APCR condemns detention of Goa NEET protesters over posters of political prisoners, alleges criminalisation of dissent
30/07/2026
Maktoobmedia / by Maktoob
According to APCR, the controversy began when activist Danish displayed a placard at a peaceful gathering following the Education Minister’s resignation over paper leaks, calling for the release of undertrial prisoners, including Sharjeel Imam, Umar Khalid and the Bhima Koregaon accused.
The Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR) on Thursday condemned the detention and criminal proceedings against activist Sudeep Dalvi, Danish and other NEET protesters in Goa, alleging that the state was using criminal law to suppress peaceful dissent and violate constitutional freedoms. Read more
The Jantar Mantar Student Protest: Anger, Accountability, and Democratic Rights
29/07/2026
Countercurrents.org / by Dinkar Kapoor
… It must also be noted that the anger brewing against the Modi government stems partly from the systematic erosion of democratic and constitutional rights. The government has suppressed every voice of dissent through repression. Some of the nation’s finest minds—such as Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha, Umar Khalid, Prabir Purkayastha, Sudha Bharadwaj, and Satyam Verma—have been imprisoned. Organizing sit-ins, protests, fasts, movements, or marches has become not merely difficult but virtually impossible in the country. Individuals committed to social causes—who strengthen democracy—were branded as “Andolanjeevi” (professional protesters), “anti-nationals,” and even “cockroaches.” Institutions that bolster the democratic system and channel public outrage toward democratic resolutions have been dismantled. Read more
‘Free Umar Khalid’ placard draws police action at Goa protest
26/07/2026
The Indian Express / by Pavneet Singh Chadha
Goa police detain man for carrying a placard that said ‘Free Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Bhima Koregaon 16’. Came after BJP Yuva Morcha workers staged a protest demanding his arrest
Goa Police Saturday evening detained a man for allegedly carrying a “Free Umar Khalid” placard at a gathering organised to express solidarity with the protests at Jantar Mantar in Delhi and to mark the resignation of former Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.
According to the police, the incident took place around 7 pm, when people gathered at the Azad Maidan in Panaji were raising slogans. Police said one of the protesters was carrying a placard that read, “Free Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Bhima Koregaon 16”. Read more
‘Refuse to Lift Your Lathis’: 1800 Citizens Write Open Letter to Security Forces At Jantar Mantar
25/07/2026
The Wire / by The Wire Staff
“Next time an order like this comes to you to savagely attack innocent peaceful protesters you must stop and think, and you must refuse to lift your lathi,” the letter read.
A group of concerned citizens, with over 1800 signatories, have written an open letter to the police and security forces deployed at Jantar Mantar, Delhi, following visuals of a violent crackdown on student protesters on July 20, 2026. Appealing directly to the personnel’s conscience, the letter asks them to resist orders to attack peaceful demonstrators. The letter has been circulated in 15 Indian languages, apart from English: Bengali, Garhwali, Hindi, Kannada, Kashmiri, Khasi, Maithili, Malayalam, Marathi, Nepali, Punjabi, Rajasthani, Tamizh, Telugu and Urdu. Read the full letter
“Hum Bharat Ke Log”: Tushar Gandhi Leads Mumbai Event Highlighting Constitutional Values & Democratic Rights
24/07/2026
Free Press Journal / by Poonam Apraj
Around 200 activists, students, writers and citizens gathered in Mumbai for ‘Hum Bharat Ke Log – Voice of Resistance’, a cultural programme highlighting constitutional values. Presided over by Tushar Gandhi, the event saw the launch of the ‘Lawyers of Students’ app for legal aid to protesting students. Speakers discussed democracy, justice, equality and peaceful civic participation.
… Those present included Dhananjay Shinde, Aamir Kazi, Guddi Tiwari, Sudhir Dhawale, Suvarna Salve, Subodh More, Tejas, Huma Namal, actor Sushant Singh, Akshay from Raigad and Advocate Todkar. Read more
CJP protest row: Mumbai Police book Shivaji Park organisers for unlawful assembly
20/07/2026
The Indian Express / by Express News Service
The organisers of the Shivaji Park protest are facing an FIR for ‘unlawful assembly’ as the Mumbai Police said, no permission was granted to carry out the demonstration.
… Earlier, the Mumbai Police had registered two FIRs in connection with the protests that were carried out in south Mumbai on Saturday in support of Sonam Wangchuk.The first FIR was registered at the Marine Drive police station against the NCP (Sharad Pawar) faction party workers for protesting near Mantralaya, and the second against left party organisations for protesting near the Press Club. The seven people booked include Sudhir Dhawale, an accused in the Elgar Parishad case who received bail last year. Read more
Remembering Fr. Stan Swamy: Five Years Since His Custodial Death
08/07/2026
Countercurrents.org / by National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM)
The National Alliance of People’s Movements (NAPM) pays its deepest tribute to Fr. Stan Swamy, a steadfast companion of Adivasi struggles, defender of constitutional democracy and people’s rights.
Five years after his institutional killing in judicial custody, his life and death stand as a searing indictment of a State that wages war on those who defend the Constitution, while enabling the systematic dispossession of Adivasi communities in the interests of corporate capital.
Fr. Stan Swamy lived and worked for decades among Adivasi communities in Jharkhand, making their struggles for Jal – Jangal – Zameen, dignity, and self-rule central to his life’s work. Read more
Call for repeal of anti-terror law on Indian Jesuit’s death anniversary
07/07/2026
UCA News / by Michael Gonsalves
Father Stan Swamy died as an undertrial prisoner following his arrest for allegedly violating the anti-terror law
Activists called for the repeal of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the disbandment of the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the main federal counterterrorism probe agency, during programs held on July 5.
During a public meeting at the Press Club of India in New Delhi, several activists said the death of Swamy on July 5, 2021, while he was still a prisoner, was a stark reminder of the erosion of constitutional rights and freedoms through the state machinery. Read more
Memorials across India mark 5 years since Jesuit Father Stan Swamy died in custody
07/07/2026
EWTN News / by Anto Akkara
Archbishop Vincent Aind led tributes in Ranchi and activists gathered in Mumbai to honor the priest, as his supporters press on to clear his name in the Bhima Koregaon case.
Memorial programs were held across India on July 5 to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Jesuit Father Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old tribal rights activist who died in custody at a Mumbai hospital in 2021 while awaiting trial on terrorism charges.
Archbishop Vincent Aind of Ranchi led supporters in garlanding Swamy’s bust at “Bagaicha,” meaning “garden,” the Jesuit social action center Swamy founded near Ranchi, the capital of Jharkhand. Read more
Picture credits: CASR / The Mooknayak
“Killed by a Bullet Named NIA”: CASR Meeting Slams Judicial System on Fr. Stan Swamy Anniversary
06/07/2026
The Mooknayak English / by Campaign Against State Repression (CASR)
Human Rights Defenders Remember Fr. Stan Swamy’s Custodial Death
On the fifth martyrdom anniversary of Jesuit priest and human rights defender Fr. Stan Swamy, the Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) organised a public meeting in New Delhi. The event, themed “NIA and UAPA: Constitutional Concerns and the Suppression of Dissent”, brought together lawyers, academics, journalists, human rights defenders, and activists to reflect on his legacy and critique the use of draconian laws against democratic voices. Read more
5 Years Since Stan Swamy’s Custodial Death: No Lessons Learnt, Concerns Over UAPA Abuse Persist
05/07/2026
Live Law / by Manu Sebastian
The Courts, unfortunately, look away from the abject weaponisation of the law, and the evocations of personal liberty remain largely confined to judicial seminars.
It has been five years since the death of Father Stan Swamy, while he was under custody in the Bhima Koregaon case. We still don’t know what was the crime committed by the man, except for the hyperbolic allegations of the National Investigation Agency, over which the Courts themselves have later raised many doubts and questions while granting bail to several co-accused in the case. Read more
Picture credits: Live Law
Supreme Court’s Judgment Expanding UAPA To Make Speech ‘Terrorist Act’ Puts Political Dissent At Risk: Rebecca John
05/07/2026
Live Law / by Gursimran Kaur Bakshi
Senior Advocate Rebecca John today raised concern over the Supreme Court’s expansion of the definition of ‘terrorist act’ under Section 15 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to include speech-related offences in the Gulfisha Fatima-Delhi riots larger conspiracy case.
… John was speaking at a public meeting organised to mark the 5th death anniversary of Father Stan Swamy, who died while awaiting bail in the Bhima Koregaon case pending trial for more than six years. Read more
5 Years After Stan Swamy Died in Custody, the Struggles He Lived For Continue
05/07/2026
The Quint / by Grace Nau Backia & Edgar Kaiser
Remembering Fr Stan Swamy means remembering the Adivasi rights movement he spent his life building.
“If this makes me a ‘desh drohi,’ then so be it,” wrote Fr Stan Swamy in his email to his friends on 28 July 2019, when he came to know that he had been accused of the crime of championing the rights of Adivasis in Jharkhand. His legacy transcends time, although his voice, which rang louder against the power, has been brought to a halt.
Five years since his death, we look back at Stan’s life, the legacy he left behind, and where things stand today, with the struggles he devoted his life to. Read more
I raise my voice for Adivasis, am I a Traitor?
04/07/2026
SabrangIndia / by Stan Swamy
This piece authored by Fr Stan Swamy was originally published on Aug 01, 2018. It was then re-published on July 5, 2021 the day of his martyrdom and is now being published on July 4-5, 2026 on the fifth anniversary of his death, in lasting tribute to his work and memory.
Stan Swamy, 1 August 2018: During the past two decades, I have identified myself with the Adivasi people and their struggle for a life of dignity and self-respect. As a writer, I have tried to analyse the different issues they are facing. In this process, I have clearly expressed dissent with several policies, laws enacted by the govt in the light of the Indian Constitution. I have questioned the validity, legality, justness of several steps taken by the govt and the ruling class. Read full statement
St Peter’s Church: standing in solidarity in 2021. Pic credits: Pradip Das / The Indian Express
To a living Saint, now dead five years: Meeting to commemorate July 5
06/07/2026
Sabrangindia / by Sabrangindia
July 5, 2026 marks the fifth anniversary of Father Stan Swamy, who’s death in judicial custody in Maharashtra has been condemned for the institutional murder that it was; the 84 year old activist priest, who died of maltreatment by the prison authorities in Mumbai after suffering from the dreaded Covid-19 pandemic was an activist priest remembered for his path-breaking work among Adivasis in Jharkand
A meeting to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of Father Stan Swamy was held yesterday, Sunday, July 5. Organised by the Bombay Catholic Sabha at the Loyola Hall, it was well attended by close to two hundred Mumbaikars. Invited speakers spoke on the theme “Fr. Stan and his belief in the Constitution” Read more
Five years on, Father Stan Swamy’s legacy remains
06/07/2026
The Times of India / by TOI
Five years after Father Stan Swamy died at a Mumbai hospital while in judicial custody, a memorial for him at a church in Bandra on Sunday saw civil rights activists trace his activism and recall his days in custody.
… Speaking at the meeting, advocate Mihir Desai said that fake police encounters are not only when police fire on an unarmed person, but similar trauma may occur when an old person with fragile health, unlikely to survive prolonged incarceration, gets arrested on allegedly false charges. Read more
Mumbai, 5 July 2026. Picture credits: Free Press Journal
Fr Stan Swamy Remembered On Fifth Death Anniversary, Citizens Renew Pledge To Defend Constitution
05/07/2026
Free Press Journal / by Manoj Ramakrishnan
More than 150 citizens, activists and civil society members gathered in Mumbai to mark the fifth death anniversary of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Fr Stan Swamy. Speakers paid tribute to his work for Adivasi rights, social justice and constitutional values, while renewing calls to uphold the Constitution and continue campaigns for civil liberties and justice.
… The public meeting, held under the theme “Fr Stan and his Belief in the Constitution”, was organised jointly by the Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS), Centre for Study of Society & Secularism (CSSS), Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), Christian Development Association (CDA), Association for Protection of Civil Rights (APCR), Mumbai for Peace and the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL). Read more
Fr Stan Swamy’s Fifth Death Anniversary To Be Marked In Mumbai With Constitution-Themed Memorial Event
02/07/2026
Free Press Journal / by FPJ News Service
Mumbai’s Bombay Catholic Sabha, along with several civil rights organisations, will hold a programme on July 5 to mark the fifth death anniversary of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Fr Stan Swamy. Titled ‘Fr Stan and his Belief in the Constitution’, the event in Bandra will feature advocates, activists and rights groups discussing his legacy and commitment to constitutional values.
The Bombay Catholic Sabha (BCS), along with several civil rights and citizens’ organisations, will organise a programme on Sunday, 5 July, to commemorate the fifth death anniversary of Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist Fr Stan Swamy. Read more
If Stan Swamy, the Martyr, were alive today ….
02/07/2026
Sabrangindia / by Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ
On the fifth anniversary of the tragic death of the People’s Priest, an associate writes that, if alive Fr Stan Swamy would have been at the forefront of all the ongoing struggles of the Adivasis
Exactly five years ago, on 5 July 2021, Jesuit Father Stan Swamy was murdered. He was killed because he refused to kow-tow to a brutal, fascist regime. He was killed because he took a stand for justice and truth! He was killed because he accompanied the Adivasis and the other subalterns for a more dignified, equitable, and humane life! He was killed because he refused to compromise with corrupt, communal, anti-people, anti –constitutional forces! He was killed because he believed in humanity and in the power of ordinary people! What Stan’s murderers never bargained for is that Stan the martyr will never die! Stan was a martyr for justice – he lives in the hearts, souls, and minds of millions today and forever!
Stan Swamy, the Martyr, is no longer around today- but if he were physically present in this world today, what exactly would he be doing?
If Stan Swamy, the Martyr, were alive today, he would be in the midst of the Adivasis. His life would be very simple and frugal. He would eat their food, sing their songs, and dance with them. He would identify with them totally. Yes, of course, he would be angry if others tried to destroy their identity, their culture and customs, their traditions, and their value systems. He would master their language and walk the talk with them. Read more
Indian Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy to be remembered at anniversary Mass in London
19/06/2026
By Jesuit Mission UK
Fr Stan Swamy SJ – the late priest who died in an Indian jail in 2021 – will be honoured at a memorial Mass at a London Jesuit parish.
The vigil service at St Anselm’s Church in Southall at 6.30pm on Saturday 4th July will be dedicated to the memory of Fr Stan, whose death anniversary falls the next day. Read more
▪ A Documentary Film on Stan Swamy – A Caged Bird Can Still Sing
hindi / en | 21:40min | 2025 By Karwan e Mohabbat
This short documentary revisits the life and work of Father Stan Swamy, the Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist who spent decades standing with Adivasi communities in Jharkhand. Arrested under draconian anti-terror laws and denied timely medical care, Stan died in custody on 5 July 2021. Through conversations with his friends and colleagues, and using Stan’s own archival footage and recordings, we reflect on his unwavering commitment to justice and begin to understand why he was targeted by the state. This is both a tribute and a reminder of the forces that criminalise dissent and silence those who speak for the most marginalised.
Remembering Stan Swamy (26 April 1937 – 5 July 2021)
The state persecuted Stan Swamy under the UAPA, a punishment that precipitated his death as an undertrial in judicial custody. Stan Swamy was framed, fettered, and finally forced towards a fatal illness under due process of law called the UAPA. The charges levelled reveal the state’s deep prejudice against an upright activist who spent decades in building and empowering Adivasi rights against historic neglect and exploitation. Stan Swamy’s persecution under the UAPA offers an understanding of how many others have been similarly punished by the state for their dissenting politics.
Prior to his incarceration, Stan Swamy’s failing health was well-known, but he was not granted even medical bail let alone regular bail. The NIA and the prison authorities refused to acknowledge the deterioration that he suffered in prison, and they failed to uphold his rights as a prisoner, a right to decent health care and facilities.
▪ I am not a Silent Spectator – Why Truth has become so bitter, Dissent so intolarable, Justice so out of reach – An Autobiographical Fragment, Memory and Reflection
Edition: Aug 2021
Publisher: Indian Social Institute, Bangalore
Language: English
Paperback: 149 pages
‘Why truth has become so bitter, dissent so intolerable, justice so out of reach?’ because truth has become very bitter to those in power and position, dissent, so unpalatable to the ruling elite, justice, so out of reach to the powerless, marginalised, deprived people. Yet, truth must be spoken, right to dissent must be upheld, and justice must reach the doorsteps of the poor. I am not a silent spectator. This booklet is not my autobiography. It is rather a collation of some glimpses/episodes from my life that somehow made a difference for me, and possibly for my confrères, colleagues and the people with whom I have shared my life.
Remembering Stan Swamy: Justice, Adivasi Rights, and the Politics of Criminalisation
27/04/2026
Countercurrents.org / by Dr Suresh Khairnar
The special constitutional protections granted to Adivasis under the Fifth and Sixth Schedules are steadily being eroded. The death of Stan Swamy stands as a stark reminder of this trajectory, raising serious concerns about the treatment of those who defend these rights.
In the Bhima Koregaon case, in which the NIA arrested him in October 2020, Stan Swamy had never visited Bhima Koregaon. There is no credible basis for linking him to the Elgaar Parishad. The Parishad itself was a coalition of more than 200 social organisations from Maharashtra, formed solely to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon Victory Day on 1 January 2018. I was personally associated with it as president of the Rashtra Seva Dal. Read more
Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha / @JharkhandJanad1 (Apr 25):
Today Mahasabha and Bagaicha, as part of two day Stan Swamy anniversary, organised discussions with activists and political reps and a press con on SIR and the worsening of electoral systems. @parakala was the main speaker. We also released a pamphlet for mass dissemination.
▪ I am not a Silent Spectator – Why Truth has become so bitter, Dissent so intolarable, Justice so out of reach – An Autobiographical Fragment, Memory and Reflection (Indian Social Institute / Aug 2021)
Edition: Aug 2021
Publisher: Indian Social Institute, Bangalore
Language: English
Paperback: 149 pages
‘Why truth has become so bitter, dissent so intolerable, justice so out of reach?’ because truth has become very bitter to those in power and position, dissent, so unpalatable to the ruling elite, justice, so out of reach to the powerless, marginalised, deprived people. Yet, truth must be spoken, right to dissent must be upheld, and justice must reach the doorsteps of the poor. I am not a silent spectator. This booklet is not my autobiography. It is rather a collation of some glimpses/episodes from my life that somehow made a difference for me, and possibly for my confrères, colleagues and the people with whom I have shared my life.
A convention organised by the Democratic Front Against Green Hunt, Punjab, was held to mark April 8 as a day opposing what participants described as “draconian laws” and to commemorate the legacy of Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev and Rajguru. …
Resolutions presented by Jaswinder Phagwara were adopted at the convention. … Additional demands included the release of activists and intellectuals in cases such as Bhima Koregaon, the Lucknow conspiracy case and the Delhi violence cases, the release of undertrials and convicts who have completed their sentences, protection of the right to organise and protest, and an end to alleged fake police encounters in Punjab. Read more
Advocate Surendra Gadling is the only one to continue languishing in the jail in the Bhima Koregaon case, after 15 other accused have been released on bail, some with conditions. Hyderabad: The Indian Association of People’s Lawyers (IAPL) on Monday, March 30, demanded the immediate release of it’s general secretary and eminent advocate from Nagpur Surendra Gadling, an accused in the Bhima-Koregaon and the Surajgarh mine arson cases in Maharashtra for the past eight years.
Gadling is the only one to continue languishing in jail in the Bhima Koregaon case after 15 others accused have been released on bail with some conditions. His discharge petition has been posted for hearing in the Supreme Court this week. Read more
Eid Milan Gathering Honours Human Rights Lawyers at Islam Gymkhana
31/03/2026
Muslim Mirror / by Muslim Mirror
A packed hall at Islam Gymkhana witnessed a festive Eid Milan that brought together over a hundred lawyers, scholars, activists, and students, culminating in the conferment of the Champions of Human Rights Award 2026 on three prominent legal practitioners. Read more
Mumbai Innocence Network Honours Lawyers Defending Wrongfully Accused In Terror Cases
29/03/2026
Free Press Journal / by Pranali Lotlikar
The Innocence Network on Saturday felicitated activists and lawyers in Mumbai for defending individuals allegedly wrongfully arrested, especially in terror cases. At the Islam Gymkhana event, Sudha Bharadwaj highlighted challenges faced by marginalised groups, while Gayatri Singh warned against restrictive laws. Organisers said the initiative aims to raise awareness on justice and due process.
… The awards recognised individuals who have worked to uphold civil liberties and defend the rights of those accused in controversial cases. Among those honoured was Nagpur-based lawyer Surendra Gadling, who is currently in jail, and who was conferred the “Champion of Human Rights” award. Advocates M. M. Sayyad and Ibrahim Harbat were also recognised for their legal work in defending accused persons in several terror-related cases involving minority communities. Read more
Public Meeting at Press Club of India Demands Release of People’s Lawyer Surendra Gadling
13/03/2026
The Mooknayak English / by Campaign Against State Repression (CASR)
Activist Surendra Gadling is detained for his human rights and civil rights work for marginalized religious communities.
Press Release by Campaign Against State Repression New Delhi, 12 March
Campaign Against State Repression (CASR) organised a public meeting at the Press Club of India on 12 March demanding the immediate release of people’s lawyer Surendra Gadling, who has been incarcerated in the Bhima Koregaon case. Lawyers, journalists, and academics addressed the gathering, highlighting the implications of the case for democratic rights, civil liberties, and the independence of the legal profession. Read the full press release
By Manish Azad (March 2, 2026:)
Join Public Meeting in Solidarity with People’s Advocate Surendra Gadling
Release Surendra Gadling immediately !!
Release All Political Prisoners !!
Iftar and Solidarity Meet for Political Prisoners Held in Kurla
02/03/2026
Muslim Mirror / by Muslim Mirror
An iftar, dua and public meeting in solidarity with political prisoners was held at CESA, Kurla (West), on February 28, organised by Innocence Network India. Now in its eighth year, the annual gathering drew former prisoners and their families which nearly made 80% of the audiences.
…
A message from Rona Wilson, an accused in the Bhima Koregaon case who was unable to attend, was read out at the venue. In it, he said that when large numbers of people are subjected to incarceration and prolonged legal battles, such gatherings were necessary to renew solidarity and sustain the pursuit of justice. Read more
Iftar gathers families of political prisoners, calls for sustained solidarity
02/03/2026
Maktoobmedia / by Maktoob Staff
An iftar, dua and public meeting in solidarity with political prisoners was held at the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CESA) in Kurla (West) on February 28. Organised by Innocence Network India, the annual gathering, now in its eighth year, drew former prisoners and their families, who organisers said made up nearly 80 per cent of the audience. Read more
“Widen the circle”: New anthology stands in solidarity with incarcerated activist Umar Khalid
19/02/2026
Maktoob / by Fida Fahima
Released on Tuesday at the Press Club of India in New Delhi, the book “Umar Khalid and His World: An Anthology” seeks to “widen the circle of companionship” around anti-CAA activist Umar Khalid and serve as a tribute to those jailed or targeted for speaking out against injustice, the organisers said.
… The book further accuses the regime of responding to dissent with a “brazen witch-hunt,” referencing cases such as Bhima Koregaon and the Delhi riots, and alleging that misinformation and media trials were deployed to incarcerate what it terms “foot soldiers of the Constitution.” Read more
Mumbai Lecture on Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam Bail Denial Highlights UAPA’s Chilling Effect
15/02/2026
The Wire / by Nishtha Sood
Speakers at the ninth Shahid Azmi Memorial Lecture said the Supreme Court’s refusal to grant bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam under UAPA threatens the right to protest and deepens fears of institutional failure.
… Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves and Sudha Bharadwaj were among those in attendance. Read more
When The Personal Became Political At Shahid Azmi Memorial Lecture
11/02/2026
Outlook India / by Pritha Vashisth
Organised by Innocence Network India, the Shahid Azmi Memorial Lecture focused this year on the prolonged denial of bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam.
… Among those present were individuals out on bail in the Bhima Koregaon case, often referred to as the BK 16, including Sudha Bharadwaj, Vernon Gonsalves, and Hany Babu. There were also people who had faced incarceration in cases such as the 7/11 Mumbai train blasts before eventually being acquitted. Some sat quietly taking notes. Others listened with folded arms. A few wiped away tears. Read more
For many Indian women jail sets them free. ‘Home had become a prison’
13/02/2026
The Print / by Sakhi Mehra
Seema Azad’s Unsilenced and From Phansi Yard by activist-lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj were the topic of discussion at Delhi’s Press Club last week. Both books were born of incarceration.
In prison, for all its cruelty, one can still breathe—unlike many other spaces in society. That was the unsettling truth that became the centre of a book discussion at the Press Club of India on 7 February. Writers, activists, and scholars gathered to talk about incarceration as a lived reality. Read more
Beyond Bars and Charges: What Women’s Jail Diaries Reveal About Society
09/02/2026
Outlook / by Mrinalini Dhyani
At a discussion on women’s prison writings, the conversation centred on memoirs by two women political prisoners, Unsilenced: The Jail Diary of an Activist by Seema Azad and Phansi Yard by Sudha Bharadwaj which brought together feminist historian Uma Chakravarti, activist-journalist Seema Azad, legal scholar Shailza Sharma, and researcher Mary, among others.
Incarceration in India is not an exception but a long-standing social reality, one that has shaped women’s lives across generations, from the years immediately after Independence to the present moment of prolonged undertrial detention. This was the central argument that emerged at a discussion on women’s prison writings held at the Press Club of India on Saturday evening. Read more
▪ From Phansi Yard: My Year with the Women of Yerawada Author: Sudha Bhardwaj Publishing Date: Oct 2023 Publisher: Juggernaut Pages: 216 Read more/order
▪ The Cell and the Soul – A Prison Memoir
Author: Anand Teltumbde
Publishing Date: Sep 2025
Publisher: Bloomsbury India
Pages: 256 Read more/order
▪ The Feared – Conversations with Eleven Political Prisoners Author: Neeta Kolhatkar Publishing Date: Dec 2024 Publisher: S&S India Pages: 272 Read more/order
▪ How Long Can the Moon Be Caged? Voices of Indian Political Prisoners Authors: Suchitra Vijayan and Francesca Recchia Publishing Date: Aug 2023 Publisher: Pluto Press Pages: 247 Read more / order
