30th September 2020 witnessed the horrors of injustice, not like it was not there at all, but the rawness of the acts made it fairly incredulous. 

 victim, who was raped on 14th September and who succumbed to her injuries on 30th September was burned in the dead of night by the police officials of 

. The entire cremation process took place against the will of the family as well as in their absence. Adding to the implausibility, the family members of the victim were locked up in their houses and were not allowed to meet their daughter for the very last time. Contemplating the situation in which the police took this step, one would wonder their audacity to go against the family and perform the cremation ceremony. But, in a country where casteism is not latent and openly operative, it doesn’t come as a surprise. The victim was a 

 is bleaker than stray animals. She was raped by four upper-caste men, who had a history of harassing her family based on their caste. The discreet cremation of the body by the police has left many questioning the rights of Dalits and the inhumane step taken by the officials.

 demolition case. The court stated that the demolition was not pre-planned and the ones charged like 

 were just trying to stop the demolition from anti-social elements. With this verdict, justice died a slow death as the court wanted us to believe that there was no 

, no incendiary remarks and no massacres that followed the Rath Yatra. Documented pieces of evidence over the years have shown the bold confessions of the 

 which clearly contradicts the statement issued by the court. With the recent arrests of activists and 

 investigation, the court created a paradox for itself where it stated that these individuals provoked violence through their speeches. On the other hand, it gave a free hand to the accused in the Babri Masjid demolition, citing that mere provocation through speech can not account for arrests.

One day, two episodes and two different sentiments, yet similar annihilation by the upper castes and the majority. Oppression of the Dalits has been an integral part of the caste system of India and has prevailed since time immemorial. The forms and the ways vary but they stoop down to levels beyond imagination. Hard to believe is the fact that we are still far from getting rid of this treacherous custom. With promises of making the country a superpower by 2020, the government is still struggling to muster out the evils of casteism, communalism or dangers to women. Adding to the misery, it is well promoting these evils by protecting the perpetrators and keeping them in their offices.
With these two incidents occurring on the same day, justice lost its effectiveness and unbiasedness. It became apparent that justice can be served solely to the privileged, which in this country constitute the upper caste and the majority.



A Tale of Two Catastrophes

 invaded the village on the pretext of conducting a 

 who had opened fire on the security forces. They were tipped off with the information that those militants belonged to the twin villages of 

. The catastrophic foray flared out to be anything but a search operation. It became a night adorned with blood and torture. The men of the village were forced out of their houses in the middle of the night and were excruciated in the morbid cold of February and the women were raped and humiliated in incredulous ways within the safe haven of their houses. The entire night witnessed horrors in its crudest being and engraved itself in the lives of the residents invariably.

The controversy hovering the mass rape massacre took little time to cover the headlines. Claims by the villagers were rejected by the government of India as a hoax and were labelled as an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the army and the government by militants and their sympathizers. The FIR filed at the local police station claimed that 23 women were gang raped but the 

 estimated the number to be between 23 and 100. With the incident coming forward, numerous investigations into the matter commenced. 

 ruled out the allegations on the army based on the contradicting and hollow statements provided by the villagers.

, the case of Kunan Poshpara gained pace as the country altercated for justice. Few Kashmiri activists, inspired by the outrage caused due to the 

 to the world. The matter was reinvestigated and more and more women came forward who had their own stories to share. The recalled events accounted for unbounded miseries of the people which were initially hoaxed out by the government. Owing to the undeterred efforts of these activists, the case of Kunan Poshpora is now being heard at the Supreme Court. The incident brought immense humiliation to the villagers as people around them ostracised the village as being the 

 has been the idea of conflict since time immemorial, and the people of Kashmir have fallen prey to the hunger of disaccord. The enactment of the 

 has brought fathomless tribulation to the residents of Kashmir. According to the 

an inhumane law which ‘feeds a cycle of impunity for human rights violation’

. It provides immunity to the security personnel from persecution of hampering the human rights of the people. Rapes, torture and encounters have long been used as weapons to tame the Kashmiris and suppress their freedom of expression in the name of militant hunt down. This law fueled the suppression and transgression of their rights.

The caliginous ghost of Kunan Poshpora lay buried deep within the viscosity of the snow that covered the grounds of the village on the fateful night. The arrant denial of the incident by the security forces couldn’t save them from being haunted by this ghost. After 26 years of the horrific occurrence, the residents of Kunan Poshpora still struggle to find their way out of the memories of the ghastliness, and their yearning for justice breathes a little less every day.

Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the author. They do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of The Jamia Review or its members.

THE GHOST OF KUNAN POSHPORA

One of the most controversial countries of the world, 

 never fails to make it to the headlines, be it political tensions with neighbouring countries or the infamous dictatorship regime which prevails within.The authoritarian regime headed by the shady 

 was even called a ‘state sponsor of terrorism’ by the US President 

 for its unstoppable testing of nuclear bombs.

North Korea is a country which is detached from all the world forums. Owing to the austerity shown by the head of the country, blatant suppression of human rights and their exploitation forms a vital part of their constitution. The North Korean regime was ruled by 

 and since then it has been under the legacy of the same family ruling generation after generation. The autocratic jurisdiction allows for sham elections which do not allow more than one person to contest for any position. The totalitarian regime has the same family ruling the country since 1948. The present leader, Kim Jong-un, a notorious successor of the throne is known to have executed his own uncle and his entire family in an attempt to overthrow any possible opposition. The bizarreness of the country is depicted by the rules imposed upon its citizens which is a clear outrage of the basic human rights. The most implausible rule is the three generation punishment which doesn’t entertain any criticism from the citizens. It provides that if one person of a family commits a crime, his entire bloodline upto the third generation will be sent to prison. The citizens are not allowed to travel outside the country and travelling to North Korea for tourists is an equally impossible job. They have access to only 3 TV channels and 28 websites which is administered entirely by the government. The country promotes 

 and persecutes individuals who practice any form of religion. Outlandishly, the government even controls the places where different individuals would live. For example, if anyone wants to stay in 

, the capital of North Korea, they would require permission from the government to be able to live there. The stern dictatroship displayed by the leader makes it difficult for the people to survive there and hence there have been cases of escapism from North Korea.

The country’s economic, political and social forum is a dilapidated form of strong governance full of hollow propagandas and oppression of its citizens. Its relations with other countries has been a string of tensed dialogues emerging from its uncontrollable testing of nuclear weapons despite international pressure. The president of the United States even exchanged conversations of warfare with Kim Jong-un which often included personal insults being hurled at each other. North Korea operates 

 where possible opponents of the government are sent to face torture, forced labour and deliberate starvations. The situation of women in the country is beyond comprehension. They have to face sexual abuse, forced abortions and other forms of sexual enslavement. Economically, North Korea stands very weak with broken ties from powerful countries, yet its military maintenance is one of the strongest in the world. With highly developed nuclear weapons, it manages to keep countries like America and China at bay. The 

 have outwardly condemned the role of North Korea in preserving human rights. In the latest resolution passed in December 2011, it reprehended Pyongyang and urged its government to stop the systematic and grave violations of the human rights. This was rejected by the government urging that the resolution was politically motivated and based on contrived information. Many citizens who escaped have been the sole witnesses of the horrors prevailing in the country and have accounted for the brutality they faced while crossing the border.

The country’s propaganda puts it in the light of development and discipline while the truth remains obscenely denuded. Despite its attempts to falsely implicate its development, the harrowing experiences of refugees openly enunciates the curtailment of the very basic necessity of human beings. Regardless of worldwide denouncement, the country remains stubborn in its approach towards handling international relations as well as providing rudimentary amenities to its citizens.

NORTH KOREA: AN INCOHERENT PART OF THE WORLD

, a series which held the audience in its enigmatic grip and was acknowledged worldwide as one of the best series ever made. With an impressive 

 this show makes sure to keep its viewer hooked to their seats till the very end of every episode. It entails a mind blowing cast with implausible performances. It portrays the wonders of science in an artistic manner and blends the two ever so beautifully. The pick of actors for every time zone is so flawless that one would deter in denying the fineness of the director’s choice.

Talking about the show itself, it depicts the possibility of time travel through wormholes, time machines and dark matter combined. A conflation of several characters and three time zones in the first season, it makes sure for the audience to sit with a pen and paper to keep a record of the ongoing events. Not to disagree there a comes a time when the brain refuses to give in to the complexity in the way the show flares out but the subtle chemistry of 

, the mystery of the caves, the nuclear power plant and the eerie disappearance of children from the town of 

 binds us to its brilliance. The second season goes on to become more exciting and confusing as more children go missing and the mystery of the caves eventually unravels. It takes us through different time zones simultaneously and explains the uncanny phenomenon of the cosmos which engages the four families of the town 

 in the most unanticipated way possible. The theory of wormhole creation due to the god particle that enables time travel at an interval of about 33 years has been well explained and expressed. In the third season the show unfolds to a different dimension altogether with the audience gasping at the possibility of a parallel world. A world where everything happens in the same( or different) manner but it always leads to the same consequences. As soon as the audience boast about being accustomed to all the versions of the characters and their respective fates which goes on in a cycle the show takes the most abrupt turn. A third world. The world which is responsible for the creation of the other two worlds.

A show encompassing wormholes, time travel, dark energy and god particle settles on the basic aesthetic of love and selflessness. The show’s complexity only resolves the most simple feelings of affection and longingness which is rendered in the most exhilarating fashion. As the show unfolds one stops using their brain to keep a track of the time zone or the world in which the characters are. One just adjusts to the stealthy yet genius pace of the masterpiece and inevitably gives into the brilliance unfurling before them.

Dark – ‘A Gritty Mind-Bending Sci-fi’

Rohith Chakravarti Vemula was a PhD scholar in the University of Hyderabad. Apart from being a student, he was also an avid member of the Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA). Initially he was a part of the Students Federation of India but gradually he realized that the association was a Hub of of classism and casteism. Being from a socially backward sect, he was often criticized and doubted on his authenticity of admission to the university. Undergoing adversities of caste discrimination in the campus, Rohith Vemula and his friends eventually started raising agitation under the banner of ASA. In the wake of this agitation they were falsely accused for assaulting an ABVP member. On the 5th of August, the University set up a panel to investigate into the matter and on the urge of a BJP MP and the Union Minister, Rohith along with four of his friends were suspended from the University in September. Their suspension did not deter their spirits and they set up tents in the campus itself and began a relay hunger strike.

Rohith Vemula was from a family which earned barely enough to make their ends meet. The stipend which he received from the University was the sole source of income for his family, which was curbed a long time back in 2015. Being vocal and opined about the prevailing discriminations and having a dream of living in an atmosphere of equality lead to his expulsion from the University. One event leading to another became a source of pessimism for him. He gradually lost hope from the administration and his life. This led him to take his life on the 17th of January 2016. Rohith was often described by his friends as a person with a vision and a leader with integrity and positivity. He was always the one who never had futile discussions with people. He always talked about ways of protests and amendments that could take them closer in their venture. He was an admirer of science and nature and a fanatic of stars. He was an avaricious reader and a cynosure of knowledge.

His demise took the country by storm and was a surge of disappointment for his family and friends. It led to a series of countrywide protests and student agitation. Sadly, the matter that was investigated after his death was not the accountability of the administration but the caste to which Rohith Vemula actually belonged. Indeed, a very diminutive issue to debate upon, but an important matter for the politicians.

His letter which he had written before he committed suicide left an impression that is difficult to heal from. An excerpt from his letter that could devour anyone’s soul. “I always wanted to be a writer. A writer of science, like Carl Sagan. I loved Science, Stars, Nature, but then I loved people without knowing that people have long since divorced from nature. Our feelings are second handed. Our love is constructed. Our beliefs colored. Our originality valid through artificial art. It has become truly difficult to love without getting hurt.The value of a man was reduced to his immediate identity and nearest possibility. To a vote. To a number. To a thing. Never was a man treated as a mind. As a glorious thing made up of star dust. In every field, in studies, in streets, in politics, and in dying and living. I am writing this kind of letter for the first time. My first time of a final letter. Forgive me if I fail to make sense. My birth is my fatal accident. I can never recover from my childhood loneliness. The unappreciated child from my past”

Rohith Vemula: The Fatal Accident that took India by the Storm

International Human Rights Day is observed globally on the 10th of December every year. This date was chosen to fete The United Nations General Assembly’s proclamation on the 10th of December, 1948. It was the first body which worked towards the recognition of Human Rights as a vital means of basic survival, the enunciation of human rights was probably a humongous take at developing a subtle form of life by The United Nations.

“The rights of every man are diminished if the rights of one man is threatened.”


Living in a society, where we encounter people from various spheres, trying to cope with their lives, trying to make ends meet with utmost efforts and diminutive resources, we are bound to reflect the fact that Human Rights are still not a piece of cake for every living individual. The deprivation of Human Rights is a factor which is very evident in our very own country. A country, known for its diversity, regionalism and secularism, shows this bereavement wearing a mask and being prevalent in every nook and corner. The filthiest form of human rights abation is the baby of the infamous caste system of the country.

The caste system in India is the most pristine form of Human Rights violation which has been widely accepted and recognized by the people of the country since the very beginning. According to it, the people of a particular society were divided into various groups, one being on top of the other, and the lowest of them would be at the sake of the ones above them. The system is so rigorous that the sect which lies at the bottom of this establishment are considered untouchables and are not even regarded as human beings.They are not allowed to sit with the upper caste people and not allowed to visit or enter religious places. They are expected to lower their gazes while talking to someone from the upperhand community. Their daily earnings come from jobs which a civilized human cannot think of performing. They are forced to live an inhumane life, a life they don’t ask for.


Recently a movie named Article 15, starring the prominent actor Ayushman Khurrana depicted the struggles of people belonging to the lower faction. The movie was a clear representation of the negligence and the hypocrisy showed by the government as well as by the civilians when it comes to the maladies suffered by these people.The prevailing caste system has been so ramrod that it has devoid human beings of their rights to justice, to freedom, to speech and even to live with dignity. It’s persistence is an engraving on a tombstone. Something that is very difficult to get rid of.

It is a blot on the society and the Society wears it with pride.
“Unlike a drop of water which loses its identity when it joins the ocean,
man does not lose his being in the society in which he lives.
Man’s life is independent.
He is born not for the development of the society alone, but for the development of his self too.”
-Dr. B.R Ambedkar

Hadiqua Jabeen is pursuing Biotechnology at 

Articles by Hadiqua Jabeen

A Tale of Two Catastrophes

THE GHOST OF KUNAN POSHPORA

NORTH KOREA: AN INCOHERENT PART OF THE WORLD

Dark – ‘A Gritty Mind-Bending Sci-fi’

Rohith Vemula: The Fatal Accident that took India by the Storm

Caste System: A Blot on Human Rights

A Tale of Two Catastrophes

THE GHOST OF KUNAN POSHPORA

NORTH KOREA: AN INCOHERENT PART OF THE WORLD

Dark – ‘A Gritty Mind-Bending Sci-fi’

Rohith Vemula: The Fatal Accident that took India by the Storm

Caste System: A Blot on Human Rights