Tag Archives: Sachin Mali

May7

Eminent persons to release poetry book by Sachin Mali of Kabir Kala Manch

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Launch of Sachin Mali's book of poetry at St. Xaviers College

Launch of Sachin Mali’s book of poetry at St. Xaviers College

Venue: Main Hall, St. Xaviers College, opp. Azad Maidan

Date: Monday, 12 May

Lokvangmay Gruha and the Kabir Kala Manch Defence Committee invites you to the release of Sachin Mali’s book of poems “Sadhya Patta Bhumigat” (Current Address: Underground).

The Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), a working class cultural troupe that spoke out against anti-Dalit atrocities like the Ramabai police firing and the rape and murders in Khairlanji, had been forced into hiding in 2011 after some of their members were arrested by the Anti Terror Squad (ATS) who branded them as Naxalite collaborators. Eventually after civil society began to show support for the KKM and after the Bombay High Court granted bail to a few co-accused, the KKM decided to voluntarily give themselves up to face the due process of law. A year ago Sachin Mali and 3 other members of the KKM, did a Satyagraha by singing songs in the vicinity of the State Assembly before giving themselves up to the ATS. Since then, while KKM’s Sheetal Sathe has been released on bail, Sachin Mali, Sagar Gorkhe and Ramesh Gaichor are still in jail. “Sadhya Patta Bhumigat” published by Lokvangmay Gruha consists mainly of poems written by Mali while in hiding and a few composed after being incarcerated. The poems add a new leaf to the vibrant tradition of subaltern Dalit literature.

The evening is conceived of as a cultural event with talks, poetry reading and songs. Girish Karnad will be the chief guest and eminent theater personality Ratna Pathak Shah, Advocate Prakash Ambedkar, Mihir Desai, writers and cultural activists Satish Kalsekar, J. V. Pawar, Ratnakar Mhatkari, Pradnya Pawar, Sambhaji Bhagat and many others will grace the occasion.

Time: 5 PM

Anand Patwardhan (9819882244), Prakash Reddy (9869000684) and Vivek Sundara (9821062801) for KKM Defence Committee and Lokvangmay Gruha.

Apr7

The ‘ Revolutionary’ Story of Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali

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sheetal

ABP(STAR) MARATHI CHANNEL AT 730PM  on Apirl 6, ran a story  on Kabir kala manch- Sachin Mali‘s village–the villagers have spoken about him and the work he did. They interviewed family members, teachers and friends of sheetal sathe and sachin Mali .

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Apr5

Amnesty International Appeal – Arrested theatre activists at risk of torture

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Theatre activists Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali were arrested on 2 April 2013 on various charges, including criminal conspiracy and being part of a banned organization. They are being held in Mumbai, India and are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.

 

Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali are members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), a group which uses protest music and theatre to campaign on human rights issues, including dalit rights and caste-based violence and discrimination in the western Indian state of Maharashtra.

 

On 17 April 2011 they were two of 15 people charged by the police under India’s principal anti-terror legislation of being members of, and supporting and recruiting people for, the Communist Party of India (Maoist) – a banned armed group fighting for more than a decade to overthrow elected governments in several Indian states. They also faced several criminal charges including extortion, forgery and impersonation. Seven people were arrested, while the others – including Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali, who are married to each other – could not be traced by the police until earlier this month.

 

On 2 April 2013, Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali appeared before the legislative assembly of Maharashtra in what they said was a protest against the charges levelled against them. They were arrested by the Mumbai police and brought before a magistrate, who remanded Sheetal Sathe to judicial custody until 17 April, and Sachin Mali to police custody until 10 April. According to her mother, Sheetal Sathe is six months pregnant. Activist and documentary filmmaker Anand Patwardhan was present with Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali on 2 April. He said, “Due to our previous experience with the police, we are apprehensive of what may happen to Sachin Mali in police custody.”

 

Reports of torture and forced confessions by police in India are very common, and the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad, a unit of the state police, has in particular faced several allegations of torture.

 

The Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), under which they have been charged, uses sweeping and overbroad definitions of ‘acts of terrorism’ and ‘membership’ of ‘unlawful’ organizations, and does not comply with India’s international legal obligations.

 

Please write immediately in English, Marathi, Hindi or your own language:

  • Urging the Maharashtra authorities to ensure that Sachin Mali is protected from torture and other ill-treatment while in police custody, and Sheetal Sathe, who is six months pregnant, is provided with any medical care that she requires;
  • Urging the Maharashtra authorities to ensure that Sheetal Sathe, Sachin Mali and the other accused activists are tried in proceedings that meet international fair trial standards.

PLEASE SEND APPEALS BEFORE 17 MAY 2013 TO:

 

Inspector-General of Prisons (South Region, Mumbai)

Vinod Lokhande

Special IGP

South Region

Byculla

Mumbai – 400008, India

Fax: 91-22-23001177

Salutation: Dear Mr Lokhande

 

Additional Director-General of Police, Anti-Terror Squad, Mumbai

Rakesh Maria

DGP, Police Headquarters

SB Road, Old Council Hall

Colaba, Mumbai – 400001, India

Fax: 91-22-23053158

Email:  adgats.mah@mahapolice.com

Salutation: Dear Mr Maria

 

And copies to:

Home Minister, Maharashtra

R.R. Patil

Home Department

7th Floor, World Trade Centre

Cuffe Parade

Mumbai – 400005, India

Fax: 91-22-22029742

Email:  min.home@maharashtra.gov.in

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Apr3

Court Arrest proves they are innocent: Sheetal Sathe’s mother

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sheetal

Chandan Haygunde : Pune, Wed Apr 03 2013,  Indian Express
Both Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali used to write what they called “revolutionary songs and poetry” in Pune. The songs composed by the KKM like “Bhagat Singh tu zinda hai…” are often sung on different occassions by youths, activists and cultural groups in the city.

Family members say the duo got married through Satyashodhak vivah at the historic Mahatma Phule Wada a few years ago. While Sheetal is a postgraduate in sociology from Siddhivinayak College in Pune, Sachin got his MA from Fergusson College.

“I am happy they have surrendered. It proves their innocence,” said Sheetal’s mother Sandhya Sathe. She lives in a small hut in the Kaseadi slums of Pune. “I got phone calls as the news flashed on TV channels. I was happy to see Sheetal on TV after three years now. She has been a talented singer since her childhood. She had won awards during college days,” she said.

The mother said Sheetal left home about five years ago. “She got married to Sachin. Both had started working for KKM before marriage and wanted to do something for the backward classes,” she said.

KKM was formed by a Pune based activist Amarnath Chandaliya after the 2002 Gujarat riots. According to Chandaliya, Sheetal and Sachin along with Ramesh Gaychor, Sagar Gorkhe, Deepak alias Dhawala Dhengle joined the KKM in 2005.

The activists were lauded by prominent social activists in Pune for their performances in various colleges, slums, agitations and social functions. However, their names were included in the list of some 37 organisations prepared by the police for alleged Naxal links in 2008. The activists went into hiding after they were booked by the ATS in April 2011.

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