Political prisoners of Emergency recall those ‘dark days'
Kochi: Political leaders, who were jailed during the Emergency of 1975-77 under MISA and DIR laws, gathered at the residence of CPM leader K N Ravindranath at Edappally, where they recalled their life in prison, on Wednesday.
The dark shadow from half-a-century ago still haunted them.
Participants of the meeting, organised by Thampan Thomas Foundation, included Ravindranath, Thampan Thomas, M K Kannan, M T Kurian, K A Ali Akbar, K P Job and John Joseph. They recounted being taken away by the police at night, the tortures in jail and the brutal beatings they endured. They unanimously voiced the need for a public uprising against the undeclared state of emergency prevailing in India today.
Ravindranath recalled that he was arrested two months after Emergency was declared, as his wife Indira and son Madhu listened intently. There is a need for a major public uprising to confront the emerging climate of terror similar to the Emergency period, he said.
Thomas said he received a promise of becoming a high court judge before he was arrested at night, with police surrounding his house. He had said that he wouldn't resign from Socialist Party or withdraw from the trade union movement.
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Akbar remembered being arrested during a journey to Kodungallur after hiding in a room at Kalabhavan for six days.
Kurian, a MISA detainee from Changanassery, recounted that when Indira Gandhi visited Kottayam, police beat him for showing a black flag. Kannan detailed the hardships he faced in Viyyur and Poojappura jails. CPM leader K M Sudhakaran's note was read by P N Seenulal. The attendees also remembered M M Lawrence and M K Premnath.
Speakers included Prof M K Sanoo, CPM state committee member N N Krishnadas, district secretary S Satheesh, K N Gopinath, Deepa Varma, M M Lawrence's son Sajeev Lawrence, among others.
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