Newsletter of All India Secular Forum
C O N T E N T S
Editorial
1. CSSS Activities
- Protest against brutal murder of Gauri Lankesh
- Observation of International literacy day
2. Article
- Enough of a crime to be a Muslim!
By Bhavar Meghwanshi
3. Peace
- Brij Mohan’s song for Peace Vigil
- # I am Gauri - event in Mumbai
4. Press Note and Memorandum on BHU Girl
Students attack by police
5. Poems
6. Violence Condemned
7. Fake News Unlimited
8. An event of importance
Safeguarding the Constitution: Are the Pillars of
Democracy Crumbling?
9. Muslim Demography
Five Charts that puncture the bogey of Muslim
population growth
10. Interview
- India’s Plural Ambience under threat: Hamid
Ansari
- Karnataka is a Lab for Reactionary and
Hindutva Groups: Noted Rationalist Narendra
Nayak
11. Resources
- New Book: Contesting
marginalization/Ambedkarism and social
justice
- Religion: Science and Society: India Context
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Ph. 022-26149668, 022-26135098
E-mail: csss2work@gmail.com
Editor: Ram Puniyani, ram.puniyani@gmail.com, www.pluralindia.com
Advisory Board: L.S. Hardenia, Irfan Engineer, Dhirendra Panda, Mohammad Arif.
Link
http://www.csss-isla.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/SAN-October-2017-New1.pdf
From the Editor’s Desk
The killing of Gauri Lankesh was a brutal attack on the freedom of expression. The pattern of her murder was like the murders of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi. All these are figures that struggled for rational thinking, for a casteless society and took on the Hindu Nationalism of RSS combine head on. While the most of the people mourned the death of a brave activist-journalist, some of the people, including those being followed by Prime Minister Modi, celebrated her death, showing the ideological nature of the murder. What Gauri also shared with the other victims was that they all wrote in regional languages, with great impact in the regions. We carry the link of a touching film by Pedestrian pictures, which is a touching tribute to dynamic Gauri.
The atmosphere created by the lynchings of Akhlaq, Pehlu Khan and Junaid on the issue of beef has intimidated the Muslim minority to no end. While the state Governments are acting in lax manner in punishing the guilty of the crime, sections of Muslims are living in fear. To promote the atmosphere where Hate, violence and fear are countered, the eminent human rights activist, Harsh Mander started Karvan-E-Mohabbat, a protracted yatra of human rights activists which has been meeting the families of victims and sharing their pain. Another eminent human rights activist John Dayal has also been part of this Caravan, which is trying to assuage the pain of the families who have lost their valuable member. The Caravan culminated on 2nd October in Porbander, remembering the Father of the nation, who laid down his life while combating Hate, to promote harmony; with the central message of Hindu-Muslim unity. We hope that more such efforts will come up to create the atmosphere of harmony and peace in the society.
