adivasis – Page 5 – free them all

The fight to save the earth / Sudha Bharadwaj on the Climate, Trade Unions and a Just Transition

02/08/2022 Asha

The fight to save the earth

02/08/2022

Dawn.com / by Jawed Naqvi

In her book This Changes Everything, Naomi Klein flags the most challenging threat humanity has ever faced: the war our economic model is waging against life on earth. Sudha Bharadwaj began translating the book in Pune’s Yerawada Jail. President Droupadi Murmu could gain useful insights from it. As a representative of India’s most exploited and threatened community of Adivasis, oldest inhabitants of the land, she could exchange notes with Bharadwaj in Mumbai.
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Interview: Sudha Bharadwaj on the Climate, Trade Unions and a Just Transition

29/07/2022

The Wire Science / by Nagraj Adve

Nagraj Adve spoke with trade unionist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj for The Wire Science.

While in Yerawada jail, you began to translate Naomi Klein’s book on global warming, This Changes Everything, into Hindi. What made you do it? And what were the challenges, in terms of doing it while in jail and in the translation?

I had always been concerned about ecological devastation in Chhattisgarh due to the limestone quarries and cement plants, vast coal mines, power plants and their ash dykes, sponge iron plants spewing black dust, and the rivers running red with iron ore – things that, as a trade unionist and later as a lawyer representing landowners fighting land acquisition, I had observed at close quarters. But I was always caught up with the battles of the present moment – the notices, the court cases, the jobs, the environmental hearings.
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by Naomi Klein / @NaomiAKlein (Jul 29, 2022)
Little in my writing life has moved me as much as trade unionist Sudha Bharadwaj’s account of translating “This Changes Everything” into Hindi when she was in jail under horrific conditions as a prisoner of conscience.

Fridays For Future India / @fridays_india (Jul 30, 2022)
Lawyer & social activist, Sudha Bharadwaj in an interview with @nagrajadve on the #climatecrisis and the challenges facing a fair transition away from coal in India;
Must Read!

Interview: Sudha Bharadwaj on the Climate, Trade Unions and a Just Transition

29/07/2022 Asha

The Wire Science / by Nagraj Adve

Nagraj Adve spoke with trade unionist and lawyer Sudha Bharadwaj for The Wire Science.

by Naomi Klein (Jul 29, 2022)
Little in my writing life has moved me as much as trade unionist Sudha Bharadwaj’s account of translating “This Changes Everything” into Hindi when she was in jail under horrific conditions as a prisoner of conscience.

India’s President Droupadi Murmu and ‘an Unbroken History of Broken Promises’ – by Suhda Bharadwaj

24/07/2022 Asha

The Quint / by Sudha Bharadwaj

Draupadi Murmu has difficult tasks cut out for her if she is to protect rights and ensure justice to the Adivasis.
The reference in the headline is to the passionate essay by the late Dr BD Sharma of the same title. The continuing criminalisation of the Adivasi peoples is seen even in the 75th year of our Independence.
In the past couple of weeks, several very important events have taken place that will deeply affect the Adivasi people of our country.
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Also read:
● Now that an Adivasi is president, will Big Media finally report on Adivasi issues? (Newslaundry / July 2022)
● Jailed Or Punished, With Or Without Trial: How The State Misuses The Law Against India’s Inconvenient Citizens (article 14 / July 2022)
● Narendra Modi’s Government Is Using False Charges of Terrorism to Repress Its Opponents (Jacobin.com / April 2022)
● Organisation In Jharkhand Is Holding The State Accountable (YKA / April 2022)
● Gadchiroli’s 300 Gram Sabhas Pass Resolution in Support of Activist Mahesh Raut (The Wire / Oct 2018)
● Press Release Of The Joint Fact Finding in Gadchiroli by CDRO, IAPL And WSS (WSS / May 2018)

Will Murmu Remain Help Unseen Adivasis Be Seen at Last? / Defending India’s Human Rights Defenders

21/07/2022 Asha

Will Droupadi Murmu Remain a BJP Electoral Ploy or Help Unseen Adivasis Be Seen at Last?

21/07/2022

The Wire / by Ajoy Ashirwad Mahaprashasta

BJP is sure to celebrate its own decision to get an Adivasi President elected more than Murmu’s own achievements as a loyal political worker. It remains to be seen if they will let her have her own voice.
… Those who have been working for Adivasis’ causes point out that while BJP may congratulate itself in nominating Droupadi Murmu, their governments have mostly struck down or dismissed autonomous movements led by Adivasis. People like Father Stan Swamy (who passed away due to alleged medical negligence while in jail), Sudha Bharadwaj, or Surendra Gadling, all of whom have devoted their lives to improve the conditions of Adivasis, have been arrested under charges of terrorism in the Elgar Parishad case.
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Defending India’s Human Rights Defenders

21/07/2022

South Asian Voices / by Ria Chakrabarty

On July 5, 2021, Jesuit Priest and human rights defender Father Stan died in Indian custody at the age of 84. He was the oldest person to be arrested by the Indian government for terrorism. Father Stan’s incarceration led to a global outcry against the Indian government’s brutal treatment of Indian human rights defenders.
Father Stan is one of a mushrooming group of prisoners of conscience whom the Indian government has jailed over the past few years.
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Also read:
● ‘Religious Freedom Worsened’: US Body Names India as ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (The Wire / April 2022)
● 2022 ANNUAL REPORT (U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) / April 2022)

Jailed Or Punished, With Or Without Trial: How The State Misuses The Law Against India’s Inconvenient Citizens

19/07/2022 Asha

Article14 / by Mani Chander

The arrests and continued incarceration of fact-checker Mohammad Zubair, political activist Javed Mohammed and the exoneration of 121 Adivasis accused of terrorism are the latest evidence of how the State adopts extra legal methods of dealing with ‘inconvenient citizens’- including journalists, dissidents, activists or the poorest Indians – to push official narratives of conspiracy and terrorism. The common threads: manipulation or egregious misinterpretation of laws, changing accusations, unknown or untraceable complainants and the abandonment of due process by police and courts.
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Announcements of Events Commemorating Father Stan’s Death in Custody

04/07/2022 Asha

Justice march in Stan’s memory

03/07/2022

The Telegraph / by Animesh Biosee

Memorandum will demand release of all human rights activists arrested in Elgaar Parishad and revocation of the UAPA cases.
Civil rights outfits along with like-minded political outfits will take out a Nyaya March (march for justice) in Ranchi on July 5 to mark the first death anniversary of octogenarian Jesuit priest and human rights defender Stan Swamy.
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Video: Persecution of Religious Minorities and their Defenders in India – Commemorating Father Stan’s Death in Custody

28/06/2022

By Hindus for Human Rights

Join us to mark the 1-year anniversary of Father Stan’s passing and hear from lawmakers from across the world, the UN, & Adivasi activists.
About this event
Join an international coalition of human rights organizations to mark the first anniversary of Father Stan Swamy’s passing. At this virtual event, we will hear from lawmakers from Australia, Canada, the European Parliament, the UK, and the US, as well as top officials from the UN. The event will also feature the voices of Adivasi (Indigenous) leaders, alongside whom Father Stan lived and worked for decades.

Video: Persecution of Religious Minorities and their Defenders in India

By Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) Channel

en | 1h 14min | 2022

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July 5: London, Anniversary Mass and Vigil for Fr Stan Swamy SJ

29/06/2022

By Jesuit Missions UK

A special Mass and Vigil to mark the first anniversary of the death of Fr Stan Swamy will take place in London on Tuesday, 5 July.
Mass will be celebrated at 13.05 in Farm Street Church, Mayfair, by Fr Dominic Robinson SJ. At 13.35 there will be a Solidarity Walk from Farm Street to the Indian High Commission.
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July 9: Lecture: Democracy & Human Rights Defenders

01/07/2022

NCHRO @NCHROofficial / by ISI Bengaluru

Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru is delighted to invite you to Volken-Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture on “Democracy & Human Rights Defenders”. The lecture will be delivered by Adv.Vrinda Grover and chaired by Adv. Henri Tiphagne.
Register

Tributes to Stan Swamy / Video: Why Democracy and Human Rights matter?

03/07/2022 Asha

Alluri Sitarama Raju and Stan Swamy: Two Adivasi rights defenders – one praised, one persecuted

04/07/2022

Scroll.in / by Cedric Prakash

Prime Minister Modi unveiled a statue of Alluri in Andhra Pradesh one day before the first death anniversary of the Jesuit priest, who passed away in custody.
On a recent domestic flight, the head of the cabin crew made an announcement from the airlines informing passengers that July 4 was the birth anniversary of
Alluri Seethrama Raju.
“He led the ‘Rampa Rebellion’, the protest of tribal people against the British Raj,” the announcement said.
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Fr. Stan Swamy: his legacy lives forever!

03/07/2022

Countercurrents.org / by Cedric Prakash

A year ago, on 5 July 2021, when Father Stan Swamy left us, the world mourned the death of a great human being who epitomised compassion, courage, collaboration and commitment! ‘Stan’, as he was lovingly called by those close to him, died whilst he was still incarcerated. From the time he was illegally arrested on 8 October 2020, he languished in the Taloja jail; his deteriorating health conditions prompted the Special Court to direct the jail authorities to admit him to a private hospital in Bombay where he finally succumbed, despite the best possible medical treatment given to him at that time! It was indeed too little too late. For one, Stan should never have been arrested;
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‘Sad situation for human rights in India… Father Stan Swamy’s resolve inspires us’

04/07/2022

The Indian Express / by Sadaf Modak

Father Frazer Mascarenhas, the former principal of St Xavier’s College in Mumbai and the Parish Priest of St Peter’s Church, in whose care Swamy was in his last days, in conversation with Sadaf Modak.
On July 5, it will be a year since the death of 84-year-old priest and Jharkhand-based activist Stan Swamy while in judicial custody. Swamy was arrested in the Elgaar Parishad case by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in October 2020 and a chargesheet filed against him for his alleged links with banned CPI (Maoist). Swamy had denied the charges.
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Video: Why Democracy and Human Rights matter? – Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture

03/07/2022

hindi | 2h 48min | 2022

By PUCL Jharkhand

People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Jharkhand organized the Inaugural Lecture of ‘Stan Swamy Memorial Lecture’ series on 1st of July 2022. Prof. Faizan Mustafa, the Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR University of Law, Hyderabad delivered the lecture.
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Essential to have defenders of rights in country

03/07/2022

The Telegraph / by Animesh Biosee

Activists pay tribute to Father Stan Swamy and criticise State’s tendency to crack down on dissent
India needs more human rights defenders, constitutional law expert Faizan Mustafa said in Ranchi on Friday as he paid tribute to the late Father Stan Swamy and criticised the State’s tendency to crack down on rights activists.
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XISS lecture to honour Stan Swamy

02/07/2022

Times of India / by Jaideep Deogharia

Ranchi: Vice-chancellor of National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad, Faizan Mustafa while addressing the first Stan Swamy memorial lecture here at XISS auditorium on Friday said that the activist believed in true spirit of human rights. “Swamy came from a different state to fight for the oppressed and people of a different state,” he said.
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Also read:
● Various Upcoming Events Commemorating Father Stan’s Death in Custody

And Ma died waiting for Surendra

20/06/2022 Asha

Midday.com / by Ajaz Ashraf

One of Nagpur’s most successful lawyers, Gadling took it upon himself to fight for the rights of Adivasis who were picked up and thrown inside jail after being tagged Maoists. Now he, too, is lodged in jail, without an end of his trial in sight.
There are many ways you could begin the story of lawyer Surendra Gadling, incarcerated in Mumbai’s Taloja Jail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act for his alleged role in the 2018 Bhima-Koregaon violence. You could, for instance, leap over the events of June 6, 2018, the day he was arrested, to begin the story from June 11.
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Also read:
● And Ma died waiting for Surendra (Midday.com / June 2022)
● And Ma can’t sing with Sagar (Midday.com / June 2022)
● And he waits for Shoma Sen (Midday.com / May 2022)
● And she waits for Gautam Navlakha (Midday.com / May 2022)

‘Unjust’ jail and death can’t eclipse Stan Swamy’s work / What is the Martin Ennals Award?

04/06/2022 Asha

‘Unjust’ jail and death can’t eclipse Stan Swamy’s work

04/06/2022

The Telegraph / by Pheroze L. Vincent

Jesuit priest has been honoured by Martin Ennals Foundation in Geneva for showing exceptional commitment to defending and promoting human rights.
Stan Swamy, the human rights defender and Jesuit priest who died in judicial custody in Mumbai at the age of 84, has been posthumously honoured by the Martin Ennals Foundation in Geneva.
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What is the Martin Ennals Award, the ‘human rights Nobel’, which honoured Father Stan Swamy?

04/06/2022

The Indian Express / by Dipanita Nath

In a special move this year, the Martin Ennals Foundation posthumously honoured Father Stan Swamy for his “many contributions to human rights”. Who was Martin Ennals, and what is the intention of the award?
Every year, the Martin Ennals Foundation, based in Geneva, Switzerland, gives out an award that is regarded as the Nobel Prize for human rights defenders. The recipients of this year’s awards include Daouda Diallo from Burkina Faso, Pham Doan Trang from Vietnam and Abdul-Hadi Al-Khawaja of Bahrain.
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Late Indian Jesuit honored with rights ‘Nobel Prize’

04/06/2022

UCA News / by UCA News reporter

Father Stan Swamy, the late Indian Jesuit priest and tribal rights activist, has been posthumously awarded the Martin Ennals Award, regarded as the Nobel Prize for human rights defenders…
Though the award was presented posthumously, the priest was chosen for it while he was still alive. “Father Stan was nominated for the award in spring 2021, but he sadly passed away before it could reach him,” said Hans Thoolen, chair of the award jury.
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And they wait for Mahesh Raut

23/05/2022 Asha

Midday.com / by Ajaz Ashraf

Every moment of joy has each family member of the youngest of the accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case murmur “wish you were here,” the title of Pink Floyd’s haunting song on aching absences.
A lady in a house at Wadsa, Gadchiroli district, rages and switches off the television every time Prime Minister Narendra Modi appears on it. The lady is an aunt of Mahesh Raut, who, at 34, is the youngest of the accused in the Bhima-Koregaon case and has been languishing in prison since his arrest on June 6, 2018. That house at Wadsa, where a family of 14 children and adults live, is home to Mahesh.
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Also read:
● And he waits for Shoma Sen (Midday / May 2022)
● And she waits for Gautam Navlakha (Midday / May 2022)
● Gadchiroli’s 300 Gram Sabhas Pass Resolution in Support of Activist Mahesh Raut (The Wire / Oct 2018)