Activist Teesta Setalvad’s ‘Foot Soldier of the Constitution’ in Kannada

Activist Teesta Setalvad’s ‘Foot Soldier of the Constitution’ in Kannada The Hindu

17, May 2019

The book is being released on May 18

The Kannada translation of ‘Foot Soldier of the Constitution: A Memoir’ , a political narrative of the work and times of activist Teesta Setalvad, is being released on May 18.

Writer-activist Satya S. has translated the work as Samvidhanada Kaalaalu, and it is being brought out by Kriya Madhyama at a function organised by Gender Cell, Department of Social Work, St. Joseph’s College.

Influence of grandfather and father

The memoir speaks of the influence of Ms. Setalvad’s grandfather and father; her early career as a journalist; the violence in Mumbai after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992-93; her own trajectory as an activist with fellow travellers; and her role during and after the Godhra violence in Gujarat.

“It took six months to translate this challenging work,” said Ms. Satya.

Noted Kannada writer and critic G. Rajashekar has said that the strength of the narrative is that while presenting the picture of her struggle against communal violence, she is never preachy or overwrought.

To mark the release, a seminar on ‘We the People – In Defence of Democracy’ has been organised, in which Ms. Setalvad and Prof. Muzaffar Assadi will participate.

Documentaries on human rights movements by Sabrang Trust will also be screened. Former Minister B.K. Chandrashekar will preside over the function.

The event is being held at Xavier Hall, St. Joseph’s College, PG Block, Shantinagar, at 3 p.m.