Last Journey with women pallbearers ..

.. and singing "Tod Tod Ke Bandhanon Ko Dekho Behney Aati Hain"  live audio: https://1drv.ms/u/s!AiXYIRE1zsiakGBXXO_xLRSYnmJI?e=eGQ1za 

Kamla Bhasin's Pedagogy for Feminism Was Novel, Witty and Always Innovative https://m.thewire.in/article/women/kamla-bhasins-pedagogy-for-feminism-was-novel-and-never-boring/amp  By Aruna Roy 30th Sept. 2021

She had an extraordinary ability to distil the essence of what was often presented as a complicated political feminist debate, into simple rhyme, rhythm and song. The confidence, élan and immense abandon with which she communicated the concepts of feminism in multiple idioms to a very diverse group of people was exceptional. Charismatic and without self-consciousness, she used her ability to be uninhibited and frank to bring the unusual into conversation, and startle the mind to drop its defences, to open up to newer possibilities.

 Meet Kamla Bhasin, The 'Gully Girl' Who First Chanted the ‘Azaadi’ Song in India | Quint Neon https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ez7pFJqoSP8 
Feb 6, 2019 The #GullyBoy song #Azaadi was originally brought to India b Feminist activist Kamla Bhasin. She was in Pakistan in the 1980s when women were protesting against Gen Zia-Ul-Haq. The would sing the 'azaadi' song as a mark of protest.

Life and Thought - Kamla Bhasin  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uM5n0o43KoU Dec 7, 2015 Kamla Bhasin was Co-President of Peace Women Across the Globe (PWAG). ..In the basis of her observation of her home village, she showed problematic role of girls at home and her gratefulness for her freedom in being outside and playing with other children, mostly boys... She commented how meaningless her university education in India was – there were numerous exams but no understanding and learning. 

Kamla Bhasin : Long Live Resistance, Long Live Hope  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCNrXKzK1PY  On 26 May 2021, at a PP21 meeting, Bhasin gave her full support for The People's Plan for the 21st Century (PP21). She stressed that it was very important to revive the spirit of PP21 in the era of capitalist globalization, as well as to embody the notion of radical love and compassion for revolutionary change.

Videos in Kamala's You tube channel:  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxsYuIYx-wN44RPlrCIjo2Q/videos 

You Tube on Kamala: https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=kamala+bhasin 

(photos and message sent by Kavita Srivastava)

Selected Tributes on Social Media

PUCL Statement: https://1drv.ms/b/s!AiXYIRE1zsiakF6QgeaUt1TS6uFj?e=DcI63k Her work of demystifying concepts like, gender, patriarchy, feminism, masculinity, Development adhering to peace and non-violence and bringing out in simple Hindi and English language for ordinary men and women is one of the most amazing legacies she has left behind. This is apart from the volumes of songs that she wrote. She wrote books for children.

Kamla had a special relationship with the PUCL. She always said that her feminist praxis is an
important part of the building a civil liberties and a human rights movement in the country. Whether it was
training on gender or anti – masculinity, violence against women or against the corporate culture, to
redefining public spaces for women, women’s property rights were all integral to the human rights movement of the country, she frequently said

Teesta:

An era
An icon
A leader
A companion
Bereft - Teesta

Henri Tiphagne: A feminist of great repute, knowledge and a remarkable trainer on women's rights who identified with all sections is what she will be remembered as for generations.

Ashim: She influenced so many of us men to become a bit more feminist.

Harsh Mander:  She was a massive influence on many generations, teaching us by word, action, song and storytelling the equality of genders

Sandeep: your deep insights into the issues of gender equality. What a triumphant woman and incredible legacy she leaves us.

Joe Athialy:  your deep insights into the issues of gender equality. What a triumphant woman and incredible legacy she leaves us.

Rajni B She was a feminist, peace activist, writer, artist, a great human being who made everyone her friend! Kamla was so zinda-dil....when ever we met it was a laugh fest....with Kamla's favourite refrain being "By God".

Aruna Roy: Fiesty Kamla Bhasin , has fought her last battle, singing and celebrating a life well lived. Her absence will be felt acutely, her gutsy presence, laughter and song, her wonderful strength are her legacy
We treasure her now as we did before. Always with us in spirit.

Stanley W : We are grateful to her for her contribution in decoding, reconstructing the dominant values in relation to male domination and liberation as well transformation of mind of oneself or as a community to understand how all need realise the gender justice, gender equity and the need for an united action for revolution. 

Jayapadma: Let us celebrate her life through our thoughts and deeds
Let us cherish all that she did to restore and create balance in the world
Let us strive to make real the world she dreamed of

Pradeep Esteve: One of the pioneers of the Women's movement, collectively built the South Asian Feminist movement. Somebody who celebrated life whatever the adversity, will be missed by all. 

Malla Reddy: She is singularly responsible for for setting gender agenda in NGOs since 70s! Perhaps the first gender activist in India.

Haritha:  She is iconic. I always remember her zest for life. She personified a fine mix of compassion and fighting spirit.

Siddhartha : what a beautiful, gutsy and fiesty woman who took so many men along in her fight for gender equality.She dealt with whatever life gave her. She made a family of all around her

Harsh Wardhan: She brought so much joy and clarity when she interacted with us during the Wisdom Weekend and made us ( Indian Multiversities Alliance) aware about gender discrimination and unequal power relationship that existed in society. Her energy and passion were inspiring. 

Kamla Bhasin, pioneering feminist icon, poet and author, dies at 75 
by Aranya Shankar September 25, 2021 https://indianexpress.com/article/india/feminist-icon-kamla-bhasin-passes-away-7533380/ Bhasin remained committed to the causes she fought for until the very end, participating in an online meeting from her ICU bed just hours before her death.

Bhasin was the founder of Sangat, a South Asian feminist network, and co-founder of Jagori, a women’s resource centre. She was also the South Asian coordinator of the One Billion Rising campaign, besides being associated with several other organisations.

Jagori said in a statement: “Through her songs and posters, she has reached out to millions of activists and energised protests… Using simple language to demystify concepts, she was able to reach out the ideas of feminism and patriarchy to the lay person without jargon.”

Writer and publisher Ritu Menon: “There was a quality to Kamla that was exceptional. To be touched by her love was to experience something unique. That warmth she radiated, it encompassed almost everything she came in contact with. Her legacy is in the songs she wrote, the slogans she raised, the connections she made, the hearts she touched, the issues and campaigns she fought. It’s the generosity, spontaneity, warmth and intelligence of her struggle. "

 Kamla Bhasin passes away - Here's all you need to know about the Women’s rights activist  https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/kamla-bhasin-passes-away-heres-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-womens-rights-activist  A social scientist by training, she was actively engaged with issues related to development, education, gender, media and several others for over 35 years. She began her work for the empowerment of the rural and urban poor in 1972, with a voluntary organization in Rajasthan, India. From 1976 to 2001, she worked with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the UN. She resigned from her job at the U.N. in 2002, to work with Sangat, of which she is a founder member and Adviser.

Gail Omvedt, Champion of Dalit-Bahujan Rights: Two Obituaries https://janataweekly.org/gail-omvedt-champion-of-dalit-bahujan-rights-two-obituaries/ Braj Ranjan Mani; and V. Geetha September 5, 2021

India Will Remember Gail Omvedt Forever Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, The Wire, August 25, 2021

https://thewire.in/society/india-will-remember-gail-omvedt-forever Scholars study her books to understand the question of caste and untouchability, and also to change the caste system. She was a great Phule-Ambedkarite, who led many movements from the front. The Shudra/OBC/Dalit/Adivasi movements all over India will be indebted to her lifetime of work.

Tributes from CPI ML Liberation, Maharashtra 

Rest in Power, Gail.

Social Scientist of international repute, founder member of Shramik Mukti Dal, Maharashtra, a veteran social researcher - writer on Buddha, Phule, Dr. Ambedkar, Mary. A feminist, a scholar who interpreted the Sant Literature and the Warkari tradition in a new light. A participant in Women's Liberation movement, movement of abondoned women after marriage and Aadivasi movement, she travelled extensively through out Maharashtra. She died of old age , 81, at Kasegaon, Sangli District of Maharashtra.
She will be led at rest in an institute named after her FIL who was a veteran communist Ieader.
Gail Omredt was a Sweedish American who participated in various student and other movements in the US as a student. She was on the forefront of the Anti-war movement during Vietnam war. After completing her Masters in Socialogy she joined the doctoral program at the University of California , Berkely - a centre of Anti War progressive movements in the US.
She took up studies on the Anti Brahmin movement and during her research came in close contact with Lal Nishan Party and other progressive forces in Maharashtra. She travelled and interacted extensively across an entire spectrum of the Maharashtrian society trascending class and caste barriers to write her doctoral thesis" Non Brahmin Movement- A Cultural Revolt In A Colonial Society" which is translated in Marathi. This was an extensively researched path breaking analysis of the Anti Brahmin movement. The thesis is a guide book for researchers and helped revive interest in Mahatma Phule's contribution to the Social liberation movement.
She met Bharat Patankar a doctor by learning who left his post grad studies to become a full time activist. He was a part of "Magowa " group of left leaning educated Maharashtrian youth openly siding with the oppressed. His mother was a fighting activist in her own right.

With Bharat She settled down in Kase gaon as an Indian citizen.

Bharat and Gail have travelled together in the politico- social canvas of India and Maharashtra for over 45 years.
Voracious reader, untiring traveller, Gail became a leading contributor of social causes in India for her life.

After formation of the Shramik Mukti Dal She participated in many struggles of women, peasants in the rural Western Maharashtra. She has been associated as faculty with various universities in India - as Phule Ambedkar chair in Pune University, Ambedkar Chair in Niswas, Odisha, Asian visiting professor in Nordic , Institute of Asian studies in Copenhagan, Nehru Memorial Museum and liabrary, Simla Institute etc.
She has been an advisor to FAO, UNDP, NOVIB. She carried out research on " Bhakti " under ICSSR . She has been a regular contributor to EPW and The Hindu. She has more than 25 titles to her credit. Those include Buddhism in India, Seeking Begampura, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Dalit and the democratic revolution, Understanding Caste, We will smash the Prison, New Social Movement in India besides her thesis. She has many papers, nationally and internationally, to her credit. She has spoken and has been felicitated extensively.

Prachi - her daughter and her partner Tejaswi live and participate in various movements in the US.

Me and my wife have fond memories of Gail itched in our life book. We are with Bharat and Prachi in grief. Our families are also tied politically from my father and Com.Babuji Patankar's participation in the freedom struggle. My mother has been a colleague of Indutai in Women's straggle.

On behalf on CPI ML Liberation, Maharashtra I join Com. Bharat and Shramik Mukti Dal comrades in grief and the last revolutionary salutations to Gail.

The struggle for just, equal and honorable society will continue Gail. You rest in Power.

Dr.Bennet Benjamin

Funeral Service https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VCcBUus0jcc 

Organisations: https://crhse.in

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https://www.oasisindia.org/