Friday, July 4, 2025

Justice Denied: A Global Wake-Up Call


 

ЁЯУв Justice Denied: A Global Wake-Up Call

ЁЯФН “A Nation Born Free, Yet Bound by Caste.”
Through real stories and piercing analysis, Lenin Raghuvanshi exposes caste apartheid in modern India — and calls for a Neo-Dalit movement to reclaim democracy.

ЁЯСЙ Read the critical global review by Dr. Bahadur Singh Yadav:

ЁЯУШ Justice, Liberty, Equality: Dalits in Independent India (2nd Edition, 2024)
✍️ By Lenin Raghuvanshi

#JusticeForDalits #NeoDalit #LeninRaghuvanshi #DalitLivesMatter #CasteAbolition #HumanRights #SocialJustice #Ambedkarite #PVCHR #VaranasiVoices #EndCasteViolence #Intersectionality #BookReview #CasteInIndia #GlobalSouth #BahujanEmpowerment

Wednesday, July 2, 2025

Sacred Stillness and Living Heritage: A Journey to Manikarnika Ghat








Sacred Stillness and Living Heritage: A Journey to Manikarnika Ghat
By Lenin Raghuvanshi & Shruti Nagvanshi

Recently, we undertook a spiritual and reflective visit to Manikarnika Ghat, one of the most sacred and ancient ghats of Varanasi. Known as the eternal cremation ground, Manikarnika is not merely a physical location—it is a place where life, death, and liberation meet in the flames of time. The atmosphere here is unlike anywhere else in the world—raw, reverent, and deeply symbolic.

As we walked through the narrow lanes leading to the ghat, we were enveloped in the scent of sandalwood, the chant of mantras, and the steady rhythm of temple bells. It is here that the boundaries between the spiritual and the earthly dissolve.

First Ganesh: The Auspicious Beginning

Our journey began at the First Ganesh Temple, believed to be the deity one must first offer prayers to before embarking on any pilgrimage within Varanasi. Standing before the idol of Lord Ganesha, remover of obstacles, we felt a sense of grounding and peace—a fitting beginning to what unfolded as a deeply reflective experience.

Manokamana Mahadev: The Fulfillment of Wishes

Next, we reached the revered Manokamana Mahadev Temple—the temple of wish-fulfilling Shiva. Devotees believe that prayers offered here with sincerity never go unanswered. We stood in silence, offering our intentions not just for ourselves but for the communities we serve, praying for dignity, justice, and healing for all.

Manikarnika Mahadev: Shiva in the Shadow of Liberation

Finally, we reached the Manikarnika Mahadev Temple, located close to the pyres of Manikarnika Ghat. This temple stands as a witness to the final rites of thousands who pass through the sacred fire, seeking moksha—liberation from the cycle of birth and rebirth.

It's important to clarify that while there is a Manikarnika Mahadev Temple in Varanasi, which we visited, another temple of the same name exists in Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh—famous for its hot springs and divine legends. Both are deeply sacred in Hindu tradition, but our visit was to the one deeply interwoven with Varanasi’s spiritual and cultural identity.

Reflections Beyond Ritual

Our walk along Manikarnika was not just about witnessing ancient rituals but understanding the continuity of cultural memory. This ghat doesn’t just deal with death—it honors life. The presence of people, priests, pilgrims, and pyres is a profound reminder of our shared human destiny and the deeper values that bind us: compassion, service, and dignity for all.

We left the ghat with our hearts heavy and full at once—aware of the transience of life, yet more committed to our lifelong work for human rights, equity, and justice. Manikarnika is not an end—it is a beginning, a place where the soul whispers truths the world often forgets.








 

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Lenin Raghuvanshi participated in 2nd HWPL Peace Governance Forum


 

Monday, June 9, 2025

Culture as a Catalyst for Climate Resilience & Sustainable Peace

 ЁЯМН✨ Culture as a Catalyst for Climate Resilience & Sustainable Peace

ЁЯУН Varanasi — A women-led, intergenerational cultural movement speaks truth through art, dialogue & action during #WorldEnvironmentWeek.

“A Women-Led Initiative That Speaks Truth — Empowering voices, fostering inclusion, and driving change.”

ЁЯМ▒ЁЯОи From rap to painting, stories to sustainability — discover how grassroots culture can heal our planet and our communities.

#ClimateJustice #SustainablePeace #WomenLead #CultureForChange #SDGs #ClimateAction #Peacebuilding #VaranasiVoices #InclusionMatters #MeraShehar #CommunityPower #ShrutiNagvanshi



Mera Shahar

 

Mera Shehar” Hosts 3rd Inclusive Cultural Program at Seth Anandram Jaipuria School, that Promotes Community Building and Sustainable Living on the Occasion of World Environment week.

The program featured open mic sessions, freestyle performances, and an art exhibition, drawing enthusiastic participation from youth, children, and senior citizens. This vibrant intergenerational exchange fostered inclusivity and strengthened cross-generational conversations.

This initiative by Mera Shehar reflects a dedicated effort toward community building—creating shared spaces where people connect through common interests and values. The event also effectively highlighted the message of environmental sustainability and the need to adopt greener, more responsible lifestyles.

Sonal Upadhyay, CEO of Mera Shehar, said, “Our aim is to create spaces where individuals can express themselves freely and embrace socially and ecologically responsible ways of living.” 

This event stands as a powerful reminder that cultural engagement can act as a catalyst for both social cohesion and sustainable development.

рдоेрд░ा рд╢рд╣рд░” рдиे рд╕ेрда рдЖрдиंрджрд░ाрдордЬрдпрдкुрд░िрдпा рд╕्рдХूрд▓ рдоें рдЖрдпोрдЬिрдд рдХिрдпा рддीрд╕рд░ा рд╕рдоाрд╡ेрд╢ी рд╕ांрд╕्рдХृрддिрдХ рдХाрд░्рдпрдХ्рд░рдо

рд╕рдоुрджाрдп рдиिрд░्рдоाрдг рдФрд░ рд╣рд░िрдд рдЬीрд╡рдирд╢ैрд▓ी рдХो рджिрдпा рдмрдв़ाрд╡ा – рд╡िрд╢्рд╡ рдкрд░्рдпाрд╡рд░рдг рд╕рдк्рддाрд╣ рдХे рдЙрдкрд▓рдХ्рд╖्рдп рдоें

рд╡ाрд░ाрдгрд╕ी, 7 рдЬूрди 2025 – рд╕ाрдоाрдЬिрдХ рд╕ंрдЧрдарди “рдоेрд░ा рд╢рд╣рд░” рдж्рд╡ाрд░ा рдЖрдЬ рд╕ेрда рдЖрдиंрджрд░ाрдо рдЬрдпрдкुрд░िрдпा рд╕्рдХूрд▓, рд╡ाрд░ाрдгрд╕ी рдкрд░िрд╕рд░ рдоें рд╡िрд╢्рд╡ рдкрд░्рдпाрд╡рд░рдг рд╕рдк्рддाрд╣ рдХे рдЕрд╡рд╕рд░ рдкрд░ рддीрд╕рд░े рд╕рдоाрд╡ेрд╢ी рд╕ांрд╕्рдХृрддिрдХ рдХाрд░्рдпрдХ्рд░рдо рдХा рдЖрдпोрдЬрди рдХिрдпा рдЧрдпा। рдЗрд╕ рдХाрд░्рдпрдХ्рд░рдо рдХा рдЙрдж्рджेрд╢्рдп рд╡िрднिрди्рди рд╕ाрдоाрдЬिрдХ рдФрд░ рдЖрдпु рд╡рд░्рдЧों рдХे рд▓ोрдЧों рдХो рдПрдХ рд╕ाрдЭा рдоंрдЪ рдк्рд░рджाрди рдХрд░рдиा рдеा, рдЬрд╣ाँ рд╡े рдЕрдкрдиी рд░рдЪрдиाрдд्рдордХ рдЕрднिрд╡्рдпрдХ्рддिрдпों рдХे рдоाрдз्рдпрдо рд╕े рд╕ंрд╡ाрдж, рд╕рд╣рдпोрдЧ рдФрд░ рдкрд░्рдпाрд╡рд░рдгीрдп рдЪेрддрдиा рдХो рдмрдв़ाрд╡ा рджे рд╕рдХें।

рдХाрд░्рдпрдХ्рд░рдо рдоें рдУрдкрди рдоाрдЗрдХ, рдл्рд░ीрд╕्рдЯाрдЗрд▓ рдк्рд░рд╕्рддुрддिрдпाँ, рдФрд░ рдПрдХ рдЪिрдд्рд░рдХрд▓ा рдк्рд░рджрд░्рд╢рдиी рдХा рдЖрдпोрдЬрди рдХिрдпा рдЧрдпा, рдЬिрд╕рдоें рдпुрд╡ाрдУं, рдмрдЪ्рдЪों рддрдеा рд╡рд░िрд╖्рда рдиाрдЧрд░िрдХों рдиे рдмрдв़-рдЪрдв़ рдХрд░ рднाрдЧ рд▓िрдпा। рдЗрд╕ рдмрд╣ु-рдЖрдпाрдоी рднाрдЧीрджाрд░ी рдиे рдкीрдв़िрдпों рдХे рдмीрдЪ рд╕ंрд╡ाрдж рдХो рд╕рд╢рдХ्рдд рдХिрдпा рдФрд░ рд╕рдоाрд╡ेрд╢िрддा рдХो рдмрдв़ाрд╡ा рджिрдпा। 

рдХाрд░्рдпрдХ्рд░рдо рдХी рдЧрд░िрдоा рдХो рдмрдв़ाрдиे рд╣ेрддु рдоुрдЦ्рдп рдЕрддिрдеिрдпों рдХे рд░ूрдк рдоें рдЙрдкрд╕्рдеिрдд рдеे:

• рдбॉ. рд▓ेрдиिрди рд░рдШुрд╡ंрд╢ी – рдоाрдирд╡ाрдзिрдХाрд░ рдХाрд░्рдпрдХрд░्рддा

• рд╡िрдЬрдп рд╡िрдиीрдд – рд╡рд░िрд╖्рда рдкрдд्рд░рдХाрд░

• рдкрдж्рдордиी рдоेрд╣рддा – рд╕ाрдоाрдЬिрдХ рдХाрд░्рдпрдХрд░्рддा

рдк्рд░рдоुрдЦ рдк्рд░рд╕्рддुрддिрдпाँ:

рдиृрдд्рдп – рдк्рд░ाрдЪी рддिрд╡ाрд░ी, рдЖрдХाрд╢, рдк्рд░рдЧрддि рдмिंрдж, рдоोрдиिрдХा рд╡िрд╢्рд╡рдХрд░्рдоा

рдЧाрдпрди рд╡ рд░ैрдк рд╕ंрдЧीрдд – рджीрдкрдХ рдХुрдоाрд░, рдХाрдЬ़ी рдЕрдЦ्рддрд░, рдЛрд╖ि, рд╕्рдоाрд░्рдЯ рд▓ाрд▓ू

рдоाрд░्рд╢рд▓ рдЖрд░्рдЯ्рд╕ рдк्рд░рджрд░्рд╢рди – рдЖрд░ंрдн рдЕрдХैрдбрдоी

рдЪिрдд्рд░рдХрд▓ा рдк्рд░рджрд░्рд╢рдиी – рдЖрдХांрдХ्рд╖ा, рдХाрдЬрд▓, рдЕрдиुрд░ाрдзा, рдЕрд▓िрд╢्рдмा рдЕंрд╕ाрд░ी, рд░िрдо्рдоी рдЬाрдпрд╕рд╡ाрд▓, рд╡िрдиीрддा, рдЕрдорд░рдЬीрдд, рдЖрд░्рдпрди 

“рдоेрд░ा рд╢рд╣рд░” рдХी рдоुрдЦ्рдп рдХाрд░्рдпрдХाрд░ी рдЕрдзिрдХाрд░ी рд╕ोрдирд▓ рдЙрдкाрдз्рдпाрдп рдиे рдЗрд╕ рдЕрд╡рд╕рд░ рдкрд░ рдХрд╣ा:

“рд╣рдоाрд░ा рдЙрдж्рджेрд╢्рдп рдРрд╕े рдоंрдЪ рддैрдпाрд░ рдХрд░рдиा рд╣ै рдЬрд╣ाँ рд▓ोрдЧ рдЕрдкрдиी рдЕрднिрд╡्рдпрдХ्рддि рдХे рдоाрдз्рдпрдо рд╕े рдЬुрдб़ рд╕рдХें рдФрд░ рд╕ाрдоाрдЬिрдХ рд╡ рдкाрд░िрд╕्рдеिрддिрдХ рд░ूрдк рд╕े рдЬिрдо्рдоेрджाрд░ рдЬीрд╡рдирд╢ैрд▓ी рдХो рдЕрдкрдиाрдПं।” 

рдпрд╣ рдЖрдпोрдЬрди рдЗрд╕ рдмाрдд рдХा рдк्рд░рдоाрдг рд╣ै рдХि рд╕ांрд╕्рдХृрддिрдХ рдЧрддिрд╡िрдзिрдпाँ рди рдХेрд╡рд▓ рд╕ाрдоाрдЬिрдХ рд╕рдорд░рд╕рддा рдХो рдмрдв़ाрд╡ा рджेрддी рд╣ैं, рдмрд▓्рдХि рд╕рддрдд рд╡िрдХाрд╕ рдХी рджिрд╢ा рдоें рднी рдПрдХ рдЙрдд्рдк्рд░ेрд░рдХ рдХी рднूрдоिрдХा рдиिрднा рд╕рдХрддी рд╣ैं।

https://anytimenews.live/mera-shehar-hosts-3rd-inclusive-cultural-program-at-shth-anandram-jaipuria-school-that-promotes-community-building-and-sustainable-living-on-the-occination-of-world-environment-week/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKzxz9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFXZlZmb2dJVURVY016RzE3AR4EfxUPELkyArxdlgu_yfHQQ6oJ9wJqGS-v4NKgPXNhr-ONMCe37Rtp7OZxBw_aem_EAikTfcupurohtXIZbJ2xw

https://vskipathshala.in/my-city-organized-the-third-inclusive-cultural-program-at-seth-anandramjapuria-school/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uBT6pbfKEh8

Monday, June 2, 2025

Suresh K. Nair: Painting a Path to Sustainable Peace Through Art in a World Torn by Hatred


 ЁЯХК️ In a world torn by war & hate, artist Prof. Suresh K. Nair paints hope.

His miniature artworks & murals echo the spirit of Varanasi—diverse, inclusive, & sacred.

ЁЯОи A global path to #SustainablePeace through art.

✍️ By @leninraghuvanshi

#ArtForPeace #SureshKNair #MiniatureArt #Varanasi #3H #Hope #HumanDignity #Honour #LokaSamasthaSukhinoBhavantu

Wednesday, May 28, 2025

ЁЯМ┐ Vitalit├а Resistente & The Voice of Grassroots Leadership: A Spotlight on Shruti Nagvanshi and JanMitra Nyas


 ЁЯМ┐ Vitalit├а Resistente & The Voice of Grassroots Leadership: A Spotlight on Shruti Nagvanshi and JanMitra Nyas

At the heart of eastern Uttar Pradesh’s socio-cultural transformation lies a quiet revolution powered by dignity, non-violence, and the unwavering commitment of grassroots leaders. One such leader is Shruti Nagvanshi, co-founder of JanMitra Nyas and the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), whose work continues to redefine community-led development and trauma-informed justice.

ЁЯУЪ New Ethnographic Study: Vitalit├а Resistente

From October to December 2023, Italian anthropologist Leonardo Verzaro conducted fieldwork with PVCHR in Varanasi, resulting in a powerful ethnography:
“Costruzioni e Trasformazioni del s├й a Varanasi: etnografia di un’esperienza umanitaria”.

This study highlights testimonial therapy as a transformative, community-based healing practice that supports survivors of torture, caste violence, and gender-based oppression. At the center of this healing process is the idea of “vitalit├а resistente” — or resilient vitality — a spirit reclaimed by those once silenced, now publicly honored through PVCHR’s Honour Ceremonies.

ЁЯУЦ Read more:

ЁЯУ░ Media Spotlight: JanMitra Nyas Takes on Child Marriage

In a recent report published by INext (Dainik Jagran, Hindi daily), Shruti Nagvanshi and her team at JanMitra Nyas were recognized for their critical role in verifying and addressing cases of child marriage. Through community-based vigilance and collaboration with local authorities, JanMitra Nyas has continued to champion the rights of young girls, reinforcing its commitment to safety, dignity, and justice.

ЁЯЧг️ In Her Own Words: Interview with Great Companies

In a compelling interview with Great Companies, Shruti Nagvanshi shared the origins, challenges, and aspirations of JanMitra Nyas. Born out of the lived experience of fighting caste and gender injustice, her organization focuses on:

  • Girls' education and scholarships

  • Maternal-child health and nutrition

  • Skill-building, kitchen gardens, and livelihoods

  • Legal aid and trauma counseling for survivors

  • Grassroots leadership and democratic empowerment

What sets JanMitra Nyas apart? Its fusion of Ambedkarite and Gandhian principles — transforming victims into leaders and fostering structural change with compassion and strategy.

“Start with empathy and humility. Co-create solutions. Stay grounded in your values, and your work will create meaningful change.”
— Shruti Nagvanshi

ЁЯФо Looking Ahead

JanMitra Nyas envisions scaling its Dignity Village model, strengthening digital outreach, empowering youth and women leaders, and expanding climate-resilient solutions. With alliances across government, academia, and international networks, its model continues to influence the broader human rights ecosystem.

ЁЯЩП Gratitude & Global Solidarity

We are proud to share these efforts as part of our engagement with the UN Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, whose support enables survivor-centric models like testimonial therapy to flourish. These stories are testaments to resiliencedignity, and the power of community healing.

In solidarity,
PVCHR Team
ЁЯМР www.pvchr.asia