The Gauri Memorial Trust aims to foster a safe environment conducive to critical debate, in a country that is becoming increasingly intolerant.
Since Gauri’s death we’ve tried to not to stir the hornet’s nest. During this time, her work has been translated into Malayalam, Tamil, and English. Those who think they have silenced her are highly mistaken. Her voice is now reaching out to more and more people, across the language barrier.
The activism platform becomes much stronger when it mobilises on a personal basis through meeting people, holding public speeches, and even social media.
In Mumbai, for example, barely anyone will have heard of the Bangalore Mirror newspaper in which Gauri wrote. But the collection of her translated pieces will reach these people now. More books on her writings are going to come up now in Kannada. On 29 January 2018, Teesta Setalvad is publishing a book of all her writings in magazines and elsewhere.
Gauri was incredibly strong and fearless; all her struggles deserve recognition across the spectrum. The personal loss that we experience does often outweigh the acknowledgement of her struggle. I’m proud of her, but the need to talk, bicker over a little wine, give her a hug, is overwhelming. We miss her, a lot. The voices that are speaking up for Gauri across India can’t replace the loss I feel.
Now, a trust has been set up in Gauri’s name to keep her legacy alive – the Gauri Memorial Trust. At the outset, I would like to clarify that even though the trust has all my support, I am not a member. I provide moral support on my family’s behalf in the trust’s battle to take forward my sister’s vision.
However, to me, after a point, it’s not a family thing; it becomes an ideological inheritance. As a filmmaker, I have my own path to tread. It is difficult to justify being a part of the trust.
The trust has support from people across the country. To carry forward the torch Gauri lit, it wants to set up an award in her name. People who have relentlessly strived for social justice, like Gauri did, will now be the recipients of this award. It will probably be conferred on January 29, which happens to be Gauri’s birthday. They will also be organising seminars, workshops, debates, and discussions. A subscription-based paper is also on the agenda of the trust.
The political climate in the country is hostile to candid public conversations, and the trust wants to create a safe space where the young people can make themselves heard. It also wants to plan a ‘Gauri Habba’ (Gauri festival) in Karnataka. By using a mix of cultural outreach activities like songs, poetry, music, screening of documentary films, they hope to sensitise people about the fear and hatred that currently dominates the political discourse in India.
Gauri’s legacy is the newspaper that she chose to head once our father passed away. The society was more tolerant in his times, and in carrying forth his life’s mission, Gauri took on a world that has no space for bold, outspoken people. My father brought down governments; he was positively anti-establishment in the sense that he called public officials to account. He would write scathing exposes if he felt something was amiss.
Gauri’s political stance altered as the Centre itself realigned in the wake of a Hindu fascist government. She appeared to become more extreme Left-wing as the Right became increasingly mainstream. Those who supported her drive for social change are the ones who are starting this trust. I hope they will use it as a platform to strive for justice. If not, I will be the first person to speak up against them.
I am optimistic about the kind of things this trust can achieve. I have met these people often, since my sister and I shared an office building. Even though I’m not an activist like Gauri was, I have faith that when people who passionately believe in a just cause join forces, positive social change can be achieved.
This trust is an unspoken agreement that Gauri will live on. Her struggles, her beliefs will still continue to inspire generations to speak up for themselves.
Kavitha Lankesh is Gauri Lankesh’s sister and a filmmaker.