"Time" to stand up and speak out for oppressed, against injustices of "all kinds", unafraid of any consequences

Milind Ekbote, Sambhaji Bhide

By Rohit Prajapati*
August 28, 2018 witnessed raids at the houses and arrests of prominent activists and intellectuals Advocate Sudha Bharadwaj from Faridabad, Gautam Navlakha from New Delhi, Professor Varavara Rao from Hyderabad, Arun Ferreira, Vernon Gonsalves from Mumbai and house raids of Fr. Stan Swamy in Ranchi, Anand Teltumbde in Goa, daughters of Professor Varavara – Anala and Pavana, journalist K V Kumaranath, EFLU Professor Satyanarayana, journalist Kranti Tekula and Naseem in Hyderabad and Susan Abraham in Mumbai.
Similarly, in June 2018, Shoma Sen, Sudhir Dhawale, Surendra Gadling, Mahesh Raut, and Rona Wilson were also arrested.
All these raids and arrests are allegedly connected to the attacks of dalits in the Bhima Koregaon violence following the Elgaar Parishad public meeting, where in fact the real culprits and main conspirators right-wing leaders Sambhaji Bhide and Milind Ekbote are at large. However, it is clear that these attacks on rights activists is nothing but targeting them for their work for the people, for social justice and against the state’s unjust actions and policies. This is nothing but an attempt to crush voices of dissent and political opposition against the ruling party.
Colleagues, comrades, and friends in past few days have condemned, criticised these unjustified raids and arbitrary arrests and detailed the sinister agenda of the government to undermine the founding principles of Indian democracy and her Constitutional guarantees.
The government and a biased media are using intimidatory tactics and as a result, it is possible that we could get silenced, perhaps a wee bit frightened, and even "pragmatic" as "advised".
Perhaps this is the time not to be "wise" and "pragmatic" even if we sense fear as the brute, unjust, and oppressive state seeks to browbeat us.
I believe this is just the right time to speak out, continue speaking, do what needs to be done, support and join the movement against exploitation, present destructive development model, repressive state and continue doing what we do, with renewed solidarity and lessons learnt anew.
We owe this simply to our ideals and the lifelong struggle for a just, equal society; to our all friends and comrades who strive for a just society; to brave people who envision and strive for justice and basic amenities for all.
The present times could be scary, in the face of threats, violence, and repression in this fascist regime. To be scared is very human but it is equally human to overcome those fears and threats and to continue being what we are, continue doing what we do and what needs to be done, now!
We should resolve to continue our fight for Justice and Truth, to uphold the values of Human Rights, to stand up and speak-out for the oppressed against injustice of all kinds, unafraid of all consequences.
---
*Senior activist, Paryavan Suraksha Samiti, Vadodara, Gujarat

Comments

From plagiarism to proxy exams: Galgotias and systemic failure in education

By Sandeep Pandey* Shock is being expressed at Galgotias University being found presenting a Chinese-made robotic dog and a South Korean-made soccer-playing drone as its own creations at the recently held India AI Impact Summit 2026, a global event in New Delhi. Earlier, a UGC-listed journal had published a paper from the university titled “Corona Virus Killed by Sound Vibrations Produced by Thali or Ghanti: A Potential Hypothesis,” which became the subject of widespread ridicule. Following the robotic dog controversy coming to light, the university has withdrawn the paper. These incidents are symptoms of deeper problems afflicting the Indian education system in general. Galgotias merely bit off more than it could chew.

Farewell to Saleem Samad: A life devoted to fearless journalism

By Nava Thakuria* Heartbreaking news arrived from Dhaka as the vibrant city lost one of its most active and committed citizens with the passing of journalist, author and progressive Bangladeshi national Saleem Samad. A gentleman who always had issues to discuss with anyone, anywhere and at any time, he passed away on 22 February 2026 while undergoing cancer treatment at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. He was 74.

From ancient wisdom to modern nationhood: The Indian story

By Syed Osman Sher South of the Himalayas lies a triangular stretch of land, spreading about 2,000 miles in each direction—a world of rare magic. It has fired the imagination of wanderers, settlers, raiders, traders, conquerors, and colonizers. They entered this country bringing with them new ethnicities, cultures, customs, religions, and languages.

The 'glass cliff' at Galgotias: How a university’s AI crisis became a gendered blame game

By Mohd. Ziyaullah Khan* “She was not aware of the technical origins of the product and in her enthusiasm of being on camera, gave factually incorrect information.” These were the words used in the official press release by Galgotias University following the controversy at the AI Impact Summit in Delhi. The statement came across as defensive, petty, and deeply insensitive.

Conversion laws and national identity: A Jesuit response response to the Hindutva narrative

By Rajiv Shah A recent book, " Luminous Footprints: The Christian Impact on India ", authored by two Jesuit scholars, Dr. Lancy Lobo and Dr. Denzil Fernandes , seeks to counter the current dominant narrative on Indian Christians , which equates evangelisation with conversion, and education, health and the social services provided by Christians as meant to lure -- even force -- vulnerable sections into Christianity.

Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov, the artist who survived Stalin's cultural purges

By Harsh Thakor* Sergei Vasilyevich Gerasimov (September 14, 1885 – April 20, 1964) was a Soviet artist, professor, academician, and teacher. His work was posthumously awarded the Lenin Prize, the highest artistic honour of the USSR. His paintings traced the development of socialist realism in the visual arts while retaining qualities drawn from impressionism. Gerasimov reconciled a lyrical approach to nature with the demands of Soviet socialist ideology.

Development vs community: New coal politics and old conflicts in Madhya Pradesh

By Deepmala Patel* The Singrauli region of Madhya Pradesh, often described as “India’s energy capital,” has for decades been a hub of coal mining and thermal power generation. Today, the Dhirouli coal mine project in this district has triggered widespread protests among local communities. In recent years, the project has generated intense controversy, public opposition, and significant legal and social questions. This is not merely a dispute over one mine; it raises a larger question—who pays the price for energy development? Large corporate beneficiaries or the survival of local communities?

Development at what cost? The budget's blind spot for the environment

By Raj Kumar Sinha* The historical ills in the relationship between capital and the environment have now manifested in areas commonly referred to as the "environmental crisis." This includes global warming, the destruction of the ozone layer, the devastation of tropical forests, mass mortality of fish, species extinction, loss of biodiversity, poison seeping into the atmosphere and food, desertification, shrinking water supplies, lack of clean water, and radioactive pollution.

Public money, private profits: Crop insurance scheme as goldmine for corporates

By Vikas Meshram The farmer in India is not merely a food provider; he is the soul of the nation. For centuries, enduring natural calamities and bearing debt generation after generation while remaining loyal to the soil, this community now finds itself trapped in a different kind of crisis. In February 2016, the Modi government launched the Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY) with the stated objective of freeing farmers from the shackles of debt. It was an ambitious attempt to provide a strong safety net to cultivators repeatedly devastated by excessive rainfall, drought, and hailstorms.

Search This Blog