Who are Kalyani and Tanmay, the activists jailed for helping the Araria gang rape complainant?

The two social workers have been in jail for over 20 days, even though the complainant has been released on bail.

Aarefa Johari
Aug 01, 2020

Tanmay Nivedita has been working with rural communities in Araria, Bihar, for over four years. | Photo courtesy: Kamayani Swami

On July 10, a young woman in Araria, Bihar, refused to sign a statement written on her behalf after she finished narrating to a magistrate how she had been raped by a group of men a few days ago. She said she could not read. She asked the judge to allow the statement to be read out to her, before she signed it.

Less than 30 minutes later, the 22-year-old rape complainant found herself being arrested, along with two social workers who had accompanied her to the court to help and support her. The judge, she claimed, had called her a “pagal, badtameez ladki” – a crazy, ill-mannered girl – accused her and the social workers of arguing with him, and ordered their arrest.

The four men accused of raping the 22-year-old woman have not yet been identified or arrested. But the complainant and her companions – Tanmay Nivedita and Kalyani – were sent 240 km away from Araria to a jail in Samastipur, and charged with non-bailable offences like disrupting court proceedings and preventing public servants from doing their duty.

On July 18, after their arrest drew nationwide criticism, the rape complainant was finally granted bail and released from jail. But Tanmay and Kalyani, who have been charged with the same offences, are still in jail, more than 20 days since their arrest.

Both the social workers are members of Jan Jagran Shakti Sangathan, a labour union working on a variety of workers’ rights and social justice issues in northern Bihar. In Araria and neighbouring districts, Tanmay and Kalyani are known for their efforts to mobilise marginalised communities, nurture youth leaders, empower women and improve healthcare.

Since the Patna High Court is partly closed due to the Covid-19 lockdown, they will have to wait at least till August 6 before their bail pleas are heard. As they remain stuck in jail, Scroll.in spoke to their colleagues and friends about who they are, what grassroots-level work they do and how they are continuing their activism in jail.

Read article: scrollin