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Jananeethi condoles the sad demise of
Smitu Kothari JANANEETHI and JANANEETHI INSTITUTE deeply condole on the most untimely and sudden demise of SMITU KOTHARI, one of India’s most noble and dignified activist intellectual, who passed away today at 6.00 am in Delhi due to a cardiac attack after having undergone a heart surgery on March 22, 2009 at AIIMS. Smitu was editor of the Lokayan Bulletin published by the Lokayan (Dialogue of the people) group in Delhi. He also co-edited Ecologist Asia. His was an active presence in many of India’s popular social movements. He devoted his life towards the melding of a broad spectrum of social forces in Indian society into a popular political movement for the creation of a just, sustainable, and inclusive Indian society. A widely respected scholar, visiting academic at the Cornell and Princeton Universities, author of several publications on contemporary socio-political and economic discourses and above all an indomitable activist, Smitu Kothari, 59 was consistently strong and progressive voice against the neo-liberal anti-poor agenda of privatization, globalization and liberalization in recent times. Recently, early in February this year, he was in Thrissur for nearly a week to participate in the Fourth Edition of the Vibgyor Film Festival. His inputs during the sessions were inspiring and thought provoking. He had agreed to come again to Thrissur as guest of Jananeethi to deliver a lecture on Challenges to Democracy. We salute his decades of invaluable contribution to diverse people's movements and resolves to take forward his message and commitment to come together and be united against all odds and strengthen our collective force for justice.
- Jananeethi Family - March 24, 2009 |