City commitment against torture and organized violence in Varanasi

Peoples’ Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and Danish

organization Rehabilitation and Research Centre for Torture Victims (RCT) had
exclusively hold the high profile honor ceremony of survivor of torture and
organized violence on 54 birth anniversary of Veteran Journalist Sri Sushil
Tripathi on 18th July, 2010 in Hotel Kamesh Hut, Varanasi.

The program started by paying homage on

the photo of pro – survivor veteran Journalist
by political leader Mr. Mohan Prakash, Dr.
Shailendra Kumar Tripathi, Parikshit and
Priyanka, Mayor Mr. Kaushlendra Singh,
Acharya Sant. Vivek Das, Vijay Narayen, Dr.
S.M Gangulay, Tarun Kanti Basu and many
other renowned person of the city and local
participation of around 150 people who join
the struggle against TOV.

The program proceeds giving brief introduction about him, as he raised the
issues related to the down trodden and victims of any category candidly.
Expressing their views, the participants recalled the contribution of the late
journalist in the field of media and he fought for the cause of poor and victim
through pen.

The testimony of the twelve survivors was

read to the public and the survivors were
honored with the testimony and traditional
white shawl. The name of the survivors Ram
Ji Gupta, Mrs. Neetu Gupta, Mr. Mahatim,
Mr. Vinod Gupta, Mr. Phool Chand, Mr.
Harkhali, Mr. Jahid, Mr. Bikhari Sahani, Mr.
Lal Chandra Sonker, Mrs. Mamta Singh, Mr.
Pankaj Kumar Verma, Mr. Dilip Seth

After hearing the emotional part of the testimony Bikhari Sahani started crying
and the eyes of the people presented in the hall become wet. “I feed my family
by pulling trolleys for 18 hours after working day and night. I took a loan of Rs
24,000 to build a shelter for my family to save it from rains. One fine day two
officer came along with around 50 cops and bulldozer and without any
information razed my house. We could not save our belongings. The incident left
my wife in coma and later she died. Now I need justice after all I am a human
being. Please do something for my children otherwise they will starve to death.”

Ram Ji Gupta became nervous after hearing the soft feeling, on 12 February
this year my entire family got to face police torture. Late in the night I opened
the door of my house on hearing a knock. A couple of policemen barged into my
house and started beating up female of my house with boots and belts. Even
they tried to molest my wife and my daughter in law. Then they dragged us to
police station and abused us. An ordinary man is not safe in the city. I want CBI
and the CB-CID to investigate the matter and ensure justice for my family.

Mahatim felt proud after being honored and fearlessly narrated his self
suffering to the media. He reaffirmed his fight against mafia don Munna Bajrangi
up to the last battle for the conclusion of the case.

Overall impact of the honor ceremony is in form of survivor’s commitment

against impunity.

On the occasion the five girls also

Chanda, Jyoti, Puja, Vimla and Madhuri
-who fought against the child marriage,
were awarded with Savitri Bai Phule
award. They Prevail and emanate from
the traditional culture or male
supremacy. As most women in India
suffer directly or indirectly by the
existing patriarchal structure of the
society. Denying the child marriage the
parents of these girls faced odd situation
in the society.

After the girls are being honored by this award and high profile media publicity,
the parents of these girls feel psychological courage and join the movement
against the child marriage as organized violence against women. It is noted that
it is in result 10 years effort in the area of Baghwanala with the support of Child
Right and You (CRY), Sir Dorabji Tata Trust (SDTT), Parul Sharma, Raj Dulari
Foundation, Helma Ritscher, DIG (Germany) and InWent.

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi announced “Sushil Tripathi media fellowship” for

“Promoting a psycho -legal framework to reduce torture and organized
violence in India” of 1 lakhs 20 thousand Rupees each to three including two
from Hindi and one from English for two years for 10 story reporting. The media
fellowship will be declared on the birth anniversary of great writer Munshi Prem
Chandra (Shakespeare of Hindi literature) on 31st July, 2010.
The program was moderated by Sri Ashok Anand and ended with the vote of
thanks by Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi.

Please see the link:

http://testimony-india.blogspot.com/2010/07/from-glimpse-of-media-and-
photo.html

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Now-girls-say-I-wont-
do/articleshow/6181691.cms

http://www.scribd.com/doc/34570436/Scan-0015

http://pvchr.blogspot.com/2010/07/prevention-of-torture-bill-2010.html