


On 28th August, 2018 the Pune Police swooped down on prominent rights activists of the country: Sudha Bharadwaj, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves, Gautam Navalakha, and Varavara Rao. They were to be taken to Pune on the fabricated charge of being linked to CPI (Maoist) party and funding Elgar Parishad. At the same time, premises of Stan Swamy and Anand Teltumbde were also raided, and both have been shown as “suspected accused” under various sections of the UAPA. All of the arrested and accused are long-standing contributors to various public discussion fora, including Sanhati, espousing their commitment to the people and democracy.
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My book is a form of protest: Arun Ferreira

My book is a form of protest: Arun Ferreira

First published: Oct 5, 2014

National Confederations of Human Rights Organisations / By Kareena Gilani


Colours Of The Cage is an unsparing account of the nearly five years activist Arun Ferreira lost forever in Nagpur Central Jail after being accused of being a Naxalite. In May 2007, Ferreira was forced into a car by 15 men, beaten and blindfolded as he heard his abductors discussed the option of killing him off in an encounter. Till September 2011, Ferreira languished in prison while nine cases were slapped against him.
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