South Asia Citizens Web

Afghan women’s rights activists as well as activists outside Afghanistan known as intersectional feminists, who by definition understand how complex the oppression of women can be, often say that Western feminists have willfully misrepresented the plight of Afghan women; Spogmai Akseer has even written that a portrayal of them as “silent and passive victims of their culture, their men and their politics” has served only to justify an imperialist invasion disguised as a humanitarian rescue mission.

Women in India do not appear to be active participants in the debate around the chanting of the slogan ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’. Even the debate in the media is dominated through discourse by men. The chanting of this slogan – necessary to prove ‘patriotism’ – is an obsession only of the so called ‘patriotic’ men.

This year, the May Day rally in JNU ended at the administrative block, where nineteen students are on hunger strike against the report of the HLEC, which led to harsh fines and rustications. Photos by Mukul Dube on 1 May 2016

From all the information we received, Rezaul Karim Siddque of Rajshahi Univeristy, hacked to death in the morning of April 23, 2016, appeared to be a quiet man, a man who was of a peaceful nature, a lover of music and a committed teacher. As is the case with most Bangalis, he loved music. Cultural activities were in his bloodstream. He tried to set up a cultural hub in his home, where he lived, not too far from the university where he taught. He was not a declared atheist, nor a blogger, not even an armchair or Facebook activist. Not one of those who were in the frontlines of activism, not a talk show star, not one who wrote long opinions and editorials about the state of affairs of the country. Why would he be killed?

English translation of letter by NREGA workers in Manika (Latehar, Jharkhand) to Prime Minister Modi on the 1st of May 2016 being sent along with a Rs Five note.