Some on the social media remembered the activists and journalists who were arrested for raising their voice against the regime’s excesses on the underprivileged
Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – While India is celebrating 75th anniversary of its independence, marginalised communities such as Muslims, Dalits and Adivasis continue to face persecution and untold atrocities. The stark contrast was the buzz on social media on the 75th Independence Day on Monday with many pointing to the lacunae in the largest democracy of the world.
In this context, some on the social media also remembered the activists and journalists who were arrested for raising their voice against the regime excesses on the underprivileged.
DU professor and human rights activist Apoorvanand remembered the courageous struggle of activists like Umar Khalid, Gulfisha Fatima, Meeran Haider, Sharjeel Imam, Khalid Saifi, Devanga, Natasha, Teesta Setalvad, and others in pursuit of justice and equality.
“They follow Gandhi: “civil liberties… is the water of life,” he said.
Syed Qasim Rasool Ilyas, father of Umar Khalid and a prominent Muslim leader, shared a photo of the Tricolor put on the remains of Afreen Fatima’s house which was bulldozed by the Praygagraj Administration for taking out protests against Nupur Sharm’s remarks.
The national flag was put up on the spot in response to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s call for installation of the Tricolor atop every house.
Anti-caste activist Priyanka Samy drew the attention towards the situation of the Dalits. She cited a recent incident of a Rajasthan village where a Dalit boy was beaten to death for drinking water from a pot meant for teachers.
“Dalits are dehumanised & shown their place, every single day i.e. India @75!!,” she said.
A Twitter user, Shabnam Nafisa Kalim, said that Muslims are suffering due to a repressive regime. After 75 years of independence, they are still struggling for equal rights and justice.
“Same as the freedom fighters were jailed & k!lled for protesting against the government. I’ve mixed emotions for this day, feeling of betrayal. We can be thrown out of the country or in gas chambers for being Muslims. Now celebrating #August15 is more about proving our Indianness,” she said.
A journalist, Azeez Fatima, shared the Independence Day speech of the daughter of jailed journalist Siddique Kappan. “My father’s freedom has been broken,” said Siddique Kappan’s 9-year-old daughter in I-Day speech.
The emotionally charged message of a daughter for her father reflects on the anguish and desperation of the wards of many human rights activists incarcerating in the country’s jails for standing up for justice and truth.
