Biography:Anand Teltumbde
Anand Teltumbde | |
---|---|
![]() Anand Teltumbde in 2020 | |
Born | Rajur, Maharashtra, India | 15 July 1950
Nationality | India n |
Alma mater | Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (B.Tech.) Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (MBA) |
Occupation | Professor, writer |
Spouse(s) | Rama Teltumbde |
Anand Teltumbde (born 15 July 1950) is an Indian scholar, writer, and civil rights activist who is a management professor at the Goa Institute of Management.[1][2][3] He has written extensively about the caste system in India and has advocated for the rights of Dalits.[4][5][6] He is also a longtime critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and was imprisoned in 2020 along with other activists and intellectuals who were critical of the government.[7] His arrested has been condemned by other academics and human rights organizations, and legal experts have said that the charges against him appear fabricated.[7][8]
Biography
Teltumbde was born on 15 July 1950 in Rajur, a village in the Yavatmal district of Maharashtra state, to a family of Dalit farm labourers.[9][1][4][10] He is the oldest among eight siblings.[11][12] He is married to Rama Teltumbde who is a granddaughter of B. R. Ambedkar.[4][13] He earned a mechanical engineering degree from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in 1973, an MBA from the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad in 1982 and a PhD from the University of Mumbai in cybernetic modelling in 1993 while working as an executive at Bharat Petroleum.[11] He was also awarded an honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) from the Karnataka State Open University.[14]
Teltumbde was an executive at Bharat Petroleum and managing director of Petronet India Limited before becoming an academic.[4][15] He was a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and later became a senior professor at the Goa Institute of Management.[16][17][18] He contributes a column titled "Margin Speak" to Economic and Political Weekly,[19] and has also contributed to Outlook,[20] Tehelka,[21] and Seminar.[22][23] His 2018 book, Republic of Caste, is a collection of essays that assesses the position of Dalits, including the relationship between caste and class.[24] Teltumbde advocates for a closer relationship between Marxism and the Ambedkarite movements in fighting for Dalit liberation, as well as reform of the reservation system.[24]
On 29 August 2018, the police raided Teltumbde's home, accusing him of having a connection to the 2018 Bhima Koregaon violence and an alleged Maoist plot to assassinate Prime Minister Narendra Modi.[1][25] Teltumbde denied the allegations and was granted temporary protection from arrest, but he was nevertheless arrested by the Pune police on 3 February 2019 and released later that day.[2][26] After his release, Teltumbde accused the government of harassment and of attempting to criminalize dissent.[27] In the course of the investigation, various others have been critical of the handling of the case, including Supreme Court Justice D. Y. Chandrachud who questioned the biased nature of the investigation by the Maharashtra Police.[28]
The Washington Post reported that Teltumbde was arrested as part of "a government crackdown on lawyers and activists" who are critics of Modi.[4] Legal experts have said the charges against Teltumbde appear fabricated.[8][29] More than 600 scholars and academics issued a joint statement in support of Teltumbde, condemning the government's actions as a "witch-hunt" and demanding an immediate halt to the actions against Teltumbde.[30][31] In addition, over 150 organizations and intellectuals—including Noam Chomsky and Cornel West—signed a letter to United Nations secretary general António Guterres, describing the charges as "fabricated" and calling for the UN to intervene.[26]
Teltumbde's mobile phone was hacked by Israeli spyware Pegasus through WhatsApp along with over a dozen other activists, lawyers, and journalists in India.[3][32] Teltumbde had noticed his phone had been "acting up" and was later contacted by Citizen Lab in October 2019.[33]
On 16 March 2020, the Supreme Court dismissed Teltumbde's plea for anticipatory bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, which makes bail difficult to obtain for accused individuals.[34][35] The Court gave Teltumbde and Navlakha three weeks to surrender.[35] On 8 April, a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra ordered Teltumbde to surrender to the National Investigation Agency on 14 April.[36] Historians such as Romila Thapar and organizations including Human Rights Watch condemned the arrest while Amnesty International India expressed disappointment in light of the UNHCHR guidelines to release all political prisoners due to the COVID-19 pandemic in India.[7][37][38] He was again denied bail in July 2021.[39] While imprisoned, Teltumbde has been allowed a weekly two-minute phone call with his wife.[7]
Selected publications
- The Radical in Ambedkar (ed.) (Penguin Random House, New Delhi, 2018) ISBN:978-0670091157[40]
- Republic of Caste: Thinking of Equality in the Era of Neoliberalism and Hindutva (Navayana, New Delhi, 2018) ISBN:978-8189059842[41]
- Dalits: Past, Present and Future (Routledge, London and New York, 2016) ISBN:978-1138688759
- Mahad: The Making of the First Dalit Revolt (Aakar, New Delhi, 2015) ISBN:978-9350023983[42]
- The Persistence of Caste (Zed Books, London, 2010) ISBN:9781848134492[43]
- Khairlanji: A Strange and Bitter Crop (Navayana, Delhi, 2008) ISBN:978-8189059156[42]
- Annihilation of Caste (Ramai, Mumbai, 2005) ISBN:978-9353040772[42]
- Hindutva and Dalits: Perspectives for Understanding Communal Praxis (ed.) (Samya, Kolkata, 2005) ISBN:978-8185604756[42]
- 'Ambedkar' in and for the Post-Ambedkar Dalit Movement (Sugawa, Pune, 1997) ISBN:978-8186182291
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Sampath, G. (16 February 2019). "Who is Anand Teltumbde, and why was he arrested recently?". The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/who-is-anand-teltumbde-and-why-was-he-arrested-recently/article26292219.ece.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Koregaon-Bhima case: HC rejects civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde's plea seeking quashing of FIR". 21 December 2018. http://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2018/dec/21/koregaon-bhima-case-hc-rejects-civil-rights-activist-anand-teltumbdes-plea-seeking-quashing-of-fir-1914647.html.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Satheesh, Shone (1 November 2019). "Indian activists, lawyers accuse government of spying on them". Al Jazerra. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2019/11/indian-activists-lawyers-accuse-government-spying-191101084129315.html.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4 Masih, Niha (21 February 2019). "He is a prominent anti-Modi intellectual. The Indian government wants him behind bars.". https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/he-is-a-prominent-anti-modi-intellectual-the-indian-government-wants-him-behind-bars/2019/02/20/e2b5dbe4-2e47-11e9-8781-763619f12cb4_story.html. "Teltumbde has been swept up in a government crackdown on lawyers and activists. The activists targeted in the investigation are advocates for India's most disadvantaged communities, including indigenous tribal people and Dalits, once called 'untouchables.' They also are vocal critics of the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi."
- ↑ Jodhka, Surinder S. (4 August 2018). "Caste in a New Mould". https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/books/casteism-inequality-society-politics-caste-in-a-new-mould-5291078/.
- ↑ Bhatia, Tanushree (20 January 2019). "IIMA faculty speak up in solidarity with Anand Teltumbde". https://www.dnaindia.com/india/report-iima-faculty-speak-up-in-solidarity-with-anand-teltumbde-2709934.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 "Anand Teltumbde: Cards and letters for jailed India scholar as he turns 70". BBC News. 15 July 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53400138.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 MN, Parth (14 April 2020). "India arrests activist Anand Teltumbde over 2018 caste violence" (in en). Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/4/14/india-arrests-activist-anand-teltumbde-over-2018-caste-violence. "Legal experts and activists said the charges are fabricated and aimed at targeting the critics of Modi’s right-wing government."
- ↑ "Anand Teltumbde: Cards and letters for jailed India scholar as he turns 70". BBC News. 14 July 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-53400138.
- ↑ Ghadyalpatil, Abhiram (2018-05-11). "The unusual annihilator of caste" (in en). https://www.livemint.com/Leisure/zdCLdj6bB9Y13Wbk8MVAEK/The-unusual-annihilator-of-caste.html.
- ↑ 11.0 11.1 Lardinois, Roland (11 March 2019). "Glimpses into the Life of an Engineer, Scholar and Public Intellectual". South Asia Multidisciplinary Academic Journal. doi:10.4000/samaj.5021. https://journals.openedition.org/samaj/5021. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ↑ Kumar Maitra, Pradip (27 April 2011). "Who is Angela Milind Teltumbde". HT Media Limited. https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/who-is-angela-milind-teltumbde/story-OuBIZetmdG9RvhAD1dMJdM.html. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ↑ "Elgar Parishad: Dalit Scholar Anand Teltumbde, Activist Gautam Navlakha Surrender Before NIA". 14 April 2020. https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/india-news-elgar-parishad-case-activist-scholar-anand-teltumbde-surrenders-before-nia/350712.
- ↑ Deshmukh, Chaitraly (February 3, 2019). "Court rules against Pune police's Elgaar arrest". https://www.mid-day.com/articles/court-rules-against-pune-polices-elgaar-arrest/20337159.
- ↑ "Anand Teltumbde – Executive Profile". https://www.bloomberg.com/research/stocks/private/person.asp?personId=39829622&privcapId=12517549&previousCapId=12517549&previousTitle=Petronet%20India%20Limited. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ↑ "Anand Teltumbde". Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. http://www1.iitkgp.ac.in/fac-profiles/showprofile.php?empcode=zSdUZ. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ↑ Malkarnekar, Gauree (29 May 2018). "GIM's introduces country's first programme in Big Data Analysis". https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/goa/gims-introduces-countrys-first-programme-in-big-data-analytics/articleshow/64310930.cms.
- ↑ "Anand Teltumbde". Goa Institute of Management. https://www.gim.ac.in/faculty-details.php?f_id=187. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
- ↑ "Margin Speak". https://www.epw.in/margin-speak. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ↑ Teltumbde, Anand (20 August 2012). "It's Not Red Vs Blue". http://www.outlookindia.com/article.aspx?281944.
- ↑ Teltumbde, Anand (24 May 2011). "The false Dalit of capital". http://www.tehelka.com/story_main49.asp?filename=Fw240511TheFalseDalit.asp. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ↑ Teltumbde, Anand (28 February 2012). "Identity politics and the annihilation of castes". http://www.india-seminar.com/2012/633/633_anand_teltumbde.htm. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ↑ Teltumbde, Anand (30 July 2011). "Corruption and injustice". http://www.india-seminar.com/2011/625/625_anand_teltumbde.htm. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
- ↑ 24.0 24.1 Chattopadhyay, Kunal (July 2020). "The Struggle Against Dalit Oppression in India". Jacobin. https://www.jacobinmag.com/2020/07/dalit-india-ambedkar-teltumbde.
- ↑ Kulkarni, Sushant (30 January 2019). "Elgaar Parishad: Prosecution claims to have evidence to show Teltumbde involved in insurgent activities". https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/pune/elgaar-parishad-prosecution-claims-to-have-evidence-to-show-teltumbde-involved-in-insurgent-activities-5560610/.
- ↑ 26.0 26.1 Schultz, Kai; Gettleman, Jeffrey; Kumar, Hari (20 February 2019). "Indian Professor Who Compared Modi to Hitler Is Waiting to Be Jailed". The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/20/world/asia/india-modi-intellectuals-dissent.html.
- ↑ Chitnis, Purva (5 February 2019). ""Urban Naxal An Oxymoron," Says Activist Anand Teltumbde Accused In Koregaon-Bhima Case". https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/it-was-humiliating-activist-anand-teltumbde-on-his-arrest-by-pune-police-1988703.
- ↑ "Bhima-Koregaon Case: Justice Chandrachud Questions Maharashtra Police Impartiality In Elgar Parishad Probe". https://www.outlookindia.com/website/story/justice-chandrachud-questions-maharashtra-police-impartiality-in-elgar-parishad-probe/317314. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ↑ Sahni, Ajai (September 3, 2018). "Urban Maoist Fakery". South Asian Intelligence Review 17 (10). https://www.satp.org/south-asia-intelligence-review-Volume-17-No-10. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
- ↑ "Academics Demand Dropping Charges Against Teltumbde, Other Activists". 7 February 2019. https://thewire.in/rights/anand-teltumbde-activists-arrested-petition.
- ↑ "U.S., European scholars come out in support of Teltumbde". The Hindu. 7 February 2019. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/us-european-scholars-come-out-in-support-of-teltumbde/article26200491.ece. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ↑ Chishti, Seema (1 November 2019). "WhatsApp confirms: Israeli spyware was used to snoop on Indian journalists, activists" (in en-IN). The Indian Express. https://indianexpress.com/article/india/whatsapp-confirms-israeli-spyware-used-snoop-on-indian-journalists-activists-pegasus-facebook-6095296/.
- ↑ Mahale, Ajeet (1 November 2019). "Spyware targeted prominent human rights activists in Maharashtra". The Hindu. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/spyware-targeted-prominent-human-rights-activists-in-state/article29846805.ece.
- ↑ "Anand Teltumbde: India activist surrenders over Bhima Koregaon violence charges". BBC News. 14 April 2020. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-52279301.
- ↑ 35.0 35.1 "Bhima Koregaon case: SC refuses anticipatory bail to Navlakha, Teltumbde, gives 3 weeks to surrender". https://www.outlookindia.com/newsscroll/bhima-koregaon-case-sc-refuses-anticipatory-bail-to-navlakha-teltumbde-gives-3-weeks-to-surrender/1763389.
- ↑ Singh, Vijaita; Saigal, Sonam (2020-04-14). "Elgar Parishad case | Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha surrender to NIA". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/elgar-parishad-case-anand-teltumbde-gautam-navlakha-surrender-to-nia/article31338048.ece.
- ↑ "'Especially Inhuman': Romila Thapar, Others Write to CJI Bobde On Teltumbde, Navlakha". https://thewire.in/rights/romila-thapar-cji-bobde-gautam-navlakha-anand-teltumbde/.
- ↑ "SC decision to send activists Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde to jail 'disappointing': Amnesty". https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/apr/11/sc-decision-to-send-activists-gautam-navlakha-and-anand-teltumbde-to-jail-disappointing-amnesty-2128824.html.
- ↑ Press Trust of India (12 July 2021). "Elgar case: Mumbai court rejects bail plea of activist Anand Teltumbde". Business Standard India. https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/elgar-case-mumbai-court-rejects-bail-plea-of-activist-anand-teltumbde-121071201185_1.html.
- ↑ Bhardwaj, Ashutosh (February 17, 2019). "Radical Ambedkar: Analysing divergent personas of the leader". https://www.financialexpress.com/lifestyle/book-review-the-radical-in-ambedkar-critical-reflections-analysis-of-many-divergent-personas-of-ambedkar/1489929/.
- ↑ "Anand Teltumbde". 23 October 2018. https://jacobinmag.com/author/anand-teltumbde. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ↑ 42.0 42.1 42.2 42.3 "Anand Teltumbde". Penguin Random House. https://penguin.co.in/author/anand-teltumbde/. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
- ↑ The Persistence of Caste – The Khairlanji Murders and India's Hidden Apartheid. https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/distributed/P/bo20851224.html. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
External links
- "'I See My India Being Ruined': Anand Teltumbde Writes Open Letter A Day Before He Is To Be Arrested". 2020-04-13. https://www.huffingtonpost.in/entry/anand-teltumbde-open-letter-before-arrest_in_5e946ae6c5b6765e95647801.