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‘I used to be below the phantasm that this might by no means occur to me as a result of my background was such — company CEO, IIT professor, IIT alumnus, IIM…’
IMAGE: Scholar-activist Anand Teltumbde, second from left, with spouse Rama, who’s Dr B R Ambedkar’s grand-daughter, following his launch from the Taloja central jail in Navi Mumbai on November 26, 2022. {Photograph}: PTI Picture from the Rediff Archives
Anand Teltumbde was born right into a household of Dalit labourers and excelled in his research. He went on to get an MBA from one of many high IIMs on this nation.
He was a professor at IIT-Kharagpur and later turned a senior professor on the Goa Institute of Administration.
He’s married to Rama, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s granddaughter.
On August 29, 2018, the police raided Professor Teltumbde’s dwelling, accusing him of getting a connection to the Elgar Parishad and Bhima Koregaon case.
Anand Teltumbde, in an interview with Rediff.com Senior Contributor Neeta Kolhatkar, reveals, “I used to be made to face bare earlier than their CCTV digicam. That is the kind of humiliating expertise you bear at Taloja jail.”
The primary of a multi-part interview.
How does it really feel to be dwelling, now that you’re on bail? How are you adjusting to the liberty?
(Chuckles) I’m attempting to be regular, as a result of my arrest gave me the shock of my life.
I had by no means bargained for such a factor.
I used to assume, even when I had tried to get myself arrested, I would not have been.
Truly, it was not that sudden. Had I been in Goa when the NIA and police raided my home, on that very day, I’d have gotten arrested.
Nothing might have been achieved. The authorized course of gave me over a yr time to arrange for myself.
That day was a miraculous escape. After that, the remainder is historical past.
They did arrest me, nonetheless, and let me have a style of police lock up for 13 hours earlier than the courtroom declared my arrest unlawful and freed me.
After I used to be launched from jail, I attempted to behave as regular as doable.
My youthful daughter had arrived only a few days in the past to be with Rama.
In reality, it was she who organized for my fast launch from jail. The older one got here after the third day.
Have you ever settled in a brand new routine? Have you ever gone again to writing?
I had begun writing in jail itself.
I had a routine to learn and write day-after-day and I’ve written 4 books in jail. Although these books want a whole lot of deletions and additions.
I utilised my time in jail successfully. Varied topics.
The oldies had begun writing their jail memoirs, like Varavara Rao. Father Stan Swamy had additionally deliberate to take action.
I felt I too ought to take up writing. (Laughs).
I’ve by no means advised my daughters about my background and early years.
I started to doc this and in between, I started writing on different themes.
I do not write about myself, so I started to query myself, why was I doing this? Then I resumed and deliberate a format the place my story might be woven into the social-political context.
A little bit little bit of me however rather a lot in regards to the surroundings, historical past, geography and struggles of individuals round me.
The second ebook, I started to think about writing it as an intimate letter to Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. (Smiles) Being a relative, he being so many issues to us, so I began writing it on this format.
It’s a steady letter which will run as much as 700 pages.
On this, I’m reviewing his ebook, why he wrote these books, within the context of at present’s developments, as a result of he’s intimately related to the Structure of India, the politics, by way of so many issues.
The third ebook is on nationalism, the title and different issues could differ.
I’m exploring nationalism as an summary concept with which how the ruling class has been dishonest individuals.
This ebook is on nationalism, patriotism and all these symbols and the way individuals get fooled.
The fourth ebook is about my being interviewed by the individuals in jail.
Did you ever in your wildest desires think about you’ll have gotten arrested?
Even when I wished to, there was no risk or an event for my arrest.
I by no means imagined I’d have a jail life.
I used to be below the phantasm that this might by no means occur to me as a result of my background was such — company CEO, IIT professor, IIT alumnus, IIM… these have been actual hurdles in my creativeness, if I wished to go willingly.
IMAGE: Rama and Anand Teltumbde. {Photograph}: Neeta Kolhatkar
On April 14, have been you arrested right here, from Raj Gruha (Dr Ambedkar’s dwelling in Dadar, north central Mumbai)?
Truly, it so occurred, on March 23, 2020, we had booked our flight tickets to Mumbai as a result of we might not get one other alternative to come back to Mumbai, so (we thought) let’s go dwelling.
On the flight from Goa, we discovered of the nationwide lockdown.
Fortunately, we had a number of garments right here in Mumbai. In any other case, we had solely packed for 3 days.
After we landed, there was no taxi or car.
Then Rama known as her brother, who got here to the airport.
The Supreme Courtroom rejected our bail (Gautam Navlakha’s case was clubbed with Anand’s by the apex courtroom).
Our attorneys had felt on the time that we might get some aid due to the pandemic and perhaps, the courts would not work.
However as you’re conscious, our bail was rejected and we have been requested to give up inside seven days. I went and surrendered in Mumbai.
I went to the NIA workplace at Pedder Highway (south Mumbai). Gautam surrendered in Delhi.
The place have been you set away initially, when you surrendered?
They’d given me an arrival time of two pm. The Supreme Courtroom had given this deadline.
I used to be stored within the NIA lock-up, which is a room.
They took me to the courtroom and sought remand. They have been granted 4 days.
The method is like workplace clerical work. They ask primary questions, akin to identify, place, and so forth.
I simply sat there on a regular basis. Completely nothing else was requested. No investigation or questioning.
After 4 days, they produced me once more and sought extra remand and once more, I used to be requested nothing.
They only stored me of their lock-up. After 11 days, the choose sanctioned judicial custody. I used to be taken to Taloja.
Are you able to relive your Taloja jail tenure? What was it like on the primary day?
The primary day I used to be introduced in, I used to be purported to be quarantined, so I used to be taken to the hospital barracks.
The scenario was horrible. I haven’t got the flexibility to explain how horrible the scenario was. (Laughs).
I used to be taken there by 3 pm. I sat exterior for an extended whereas.
Then the police got here, round 7.30 pm, after which the horrific remedy started. They make you stand in a nook.
There have been totally different desks and every had a special questionnaire.
On the first desk they ask you your identify and particulars. I needed to hand over my cash.
Then they took my bag to a different desk. I had a backpack, not realising they would not permit me to take it.
The way in which they deal with it was stunning. They maintain it with each their arms, flip it the other way up and empty out that bag.
They advised me to not take the bag contained in the jail.
So I requested how might I take my garments, medicines, toiletries, dry fruits and snacks? He dismissively ordered me to place it in my towel. I used to be appalled.
Then one other introduced a gunny bag and ordered me to place my stuff in it.
The method is extraordinarily humiliating. I advised myself, that is how life goes to be contained in the jail now onwards, I ought to put together myself. Then they make you strip.
How did life start thereafter within the Taloja barracks?
They woke us up at 6 am and gave us breakfast — upma and tea.
I attempted consuming and sipping, however couldn’t.
I supplied it to the Vasai man, who took it willingly.
Then an officer got here and I advised him I’d die right here, he had higher shift me elsewhere.
He agreed to take action, however requested me to attend.
After they say look forward to some time, it signifies that the primary night time, nothing occurs, then the second day too passes.
On the second day, it’s a must to meet the superintendent.
That’s the most humiliating expertise. They’ll strip you (of the higher garment) and make you sit on the ground.
Fortunately, attributable to my well being, I used to be spared.
I used to be made to face in that state (with out the higher garment) and so they took photographs. That is the kind of humiliating expertise you bear.
How was your expertise on the primary ground?
There have been rooms with facilities on the primary ground, self-contained sort.
They gave me a cot with bedding. It was truly clear.
For 3 days, I had not eaten something, had not bathed and there was no query of utilizing that rest room.
First, I bathed, as they’d given me buckets and so forth.
I had not slept for 3 days and two nights.
I then started to search for my snacks, toiletries and dry fruits, however every part had been stolen.
There was a canteen, so I might get issues. All ‘elite’ prisoners have been stored on the primary ground.
So, all of the serial murderers and gangsters have been my companions (chuckles).
After they learnt of my issues being stolen, earlier than I might ask anybody, they despatched throughout eatables and different issues. Additionally they suggested me such cases of humanity are aplenty within the jail.
One Vijay Palande requested me to eat and mentioned if I confronted any drawback, I ought to ask them (his different companions). They usually stored serving to me.
They requested me to quiet down and inform them if there was any concern.
Then slowly, you study the grammar of the jail. There may be a whole lot of corruption in jails.
Should you pay cash, you may get something. You get good sabzi, limitless issues from the canteen, and visits to exterior hospitals from the exact same place. Those that have these advantages could share with others.
Characteristic Presentation: Rajesh Alva/Rediff.com
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