MUTHUKANNU PAGES

I read a lengthy and interesting Tribute on Balagopal by K.G.Kannabiran published in PUCL Bulletin, January, 2010.On one occasion, if my memory goes correct, in 1992, the Puducherry Unit of the PUCL hosted the National Seminar On Abolition Of Human Rights and in that Meeting I saw him. He was so simple and sociable.With a small book shop-made for the event- on the floor of the Kamban Kalai Arangam, he exhibited the issues, pamphlets and publications relating to Civil Liberties. In his death, the Andhra Pradesh has lost a graceful leader, who always identified with the oppressed and depressed.On a National Level his passing away has created a void among the Human Rights Activists. The situation, We all know, in the Human Rights Sector is day-by-day worsening in Our Country.Many of the States have still to set up Human Rights Commission and some States and Union Territories have Human Rights Committee only without teeth.The untimely demise of a celebrated Civil Rights Activist in this j

Recently, I had an occasion to listen to a discussion in the Electronic Media with leaders of some Political Parties sitting tight with the job of serious discussion on the disturbances in the state of Andhra.Oppsite to them were the Young Bright Indians nervously sitting and firing shots against them.Most of them were unanimous in their point of view that separation has no place in India.I am sorry! though they were educated elites, unable to grasp the ground reality and diferentiate between the scession and creation of a State within the Indian Union. They stood to their ground and attacking the supporters of Telengana in strong words forgetting to listen to the Historical sacrifices made by the landless and other valiant people of Telengana, fighting the Zamindari System under the Nizam of Hyderabad.In fact, the Vallabhai Government at the Centre at that point of time, instead supporting the working class, joined hands with the oppressor and liquidated the freedom fighters in thous