Mukul Sinha

Mukul Sinha
Born (1951-02-10)February 10, 1951
Kolkata
Died May 12, 2014(2014-05-12) (aged 63)
Ahmedabad
Alma mater IIT Kanpur
Spouse(s) Nirjhari Sinha
Children 1
Scientific career
Fields Plasma Physics

Mukul Sinha (1951–2014) was a prominent human rights activist and a lawyer at Gujarat High Court at Ahmedabad, India. He was an active trade union leader and a trained physicist. He got justice for the families of victims of "fake encounters" (dubious charges of terrorism surrounding violence during the riots) in Gujarat, and in Manipur when he secured convictions of the politicians and police officers involved.[1][2] He was the co-founder and president of Jan Sangharsh Manch, (Peoples Struggle Forum) an independent civil rights organization developed to address issues of labour and workers rights as well as a vocal critic of Narendra Modi.[3][4][5]

Early Activism

He was born in Kolkata. Completing his undergraduate studies at Bilaspur, he graduated from IIT Kanpur[6] in Physics, then joined the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad in 1973 for doctoral research. He became involved with social activism upon the expulsion of workers at PRL in 1978. He organized the workers to fight for their rights, founding the Federation of Employees of Autonomous Research and Development, Education and Technical Institutes (FEARDETI),[7] although this cost him his job in 1979. He completed a law degree in 1988 and joined the Gujarat High Court in 1989. He co-founded Jan Sangharsh Manch in 1990 under the aegis of the New Socialist Movement and organized a group of lawyers and individuals from various professions to work pro-bono on various issues of the common-man ranging from trade-unions, housing, environment, natural calamities, and civil rights.[8][9] His recommendations following the 2001 Bhuj earthquake entitled “Kutch Quake Profile”[10] resulted in an injunction from the court to incorporate earthquake resistant structures in the state.

2002 Gujarat Riots

Gujarat state experienced communal violence against the minority Muslim community immediately following the Godhra train burning incident.[11][12][13] With Jan Sangharsh Manch, he participated in the Government of Gujarat appointed Nanavati-Mehta Commission to seek justice for the victims.[14] As a party, he managed to obtain mobile phone 'call data records' (CDR) submitted by Indian Police Service officer Rahul Sharma (Gujarat police). Thorough analysis of these records enabled lawyers, activists and victims to cite the data, implicating a number of political leaders and police officers. The call data records of Maya Kodnani along with Babu Bajrangi were crucial evidence corroborating the claims of Naroda Patiya massacre victims. Ultimately the special court convicted them for their role in the riots.[15]

Politics

He twice contested for Gujarat Assembly elections. Once under the banner of his own political party New Socialist Movement[16] in 2007, and secondly as an independent candidate in 2012. The former was fought from a Muslim dominated constituency Shahpur and latter was from Sabarmati in Ahemdabad. He lost both elections, securing only a few votes. [17][18]

Death and award

Sinha died from lung cancer on 12 May 2014.[19] He is survived by his wife Nirjhari Sinha and his son Pratik, who runs the portal altnews.in.[20] According to his wishes, his body was donated to Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for cancer research.[21][7]

He was posthumously awarded the second Bhagirath Human Rights Award (BHRA) by the Bhagrirath Memorial Fund Committee set up at the Centre for Social Studies (CSS), Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat.[22]

References

  1. ↑ Langa, Mahesh (8 July 2013). "Gujarat fake encounters are similar: Mukul Sinha". Hindustan Times. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  2. ↑ Alam, Mahtab (21 June 2014). "Remembering Advocate Mukul Sinha". Mainstream Weekly. Archived from the original on 2014-06-25. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  3. ↑ Katakam, Anupama (13 June 2014). "On the side of victims". Frontline. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  4. ↑ Janmohamed, Zahir (13 May 2014). "Mukul Sinha, self-effacing Modi opponent and labour organiser who disliked being called a leader". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2017-07-11.
  5. ↑ "India election: what kind of PM will Narendra Modi be?". The Week. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  6. ↑ "Noted Activist and Lawyer Mukul Sinha Dies". New Delhi Television Limited. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  7. 1 2 "Mukul Sinha, who fought for 2002 riot victims, succumbs to cancer". The Indian Express. 2014-05-13. Retrieved 2017-11-29.
  8. ↑ Janmohamed, Zahir. "At a Memorial, Hundreds Pay Tribute to a Gujarat Human Rights Champion".
  9. ↑ "Young 'hero' behind new Dalit movement". The Telegraph. 7 August 2016. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  10. ↑ "IMD admits error in calculating quake epicentre". The Express Tribune. 5 May 2009. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  11. ↑ Burman, J. J. Roy (2005). Gujarat Unknown: Hindu-Muslim Syncretism and Humanistic Forays. Mittal Publications. p. 186. ISBN 9788183240529.
  12. ↑ "rediff.com: Fifty-eight killed in attack on Sabarmati Express".
  13. ↑ "rediff.com: 30 persons burnt alive in Ahmedabad".
  14. ↑ "Irreparable loss, Noted lawyer and activist Mukul Sinha passes away". Milli Gazete. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  15. ↑ "Gujarat riots: How IPS officer Rahul Sharma exposed rioters".
  16. ↑ "The Man Who Keeps Knocking". Outlook. 22 July 2013. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  17. ↑ "Final Election Result, Shahpur constituency" (PDF). Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  18. ↑ "Final Election Result, Sabarmati constituency" (PDF). Retrieved 21 October 2016.
  19. ↑ "Noted Activist and Lawyer Mukul Sinha Dies".
  20. ↑ "Gujarat riots activist Mukul Sinha dies at 63". Mint. 13 May 2014. Retrieved 20 October 2016.
  21. ↑ "Lawyer, social activist Mukul Sinha passes away".
  22. ↑ "Late Mukul Sinha to get Bhagirath Human Rights Award".
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