Ajay Kumar at 14:21, 23 September 2023

2023-09-23T14:21:36Z

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{{Short description|Activist and academician convicted under UAPA Act for extortion}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox writer
| name = Gokarakonda Naga Saibaba
| image = Dr. GN Saibaba.jpg
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| birth_place = [[Amalapuram]]
| birth_name =
| occupation = Human rights activist, professor, writer.
| language = [[Telugu language|Telugu]], English, Hindi
| nationality = [[India]]n
| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
* SKBR College ([[Bachelor of Arts|B.A.]])
* [[University of Hyderabad]] ([[Master of Arts|M.A.]])
* [[University of Delhi]] ([[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])}}
| education =
| spouse = Vasantha Kumari<ref name="GN1">{{Cite web|title=Five years on, no relief for jailed Delhi University professor Saibaba|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/five-years-on-no-relief-for-jailed-delhi-university-professor-saibaba/article27084472.ece|date=9 May 2019|website=The Hindu|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="GN4">{{Cite web|title=Court relied on deposition of semi-literate witness: Saibaba's wife| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Hyderabad/court-relied-on-deposition-of-semi-literate-witness-saibabas-wife/article17783889.ece| date=4 April 2017|website=The Hindu|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>
| awards =
}}
'''Gokarakonda Naga "G. N." Saibaba''' is an Indian scholar, writer, [[Human rights defender|human rights activist]], and professor.

He was accused by the government of links with banned left wing extremist organizations and was convicted to [[life imprisonment]] by a session court in 2017. He was acquitted of the charges under [[Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act]] by Nagpur bench of the [[Bombay High Court]] on 14 October 2022.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/bombay-high-court-acquits-ex-du-professor-gn-saibaba-in-maoist-links-case/article66008814.ece | title=Bombay High Court acquits ex-DU professor G.N. Saibaba in Maoist links case | newspaper=The Hindu | date=14 October 2022 | last1=Saigal | first1=Sonam }}</ref> The Supreme Court of India suspended the order of acquittal.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/sc-suspends-bombay-hc-order-acquitting-gn-saibaba-and-others-in-maoist-links-case/article66013558.ece | title=SC suspends Bombay HC order acquitting G.N. Saibaba and others in Maoist-links case | newspaper=The Hindu | date=15 October 2022 | last1=Rajagopal | first1=Krishnadas }}</ref>

== Personal life ==
Saibaba was born {{when|date=September 2022}} in [[Amalapuram]], a town in East Godavari of the Indian state of [[Andhra Pradesh]], in a poor [[peasant]] family.<ref name="GN2">{{Cite web |title=GN Saibaba: The revolutionary in Delhi University|url=http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/articleshow/23104776.cms| date=23 September 2013|website=[[Times of India]]|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> He has used a wheelchair since the age of five due to [[polio]].<ref name="GN1"/> He has had several health problems while imprisoned and is 80% [[disability|physically handicapped]].<ref name="GN1"/><ref name="GN2"/>

== Education ==
Having studied at ''Sree Konaseema Bhanoji Ramars (SKBR) College'' in Amalapuram, he finished his degree at the top of the university.<ref name="GN2"/> He obtained his [[master's degree|M.A.]] in English from [[University of Hyderabad]].<ref name="GN3">{{Cite web|title=Pages smuggled out of Nagpur's central prison to be published as Saibaba's latest book|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/cities/hyderabad/2016/may/26/Pages-smuggled-out-of-Nagpurs-central-prison-to-be-published-as-Saibabas-latest-book-908352.html| date=26 May 2016|website=The New Indian Express|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref><ref name="GN4"/> In 2013, he completed his [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]] dissertation which was awarded by [[Delhi University]]. His doctoral thesis was on ''"Indian Writing in English and Nation Making: Reading the Discipline"''.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Doctoral Research: Abstracts of Theses – vol. 14| url=http://crl.du.ac.in/Doc.Bib/2013/English.pdf| date=2013|website=[[University of Delhi]]|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

== Literary contribution ==
Saibaba's literary inspiration are [[Gurajada Apparao]], [[Sri Sri (writer)|Sri Sri]], and the Kenyan [[Ngugi Wa Thiong'o]].<ref name="GN2"/>
Saibaba's early works in [[Telugu language|Telugu]] were published in ''Srijana'', an Indian magazine. These early articles focused on the dominant forms of knowledge that worked against [[dalit]] and [[adivasi]] assertions in the Indian Novel.<ref name="GN8">{{Cite web|title=Dr. G N Saibaba| url=https://indiapoliticalprisoners.wordpress.com/dr-g-n-saibaba/| date=7 March 2017| website= India Political Prisoners| language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

== Career ==
Saibaba taught English at [[Ram Lal Anand College]] of [[Delhi University]] for several years.<ref name="GN2"/><ref name="GN5">{{Cite web|title=Delhi University professor Saibaba, arrested for Maoist links, gets bail| url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-university-professor-saibaba-arrested-for-maoist-links-gets-bail-316238-2016-04-04| date=4 April 2016|website=India Today|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> He received [[life imprisonment]] for his connections to [[Maoists in India|Maoists]] and was removed from [[Assistant professor]] post at [[Ram Lal Anand College]] of [[Delhi University]] in February 2021.<ref>{{Cite web|author=Scroll Staff|title=GN Saibaba removed as assistant professor from Delhi University's Ram Lal Anand College|url=https://scroll.in/latest/991267/gn-saibaba-removed-as-assistant-professor-from-delhi-universitys-ram-lal-anand-college|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Scroll.in|date=2 April 2021 |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Political activity and arrest ==

During the ''Mumbai Resistance 2004'', a platform of over 310 political movements organised parallel to the [[World Social Forum]], Saibaba participated as an active organiser. During this period he became a part of the ''International League of People's Struggle'' (''ILPS'').<ref name="GN2"/>

In 2005, he joined the Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF) which was banned in August 2012 by the AP government under Andhra Pradesh Public Security Act 1992 for alleged subversive activities.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/saibaba-is-believed-to-be-brain-behind-several-attacks-on-police/articleshow/57532509.cms|title=Saibaba is believed to be brain behind several attacks on police|newspaper=The Economic Times}}</ref>

In 2009, he was a prominent voice in the campaign against [[Operation Green Hunt]], mainly the military actions perpetrated by the Indian state.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Justice for Dr. GN Saibaba| url=https://www.dalitcamera.com/justice-for-dr-gn-saibaba/| date=14 July 2016| website=Dalit Camera|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

He was arrested in May 2014 for Maoist links.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-others/du-professor-g-n-saibaba-is-arrested-for-naxal-links/|title=Delhi University Professor G N Saibaba is arrested for 'Naxal links'|date=10 May 2014}}</ref> He was granted bail by Bombay High Court in June 2015 on medical grounds and he was released in July 2015. He was sent back to jail in December 2015 was released again in April 2016 after Supreme Court granted him bail.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/884552/united-nations-rights-experts-urge-india-to-release-jailed-delhi-university-professor-gn-saibaba|title=United Nations rights experts urge India to release jailed Delhi University professor GN Saibaba|author=Scroll Staff|website=Scroll.in|date=28 June 2018 }}</ref>

He was sentenced to life imprisonment in March 2017 under Sections 13, 18, 20, 38 and 39 of the UAPA and Section 120 B of the Indian Penal Code for connections with the banned Revolutionary Democratic Front (RDF), an organisation linked with the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist).<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/du-professor-saibaba-convicted-for-maoist-links/article17422375.ece|title=Ex-DU professor Saibaba sentenced to life for Maoist links|first=Pavan|last=Dahat|newspaper=The Hindu |date=7 March 2017|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> Saibaba denied the charge that organisation he ran was a front for [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)|CPI-Maoist]].<ref name="GN5"/>

The Maoist called for "Bharat Bandh" on 29 March 2017 to protest against Saibaba's life imprisonment with banners and pamphlets distributed by the [[Communist Party of India (Maoist)|CPI-Maoist]] at Maharashtra and Chhattisgarh region.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Maoists have confessed their link to Prof. Saibaba: Anti-Naxal unit| website=[[The Hindu]]| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/maoists-have-confessed-their-link-to-prof-saibaba-anti-naxal-unit/article17591084.ece| date=23 March 2017}}</ref>

On 30 April 2020, a panel of experts with the [[Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights|United Nations OHCHR]] called on the Indian government urging the authorities to immediately release G.N. Saibaba, due to his "seriously deteriorating" health condition.<ref name="GN1"/>

On 28 July 2020, the [[Bombay High Court]] rejected Saibaba's 45-day medical bail petition.<ref name="GN6">{{Cite web|title='Extremely apathetic': Wife of prof GN Saibaba as Bombay HC denies him bail| url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/extremely-apathetic-wife-prof-gn-saibaba-bombay-hc-denies-him-bail-129734| date=30 July 2020|website=The News Minute|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> He was denied permission to visit his 74-year-old mother who died of cancer,<ref>{{Cite web|title=DU ex-professor Saibaba's ailing mother dies, her final wish was to see her son| url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/ex-professor-saibabas-ailing-mother-dies-final-wish-of-seeing-son-remains-unfulfilled/article32252433.ece| date=2 August 2020|website=The Hindu|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref> and after she died was denied to participate in [[funeral rituals]].<ref name="GN7">{{Cite web|title=GN Saibaba denied medical facilities, books, letters from family; threatens hunger strike| url=https://sabrangindia.in/article/gn-saibaba-denied-medical-facilities-books-letters-family-threatens-hunger-strike| date=17 October 2020|website=Sabrang|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

On 22 October 2020, Saibaba called off his hunger strike after his demands about cctv cameras were accepted by the jail authorities.<ref name="GN9">{{Cite web|title=Dr G N Saibaba Calls Off Hunger Strike as Jail Authorities Accept His Demands| url=https://clarionindia.net/dr-g-n-saibaba-calls-off-hunger-strike-as-jail-authorities-accept-his-demands/| date=22 October 2020|website=Clarion India|language=en|access-date=19 December 2020}}</ref>

In April 2021, he was terminated from [[Ram Lal Anand College]] of Delhi University.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-04-02|title=Jailed DU professor GN Saibaba terminated by Ram Lal Anand College|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jailed-du-professor-gn-saibaba-terminated-by-ram-lal-anand-college-101617387964098.html|access-date=2021-05-11|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> His professorship stands terminated as of July 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/jailed-du-professor-gn-saibaba-terminated-by-ram-lal-anand-college-101617387964098.html |title=Jailed DU professor GN Saibaba terminated by Ram Lal Anand College|date=2 April 2021 |website=Hindustan Times}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.financialexpress.com/india-news/maoist-links-court-convicts-du-professor-g-n-saibaba-jnu-student-and-four-others/578072/ |title=Maoist links: DU professor GN Saibaba, JNU student and three others get life imprisonment |date=7 March 2017 |newspaper=[[The Financial Express (India)|The Financial Express]]}}</ref>

In October 2022, Saibaba and five others were acquitted by a high court bench that set aside the life imprisonment sentence awarded to them in 2017. The bench concluded that the proceedings before the sessions court were "null and void" in the absence of a valid sanction under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-10-14|title=Ex-DU professor GN Saibaba acquitted by HC in alleged Maoist links case|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bombay-hc-acquits-du-professor-gn-saibaba-maoist-links-case-8207891/|access-date=2022-10-14|website=[[Indian Express]]|language=en}}</ref> However, days after that the Supreme Court of India suspended his acquittal. The Court found fault with the High Court's order and observed the High Court has not considered the incriminating material against him as well as the merits of the case.

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Saibaba, G.N.}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1967 births]]
[[Category:Indian writers]]
[[Category:Indian human rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian people with disabilities]]
[[Category:Andhra Pradesh academics]]
[[Category:Hunger strikers]]
[[Category:Indian prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment]]
[[Category:Delhi University]]
[[Category:Indian activists with disabilities]]
[[Category:Writers with disabilities]]
[[Category:Wheelchair users]]

G. N. Saibaba - Revision history

Ajay Kumar at 14:21, 23 September 2023