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Rashim Interview

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AID-ers fast to show solidarity 

 

Dozens of AIDers in the USA joined a worldwide group fast by hundreds of activists in Raipur, Chhattisgarh as well as in other parts of India and the world.   The 10-day Group Fast began on 16th June, 2008 at Raipur to express solidarity with Dr. Binayak Sen (Medical Doctor), Ajay T G (Film Maker), both members of the PUCL, and many others detained under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act 2005, and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (1967) amended in 2004. 

Those who fasted in Raipur included Dr. Sandeep Pandey (Magsasay Award Winner & Social Worker), Prem Narain Verma (Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha), Prem Prakash & Faizal (both from ASHA PARVIAAR) and several other activists and citizens from a variety of organizations from around India.


Rashim Singh, an AID Houston volunteer and member of the Executive Board fasted for the full 10 days and inspired many.

Q: What motivated you for the 10 day fast. That’s not a simple task

A: I heard Dr. Sen at AID conf & have read the articles regarding his work. He has worked for 30 years for the poor & tribal people. He decreased infant mortality rate & has made a positive contribution to the oppressed and neglected of our society. He gave a voice to the people who couldn’t do it for themselves. He has spent 30 years for the welfare of the society… Such a person is held by the government allegedly for anti-state activities.. I believe it is wrong and I decided to stand for my belief.
 
Q What would be your message for Govt of India?

A: There is very demarked line between what is called democracy & dictatorship, but the way Indian Govt is behaving, its seems like thin. 70K ppl are living in inhumane conditions. They have been living in refugee camps. Instead of providing security and better living conditions in their land, they have been in a way ‘detained’ by the government in the refugee camps. Security expected in a day-to-day life, rather the fear of lack of it, is used by government to dictate these people to stay aware from their homeland. There were couple of people who were able to raise the voice against this but government is suppressing those voices. We are a democratic country by constitution but importantly we should be democratic by implementation and action.
 
Q: What would be your message to the people of India or anybody who is reading this?
 
A : A country is made up of people not the boundaries. If the government is not able to provide a respectable life to its people then people should stand up for it, they should stand up for themselves.
In my last 3 days fast I was also thinking about the Bhopalis who have been on indefinite hunger strike. I urge the PM that he should keep a two days fast to understand how difficult it is to fast. Isn’t it his duty to meet the suffering janata of his country?

Think about the farmers who have committed suicide all over India . I think I got a glimpse of why would one commit suicide. I started fast in good health, and it was not easy to go through the last three days of fast. Think of the farmers and their families, who have been living under malnutrition; don’t have any food to eat. They are fasting not by choice but by the circumstance forced on them by the govt. of India. It is for the people to give a voice to all of these suffering fellow citizens of ours.

Q: Is there a hope under these circumstances for the oppressed and poor of India?

A: Lot of people in India are improving their life. But they should think of the factors which are contributing to their so called “improved” life. A very healthy and growing economy at the expense of somebody else’s life and oppression is not “improved” human life.
The hope for India and the world is a conscious and compassionate citizen who would understand that the improved life is when the whole society undergoes upliftment to a respectable state of life.
 
Q: What is according to you future course of action.

A: We need to keep generating awareness amongst the citizens of India. People should participate actively in the democracy; they should question the govt. on various issues where and when it is failing the people of India.
 
Other AID volunteers that fasted include: 

 

  • Rajeshwar Ojha, Delhi for 5 days
  • Mohan Bhagat, College Park, MD for 3 days
  • Srinadh Madhavapeddi, Dallas, TX for 2 days
  • Pallavi Shrivastava, Tempe, AZ for 2 days
  • Srinivas Krovidy, Reston, VA for 1 day
  • Vijay Manghnani, Philadelphia for 1 day
  • Lakshmi Gorrepati,  Baltimore, Maryland for 1 day
  • Srinivas Naga Chadaram, Durham, NC for 1 day
  • Rupalatha Maddala, Durham, NC for 1 day
  • Subhrajit Bhattacharya, Philadelphia, PA for 2 days
  • Nirveek Bhattacharjee, Seattle, WA for 2 days
  • Somu Kumar, McLean, VA  for 4 days
  • Arun Gopalan College Park, MD for 1 day
  • Neela Yennawar, State College, PA for 3 days

 
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