Remembering K Balagopal

K Balagopal, B Ramulu and Gaddar in a public rally demanding water from Pranahita river and irrigation resources for the neighboring villages to Sirpur and Kagaznagar in Adilabad.

Dr. K Balagopal educational lecture on river water disputes in Andhra Pradesh. In this two hour long lecture, delivered in July 2009 at Human Rights Forum (HRF) chapter meeting in Vishakapatnam, Balagopal discusses the background of the river water disputes in the state of Andhra Pradesh and provides the historical, political and economical context in which the policies and the existent water sharing practices and irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers came about. And stresses the need for a proper water sharing framework – from a fairness, justice viewpoint and people rights to resources and development – of all the three regions of the state of Andhra Pradesh. And provides the right context to understand the grievances of the people of Telangana and Rayalaseema regions. And argues for a intra-state water redistribution and independent authority , along the lines of Bachawat Tribunal, for fair allocation of water resources.

Part 1 of 13

Part 2 of 13

Part 3 of 13

Part 4 of 13

Part 5 of 13

Part 6 of 13

Part 7 of 13


Part 8 of 13

Part 9 of 13

Part 10 of 13

Part 11 of 13

Part 12 of 13

Part 13 of 13

Balagopal TV interview in September 2009 (in Telugu) about Maoists, Green Hunt and Chattisgarh, where he talks about the ongoing violence both that of Maoists and the government in the states of Chattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh and elsewhere. And states that the in the long run inherent structural violence and increasing inequality in the society are much more of a bigger threat to the Indian democracy than the Maoists, as claimed by the Indian government.
And talks about the need to oppose Green hunt and support a peace talks initiative.

Part 1 of 3

Part 2 of 3

Part 3 of 3

(Source: Andhra Jyothy, October 16, 2009).

బర్కత్‌పుర, అక్టోబర్‌ 15 (ఆన్‌లైన్‌): హక్కుల సాధన విషయంలో ప్రజలకు ప్రశ్నించడాన్ని నేర్పిన మహోన్నతుడు బాలగోపాల్‌ అని పలువురు వక్తలు నివాళులర్పించారు. ఆయన ఆలోచనా విధానంతో ముం దుకు సాగినప్పుడే రాజ్యహింసను, సామ్రాజ్యవాదాన్ని సమూలంగా నిర్మూలించగలమని ఉద్బోధించారు. అణగారిన ప్రజల హక్కుల పోరాట సమితి ఆధ్వర్యంలో గురువారం రాత్రి బషీర్‌బాగ్‌ ప్రెస్‌క్లబ్‌లో బాలగోపాల్‌ సంస్మరణ సభ జరిగింది. ఈ సభలో ప్రజా గాయకుడు గద్దర్‌ మాట్లాడు తూ బాలగోపాల్‌ మృతి దళితులకు, ఆదివాసులకు తీరని లోటని చెప్పారు. పోలీసుల హింసతోపాటు.. నక్సలైట్ల హింసను కూడా బాలగోపాల్‌ ఖండి ంచారని ఆయన అన్నారు. దీనిపై చర్చ జరగాలని కోరారు. Read the rest of this entry »

Tribute from Telangana Matti Manusulu, HRF (Nalgonda)

Sri S. Jeevan Kumar, HRF

Dear Jeevan Kumar Garu,

I am writing to convey my shock and sorrow on the departure from our midst of our close common friend and great human rights activist Dr. K. Balagopal. His death is a great set back for poor people every where and their cause, especially for the marginalized in Andhra Pradesh. Read the rest of this entry »

Bobby Kunhu pays tribute to the committed human rights activist and lawyer K Balagopal who passed away on October 8, 2009.

Dr Ramanamurthy, who was then with the National Academy for Legal Studies and Research, dragged me to many Human Rights Forum (HRF) fact-findings on a weekend in 2001. It was in an Andhra Pradesh state transport bus headed for Warangal that I was first introduced to HRF’s founder K Balagopal. He was already a legend in human rights circles, and many of us held him and his work in awe. On this occasion, the eminent lawyer and human rights advocate immediately plunged into a lecture speculating on the history of Irani tea! Read the rest of this entry »

గొంతులేనివారి గొంతు
- ఆంధ్ర జ్యోతి  సంపాదకీయం

ప్రముఖ మానవ హక్కుల ఉద్యమకారుడు బాలగోపాల్‌ అకస్మిక మృతి ప్రజా ఉద్యమాలకు తీరని లోటు. పౌరహక్కుల ఉద్యమకారునిగా ఎక్కువగా పరిచితమైనప్పటికీ ఆయన చింతన, కృషి, వ్యక్తిత్వమూ బహుముఖీనమైనవి. గణితంలో పరిశోధన అనంతరం తొలుత అధ్యాపక వృత్తిని చేపట్టినా ఆ తరువాత ఉద్యమ జీవితంలో సాహిత్యం, సమాజం, చరిత్ర, రాజనీతి, న్యాయశాస్త్రం తదితర రంగాలలో అధ్యయనం, రచనలు చేశారు. Read the rest of this entry »

“>Rich tributes paid to Balagopal
Express News Service
First Published : 13 Oct 2009 04:13:00 AM IST

HYDERABAD: K Balagopal, a human form of human rights activism, was in fact a man of many talents. Paying rich tributes to the Human Rights Forum (HRF) leader at a condolence meeting organised at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram today, several speakers recalled their association with the leader. They said that Balagopal had in him a mathematician, singer, poet, philosopher and dedicated advocate. Read the rest of this entry »

[Posted below is a E-mail note from Anant Maringanti]

The memorial meeting for Balagopal started at 4pm sharp and closed at 9.10 pm on Monday October 12th. Well over a thousand people attended it. The main auditorium in the Sundarayya Vigyan Kendra in Hyderabad was jam packed, many sat on the floor and many more stood on the stairs and in the street. The entire meeting was telecast live by HMTV. Only 30 people got an opportunity to speak. Many more were disappointed. Among the speakers were K G Kannabiran, Vara Vara Rao, Mrinalini (Balagopal’s sister). Many speakers shared with the audience personal memories of Balagopal as student, teacher, friend, philosopher and guide and most of all as a moral force. Some were overcome by emotion even as they spoke.

At the end of the day, there are two groups of people – workers unions and tribal groups who will have some immediate problems due to Balagopal’s departure. There are a large number of cases pending in the court filed by Balagopal for his union and tribal clients. These clients have come to depend on Balagopal’s integrity and legal acumen. It is going to be an uphill task finding an alternative.

-anant