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The Speaking Constitution: A Sisyphean Life in Law
'This unfinished Sisyphean struggle has not made me tire of it; mine has been the struggle for a better world and the struggle is its own reward.'
The Speaking Constitution takes a close look at the functioning of the Constitution and the development of the idea of justice through the courts, mapping in the process a legal geography of civil liberties in India through the work of one of its most committed campaigners.
An edited translation of the oral memoir narrated by advocate and human rights activist K.G. Kannabiran (1929-2010), this book is reflective of Kannabiran's lifelong battle with the state and his work in the civil liberties movement in India.
From Ansari Begum's deportation case in the aftermath of Partition to encounter deaths and custodial killings, the work of citizens' tribunals in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat massacre, the peace talks and negotiations between Naxalites and the Andhra Pradesh government, the highly polarizing trial of Afzal Guru and the question of the death penalty, Kannabiran shines light on human rights violations in courts across the country and the radical possibilities the Constitution offers citizens today. In the process, he maps a legal geography of the civil liberties movement in India.
Rich in detail and insightful, The Speaking A Sisyphean Life in Law interweaves personal history with that of courtcraft and politics to create an unparalleled account of the evolution of jurisprudence in India.
The Speaking Constitution takes a close look at the functioning of the Constitution and the development of the idea of justice through the courts, mapping in the process a legal geography of civil liberties in India through the work of one of its most committed campaigners.
An edited translation of the oral memoir narrated by advocate and human rights activist K.G. Kannabiran (1929-2010), this book is reflective of Kannabiran's lifelong battle with the state and his work in the civil liberties movement in India.
From Ansari Begum's deportation case in the aftermath of Partition to encounter deaths and custodial killings, the work of citizens' tribunals in the aftermath of the 2002 Gujarat massacre, the peace talks and negotiations between Naxalites and the Andhra Pradesh government, the highly polarizing trial of Afzal Guru and the question of the death penalty, Kannabiran shines light on human rights violations in courts across the country and the radical possibilities the Constitution offers citizens today. In the process, he maps a legal geography of the civil liberties movement in India.
Rich in detail and insightful, The Speaking A Sisyphean Life in Law interweaves personal history with that of courtcraft and politics to create an unparalleled account of the evolution of jurisprudence in India.
- GenresNonfictionLaw
556 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 11, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
January 7, 2023
"Mine has been the struggle for a better world and the struggle is its own reward." - K.G. Kannabiran
This book is an edited translation of the oral memoir narrated by advocate and human rights activist K.G. Kannabiran (1929-2010). His memoir was first published in Telugu, titled 24 Gantalu: Atmakadhatmaka Samajika Chitram ( 24 hrs: A Personalized Social History ). It has been translated, compiled, and edited by Kalpana Kannabiran, a sociologist and legal scholar. She is the daughter of K.G. Kannabiran.
I found this to be a highly inspiring and insightful read! I have always enjoyed reading about political affairs and was amazed to get such great insights into some of the most prominent political-legal cases of India, like the Afzal Guru case, Ansari Begum's deportation case, negotiations between Naxalites and the Andhra Pradesh government, rights of religious minorities, death penalty of Naxalites, and many more such cases.
This book provides a closer look at the structure and functioning of the constitution. We get to read about the court processes- from the lowest courts to the highest. It was inspiring to read about Kannabiran's courageous efforts in defending and taking a stand for tribals, religious minorities, prisoners who were wrongfully jailed, rape survivors, and many more who didn't have a voice. He fought for their dignity and social justice. We get to read about his lifelong battle with the state and his work in the civil liberties movement in India.
At first, this book made me introspect and question my bias and thought process regarding some of the cases that I am well aware of. But as I turned the pages, I realized that I only knew a few pieces of a huge puzzle. There is so much that I've learned from this book and I'm really grateful for that! It is a must-read for anyone interested in legal activism!
This book is an edited translation of the oral memoir narrated by advocate and human rights activist K.G. Kannabiran (1929-2010). His memoir was first published in Telugu, titled 24 Gantalu: Atmakadhatmaka Samajika Chitram ( 24 hrs: A Personalized Social History ). It has been translated, compiled, and edited by Kalpana Kannabiran, a sociologist and legal scholar. She is the daughter of K.G. Kannabiran.
I found this to be a highly inspiring and insightful read! I have always enjoyed reading about political affairs and was amazed to get such great insights into some of the most prominent political-legal cases of India, like the Afzal Guru case, Ansari Begum's deportation case, negotiations between Naxalites and the Andhra Pradesh government, rights of religious minorities, death penalty of Naxalites, and many more such cases.
This book provides a closer look at the structure and functioning of the constitution. We get to read about the court processes- from the lowest courts to the highest. It was inspiring to read about Kannabiran's courageous efforts in defending and taking a stand for tribals, religious minorities, prisoners who were wrongfully jailed, rape survivors, and many more who didn't have a voice. He fought for their dignity and social justice. We get to read about his lifelong battle with the state and his work in the civil liberties movement in India.
At first, this book made me introspect and question my bias and thought process regarding some of the cases that I am well aware of. But as I turned the pages, I realized that I only knew a few pieces of a huge puzzle. There is so much that I've learned from this book and I'm really grateful for that! It is a must-read for anyone interested in legal activism!
October 8, 2023
“A formal compliance with the law, a routine engagement with justice will not keep justice alive. The Constitution says that justice political, social and economic- should inform all the institutions of the state. Our campaign for a secular democracy should commence from this statement in the Preamble.”
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews