432 Rajindar Sachar, Former President of PUCL, Is No More!
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Vol. XXXVIII, No. 5 ISSN-0970-8693 MAY 2018 Rs. 20 Rajindar Sachar, Former President Rajindar Sachar, former President of PUCL, is No More! of PUCL, is No More! (1) It is with profound sadness that PUCL announces the demise of Shri Rajindar Sachar, former President of PUCL and a former Chief Justice ARTICLES, REPORTS & DOCUMENTS: of Delhi and Sikkim High Courts, in a Delhi hospital on Friday, 20th April, India Needs Draupadi and Not Savitri - 2018. Sacharji, as he was fondly called, was active until a few days Rajindar Sachar (2); Loss of a sane voice before his death, at the age of 94 – writing his regular columns in troubled times - Sanjay Parikh (3); commenting on contemporary events and calling upon all rights activists Tribute to Justice Sachar - Prabhakar and defenders to beware of creeping fascism in India's political process Sinha (4); In Memory of Rajinder Sachar and to relentlessly fight for democracy and human rights. Sacharji, who - Salutes to a Legal Giant, Passionate had witnessed the horrors of partition first hand, being born in Lahore, Democrat, Genial Humanist, Friend of (now in Pakistan), repeatedly called attention to urgency of fighting the Poor! - Dr. V. Suresh (4); Reminiscences: The Cycling Judge against the rapid spread of hate politics, communal intolerance and Sahab – Kavita Srivastava (6); majoritarian violence unleashed by Hindutva forces aligned with the Remembering an Indian Human Rights ruling NDA dispensation, especially after they came to power in the Hero - Pushkar Raj (9); Justice Rajindar Centre in May, 2014. A true democrat, over the last 3 decades Sacharji Sachar 1923-2018: Our Finest Has lent not just his voice but also his presence in the site of innumerable Gone - Qurban Ali (10); India Needs More campaigns and protests against injustice, violence and Personalities like Justice Sachar - maladministration across India, and also in other countries. His Ashish Joshi (13); Obituary: Sachar diminutive physical frame belied the reality of an intellectual giant, a Saheb: A unique personality with legal colossus and a towering humanist. Sacharji represented an old socialist vision - Prem Singh (15); Former Civil Servants Slam Modi's world political culture – no compromises on issues of injustice, 'Belated Promises' on Kathua, Unnao discrimination, rights violations and constitutional abuses, but eve when Rape Cases (16); we fight battles to assert the primacy of democratic values and vision, not to lose sight of the human content in relationships and in the type of PRESS STATEMENTS, LETTERS AND NEWS: society we build. For him, political values and ethics were not divorced Justice Rajinder Sachar passes away from life, not elements of tactics and strategies, to be discarded on the (4); Condolence Messages for Justice font of situations and exigencies. Sacharji was the epitome of Sachar (13); PUCL Karnataka: Press seamlessly integrating the personal with the political in a manner that Release on PFI ban in Jharkhand (18); that all the human and democratic values we cherish, became part of Press Statement of Greater Chennai th both our persona as also our politics and work. Unit, PUCL (19); Joint Press Note on 25 Sacharji leaves behind a rich legacy of writings and speeches. We plan March 2018, Imphal (19). to curate the best of his writings to both inform and educate as also Annual Subscription: PUCL Bulletin inspire younger generation as they get engaged with democratic (w.e.f. January 01, 2017) INDIA struggles to assert our basic human and fundamental rights to make our PUCL Members Rs. 200 society more egalitarian, caring, concerned and democratic. Non-Members Rs. 240 In view of the rich diversity of obituary references chronicling the varied Libraries, Institutions Rs. 300 contributions of Sacharji, we are carrying a number of selected pieces in OVERSEAS this issue of the PUCL Bulletin which is dedicated to his memory. PUCL Members US$50 Amongst his numerous contributions to PUCL, was his regular Non-Members US$100 contribution to the Bulletin as a member of the PUCL Bulletin Editorial Libraries, Institutions US$120 Committee. We record his invaluable contribution and guidance of the Bulletin over the last few decades. We also carry in this issue the last articles received from him. Long live Sacharji!! Your mortal separation was inevitable. But you will continue to live in our hearts and minds, inspiring us to continue your legacy. Dr. V. Suresh, General Secretary, PUCL & Editor, PUCL Bulletin 432 PUCL BULLETIN, MAY 2018 1 India Needs Draupadi and Not Savitri Rajindar Sachar Everyone knows that Indians are calling himself as Pandavas. I resignation of the government if sensitive about their religion. would have been happy if he was human right violations are to be Before the elections they are very giving promise that in present India avoided – and this has been proved particular about doing such actions there will never be bullets used for by subsequent events in India, as is which they think will result in maintaining law. In that connection I shown by official figures released favorable verdict. This analysis is may remind him that if police firing by Government of India that at least proved authentic by Rahul Gandhi d o e s t a k e p l a c e , s e r i o u s over 50,000 people have been saying openly that not only he consequences will follow. killed by the police firings – this respects old traditions but he Bringing religion is unacceptable in happened because correct human intends to go further and show our republic. Death by police firing right standards were not accepted respect by making his programme raises a very important question as and followed, namely the automatic based on these traditions. to the responsibility of State or the resignation of State government in This he showed as reported by Central governments. I may in this such an eventuality. This will show press during Gujarat elections connection point out that the ignoring violation by the state of visiting many temples, what even Socialist party of J.P. and Dr. Lohia people's rights can and will always press had no choice but to high light had proposed a policy regarding lead to the calamitous situation as this fact. Some of Nehru's admirers police firing in independent India. It has happened in the past. regretted that Nehru views on was a straight one namely that in a I do not know why Rahul thinks that keeping religion outside politics free democratic country like India, Pandavas are to be supported as was being abandoned and now any police firing leading to the against Kauravas whom he calls being revived by his own family. k i l l i n g o f c i t i z e n s m u s t neech. In support of this Rahul Gandhi is a u t o m a t i c a l l y l e a d t o t h e In the matter of gambling both of openly saying he would go by the r e s i g n a t i o n o f t h e S t a t e them were agreed. So the blame is conduct of Pandvas and the government. The leaders should equal. It is only during the play, that opposition is Kauravas. He has promise that in Independent India, the Pandavas had lost their given no instance of his polices or no State government or Central balance when they chose to put his programme of action as Government should have legal Draupadi on stake. Pandavas as against his opponent sanction to open fire on the crowds. Even when Draupadi was crying for whom he accused as being And if a situation reaches that stage h e l p , t h e P a n d a v a s k e p t Kauravas. i t s h o w s t h e c o m p l e t e shamefully silent. The explanation But a little reflection would show incompetency of State government can only be that both Pandavas and that before leaving the other group which should lead immediately to Kauravas agreed on behaving as if who created this situation as to be the resignation of the government. Draupadi is not their equal, but a judged by correct criteria. In fact, Socialist Party had to face mere chattel of man. Reference to religions from this situation early in free India. The Draupadi, of course, never forgot it traditions for himself saying that be party was expected to do well, and showed that she will not keep followed Pandavas. Kauravas were considering the sacrifices and contact with Pandavas unless she “neech”; as they did not show contribution to freedom struggle was given the blood of Duryodhan respect for women and no respects and especially to the most being killed. Draupadi, sought the for womanhood. But the question i m p o r t a n t p h a s e o f 1 9 4 2 only option namely, the killing of that the needs to ask himself is how movement. Duryodhan. But even upto now did this situation arise. Both The Socialist Party was even then most of the people consider that Pandavas and Kauravas agreed on able to form a government in only keeping silent was the only correct gambling, so no one gets the the then State of Travancore with answer. These people do not treat blames. Chief Minister Thanu Pillai. Some women as equal to men; that is why Pandavas in gambling even put time later there was agitation in the cry of Draupadi remains silent in Draupadi on the stake.