State Repression
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh named internal conflict the greatest threat to Indian national security. India’s many fractured ethnic groups and growing economic disparity create ripe ground for conflict. The Indian national government generally divides major conflicts into three major geographic arenas: the ongoing conflict over Jammu and Kashmir; Naxalite rebellions in the central corridor and militant movements in the Northeast. While conflict between the country’s Hindu nationalists and Muslim minority has remained relatively dormant in the last few years, tension persists. Small-scale conflicts across India—both old and new—continue and occasionally flare up in violence. Of central concern is the growing disparity between the country’s newly minted haves and the majority have nots. Many believe this increasing gap is of utmost concern for the entire nation. In this section, IndiaUnheard Community Correspondents Report on conflict.
ARTICLE 17: Our First Call to the National Commission of Scheduled Castes
ARTICLE 17 is a campaign launched by Video Volunteers on April 14th, 2012, to urge the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, to prosecute cases of untouchability.
Kashmir: Why a pellet is lethal? An eye-specialist’s testimony
Ophthalmologist, Dr. Bashir Ahmed, speaks with KashmirUnheard against the use of pellet guns by the Indian State to quell protests among civilians of the Kashmir valley. A retina is a very sensitive tissue; even a little scar on the retina can impair vision. Once eyes are damaged by these pellet...
The day PM Narendra Modi visited Kashmir, a young man was shot in head
It was a hopeful winter day for youth in 2015 in Srinagar, Kashmir as Narendra Modi, the Prime Minister of India, spoke about the welfare of J&K youth, amidst an ordered shut down. The house of Nazirs was filled with laughter and happiness on that day, while the youngest son...
Human-animal conflict affects farmers of Chhattisgarh
As rapid urbanization cuts into India’s forests, animals and humans have come into increasing conflict. Apart from in the wild, the human-wildlife conflict is most concentrated and impactful within agricultural regions bordering the wildness. The villages of Saraipali and Gourmudi, which border the vast forests of Chhattisgarh have recently been...
The fishing community of Madhya Pradesh suffers due to Narmada Dam
As the sun sets on the Narmada river in Madhya Pradesh (MP), an old fisherman recalls the days when his community was bestowed with abundance and prosperity. Madhubhai Machware nostalgically tells Chetan Salve, Video Volunteers’ correspondent, “Before this dam was built, we had led prosperous, happy lives. But in the...
We will be her voice – Solidarity group stands by Handwara Survivor
Handwara was an irrelevant small town in Kupwara district of Kashmir until April 12th, 2016. A 16-year old schoolgirl had alleged that an Indian Army jawan had attempted to sexually molest her in a public toilet. The incidents shook the Kashmiri youth, and the rest of India into action, crying...
Women fight to protect ancient land in Jharkhand
The ancient natives of Santhal Pargana, who reside in Jharkhand, have been deeply associated with their land. The land is their only identity – which they have defended with their lives since the times of British. Their never-give-up spirit was honoured by the British who passed the Santhal Pargana Tenancy...
Five Kashmiri women write about mass-rape that happened twenty years ago in Kashmir
“Do you remember Kunan Poshpora? a book by five young Kashmiri women Essar Batool, Ifrah Butt, Samreena Mushtaq, Munaza Rashid and Natasha Rather investigates the fateful night of mass-rape of over 80 women by the Army in the villages of Kunan and Poshpora in 1991. The book published by Zubaan...