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Anand Teltumbde

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Anand Teltumbde (born 15 July 1951) is an Indian scholar, writer, and human rights activist who is a management professor at the Goa Institute of Management.[1][2][3][4] He has written extensively about the caste system in India and has advocated for the rights of Dalits.[5][6][7]

Anand Teltumbde
Anand Teltumbde in 2020
Born (1951-07-15) 15 July 1951 (age 73)
Rajur, Bombay State
(now Maharashtra), India
Alma materVisvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (B.Tech.)

Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (MBA)

University of Mumbai (PhD)
Occupation(s)Professor, writer
SpouseRama Ambedkar
RelativesMilind Teltumbde (brother)

Teltumbde is a longtime critic of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and he was imprisoned in 2020 along with other activists and intellectuals who were critical of the Modi government.[8] His arrest was condemned by other academics and human rights organizations, and legal experts have said that the charges against him appear to be fabricated.[8][9] He was released on bail in 2022.

Teltumbde was awarded the Basava Puraskara in 2024.

Biography

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Teltumbde was born on 15 July 1951 in Rajur, a village in the Yavatmal district of present-day Maharashtra state, to a family of Dalit farm labourers.[1][5] He is the oldest among eight siblings.[10] He is married to Rama Teltumbde who is a granddaughter of B. R. Ambedkar.[5][11] 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.[10] He was also awarded an honorary doctorate (D.Litt.) from the Karnataka State Open University.[12]

Teltumbde was an Executive Director at Bharat Petroleum and managing director of Petronet India Limited before becoming an academic.[5][13] He was a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur and later became a senior professor at the Goa Institute of Management.[14][15][16] He contributes a column titled "Margin Speak" to Economic and Political Weekly,[17] and has also contributed to Outlook,[18] Tehelka,[19] and Seminar.[20][21] His 2018 book, Republic of Caste, is a collection of essays that assesses the position of Dalits, including the relationship between caste and class.[22] 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.[22]

In January 2024, Teltumbde was awarded the Basava Puraskara by the Government of Karnataka.[23][24][25]

Imprisonment and international reactions

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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][26] 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][27] After his release, Teltumbde accused the government of harassment and of attempting to criminalize dissent.[28] 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, when hearing a plea on the same.[29]

The Washington Post reported that Teltumbde was arrested as part of "a government crackdown on lawyers and activists" who are critics of Modi.[5] Legal experts have said the charges against Teltumbde appear fabricated.[9][30] 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.[31][32] 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.[27]

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][33] Teltumbde had noticed his phone had been "acting up" and was later contacted by Citizen Lab in October 2019.[34]

On 16 March 2020, the Supreme Court of India dismissed Teltumbde's plea for anticipatory bail under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), which makes bail difficult to obtain for accused individuals.[35][36] The Court gave Teltumbde and Navlakha three weeks to surrender.[36] On 8 April, a bench headed by Justice Arun Mishra ordered Teltumbde to surrender to the National Investigation Agency on 14 April.[37] 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.[8][38][39] Teltumbde was denied bail again in July 2021.[40] While imprisoned, he was allowed a weekly two-minute phone call with his wife.[8]

In November 2022, Teltumbde was released from Taloja Central Prison after the Bombay High Court granted him bail and the order was upheld by the Supreme Court.[41][42][43] The court found no prima facie evidence that Teltumbde had been involved in a terrorist act under the UAPA.[44]

Selected publications

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  • The Radical in Ambedkar (ed.) (Penguin Random House, New Delhi, 2018) ISBN 978-0670091157[45]
  • Republic of Caste: Thinking of Equality in the Era of Neoliberalism and Hindutva (Navayana, New Delhi, 2018) ISBN 978-8189059842[46]
  • 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[47]
  • The Persistence of Caste (Zed Books, London, 2010) ISBN 9781848134492[48]
  • Khairlanji: A Strange and Bitter Crop (Navayana, Delhi, 2008) ISBN 978-8189059156[47]
  • Annihilation of Caste (Ramai, Mumbai, 2005) ISBN 978-9353040772[47]
  • Hindutva and Dalits: Perspectives for Understanding Communal Praxis (ed.) (Samya, Kolkata, 2005) ISBN 978-8185604756[47]
  • 'Ambedkar' in and for the Post-Ambedkar Dalit Movement (Sugawa, Pune, 1997) ISBN 978-8186182291

References

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  1. ^ a b c Sampath, G. (16 February 2019). "Who is Anand Teltumbde, and why was he arrested recently?". The Hindu. Archived from the original on 20 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Koregaon-Bhima case: HC rejects civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde's plea seeking quashing of FIR". The New Indian Express. 21 December 2018. Archived from the original on 27 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  3. ^ a b Satheesh, Shone (1 November 2019). "Indian activists, lawyers accuse government of spying on them". Al Jazerra. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  4. ^ "After brother Milind's death, jailed scholar Anand Teltumbde allowed to speak to grieving 90-year-old mother". The Times of India.
  5. ^ a b c d e Masih, Niha (21 February 2019). "He is a prominent anti-Modi intellectual. The Indian government wants him behind bars". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 9 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019. 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.
  6. ^ Jodhka, Surinder S. (4 August 2018). "Caste in a New Mould". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  7. ^ Bhatia, Tanushree (20 January 2019). "IIMA faculty speak up in solidarity with Anand Teltumbde". Daily News and Analysis. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  8. ^ a b c d "Anand Teltumbde: Cards and letters for jailed India scholar as he turns 70". BBC News. 15 July 2020.
  9. ^ a b MN, Parth (14 April 2020). "India arrests activist Anand Teltumbde over 2018 caste violence". Al Jazeera. Legal experts and activists said the charges are fabricated and aimed at targeting the critics of Modi's right-wing government.
  10. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 13 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  11. ^ "Elgar Parishad: Dalit Scholar Anand Teltumbde, Activist Gautam Navlakha Surrender Before NIA". Outlook India. 14 April 2020. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2020.
  12. ^ Deshmukh, Chaitraly (3 February 2019). "Court rules against Pune police's Elgaar arrest". Mid-day.com. Archived from the original on 7 May 2019. Retrieved 7 May 2019.
  13. ^ "Anand Teltumbde – Executive Profile". Bloomberg. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  14. ^ "Anand Teltumbde". Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur. Archived from the original on 8 May 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  15. ^ Malkarnekar, Gauree (29 May 2018). "GIM's introduces country's first programme in Big Data Analysis". The Times of India. Archived from the original on 30 March 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  16. ^ "Anand Teltumbde". Goa Institute of Management. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 10 March 2019.
  17. ^ "Margin Speak". Economic and Political Weekly. Archived from the original on 4 February 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  18. ^ Teltumbde, Anand (20 August 2012). "It's Not Red Vs Blue". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 16 August 2012. Retrieved 16 August 2012.
  19. ^ Teltumbde, Anand (24 May 2011). "The false Dalit of capital". Tehelka. Archived from the original on 2 June 2011. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  20. ^ Teltumbde, Anand (28 February 2012). "Identity politics and the annihilation of castes". india-seminar.com. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  21. ^ Teltumbde, Anand (30 July 2011). "Corruption and injustice". india-seminar.com. Archived from the original on 11 September 2017. Retrieved 29 January 2017.
  22. ^ a b Chattopadhyay, Kunal (July 2020). "The Struggle Against Dalit Oppression in India". Jacobin.
  23. ^ "Civil rights activist Anand Teltumbde chosen for Basava Award; Na. D'Souza gets Pampa Prashasti". The Hindu. 25 January 2024.
  24. ^ "'A small streak of light': Seven Bhima Koregaon prisoners congratulate Anand Teltumbde on award". Scroll. 4 February 2024.
  25. ^ "'Never Adjusted Your Stand': 9 Elgar Accused Congratulate Anand Teltumbde From Jail". The Wire. 5 February 2024.
  26. ^ Kulkarni, Sushant (30 January 2019). "Elgaar Parishad: Prosecution claims to have evidence to show Teltumbde involved in insurgent activities". Indian Express. Archived from the original on 23 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  27. ^ a b 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. Archived from the original on 28 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  28. ^ Chitnis, Purva (5 February 2019). ""Urban Naxal An Oxymoron," Says Activist Anand Teltumbde Accused In Koregaon-Bhima Case". NDTV. Archived from the original on 24 February 2019. Retrieved 9 March 2019.
  29. ^ "Bhima-Koregaon Case: Justice Chandrachud Questions Maharashtra Police Impartiality In Elgar Parishad Probe". www.outlookindia.com. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  30. ^ Sahni, Ajai (3 September 2018). "Urban Maoist Fakery". South Asian Intelligence Review. 17 (10). Archived from the original on 19 January 2019. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  31. ^ "Academics Demand Dropping Charges Against Teltumbde, Other Activists". The Wire (India). 7 February 2019. Archived from the original on 28 March 2019. Retrieved 10 April 2019.
  32. ^ "U.S., European scholars come out in support of Teltumbde". The Hindu. 7 February 2019. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
  33. ^ Chishti, Seema (1 November 2019). "WhatsApp confirms: Israeli spyware was used to snoop on Indian journalists, activists". The Indian Express. Archived from the original on 5 November 2019. Retrieved 5 November 2019.
  34. ^ Mahale, Ajeet (1 November 2019). "Spyware targeted prominent human rights activists in Maharashtra". The Hindu.
  35. ^ "Anand Teltumbde: India activist surrenders over Bhima Koregaon violence charges". BBC News. 14 April 2020.
  36. ^ a b "Bhima Koregaon case: SC refuses anticipatory bail to Navlakha, Teltumbde, gives 3 weeks to surrender". Outlook. Archived from the original on 30 August 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  37. ^ Singh, Vijaita; Saigal, Sonam (14 April 2020). "Elgar Parishad case | Anand Teltumbde, Gautam Navlakha surrender to NIA". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Archived from the original on 15 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  38. ^ "'Especially Inhuman': Romila Thapar, Others Write to CJI Bobde On Teltumbde, Navlakha". The Wire. Archived from the original on 14 April 2020. Retrieved 14 April 2020.
  39. ^ "SC decision to send activists Gautam Navlakha and Anand Teltumbde to jail 'disappointing': Amnesty". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 16 April 2020.
  40. ^ Press Trust of India (12 July 2021). "Elgar case: Mumbai court rejects bail plea of activist Anand Teltumbde". Business Standard India.
  41. ^ Thanawala, Sarah (30 January 2024). "Bhima Koregaon: NIA court allows Anand Teltumbde to travel to Bengaluru to receive Basava Rashtriya Puraskar award – The Leaflet". The Leaflet.
  42. ^ "Prison not reform centre as claimed, it's centre of sadism: Prof Anand Teltumbde". The New Indian Express. 1 August 2023.
  43. ^ "Human Rights Defender Anand Teltumbde released on bail". Front Line Defenders. 7 December 2022. Retrieved 4 June 2024.
  44. ^ "'Sad we spent time in jail in fake case': Anand Teltumbde". The Indian Express. 27 November 2022.
  45. ^ Bhardwaj, Ashutosh (17 February 2019). "Radical Ambedkar: Analysing divergent personas of the leader". Financial Express. Archived from the original on 8 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2019.
  46. ^ "Anand Teltumbde". Jacobin. 23 October 2018. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  47. ^ a b c d "Anand Teltumbde". Penguin Books India. Penguin Random House. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019.
  48. ^ The Persistence of Caste – The Khairlanji Murders and India's Hidden Apartheid. Archived from the original on 26 April 2019. Retrieved 26 April 2019. {{cite book}}: |website= ignored (help)
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