JULY

July 4, 1946
TELANGANA ARMED STRUGGLE BEGINS
Two agricultural workers, Doddi Komaraiah and Mallaiah were shot dead while taking out a procession of landless workers in Kadivendi village in Warangal, Andhra Pradesh. Their deaths inspired the Telengana armed struggle, a movement of landless poor and agricultural labourers against the exploitation and extraction of forced labour by the landed aristocracy under the Nizam's rule.
Articles:
Sundarayya, P. (1973). 'Telangana People's Armed Struggle, 1946-1951. Part One: Historical Setting', Social Scientist, Vol. 1, No. 7, pp. 3-19; 'Part Two: First Phase and its Lessons, Social Scientist, Vol. 1, No. 8, pp. 18-42.
Elliot, Carolyn M. (1974). 'Decline of a Patrimonial Regime: The Telengana Rebellion in India, 1946-51', The Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 34, No. 1, pp. 27-47.
Roosa, John (2001). 'Passive Revolution Meets Peasant Revolution: Indian Nationalism and the Telangana Revolt', Journal of Peasant Studies, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 57-94.
Books:
Sundarayya, P. (1972). Telangana People's Struggle and Its Lessons, New Delhi: Foundation Books Pvt. Ltd.
Vishal, Badri (1969). The Revolt in Telangana, Commercial Printing Press.
Websites:
www.varavararao.org/en/articles/july_4.html
www.thehindu.com/2006/09/11/stories/2006091114600300.htm
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=7247237671139634776 documentary on the Telangana Struggle.

July 8-9, 2001
NATIONAL PROTEST CONVENTION AGAINST THE FIFTH SCHEDULE AMENDMENT
Threatened by the historic Samata Judgment (July 11, 1997), several corporate interest groups sought to dilute the interests and rights of Adivasi peoples in Adivasi majority areas protected by the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. The Convention was part of a national mobilisation to respond to the proposed amendment.
Websites:
www.minesandcommunities.org/article.php?a=1830
www.mmpindia.org/Collective_Action.htm
www.mmpindia.org/Mining%20secret%20note.htm
www.indiatogether.org/campaigns/schedule5/intro.htm
www.downtoearth.org.in/full6.asp?foldername=20030815&filename=news&sec_id=4&sid=29
www.hinduonnet.com/2001/07/11/stories/02110009.htm - Basu, Soma (2001). 'Tribals Yearn for a Place under the Sun', The Hindu, Wednesday, July 11.
www.commonlii.org/in/legis/const/2004/32.html - The Fifth Schedule.

July 9, 1972
FIRST OPEN MEETING OF THE DALIT PANTHER ORGANISATION IN BOMBAY
Founded by Dalit revolutionary poet, Namdeo Dhasal, Dalit Panthers drew their inspiration from the political militancy of the Black Panther Party in the U.S. Established in Maharashtra it spread to other regions including Tamil Nadu. Claiming to be the “true proletariat”, the Panthers came to be known for their complete rejection of the establishment and their radical strategies and tactics.
Articles:
Contursi, J. A. (1993). 'Political Theology: Text and Practice in a Dalit Panther Community', Journal of Asian Studies, Vol. 52, No. 2, pp. 320-339.
Gorringe, H. (2007). 'Taming the Dalit Panthers: Dalit Politics in Tamil Nadu', Journal of South Asian Development, Vol. 2, No. 1, pp. 51-73.
Deshpande, S. (2007). 'Superstar Dhasal', Frontline, Vol. 24, No. 14.
Books:
Murugkar, L. (1991). Dalit Panther Movement in Maharashtra: A Sociological Appraisal, Bombay: Popular Prakashan.
Websites:
www.dpi.org.in/
www.itsabouttimebpp.com/Announcements/Daliti_Panthers_in_India.html

July 11, 1997
SAMATA JUDGEMENT PASSED
In the landmark judgment of Samata v. State of Andhra Pradesh regarding government lease of land to a private mining company in Fifth Schedule areas, the Supreme Court declared that the Government is also a 'person', thereby nullifying the grant of leases to non-Adivasis in such areas, prohibited under the Fifth Schedule of the Indian Constitution.
Articles:
Samata (2001). 'Surviving a Minefield: An Adivasi Triumph A Landmark Supreme Court Judgment Restoring the Rights of Tribals', Hyderabad: Samata.
Websites:
www.samataindia.org/
www.mmpindia.org/Samata_Judgement.htm
www.countercurrents.org/Adivasi-rawat311005.htm
www.hinduonnet.com/fline/fl2119/stories/20040924006001200.htm
http://austlii.law.uts.edu.au/au/journals/ILB/2001/82.html
www.outlookindia.com
www.indg.in/agriculture/tribal-areas/rights-guaranteed-to-tribal-people/agri-tribal-rights-samata/

July 12, 2007
FAST IN KHANDWA FOR REHABILITATION ENDS
The indefinite fast for rehabilitation by those displaced by the Indira Sagar and Omkareshwar dams on the Narmada ended with promises to continue to monitor the rehabilitation process. The Narmada Bachao Andolan declared that it would take up issues of rehabilitation and rights of the displaced people in the valley and in the court of law till September 30th when tens of thousands would converge in Bhopal to intensify the agitation.
Websites:
www.narmada.org/nba-press-releases/july-2007/July12.html
[For more on Narmada valley struggles, see March 30, August 1, September 28]

13 July 2007
JAMEEN HAQ SATYAGRAHA LAUNCHED IN THE NARMADA VALLEY
People displaced by the Sardar Sarovar dam began a Land Rights Satyagraha in Taloon in Badwani, Madhya Pradesh, demanding land-for-land rehabilitation as against cash compensation. They also presented a list of those displaced who were not included in the official enumeration.
Websites:
http://aidindia.org/main/content/view/482/189/
[For more on Narmada valley struggles, see September 28, March 30, August 1]

July 15, 2004
NAKED PROTEST BY MANIPURI WOMEN AGAINST AFSPA
Protesting the rape and killing of Thangjam Manorama by soldiers belonging to Assam rifles, and the continued operation of the Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, twelve naked women unfurled a banner reading 'Indian Army, Rape Us' in front of the famous Kangla Fort in Imphal, Manipur.
Articles:
South Asia Human Rights Documentation Centre, 'Armed Forces Special Powers Act: A study in National Security Tyranny' (www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/resources/armed_forces.htm).
Fernandes, Walter (2004). 'Limits of Law and Order Approach to the North-East', Economic and Political Weekly, Vol. 39, No. 42.
Kamboj, Anil (2004). 'Manipur and Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act 1958', Strategic Analysis, Vol. 28, No. 4, pp. 616-620.
Hanjabam, Shukhdeba Sharma (2008). 'The Meitei Upsurge in Manipur', Asia Europe Journal, Vol. 6, No. 1, pp. 157-169.
Books:
Asian Centre for Human Rights (2006). The AFSPA Lawless Law Enforcement of According to the Law?: A Representation to the Committee to Review the Armed Forces Special Forces Act, 1958, India: Asian Centre for Human Rights.
Websites:
www.countercurrents.org/hr-sharma250704.htm
www.combatlaw.org/information.php?article_id=229&issue_id=9
www.revolutionarydemocracy.org/rdv10n2/manipur.htm
www.commondreams.org/headlines04/0719-03.htm
www.kanglaonline.com

July 19-21, 2007
WOMEN FARMERS LEAD PROTEST AGAINST RELIANCE SEZ
Protesting against the proposed 10,000-hectare land acquisition in Raigad district of Maharashtra for the Reliance Maha-Mumbai Special Economic Zone, farmers went on a hunger strike as a non-violent form of registering their opposition
Websites:
www.thesouthasian.org/archives/2007/women_farmers_protest_reliance.html
http://mycitizennews.blogspot.com/2007/07/women-farmers-fast-against-reliance.html
[For more on the anti-SEZ Campaign, see January 26, May 5]

July 23, 1908
100,000 WORKERS JOIN HISTORIC STRIKE IN BOMBAY
In what was the first instance of militant action by the working class, over 100,000 workers struck work and came out onto the streets of Bombay. The protest was provoked not by a dispute over wages, working conditions or working hours, but by the arrest of freedom fighter Bal Gangadhar Tilak.
Articles:
Bannerjee, Kanai (2008). 'Centenary of First Political Strike in India', People's Democracy, Vol. 32, No. 29
(http://pd.cpim.org/2008/0727_pd/07272008_18.htm).

July 23, 1955
BHARATIYA MAZDOOR SANGH (BMS) FOUNDED
Founded by Dattopantji Thengdi and others on Lokmanya Tilak Jayanti, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh is one the largest central trade unions. It is affiliated to the Hindu fundamentalist Bharatiya Janata Party.
Articles:
Bose, Sanat. (1979). 'Parties and Politics in Indian Trade Union Movement: Early Phase (1917-1924),' Social Scientist, Vol. 7, No. 12, Pp. 3-12. July, 1979.
Books:
Thengadi, D.B. The Onward March of Bhartiya Mazdoor Sangh, B.M.S. Publication.
Mathur, A.S. and J.S. Mathur (1957). Trade Union Movement in India, Chaitanya Publishing House.
Karnik, V.B. (1966). Indian Trade Unions: A Survey, Bombay: Manaktalas.
Crouch, H.A. (1966). Trade Unions and Politics in India, Bombay: Manaktalas.
Vanniarajan, R. (1996). Trade Union Movement in India: A Study with Special Reference to Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Dept of Commerce, Algappa University, Tamil Nadu.
Websites:
www.bms.org.in/
www.indialabourarchives.org/usr/local/gsdl/cgi-bin/library?site=localhost&a=p&p=about&c=bms&ct=0
www.vskgujarat.com/like_minded_organisation/bhartiya_mazdoor_sangh.htm

July 23, 2007
250 TIBETANS LAUNCH HUNGER STRIKE IN KARNATAKA
Protesting the Chinese invasion of Tibet and the gross violation of human rights there, over 250 Tibetans launched a hunger strike in Karnataka as part of a coordinated set of protest actions by the exiled Tibetan community in other parts of the country. The community has regularly used public space to put pressure on the Chinese and Indian governments.
Websites:
www.freetibet.org/
www.tibet.org/
www.freetibet.net/
www.teamtibet.org/
www.sftindia.org/
http://freetibet2008.org/

July 25, 1937
SECOND HUNGER STRIKE AT ANDAMAN CELLULAR JAIL BEGINS
In support of the cause of the political prisoners held in Andaman Jail, a nation-wide mass hunger strike began in jails across the country. The historic hunger strike lasted 36 days during which time nationalist leaders like Jawaharlal Nehru and Subhash Chandra Bose got actively involved. The process of repatriation to the mainland finally began in September 1937.
[For more on Andaman Cellular Jail struggle, see May 12]

July 25, 2002
DO OR DIE AGITATION LAUNCHED BY NATIONAL FISHWORKERS' FORUM
Traditional fisherfolk from all ten coastal states of the country began their agitation demanding implementation of the 21 recommendations of the Murari Committee, which included among others, an end to joint ventures with foreign entities, implementation of the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification, inclusion of marine fishing regulations in the entire Exclusive Economic Zone and establishment of a fisheries ministry at the centre.
Websites:
www.indiatogether.org/economy/fishing/hscape0802.htm
[For more on fishworkers' movement, see May 1]