BENGALURU: “Justice is not served by merely arresting the murderers of martyred journalist and thinker Gauri Lankesh. Even Mahatma Gandhi did not get justice with mere punishment of Nathuram Godse. People who created Godse are roaming scot-free. They are out there glorifying Godse, destroying the Constitution, democracy and the secular fabric of this country. It will not be long before the fascist dispensation adorns the walls of Parliament and democratic institutions with Godse’s portraits. Real justice will be served to Gandhiji and Gauri Lankesh if, we the people, tread the paths created by them to protect the diversity, equality, federalism and morality. Continuing to fight fearlessly for the true idea of justice and equality will be a true tribute to Gauri Lankesh, a teacher and a mother, on this Teachers’ Day and also her second death anniversary,” said Kanhaiya Kumar, leader of Communist Party of India and All India Students Federation.
He was addressing a gathering at an event on Thursday to release books on editorial and column compilations from Lankesh Patrike and Gauri’s Lankesh tabloid publications penned by late Gauri and freedom fighter, activist and journalist H.S. Doreswamy organised jointly by the Gauri Memorial Trust and Gauri Media Trust. Advocate, politician and activist Late A.K. Subbaiah was also remembered.
Recalling his association with Gauri Lankesh, Kanhaiaya said, “Gauri’s love was exceptional, beyond the limitations of blood or common familiarity. She shared a lively and organic relationship with anybody who fought for justice. This is how she handled the fears and threats in her line of fire, through love for life and such organic relationships. I became her son, the moment I tread her path and she did not take much time to gift me a shirt in a cover which also contained an emotional letter.” He also expressed fears that humanity as well as environment were the most endangered in modern times due to insensitive, fascist dispensations having vested interests of dividing the society and trying to change the very idea of India.
“Currently, the fight is not between big political parties of the likes of BJP and Congress. It is a fight between human v/s inhuman, right v/s wrong and information v/s misinformation,” he said.
He also felt that if Gauri was an English journalist based in New Delhi, at the most she would have been trolled for her ideologies. “She was killed because she was a vernacular journalist who travelled to the remotest of villages and created an opinion among people,” he added.
Fast track courts: Kavitha
Late Gauri’s sister, writer and film-maker Kavitha Lankesh demanded fast-track courts for quick delivery of justice.
“It has been eight years since Govind Pansare’s murder, almost four years since M.M. Kalburgi’s and two years since Gauri was taken away from us. But the issue is not resolved just with the arrest of 18 culprits. If courts take ages to give the verdict, justice delayed is justice denied.”
‘Subbaiah a tragic hero’
H.S. Doreswamy recalled BJP leader late A.K. Subbaiah as a tragic hero: “Subbaiah was a fighter, an activist who had clarity of thought and also strong conviction. He was uncompromising in his movement against corruption and he remained righteous till the end. His own party did not treat him properly for his honesty and outspoken nature.”
Kavitha’s daughter Esha fondly remembered aunt Gauri, “If I am fighting in my school itself for what I feel is right, aunt Gauri is my inspiration," she said.
