Krishnakumarsinhji Gohil at 12:34, 2 April 2025

2025-04-02T12:34:08Z

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{{Short description|Indian activist}}{{Infobox Person
| name = Himanshu Kumar
| image = Himashu Kumar (Activist).jpg
| birth_place = Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh, India
| occupation = Social activist
| father = Lakshmindraprakash Sharma
}}

'''Himanshu Kumar''' is an Indian Gandhian activist, best known for his activism for the tribal communities of the Indian state of [[Chhattisgarh]]. He founded a non-profit organization named [[Vanvasi Chetna Ashram]] in [[Dantewada district]] (now [[Sukma district]]) of Chhattisgarh, which he ran from 1992 to 2009.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |agency=PTI |date=2022-07-19 |title=Seeking justice for massacred tribals of Chhattisgarh, Activist Himanshu Kumar won’t pay fine imposed by Supreme Court |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/seeking-justice-massacres-of-tribals-in-chhattisgarh-activist-himanshu-kumar-wont-pay-fine-imposed-by-supreme-court/article65658876.ece |access-date=2022-10-14 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Biography ==
Kumar was born in [[Muzaffarnagar]], [[Uttar Pradesh]] and both his parents were freedom fighters. He grew up in Gandhi Ashram, [[Meerut]], Uttar Pradesh. His father, Prakashbhai Sharma, worked closely with Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |date=2022-07-16 |title=‘I know I will go to jail, but paying the fine would mean I did a wrong’: Dantewada activist |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/himanshu-kumar-i-know-i-will-go-to-jail-but-paying-the-fine-8032265/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=The Indian Express |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Interview: When a Quest for Justice Was Treated Like a Crime |url=https://thewire.in/law/himanshu-kumar-chhattisgarh-supreme-court-adivasis-interview |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=The Wire}}</ref>

After visiting Dantewada in 1988 with activist [[Nirmala Deshpande]] and his father, he decided to move to Dantewada with his wife in 1992 and founded the Vanvasi Chetna Ashram along with her. The ashram worked to educate the tribals about their legal rights.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Himanshu Kumar |url=https://www.sambhaavnaa.org/facilitators/himanshu-kumar/ |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Sambhaavnaa |language=en-US}}</ref> The ashram was demolished on 17 May 2009 by the police.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Attack On Vanvasi Chetna Ashram In Chhattisgarh |url=https://countercurrents.org/dobhal110609.htm |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=countercurrents.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Himanshu Kumar |url=https://thinkworks.in/speakers/himanshu-kumar/ |access-date=2022-10-15 |website=THiNK |language=en-US}}</ref>

Over the years, he extensively worked in the [[Bastar district]] with the government to raise awareness on malaria & literacy, and against the government over alleged human rights violations, especially during the [[Salwa Judum]] movement.<ref name=":4" />

Over the years, Kumar has filed over 519 petitions related to alleged fake encounters, rape, and loot by the Indian security forces.<ref>{{Cite web |title='If Institutions Are Captured, We Are Not Independent': Observations from Tribunal on SC Judgments |url=https://thewire.in/law/tribunal-on-supreme-court-judgments-zakia-jafri-himanshu-kumar |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Jeelani |first=Mehboob |date=2016-02-16 |title=Himanshu Kumar - a rights activist on the run |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/himanshu-kumar-a-rights-activist-on-the-run/article8245595.ece |access-date=2022-10-14 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Chhattisgarh tribals killing case ==
In 2009, Kumar, along with 12 tribals,<ref>{{Cite web |title=SC Fines Activist Rs 5 Lakh for 'False Charges' in Chhattisgarh Tribals' Killing Case |url=https://thewire.in/law/sc-fines-activist-rs-5-lakh-for-false-charges-in-chhattisgarh-tribals-killing-case |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=The Wire}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Sahay |first=Shalini |date=2022-07-22 |title=Gandhian and peace activist Himanshu Kumar refuses to pay fine imposed by Supreme Court |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/gandhian-and-peace-activist-himanshu-kumar-refuses-to-pay-fine-imposed-by-supreme-court |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=National Herald |language=en}}</ref> filed a [[Public interest litigation in India|Public Interest Litigation]]<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=SC dismisses plea seeking probe into alleged killing of 17 Adivasis by security forces in 2009 |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1028241/sc-dismisses-plea-seeking-probe-into-alleged-killing-of-17-adivasis-by-security-forces-in-2009 |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=Scroll.in |language=en-US}}</ref> with the Supreme Court of India to investigate the alleged killing of 17 tribals from the Dantewada district (now Sukma district) by [[Chhattisgarh Police]] as a part of [[Operation Green Hunt]] in September and October 2009.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":4" /> The petition sought an independent inquiry into the killings while also asking the court to direct the government to provide compensation to the kin of the deceased.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web |title=As SC Imposes Fine on Chhattisgarh Activist, Legal Experts Rue ‘Vengeful Attitude' |url=https://thewire.in/law/supreme-court-chhattisgarh-tribals-killing-himanshu-kumar-fine-vengeful-attitude |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=The Wire}}</ref>

On 14 July 2022, the Supreme Court dismissed the petition and imposed a fine of Rs 5 lakh on Kumar.<ref name=":1" /> The court cited the [[first information report]]s and the chargesheets filed in the case and noted that the tribals were killed by Maoists.<ref>{{Cite web |author=Dhananjay Mahapatra|date=July 15, 2022 |title=SC nails activist Himanshu Kumar for implicating security forces in Dantewada tribal killings |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/sc-penalises-activist-who-linked-security-forces-to-tribals-killings/articleshow/92886403.cms |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=The Times of India |language=en}}</ref> Kumar refused to pay the fine<ref name=":3" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-07-23 |title=Activist Says Won’t Pay SC Fine for Seeking Justice for Adivasis, Civil Society Calls Order a ‘Farce’ |url=https://www.newsclick.in/Activist-Says-Won%E2%80%99t-Pay-SC-Fine-Seeking-Justice-Adivasis-Civil-Society-Calls-Order-Farce |access-date=2022-10-14 |website=NewsClick |language=en}}</ref> and said "I will not pay the fine as I have not done anything wrong."<ref name=":2" />

== References ==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Kumar, Himanshu}}
[[Category:Indian activists]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]

Himanshu Kumar - Revision history

Krishnakumarsinhji Gohil at 12:34, 2 April 2025