'Core protesters' in Heidelberg highlight alleged proto-fascist roots of Hindutva

By A Representative
Protest was held in Heidelberg on July 17, last in a series organized this summer by #ChainFastingForPeace in Heidelberg, Würzburg, and Munich, attended by a small crew of core protesters who set up posters, both in English and German, that explained why Hindutva should not be confused for Hinduism, detailing Hindutva's alleged proto-fascist roots, and its “continued admiration” for Mussolini and Hitler.
The posters showcased BJP's new crop of parliamentarians and thought leaders, each known for “open hate speech and incitement of violence, daily undermining the constitution of a secular, democratic India”, said a witness present on the occasion.
Jakob Lindenthal, the German exchange student to the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Chennai, whose visa was retracted by Indian authorities in December 2019 for his peaceful participation in anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests, joined the protesters all the way from Dresden.
Jakob and Suniti Sanghavi, a scientist at the NASA jet propulsion laboratory, currently conducting research at the Heidelberg University, engaged in conversations with several interested students and passersby, stating, there was “hijacking of a modern democratic constitution by a Hindutva ideology, a propaganda driven machinery of hate, fear and extremism.”
Giving details of the protest, Sanghavi said, “A recurring concern was the parallel between Modi's India and Putin's Russia, the future of democratic freedoms and human rights, and the global implications of a sixth of the world's population falling prey to authoritarianism.” She added, “A woman from Ukraine was especially moved by the call for democratic awareness, and exhorted us to continue our activism to prevent the rampant spread of authoritarian regimes.”

Noted Sanghavi, “We also had a Modi supporter who liked Modi's style of governance. In typical style, he defended Modi's eschewal of press conferences because ‘Modi doesn't have time for questions’. In regard to serious problems of injustice, he said over and over again that one could not expect Modi to solve problems overnight. We tried in vain to help him see that we were not seeking overnight solutions but a democratic debate on the way problems were solved. He praised Modi for what he considered a booming Indian economy.”
She continued, “When confronted with the very small numbers of Indians benefiting from today's economy, he refuted all reports of rising inequality, unemployment and poverty as ‘mere speculation’." On the matter of Jakob's expulsion from India without legal justification, he resorted to outright victim-blaming, suggesting that Jakob should have sought a lawyer instead of leaving the country, while firmly refusing to fault the responsible Indian official for abusing their authority over a young 24-year old foreign student.”
Commented Sanghavi, “Our protests so far suggested the need for more democratic dialogue with immigrants in Germany, and innovative ways to incorporate the spirit of democracy in day-to-day life that is empowering to all its stakeholders.”
She added, “Through increased international dialogue between humanitarian democrats the world over, we will continue to work together towards a freer, fairer, and more sustainable future for our globalized planet.”

Comments

Adani coalmine delayed? Australian senate fails to pass crucial "reform" amendment for project's financial closure

Adanis' Mundra power plant, controversial in Australia By A Representative In what is being described as a new “new hurdle”, the proposed Adani coalmine in the Queensland state of in Australia failed to get the crucial Australian Parliamentary nod, essential for financial closure for one of the biggest coalmining projects in the world. The government lost the Senate vote 35-33, meaning the legislation won't pass until the Senate returns in mid-June.

Aurangzeb’s last will recorded by his Maulvi: Allah shouldn't make anyone emperor

By Mohan Guruswamy Aurangzeb’s grave is a simple slab open to the sky lying along the roadside at Khuldabad near Aurangabad. I once stopped by to marvel at the tomb of an Emperor of India whose empire was as large as Ashoka the Great's. It was only post 1857 when Victoria's domain exceeded this. The epitaph reads: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast." (The rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave) The modest tomb of Aurangzeb is perhaps the least recognised legacies of the Mughal Emperor who ruled the land for fifty eventful years. He was not a builder having expended his long tenure in war and conquest. Towards the end of his reign and life, he realised the futility of it all. He wrote: "Allah should not make anyone an emperor. The most unfortunate person is he who becomes one." Aurangzeb’s last will was re...

Beyond his riding skill, Karl Umrigar was admired for his radiance, sportsmanship, and affability

By Harsh Thakor* Karl Umrigar's name remains etched in the annals of Indian horse racing, a testament to a talent tragically cut short. An accident on the racetrack at the tender age of nineteen robbed India of a rider on the cusp of greatness. Had he survived, there's little doubt he would have ascended to international stature, possibly becoming the greatest Indian jockey ever. Even 46 years after his death, his name shines brightly, reminiscent of an inextinguishable star. His cousin, Pesi Shroff, himself blossomed into one of the most celebrated jockeys in Indian horse racing.

Haven't done a good deed, inner soul is cursing me as sinner: Aurangzeb's last 'will'

Counterview Desk The Tomb of Aurangzeb, the last of the strong Mughal emperors, located in Khuldabad, Aurangabad district, Maharashtra, has this epitaph inscribed on it: "Az tila o nuqreh gar saazand gumbad aghniyaa! Bar mazaar e maa ghareebaan gumbad e gardun bas ast" (the rich may well construct domes of gold and silver on their graves. For the poor folks like me, the sky is enough to shelter my grave).

Trust, we (from People to PM and President) did not take a Holy Dip in some Holy Shit!

By Dr Mansee Bal Bhargava I could see two deeply interlinked aspects between human and water in #MahaKumbh2025. Firstly, the HOPE that a ‘holy dip’ in the River Ganga (colloquially referred as dubki and spiritually as ‘Snan’) will cleanse oneself (especially the sins); and secondly, the TRUST that the water is pure to perform the cleansing alias living the hope. Well, I consider hope to be self-dependent while, trust is a multi-party dependent situation. The focus here is on the trust and I shall write later on hope.

Hyderabad seminar rekindles memories of the spark lit 50 years ago by students

By Harsh Thakor* History is something we constantly remember and reflect upon, but certain moments and events bring it back to our memory in a special way. For the Telugu people, and Telangana in particular, the memorial seminar held on February 20–21 was a significant occasion to recall the glorious events, transformations, leaders, and heroes of past struggles. Thousands of students rewrote the history of people's movements in Andhra Pradesh, carrying revolutionary zeal and the spirit of self-sacrifice to levels comparable to the Russian and Chinese Revolutions.

State Human Rights Commission directs authorities to uphold environmental rights in Vadodara's Vishwamitri River Project

By A Representative The Gujarat State Human Rights Commission (GSHRC) has ordered state and Vadodara municipal authorities to strictly comply with environmental and human rights safeguards during the Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project, stressing that the river’s degradation disproportionately affects marginalized communities and violates citizens’ rights to a healthy environment. The Commission mandated an immediate halt to ecologically destructive practices, rehabilitation of affected communities, transparent adherence to National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders, and public consultations with experts and residents. The order follows the Concerned Citizens of Vadodara coalition—environmentalists, ecologists, and urban planners—submitting a detailed letter to authorities, amplifying calls for accountability. The group warned that current plans to “re-section” and “desilt” the river contradict the NGT’s 2021 Vishwamitri River Action Plan, which prioritizes floodpla...

Vadodara citizens urge authorities to adhere to environmental mandates in Vishwamitri River Rejuvenation Project

By A Representative A coalition of environmental activists, ecologists, and urban planners in Vadodara has issued an urgent appeal to state and municipal authorities, demanding strict compliance with court-mandated guidelines for the upcoming Vishwamitri River rejuvenation project. Scheduled to commence in March 2025, the initiative aims to mitigate flooding and restore the river, but citizens warn that current plans risk violating National Green Tribunal (NGT) orders and jeopardizing the river’s fragile ecosystem, home to endangered species like crocodiles and Indian Softshell Turtles.

Buddhist communities in Michigan protest for Mahabodhi Temple’s return to Buddhist control

By A Representative Buddhist communities in Michigan have staged protests demanding the return of the Mahabodhi Vihara in Gaya, Bihar, India, to full Buddhist control. The Mahabodhi Temple, regarded as the holiest pilgrimage site in Buddhism, is currently managed under the Bodhgaya Temple Act of 1949, which grants a majority of control to non-Buddhists.

IFC withdraws funding for waste-to-energy incinerators in Gujarat: A win for public health and environment

By A Representative In a significant victory for environmental activists and local communities, the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private lending arm of the World Bank, has decided not to invest in the proposed $40 million funding for waste-to-energy (WTE) incineration plants in Gujarat, India. The decision comes after strong opposition from civil society organizations, which highlighted concerns over pollution, health risks, and violations of sustainable waste management practices.

Search This Blog