14 April 2018 will mark the 127th birth anniversary of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar, one of India’s greatest social reformers and architect of the country’s Constitution. The day will also mark ten months in prison for Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan, one of Dr Ambedkar’s finest followers in contemporary India.
Azad is the leader of Bhim Army – an organisation dedicated to spreading education among Dalit youth and protecting Dalit families from attacks by upper caste Hindus. Threatened by both his courage and charisma the Uttar Pradesh government has put Azad behind bars under the National Security Act (NSA) , which allows the state to imprison anyone for one year without bail
(See www.freeazad.in).
We call upon everyone concerned about the injustice being done to Chandrashekhar Azad to organize and participate in protest actions from Ambedkar Jayanti – 14th April 2018 onwards. The protests will call for Chandrashekhar Azad’s immediate and unconditional release from prison and the dropping of all false charges against him.
Actions could range from:
- Public gatherings and events
- Film screenings on caste issues and atrocities against Dalits
- Protest music/cultural programmes
- Lectures on need to protect the Indian Constitution and its core values
If anyone wants to discuss Azad online with others or simply read at the website, he can check out the following group. I received an invitation to join this group discussion and exploration about him. I will decline, but others may find it of value to join. If you are one of these people, please feel free to explore this newly formed group.
Message from FREE AZAD
Dear All We have formed a Google Group of all those who have endorsed the call for release of Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan. This will be used only for dissemination of information related to the campaign. In case, for any reason, you do not want to be on this group please do let us know. best regards Free Azad Campaign
About this group
Campaign for the release of Chandrashekhar Azad Ravan
My letter:
Shri Yogi Adityanath
Chief Minister
Government of Uttar Pradesh
cmup@nic.in
Ccfeedback@auw.co.in, feedback@auw.co.in, Embassy of India (Australia) hco@hcindia-au.org
Shri Yogi Adityanath
Chief Minister
Government of Uttar Pradesh
Dear Chief Minister
I urge you to immediately and unconditionally release Chandrashekhar Azad ‘Ravan’ and his associates who are championing Dalit dignity and rights against a tsunami of social and political discrimination and violence that obscenely enjoys impunity granted by your and the federal governments.
Azad and his associates have been imprisoned unjustly since June 2017 and there are well-founded fears that his life is in danger from both prison authorities and other prisoners.
As an Indophile, I am shocked that Uttah Pradesh, revered for its beauty and as a progressive and hotbed seat of India’s independence movement has regressed into corruption and racism.
What a moral gap there is between Prime Minister Nehru’s unified nationalism and the reality PM Modi’s Hindutva thuggery!
Releasing Azad would be a victory for human rights and significantly, a victory that would help heal India’s damaged democracy and reputation.
Sincerely
Dr Vacy Vlazna
Coordinator
Justice for Palestine Matters
http://www.palestinematters.com
Sydney, Guringai, Australia
Hopefully many others will take your lead and write similar letters to the chief minister and others. Pressure needs to build up on them all so that they are forced to do that which is right and just!