South Asia Citizens Web

Lecture by Abhinav Chandrachud a leading advocate from Mumbai talking about whether the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is un-constitutional, a recording from [Mumbai Collective 2020]

While the Hemant Soren government needs to investigate the incentives of Gujarat’s satipati cult to expand to Jharkhand, it also needs to redress the long-standing grievances of the Adivasis. To address their alienation, the government should implement the provisions of the fifth schedule, PESA, Samata judgement and other pro-Adivasi laws in letter and spirit. It should also ensure that its development vision is based on Adivasi worldview and needs.

On 21-22 February, 2020, the local newspapers reported that seven men were beaten up and beheaded. According to the news, the dead were all against Pathalgadi, and the murderers were all supporters of the movement. In order to understand the role of Pathalgadi in the killings, a factfinding team of various organizations, platforms, social activists, writers and journalists visited Burugulikera on 27th and 30th of January, 2020. The team mainly intended to understand the viewpoints of the villagers. The names of the dead are – James Budh, Nirmal Budh, Etwa Budh, Konche Topno, Boas Lunga, Lomb Budh, and Sanjiv Budh. As per the police report, the people were beaten and beheaded. Police has arrested 17 people by now, which includes Ransi Budh, Jiten Budh, Sukhram Budh and others. By newspapers’ accounts, Ransi Budh, Jiten Budh and other accused were Pathalgadi supporters, while James Budh and other victims were anti–Pathalgadi, and, because of this they got killed. In the initial days after the incident, police statements were also on these lines. However, after starting the investigation, the police suggested that there might be more factors behind the killings. [ . . . ] This issue has once again brought to light the prejudices of the mainstream media against Pathalgadi movement and Adivasi worldview. Without investigating the matter adequately, media reports held Pathalgadi responsible for these killings since day one. It also showed lack of unbiased ground reporting by the media. The team hopes that in coming days, journalists will do unbiased ground reporting and will make an attempt to understand the Adivasis’ issues and worldview.

Hindi and Bengali versions of the Chilean feminist anthem ’The Rapist is You’ have been sung and performed in Calcutta, Bombay and New Delhi since 2019.

While millions this week stared at Iowa and Washington with worried amazement, confusion or anger, Germany, too, had its own messy confusion – which turned into a frightening alarm signal!