By TCN News,
Hyderabad: Civil Liberties Monitoring Committee [CLMC] organized a meeting remembering KG Kannabiran and paid tributes to him on his first death anniversary. On the occasion, the committee also stated that “75 years of Civil Liberties Movement in India” have been completed; as it started on 24th August 1936, but still the Indian government has not taken any serious measures to protect the rights of its citizens. The committee demanded to introduce and pass “The Prevention of Communal and Targeted Violence Bill, 2011” in the Parliament.
CLMC noted that a major part of Kannabiran’s professional life was spent as a counsel for the defence of the democratic rights of the people. when the civil and democratic rights were curbed during emergency by Indira Gandhi in the year1975, and during the period when the TADA, POTA and other draconian laws were imposed by the Indian ruling class, Kannabiran was the sole person who was in forefront to combat against these laws and he led the campaign to restore the democratic rights of the people.
He never compromised on the violations of people’s rights, instead always questioned the state for its anti-people policies. He used constitution of India as a weapon to counter the state violence. He always believed the Indian Constitution has a solution to each and every problem. He, therefore always stressed on two points: one, to read and understand constitution and struggle within its framework and other, to prepare the activists and defenders of human rights.
As an intellectual, he had enlightened readers on important issues and he contributed a lot for debates in public sphere. His thoughts have thrown light in understanding national and international issues and social problems such as caste, gender and communalism. He commanded respect due to his complete understanding and thoroughness in constitutionalism and interpretation of law from letters and spirit perspective.
CLMC made it clear that in a plural society, not only a common man but how a rights activist should be, Kannabiran is that example. Because of this, among all the civil rights activists Kannabiran was the only person who understood Muslim psychology. The reason might be because he was very well conversed with Urdu language and culture. Sometimes, in discussions he would explain the Urdu poetry as well.
Late K G Kannabiran
The meeting was attended by family members of KG Kannabiran, wife
Vasanth Kannabiran and daughter Kalpana Kannabiran took part. The speakers who took part in the meeting were revolutionary writer Varavara Rao, Prof. Rama Melkote, Prof. Rehana Sultana, Jeevan Kumar, Dr. Jilukara Srinivas, and Dr. Suresh Kumar along with Lateef Mohammed Khan General Secretary of CLMC. The meeting was convened by Ms. Kaneez Fathima, Jt. Secretary CLMC.