LET US RAISE OUR VOICES
An Appeal to Democrats to raise their Voice against the Death Sentence on Jiten Marandi, A Poet and People’s Artist and his associates Anil Ram, Manoj Rajwar and Chatrapathi Mandal
It is unusual to hang poets or artists for their concern for oppressed people. Rare are such instances, may be Benjamin Molaise of South Africa, Ken Saroviva of Nigeria. Both were hanged not that they write or sing for people, but because they sing for the poor and exploited. It is not uncommon in feudal and capitalist countries to hang people who oppose their unjust rule, by justifying their action on political reasons supported by concocted evidence. It is a matter of history in most of such cases , that the hangings were on false accusation, deliberate implications and manufacturing evidence.
We have only witnessed unjust hangings of political adversaries. But, a Sessions court in Jharkhand state stunned the whole nation by slapping a death sentence on Jiten Marandi, a very popular artist and his three associates who are much loved and admired by people. Till he was arrested in a case of murder of Anup Marandi, the son of Babulal Marandi, a former Chief Minister and others. Jiten Marandi was just singing amidst people. This incident was owned by Maoists. Jiten Marandi is not connected to the Maoist party. The Police charge sheeted some known Maoists. The name of one such person happened to be Jiten Marandi. This became handy to the police to falsely implicate the artist Jiten Marandi, since they cannot apprehend the other Jiten Marandi of Maoist party.
When Jiten Marandi was arrested on April 5, 2008, he was returning from a public meeting organized by Vistapana Vorodhi Jan Vikas Andolan, which was spearheading a movement against illegal mining, land grabbing by private companies and the establishment of steel plants by displacing thousands of poor people and depriving their livelihood. At the time of his arrest, police announced that he was arrested on a charge of violating prohibitory orders by holding a people’s demonstration in front of the Chief Minister’s residence, probably to pacify the anger of the people against the unjust arrest.
But, the Police did not wanted to leave Jiten Marandi. They found in him a volcano who can raise the people’s upsurge and turn it into a tornado. They falsely implicated him in the said murder case, created false evidence, and procured a death sentence in a crime, the very police knew that he did not participate.
Now the death sentence is pending before the High court for confirmation. The High court based its decision on the false evidence recorded by the trial court. We need not wait for the verdict. It is time for all the liberals and democrats to raise their voice on the very death sentence itself. It is a shame on the part of our government which still wants to hang on the death sentence to eliminate those who oppose their unjust and undemocratic rule, when more than hundred countries have done away with death sentence. The death sentence of Jiten Marandi and his three associates is against the people of this country. We should raise our voice to abolish death sentence from Indian penal law. If we relent now, many more people’s artists may be hanged tomorrow on trumped charges. Let us not remain silent spectators and light a candle on some day, in memory of the artists who sing and write for people and continue to sing on the gallows.
The undersigned:
1. Arundhati Roy, Writer & Social Activist, Booker Prize Winner, Delhi
2. Sanjay Kak, Film Maker, Delhi
3. Gaddar, Peoples Balladeer, Hyderabad
4. Varavara Rao,Revolutionary Writers Association, Hyderabad
5. Prof. G. Haragopal, Former APCLC President, Hyderabad
6. K. Shivareddy, Poet, Central Sahitya Academy Awardee, Hyderabad
7. R. Narayana Murthy, Actor, Director, Producer of Telugu Film Industry, Hyderabad
8. Bernard D’Mello, EPW Asst. Editor, CPDR, Mumbai
9. Bojja Tarakam, Senior advocate, AP High court, Hyderabad
10. M.T.Khan, Former president APCLC, Hyderabad
11. Ratnamala, Revolutionary Writers Association, Hyderabad
12. Choopu Katyayini, Revolutionary Writers Association, Hyderabad
13. Allam Narayana, Editor, Namaste Telangana Daily, Hyderabad
14. Dr. Samata Roshini Padala, Hyderabad
15. Gorenti Enkanna, Cultural Activist, Hyderabad
16. Prof. Ghanta Chakrapani, B.R. Ambedkar Open University, Hyderabad
17. N. Venugopal, Editor, Veekshanam, Hyderabad
18. Prof. A. Vinay Babu, JNTU, Hyderabad
19. Dappu Ramesh, Cultural Activist
20. Deshapathi Srinivas, Manjeera Rachayitala sangam
21. Vimala, Arunodaya, Hyderabad
22. Yakub, Noted Writer
23. Nandini Sidhareddy, Manjeera Rachayitala Sangam
24. Juloori Gowri Shankar, Writer, Telangana Rachayitala Vedika, Hyderabad
25. Kondaveeti Satyavathi, Editor, Bhoomika, Hyderabad
26. Laxman Ale, Noted Artist & Painter, Hyderabad
27. Koteshwar Rao, Secretary, Prajakala Mandali
28. John, President, Prajakala Mandali
29. Bhoopal, Writer, Cine Artist, Sahitya Academy Awardee, Hyderabad
30. Chekuri Ramarao, Noted Writer
31. Kakarala, Film Artist, Hyderabad
32. G. Hanumantha Rao, A.P. Employees Co-ordination Committee (Udyogakranti), Hyderabad
33. B.S. Ramulu, Note Writer & Social Activist, Hyderabad
34. Prof. S.V. Satyanarayana, Osmania University, Hyderabad
35. Vimala, Poet, Revolutionary Writer’s Association, Hyderabad
36. Swathi, V., Reporter, The Hindu
37. Vasireddy Naveen, Editor, Kathasahithi, Hyderabad
38. Naleswaram Sankaram, Poet, Hyderabad
39. Ramky, Virasam, Hyderabad Unit
40. G. Manohar, Advocate, A.P. High Court, Hyderabad
41. Prof. L. Komariah, Hyderabad
42. Geetanjali, Revolutionary Writer’s Association, Hyderabad
43. Asharaju, Poet, Hyderabad
44. Dr. V. Chandrasekhar Rao, Writer, Guntur
And many more…
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