Freedom walk to be taken out today

Kerala’s first massive public meet against fascism will get under way at the Town Hall here on Sunday.

In the build up to the unique resistance movement in which over 40 assorted organisations —political, social, reformative, Dalit, cultural, minority gender, atheistic and environmental — are joining hands, there will be a freedom walk, from Rajendra Maidan to the Vanchi Square near the High Court followed by a rendering of ethnic, rustic, folk and resistance arts presented by various groups including the transgender community on Saturday evening.

M.P. Rajesh, MP, and V.S. Sunil Kumar, MLA, will lead the walkers.

The Manushya Samgamam (Meeting of Human beings) on Sunday will be inaugurated by scientist Dr. P.M. Bhargava, who returned his Padma Bhushan in protest against the government endorsing rising intolerance in the country.

Gopinath Pillai, father of Ghulam Sheikh Javed (Pranesh Kumar), who was killed by the Gujarat Police in what’s believed to be a fake encounter, will speak on fascism. Writers including K. Satchidanandan, Anand and Leena Manimekalai and activists K.M. Salimkumar, CK Janu, Selena Prakkanam will attend the event in solidarity.

The day-long event will see a galaxy of noted persons across fields participating in discussions against fascism. A dance concert with everyone’s participation and led by actor Rima Kallingal will celebrate togetherness. Shahabaz Aman will sing in the evening.

The event is taking place amidst a raging debate set off by writer-activist Meena Kandasamy (who was slated to take part in it) questioning the rationale behind the ‘exclusion’ of organisations like Solidarity, SDPI Jamaat-e-Islami, PDP and Muslim League from the event. She wondered if it was due to Islamophobia, kicking up a debate on the relation between fundamentalism and fascism and the rationale behind the conduct of the event.

Taking the cue, SDPI and Solidarity announced an Amaanava Samgamam, loosely translating into a meeting of those who are not ‘beyond human’, on the same day at Kozhikode.

Says Purushan Eloor, one of the organisers of the Manushya Samgamam in Ernakulam: “First of all, we have not said no to any individual, no matter their caste, creed or belief. However, we took a decision not to collaborate with any organisations, especially religious organisations possessing fundamental views. While there are political leaders of various hues, too, the event has no connection with any political party. Dalit activists, minority rights activist, minority gender activists and social activists form a major part of the participants. We are thinking of making it a regular fair.”