Fractured Freedom

Last updated
Fractured Freedom: A Prison Memoir
Fractured Freedom.jpg
Author Kobad Ghandy
Country India
LanguageEnglish
Publisher Roli Books
Publication date
16 March 2021
Media typeHardcover
Pages316
ISBN 978-8194969167

Fractured Freedom: A Prison Memoir is a memoir by Kobad Ghandy. The book mainly concerns his imprisonment of over a decade following accusations of being a politburo of the Communist Party of India. The book is divided into three parts: Motivation and Drive Behind Action; a Decade in India's Prisons, and Contemplation and Consideration of Justification. The book was published on 16 March 2021 in English by Roli Books. [1] [2] A Marathi translation was released soon after.

Contents

Critical reception

English Edition

Kobad Ghandy's memoir was met with critical acclaim. Mahmood Farooqui of the Hindustan Times wrote:

"The importance of this memoir and of being Kobad lies in shedding privilege, in adopting poverty and struggle, in choosing the right life, in suffering wrongs for it, and yet remaining steadfast. Fractured Freedom is a moral lesson for modern India, which both the Left and the Right would do well to heed". [3]

Asim Ali of The Telegraph wrote:

"This is a sincere and lucid book, mercifully free of intellectual jargon or literary pretensions. It is also deeply moving at times, particularly when Ghandy writes about his wife. Whatever one makes of Ghandy's ideas, there are some important insights to be gleaned from his dramatic life". [4]

Marathi Edition

Sukumar Shidore of Loksatta wrote "As the content of the book is multi-dimensional, it is hoped that the discerning reader will delve into its various aspects". [5] Milind Champanerkar of The Wire wrote "Considering the singular images of 'gunmen, burakhadhari', it seems that this book can provide a lot of insight into the reality, breaking through the myths about the extreme left". [6]

Controversy

The Government of Maharashtra withdrew the literature award given by the state government for the Marathi translation of the memoir, citing objections that the book 'Promotes violence of Naxalism'. [7] This initiated a strong reaction in the Marathi literary community, with Anand Karandikar, [8] Shared Baviskar, [9] awardees of the same competition returning their rewards to the government. As a further sign of solidarity with Ghandy, several members of the jury that selects the award-winning books have resigned from the committee. [10]

Related Research Articles

Govind Vinayak Karandikar, better known as Vindā, was an Indian poet, writer, literary critic, and translator in the Marathi-language.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dilip Prabhavalkar</span> Indian actor and writer

Dilip Prabhavalkar is an Indian Marathi actor, director, playwright and author. He has a career spanning over four decades in Hindi and Marathi theatre, television and movies. He was awarded the National Film Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Mahatma Gandhi in the 2006 Hindi film Lage Raho Munna Bhai.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dattaram Maruti Mirasdar</span> Indian writer (1937-2020)

Dattaram Maruti Mirasdar, popularly known by his initials was a Marathi writer and narrator principally of humorous stories.His stories were principally based on rural Maharashtra.The subtle and comic stories he wrote were well read.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Subodh Bhave</span> Indian actor, writer, producer, and director

Subodh Bhave is an Indian actor, writer, producer and director who is known for his work in Marathi cinema. He has acted in many commercially successful and critically acclaimed Marathi movies. He is best known for his work in Ani... Dr. Kashinath Ghanekar, Balgandharva, Katyar Kaljat Ghusali. He recently portrayed Vikrant Saranjame aka Gajendra Patil in Zee Marathi's Tula Pahate Re.

Vishwanath Vaman Bapat, also known as Vasant Bapat, was a Marathi poet from Maharashtra, India.

Govind Shripad Talwalkar was a distinguished journalist, legendary editor of Maharashtra Times, historian, scholar, intellectual with liberal views, social reformer and author of 32 books. He received the Lokmanya Tilak Award from the Government of Maharashtra, India and also the B. D. Goenka Award, Durga Ratan Award, Agarkar Award & Bhalerao Award for excellence in journalism and Ramshastri award for social justice. He received Maharashtra Government Award for his book - Navroji te Nehru; and N.C. Kelkar Award and Sahitya Paishad Award for his four volume book - Soviet Samrajyacha Uday ani Asta; and Damani Award for his book - Badalta Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mangesh Padgaonkar</span> Indian poet

Mangesh Keshav Padgaoankar was a legendary Marathi poet from Maharashtra, India.

Kobad Ghandy is an Indian communist activist and ideologue. He became involved in revolutionary politics whilst a student in England in the 1970s, and worked as an organizer for the civil rights movement in India. He was a founding member of the Committee for the Protection of Democratic Rights. He was arrested on the accusation of being a politburo member of the underground Communist Party of India (Maoist) in 2009. He was acquitted and released after almost a decade in jail in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mukta Barve</span> Indian actress

Mukta Barve is an Indian film, television, and theatre actress and a producer. One of the most popular Marathi celebrities, she has established a career in Marathi films. She is a recipient of seven Maharashtra State Film Awards one for Best Debut and other six for Best Actress in different plays and films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anuradha Ghandy</span> Indian communist and revolutionary

Anuradha Ghandy was an Indian communist, writer, and revolutionary leader. She was a Central Committee member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). She was one of the founding members of the Communist Party of India (Marxist–Leninist), in Maharashtra.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Paresh Mokashi</span> Indian film director (born 1969)

Paresh Mokashi is an Indian filmmaker, producer, actor and Theatre director-producer; working predominantly in Marathi cinema and Marathi theatre. He started working as a backstage worker for theatre and did few minor roles for plays as well as films. Mokashi made his directorial debut for theatre with the Marathi play, Sangeet Debuchya Mulee in 1999. He continued to work for theatre and made his directorial debut for cinema with the 2009 Marathi feature film, Harishchandrachi Factory. The film depicts the making of India's first full-length feature film, Raja Harishchandra (1913), made by Dadasaheb Phalke. The film was acclaimed critically and won several awards. It was also selected as India's official entry to 82nd Academy Awards in the Best Foreign Language Film category.

Madhav Yeshwant Gadkari (1928–2006) was an Indian journalist and the editor of Loksatta, a popular Marathi daily published by the Indian Express Group. He was also associated with the All India Radio, Maharashtra Times, Sakal and their Goa edition, Gomantak Times during his career. The Government of India awarded him the fourth highest civilian award of Padma Shri in 1990.

The Brihan Maharashtra Sugar Syndicate Ltd. is an Indian sugar company headquartered in Pune, Maharashtra, India. Established in 1934, it is one of the oldest companies in India.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chandrashekhar Agashe</span> Indian industrialist

Chandrashekhar Govind Agashe was an Indian industrialist and lawyer, best remembered as the founder of the Brihan Maharashtra Sugar Syndicate Ltd. He served as the managing agent of the company from its inception in 1934 till his death in 1956. He served as the President of the Bhor State Council from 1932 to 1934.

Vinda Jeevan Gaurav Puraskar is a lifetime achievement award conferred annually by the Department of Marathi Language, Government of Maharashtra.It is given to a writer who has made a lasting and valuable contribution to Marathi literature.originally consisted of a citation and a cash award of Rupees Five Lakh. It is named in honour of Marathi poet Govind Vinayak Karandikar.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sayali Sanjeev</span> Indian film and TV actress from Mumbai

Sayali Sanjeev, is an Indian film and television actress from Mumbai, Maharashtra, who works in Marathi films and television serials. She has received awards including a Filmfare Award for Best Actress in Marathi. She has appeared in films including Basta (2021), Jhimma (2021), Goshta Eka Paithanichi and AB Aani CD (2020).

One Way Ticket is an Indian Marathi-language mystery film directed by Kamal Nathani and Amol Shetge and produced by Komal Unawane. The film stars Sachit Patil, Amruta Khanvilkar, Gashmeer Mahajani, Neha Mahajan and Shashank Ketkar. The music is composed by Gaurav Dagoankar. The film was released on 23 September 2016 and was successful at the box-office.

Dhyanimani is an Indian Marathi language film directed by Chandrakant Kulkarni. The film stars Mahesh Manjrekar, Ashwini Bhave, Abhijeet Khandkekar and Mrunmayee Deshpande. Music by Ajit Parab. The film was released on 10 February 2017.

References

  1. ↑ "Why I am a communist: Activist Kobad Ghandy on ideology and Utopia". Scroll.in . 30 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Read an excerpt from Kobad Ghandy's Fractured Freedom, a stirring narrative of his activism and incarceration". Firstpost . 22 March 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Review: Fractured Freedom - A Prison Memoir by Kobad Ghandy". Hindustan Times . 16 April 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "Honest reflections". The Telegraph . 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  5. ↑ "एका नक्षलवाद्याचे अध्यात्म." Loksatta (in Marathi). 12 November 2021. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  6. ↑ "अतिडाव्याच्या मनातील परिवेदनेबाबत अंतर्दृष्टी देणारं 'फ्रॅक्चर्ड फ्रीडम'". The Wire (in Marathi). 16 January 2022. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  7. ↑ "Maharashtra government scraps award, and jury, for Kobad Ghandy's book translation". The Times of India . 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 21 December 2022. Retrieved 21 December 2022.
  8. ↑ "Row over Kobad Ghandy book: Author Anand Karandikar to return Maharashtra govt award". The New Indian Express . 13 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  9. ↑ "Row over Kobad Ghandy book: Marathi writer Sharad Baviskar returns award in protest". The New Indian Express . 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
  10. ↑ "Kobad Ghandy book row: Chief of Maharashtra govt.'s language advisory panel, 4 members of literary board resign as protest". The Hindu . 14 December 2022. Archived from the original on 23 December 2022. Retrieved 23 December 2022.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.