en + kannada | 2h 16min | 2021
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
17/08/2021
The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee
The spontaneous decision was taken during a resolution meeting organised by Jharkhand Krantikari Mazdoor Union at Adivasi Basti in Kadma
Daily wage earners in one of the urban slums in the steel city took a resolve to follow the ideals of Father Stan Swamy on the country’s 75th Independence Day on Sunday.
The spontaneous decision was taken during a resolution meeting organised by Jharkhand Krantikari Mazdoor Union (JKMU) at Adivasi Basti in Green Park, Kadma.
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17/08/2021
The New Indian Express / by Express News Service
The members of the House observed silence as a mark of respect for the departed souls.
The State Assembly on Monday condoled the demise of human rights activist Stan Swamy, Periyarist V Anaimuthu, Madurai Aadheenam Arunagirinathar, Tamil scholar Ilankumaranar, Dr S Kameswaran and nine former MLAs including Tindivanam K Ramamurthi and E Madhusudanan.
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16/08/2021
The Times of India / By The Times of India
A collection of artists came together on Independence Day in a virtual performance to honour Father Stan Swamy, the 84-year-old Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist who passed away in a Mumbai hospital on July 5 after being jailed in the Elgar Parishad case.
‘Kelvi Koothu’ or Dirge for Democracy, a two-hour event, had a line-up which included gaana artist G Isaivani of the Casteless Collective who was included in the BBC’s top 100 women list of 2020 and others like Gana Muthu, Muniammal, Kachha (Dholak), Citizens’ Choir, Kattiyakaari, Kalaimamani Muthuchandran’s Tholpaavai troupe, Rithvik Raja and Praveen Sparsh.
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tamil | 1h 58min | 2021
By Vettiver Collective
The price of liberty is eternal vigilance. Happy Independence Day is a greeting, a celebration, an opportunity to renew our commitment to safeguarding the Constitution of India and a reminder that democracy survives only if citizens actively thwart moves to curtail freedom. #Kelvi Koothu or Dirge for Democracy is that satirical, artistic reminder that a passive citizenry will herald the death of democracy. #FatherStan #IndependenceDay #August15 Catch the fantastic artist line up of Gana Muthu, Muniammal, G. Isaivani, Kachha (Dholak), Citizens’ Choir, Kattiyakaari, Muthuchandran’s Tholpaavai troupe, Rithvik Raja and Praveen Sparsh at #KelviKoothu.
Watch video
14/08/2021
The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent
A Chennai-based group is hosting a series of discussions and cultural events that will culminate in music and satire webcast on Independence Day in honour of Father Stan Swamy.
The event, titled “Kelvi Koothu” in Tamil and “Dirge for Democracy” in English, has been organised by the Vettiver Collective, a group that agitates on social and environment issues by conducting unsponsored cultural events.
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14/08/2021
Counterview / by Fr Cedric Prakash SJ
The institutional murder of 84-year-old Jesuit priest Fr Stan Swamy, who died on July 5, 2021 while still in judicial custody, has shaken the very foundations of democracy in India. The importance and the urgency to defend democracy and all that is precious in the Constitution of India against repressive and anti-people laws, is perhaps felt today, as never before…
On August 9, the National Campaign to Defend Democracy gained added momentum when 165 movements, platforms and organisations, representing thousands of citizens, gave a call for a country wide action to save our democracy
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12/08/2021
The Telegraph / by Animesh Bisoee
The National Campaign to Defend Democracy will take a pledge to to fight draconian laws, and uphold the right to question and show dissent
Over 160 civil society, labour and farmers’ organisations will as part of a nationwide campaign on Independence Day take a pledge to fight draconian laws, uphold the right to question and show dissent and oppose State actions that “deprive us of the freedoms of speech and opinion”.
The movement, named National Campaign to Defend Democracy and spearheaded by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), the Jharkhand Janadhikar Mahasabha (a conglomeration of human rights organisations) and trade unions, will also seek justice for Father Stan Swamy.
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hindi │ 1h 17min │2021
08/08/2021
By family and friends of Mahesh
Our friend Mahesh, is spending his fourth year in jail. Without trial! Who is Mahesh though? Why is his story important? And why is he a threat to the powers that are?
Join us for an evening where we will discuss all this and more. Friends, family, colleagues and journalists will talk about Mahesh and why he is still in jail.
We will also be launching a website which documents much of Mahesh’s story through this event.
We miss our friend and we really hope we will see #JusticeForMahesh very soon!
Watch video
Twitter: @justice4mahesh
04/08/2021
Edition: Aug 2021
Publisher: Indian Social Institute, Bangalore
Language: English
Paperback: 149 pages
Access a free PDF copy of the book here
03/08/2021
en / hindi | 2h | 2021
By Jamshedpur Jesuits
Release of Fr Stan Swamy’s Memoir at XISS, Ranchi, Jharkhand
03 August 2021
By Lok Raj Sangathan
Over a hundred and fifty people from all over India, and a few Indians abroad too, participated in an online event organised by Lok Raj Sangathan on the pressing issue of the draconian UAPA.
It began with a presentation explaining the history of the UAPA and other similar laws like TADA and POTA. It showed how authoritarian laws were made more repressive over the years; explained the provisions in the UAPA at present which render it totally brutal and violative of basic human rights.
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By International Solidarity for Academic Freedom in India (InSAF India)
Saturday, 31 July 2021
7 pm (IST)
Register here
We mourn the institutional murder of Father Stan Swamy that has fully exposed to the world the machinations of Indian state agencies and a compromised judiciary.
Dear friends,
As a growing number of human rights defenders are being incarcerated using charges of sedition, terrorism and anti-national activities, other in the movements and causes they have stood for and struggled with through constitutional means, now, in turn, are fighting for their release. It is clear the state is determined to silence these activists by any means necessary, framing them in false cases and denying them bail repeatedly.
– Why was Father Stan and his centre in Ranchi, Jharkhand (Bagaicha) such a threat to the state?
– How are corporations/commercial interests complicit with the state in trying to suppress the movements of such grassroots organizations and eliminate these activists?
– How does the Indian legal system enable those in power to rule by law instead of governing under a rule of law?
Through this webinar we hope to shine a light on how grassroots organizations and activists have stood up to the carceral state and its allied interests, and what support the international community can provide.
…
08/07/2021
Scroll.in / by Scroll Staff
‘Those involved in the Bhima Koregaon case are facing fabricated charges and being called Naxalites, but they work for the poor, just like Father Stan.’
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08/07/2021
Countercurrents.org / by Harsh Thakor
It is most heartening how the masses of India are not taking the custodial murder of Father Stan Swamy lying down. We must congratulate all the sections be it of the workers, peasants, youth or students who have collectively galvanised forces to crystallise resistance against neo-fascism. A spark is virtually being turned into a Prairie fire. In the last few days a spurt of qualitative protests has taken place in Orissa, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab and all around the country.
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07/07/2021
Gaurilankeshnews.com / by Gauri Lankesh News Desk
BK undertrials have demanded a judicial inquiry in the institutional murder of Fr. Stan Swamy and that the Taloja jail superintendent Kaustubh Kurlekar
With the news of the demise of tribal rights activist Father Stan Swamy on 5th July, under judicial custody in the Elgar Parishad case, masses all across the country, as well as many rights defenders globally, have expressed grief and anguish at the Modi regime for its murderous hounding of those who have been resisting its fascist rule. Following the funeral of Fr. Swamy which was live-streamed on YouTube for his family and well-wishers to witness, protests have erupted throughout the country.
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06/07/2021
Opposition leaders write to the President expressing outrage at the death in custody of Fr #StanSwamy. Say all those jailed in the Bhima Koregaon case as well as other political detenues who have been jailed for sedition under draconian laws like UAPA must be released forthwith.
06/07/2021
By Liz Throssell, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Press briefing notes on India
Spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights: Liz Throssell
Location: Geneva
Date: 6 July 2021
We are deeply saddened and disturbed by the death of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy, a human rights defender and Jesuit priest, in Mumbai yesterday, following his arrest in October 2020 under India’s Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Father Stan had been held in pre-trial detention without bail since his arrest, charged with terrorism-related offences in relation to demonstrations that date back to 2018. He was a long-standing activist, particularly on the rights of indigenous peoples and other marginalized groups. While in Mumbai’s Taloja Central Jail, his health deteriorated and he reportedly contracted COVID-19. His repeated applications for bail were rejected. He died as the Bombay High Court was considering an appeal against the rejection of his bail application.
Read full statement
06/07/2021
BBC / by BBC
Thousands of activists, political leaders and Indian citizens have taken to social media to pay tributes to jailed tribal rights activist Stan Swamy who died at the age of 84.
Many also expressed anger at the way he was jailed during Covid-19 and repeatedly denied bail.
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06/07/2021
The New Indian Express / by Jayakumar Madala
Scores of vehicles started arriving at Virugallur village in Tiruchy, moments after news of Fr Stan Swamy’s death broke in the media. People from near and far descended in the 84-year-old priest’s native village to express their condolences.
“He was a humble man who dedicated a lifetime to the welfare of tribal people,” said Swamy’s brother TPL Irudayaswamy (89).
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• • •
07/07/2021
Newslaundry / by Arundhati Roy
The excruciating, slow-motion, custodial murder of 84-year-old Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest who spent decades of his life in the service of India’s dispossessed, took place in the show window of our democracy. Our judiciary, police, intelligence services, and prison system are responsible. Our mainstream media too. All of them were aware of the case, and of his failing health. And yet he continued to be ground down.
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06/07/2021
By St Peter’s Church
Memorial mass for Father Stan Swamy at St Peter’s Church in Bandra today.
en | 1h57min | 2021
Watch here
05/07/2021
en | 2h 38min | 2021
Watch video @ Youtube Indian Social Institute
On 26th June “Movement Against UAPA and Other Repressive Laws (MURL)” conducted ONLINE NATIONAL CONVENTION demanding REPEAL OF ALL UNCONSTITUTIONAL REPRESSIVE LAWS
Watch part 1
Watch part 2
