Two debates on Election at K News

 

 

Human Rights Must Become a Living Practice: Reflections from the International Convention for Human Rights 2026

By Lenin Raghuvanshi

Human rights are not merely declarations written in international conventions, constitutional provisions or institutional reports. They are a living promise that every human being deserves dignity, equality, justice and freedom from violence. Their real meaning emerges not in the language of power, but in the everyday lives of people who struggle against discrimination, exclusion, exploitation and injustice.

On 25 October 2026, I had the opportunity to participate in the International Convention for Human Rights 2026, organised by the World Human Rights Research Council (WHRRC) at the NDMC Convention Centre, New Delhi. I participated as a member of WHRRC in Session 09, dedicated to the theme of Human Rights.

The convention brought together distinguished dignitaries, policymakers, academicians, legal professionals, researchers, social leaders and representatives from different fields. It provided an important platform for exchanging perspectives, strengthening institutional cooperation and reflecting on contemporary challenges facing human rights.

Beyond Recognition: The Responsibility to Defend Human Dignity

For me, participation in such gatherings is meaningful when it strengthens our collective responsibility towards those whose voices are often unheard.

Across India, millions of people continue to experience structural discrimination based on caste, gender, class and social identity. Dalit communities, Adivasis, religious minorities, women, children, persons with disabilities and other marginalised groups frequently encounter barriers to justice and equal citizenship.

Human rights cannot remain confined to conference halls. They must reach police stations, prisons, villages, schools, hospitals, workplaces and the homes of those experiencing injustice.

My work through the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and Jan Mitra Nyas has consistently reinforced one conviction: the experiences and testimonies of survivors must become central to the processes of justice and institutional transformation.

From Victimhood to Agency

One of the most important challenges in contemporary human rights practice is moving beyond the idea of victims as passive recipients of assistance.

Survivors of torture, custodial violence and other human rights violations possess knowledge, experience and agency. Their testimonies should inform public policy, institutional accountability and democratic reform.

Through survivor-centred approaches, including Testimonial Therapy, we have witnessed how the recognition of suffering, restoration of dignity and collective solidarity can contribute to healing and empowerment.

Justice must therefore include more than compensation. It must encompass truth, accountability, rehabilitation, institutional reform and guarantees of non-repetition.

Human Rights and Democratic Accountability

Democracy is meaningful only when institutions remain accountable to the people, particularly those who are socially and economically disadvantaged.

Independent human rights institutions, responsive parliamentary mechanisms, accessible justice systems and an active civil society are essential pillars of democratic accountability.

We need to strengthen the relationship between human rights research, grassroots movements and public policymaking. Evidence-based advocacy must be connected with the lived realities of marginalised communities.

The International Convention offered an opportunity to reflect on these responsibilities and the importance of cooperation among different stakeholders.

Acknowledgement and Continued Commitment

Following the convention, I received a Letter of Gratitude from Ms. Rashmi Bala, Secretary General and Chief Executive Officer of the World Human Rights Research Council, acknowledging my participation and contribution to the gathering.

I sincerely appreciate this recognition and the opportunity to be part of the collective dialogue.

However, recognition carries meaning only when it deepens our commitment to the people whose dignity and rights remain vulnerable.

I believe that the future of human rights depends on our ability to build solidarity across geographical, social and institutional boundaries. Human rights defenders, survivors, researchers, lawyers, policymakers and civil society organisations must work together to transform principles into practice.

Human dignity is not a privilege granted by institutions. It is an inherent right. Defending it is a shared democratic responsibility.

The struggle for human rights must continue wherever injustice exists and wherever a human voice seeks to be heard.

Lenin Raghuvanshi is a human rights defender, social activist and founder of the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), working for the rights and dignity of marginalised communities, torture survivors and victims of social exclusion in India.

At Delhi Art Weekend, expressing solidarity with young artist Raihan Vadra and his right to artistic freedom and creative expression. A meaningful interaction with Raihan and journalist VishwDeepak around his exhibition, “No Idea Is Final.” Art must remain a space for imagination, questioning, dissent and democratic dialogue. A confident democracy welcomes diverse perspectives rather than silencing uncomfortable expressions. No Idea Is Final, and no authority should have the final word on artistic freedom.

No Idea Is Final: Standing in Solidarity with Raihan Vadra and the Freedom of Artistic Expression

By Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi

Art has always been more than an expression of beauty. It is a language of freedom, a medium of dissent, a reflection of society and, at times, a powerful challenge to established power. A democratic society must therefore protect the freedom of artists to observe, interpret, question and represent the world around them.

I have long admired Raihan Vadra for his photography, artistic vision and commitment to documenting wildlife, nature, student movements and youth-led protests. His work reflects a young artist's curiosity about the world and his desire to engage with the realities of our time.

I recently had the opportunity to visit his exhibition at the Delhi Art Weekend and personally express my solidarity with him. During my visit, I also witnessed Mr. VishwDeepak engaging in a conversation with Raihan. It was an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between art, public expression and democracy.

When Photographs Become Uncomfortable

As reported, 74 photographs were removed from Raihan's exhibition just four hours before its scheduled opening, despite having been submitted for approval three days earlier without objection.

This last-minute intervention raises important questions. Why were the photographs initially accepted and subsequently removed? What changed in those three days? More importantly, what does such an intervention communicate to young artists who wish to engage with social and political realities through their creative work?

Artistic freedom cannot become conditional upon the comfort of those exercising institutional authority.

Photography is a powerful form of documentation. A photograph of a forest, a wild animal or a disappearing ecosystem captures the beauty and vulnerability of nature. A photograph of a student protest captures a moment in the collective imagination of a generation. Both are legitimate expressions of the human experience.

When images of social movements become controversial, we must ask whether the discomfort arises from the photograph itself or from the realities it reveals.

The Powerful Irony of 'No Idea Is Final'

As senior journalist Shri Abhishek Srivastava highlights in his thought-provoking article, the exhibition carries the theme "No Idea Is Final."

The phrase has a profound democratic significance.

No individual, institution, government or authority can claim an absolute monopoly over ideas, history or interpretation. Ideas must remain open to questioning, disagreement, reinterpretation and evolution.

Democracy is not simply the existence of elections or constitutional institutions. It is also the freedom to question authority, challenge dominant narratives and make visible the experiences of those who are often excluded from mainstream conversations.

The irony is striking: an exhibition titled No Idea Is Final becomes the centre of a controversy over the removal of photographs.

If ideas are not final, neither should be our understanding of history, society or political reality.

Art, Dissent and the Democratic Imagination

Throughout my work with the People's Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR) and Jan Mitra Nyas, I have encountered the transformative power of testimony, memory and expression.

Survivors of torture, marginalized communities, Dalits, women and children often struggle to make their experiences visible. Their testimonies challenge the silence imposed by social hierarchies and institutional structures.

For us, documentation is not merely the recording of events. It is an assertion of human dignity.

In this sense, photography and human rights documentation share an important philosophical foundation: both make visible what might otherwise remain unseen.

An artist documenting a student movement and a human rights activist documenting custodial violence may work through different mediums, but both contribute to a society's collective memory.

A democracy needs these independent voices. It needs artists who question, journalists who investigate, students who protest, writers who challenge established narratives and citizens who refuse to remain silent.

Without these spaces, democracy risks becoming an exercise in conformity rather than a living culture of freedom.

Protecting the Creative Freedom of Young India

Young artists must be encouraged to explore uncomfortable questions. Their work should be evaluated through dialogue, artistic merit and critical engagement, not through arbitrary restrictions or anticipatory censorship.

The removal of photographs at the last moment sends a troubling message to emerging artists: that creative expression may be welcomed only as long as it remains within acceptable boundaries.

This is not the spirit in which India's constitutional commitment to freedom of speech and expression should flourish.

Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution guarantees freedom of speech and expression. This freedom is fundamental to the development of art, literature, journalism and democratic public discourse.

Of course, constitutional freedoms operate within the framework of reasonable restrictions under Article 19(2). But restrictions must have a legitimate legal basis; institutional discomfort cannot become a substitute for constitutional reasoning.

We must create an environment where young people can express themselves without fear, where disagreement is not treated as disloyalty and where artistic experimentation is not mistaken for a threat.

My Solidarity with Raihan Vadra

My visit to Raihan's exhibition was an expression of solidarity, but it was also a reaffirmation of a larger principle.

I stand with Raihan Vadra and his right to express himself through his art.

I admire the courage of young artists who engage with the complexities of society and refuse to limit their imagination to subjects that are considered convenient or comfortable.

A confident democracy does not fear uncomfortable photographs. It creates the space for people to see them, discuss them, question them and arrive at their own interpretations.

Art must remain free because imagination must remain free.

The real strength of democracy lies not in eliminating disagreement but in creating the conditions in which disagreement can exist with dignity.

No Idea Is Final. No single authority owns the truth. And the freedom to create must never depend on whether those in power approve of what an artist chooses to show.

My solidarity with Raihan Vadra. My solidarity with artistic freedom. My solidarity with every young voice that dares to question, imagine and create.

Further Reading:

Read Shri Abhishek Srivastava's article on the controversy surrounding Raihan Vadra's exhibition and the significance of the theme No Idea Is Final.

Photographs:

Dr. Lenin Raghuvanshi's visit to Raihan Vadra's exhibition at Delhi Art Weekend by Mr. Abhishek Srivastava, A senior Jourlist and Author.

Purvanchal’s restless politics tests BJP’s hold on UP before 2027 polls

A party does not need to abandon its core constituency to expand. It needs to convince other communities that their interests can coexist within a larger political bargain: Lenin Raghuvanshi

“In Purvanchal, therefore, caste mobilisation is not merely about winning communities over;  it is about giving them representation, leadership and a stake in power,” said Varanasi-based Dalit political activist Lenin Raghuvanshi.

https://thefederal.com/elections-2027/purvanchal-uttar-pradesh-assembly-election-bjp-yogi-modi-259235#goog_rewarded

 

FROM VARANASI TO MOSCOW, KYIV, NATO AND EUROPE

A Renewed Appeal for Peace, Dialogue and a Sustainable European Security Order

An Open Appeal to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of the Russian Federation; the President and Government of Ukraine; the Leadership and Member States of NATO; the European Union; and the Governments of Europe

Varanasi, India

October 2026

Excellencies,

I write from Varanasi, the ancient city of the Ganga, a city that has for centuries represented dialogue, coexistence, spiritual reflection and the meeting of diverse civilisations.

I write from India—the land of Gautama Buddha and Mahatma Gandhi—with a humble but urgent appeal for peace.

On 13 February 2023, I wrote an open letter to H.E. President Vladimir Putin from Varanasi, appealing for an end to the Russia–Ukraine war through dialogue, diplomacy and the principles of non-violence.

My original appeal remains available here:

Open Letter to H.E. Mr. Vladimir Putin, President of Russia — 13 February 2023

More than three years later, the human cost and geopolitical consequences of the war continue to remind us of a fundamental truth:

There can be no sustainable security through permanent war.

I therefore renew my appeal today—but with an important difference.

This appeal is no longer addressed only to Moscow.

It is addressed to Moscow, Kyiv, NATO, Washington, Brussels and the governments of Europe, and to all those who possess the influence and responsibility necessary to help bring this conflict towards a just, durable and sustainable peace.

To President Putin and the Russian leadership

I respectfully appeal to President Putin and the Russian leadership to demonstrate the highest form of political courage: the courage to pursue a genuine political settlement that can end the suffering caused by war.

Russia's security concerns must be addressed seriously and through diplomacy. At the same time, the sovereignty, security, territorial integrity and human dignity of the Ukrainian people must be respected.

A secure future for Russia cannot ultimately be built upon permanent confrontation with Europe, just as the security of Ukraine cannot be secured through an endless cycle of military escalation.

The strength of a nation is not measured only by its military power, but also by its capacity to make peace.

To the President and Government of Ukraine

I extend the same appeal to Ukraine.

The Ukrainian people have suffered immense loss, destruction, displacement and trauma. Their lives, dignity, sovereignty and security deserve the protection of the international community.

Every credible opportunity for negotiations that can preserve human life and lead towards a durable peace should therefore be explored with seriousness and courage.

Peace must not mean abandoning the rights or dignity of the Ukrainian people.

But neither should the pursuit of peace be postponed indefinitely until one side achieves complete military victory.

Diplomacy should begin wherever it can save human lives.

To NATO and its Member States

I respectfully appeal to NATO and its member states to recognise that military deterrence alone cannot create a sustainable European security order.

European security cannot permanently rest upon an escalating cycle of weapons, military deployments, counter-deployments and fear.

Support for Ukraine's security must therefore be accompanied by an equally determined commitment to diplomacy.

The international community should devote as much political imagination, persistence and courage to negotiating peace as it has devoted to preparing for war.

The objective should not merely be to determine who wins the battlefield.

The objective must be to prevent the next war.

To the European Union and the Governments of Europe

Europe carries the painful memory of two world wars.

That history gives Europe not only a responsibility to defend its security, but also a special responsibility to become a centre of peace-making.

I appeal to European leaders to strengthen diplomatic channels, confidence-building measures and dialogue involving Russia, Ukraine and the wider European security community.

Europe should work towards a security architecture in which countries can live without the permanent fear of invasion, military encirclement or uncontrolled escalation.

Europe needs a peace that is sustainable—not merely a pause between wars.

Peace Must Be Built, Not Merely Declared

A ceasefire is essential, but a ceasefire by itself will not be sufficient.

A sustainable peace requires a political process capable of addressing the causes, consequences and security concerns surrounding the conflict.

I therefore appeal for an internationally supported framework that includes:

• An immediate, verifiable and monitored cessation of hostilities;
• Meaningful and sustained Russia–Ukraine negotiations;
• Protection of civilians and unhindered humanitarian access;
• Prisoner exchanges and resolution of humanitarian and missing-person issues;
• Protection and safe return of displaced people, consistent with international law;
• Credible security arrangements and guarantees for Ukraine;
• Serious consideration of the security concerns of Russia, Ukraine and European states;
• A broader European security dialogue involving Russia, Ukraine, NATO and European countries;
• Independent mechanisms for monitoring and implementing any peace agreement;
• Reconstruction and recovery of communities devastated by war;
• Protection of cultural heritage and civilian infrastructure;
• Long-term confidence-building measures designed to prevent another conflict.

The principles of international law must remain central to this process.

At the same time, sustainable peace requires political realism and an honest engagement with the security concerns of all parties.

Justice and security must not be treated as competing objectives. They must become foundations of the same peace.

Gandhi, Buddha and the Courage of Non-Violence

My appeal is rooted in a simple conviction that I have carried throughout my human-rights work:

Non-violence is not weakness.

Mahatma Gandhi regarded war as one of humanity's greatest moral failures. For him, non-violence required extraordinary courage, discipline, truth and self-restraint.

Gautama Buddha taught humanity to confront hatred not with greater hatred, but through compassion, wisdom and understanding.

These traditions do not ask us to ignore injustice.

They ask us to find ways of confronting injustice without destroying human beings in the process.

From Varanasi, I therefore ask the leaders of our time to demonstrate another kind of courage—the courage to negotiate when negotiation is difficult, to compromise when compromise can save lives, and to recognise the humanity of those on the other side of a conflict.

India and the Responsibility of the Global South

India has repeatedly emphasised dialogue and diplomacy in addressing the Russia–Ukraine conflict.

India's civilisational experience also reminds us that differences between peoples and nations need not inevitably lead to permanent hostility.

The consequences of this war, however, extend far beyond Europe.

Countries and communities across the Global South have experienced the consequences of conflict through food insecurity, energy pressures, economic disruption and reduced resources for development.

The voices of developing countries, civil society and peacebuilders should therefore have a meaningful place in international efforts to end the war.

Peace in Europe is not only a European concern. It is a global responsibility.

A Message to the Leaders of Our Time

Excellencies,

History will remember the battles of this period.

But it will also ask another question:

When the possibility of peace existed, what did the leaders of our generation do with it?

Future generations will not only examine who gained territory or military advantage.

They will ask whether political leaders had the wisdom to stop the cycle of destruction.

They will ask whether humanity learned from the tragedies of the twentieth century.

They will ask whether we understood that in a world containing nuclear weapons, permanent confrontation is not a sustainable political strategy.

The strongest leader is not necessarily the one who can continue a war the longest.

Sometimes the strongest leader is the one who possesses the courage to end a war when doing so can save human lives and open the way towards a better future.

From Varanasi: An Appeal to Choose Peace

I do not write this appeal to defend one government against another.

I write it to defend human life.

I do not ask the world to choose between Russian security and Ukrainian security.

I ask the world to build a framework in which Russian security, Ukrainian security and European security can coexist.

I do not ask for peace without justice.

I ask for peace with justice, security and human dignity.

I do not ask for a temporary silence of weapons.

I ask for a peace strong enough to prevent the next war.

Therefore, from Varanasi, I appeal to:

Moscow: choose the courage of diplomacy.

Kyiv: preserve every credible avenue towards a just peace.

NATO: combine security with an equally determined commitment to diplomacy.

European leaders: become architects of peace, not merely managers of confrontation.

The international community: invest in negotiations with the same determination with which it has invested in war.

And to all of us:

Let human life be more valuable than geopolitical rivalry.

Let dialogue begin where violence has failed.

Let diplomacy become stronger than the logic of escalation.

Let the next chapter of Europe be written not with weapons, but with diplomacy.

Let the language of war give way to the language of peace.

Let us build not merely a ceasefire, but a sustainable peace.

From the ancient city of Varanasi, I offer this appeal with humility, hope and faith in the human capacity to choose peace.

I hope that one day I will be able to visit both Russia and Ukraine—not as countries divided by war, but as societies rebuilding a shared human future.

With hope for peace and with deepest respect for human life,

Lenin Raghuvanshi

Human Rights Defender

Varanasi, India

Grandson of a Gandhian freedom fighter against colonial rule

Original Open Letter to President Putin, 13 February 2023:
Read the original letter

 

Shruti Nagvanshi Honoured with the “Inspiring Women Award” on Radio City’s 25th Anniversary

Varanasi | October 2026

Shruti Nagvanshi, Managing Trustee and Chief Functionary of Jan Mitra Nyas (JMN) / People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), was honoured with the prestigious “Inspiring Women Award” on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Radio City, part of the Dainik Jagran Group.

The award recognises women whose commitment, perseverance and social contribution continue to inspire positive change in society.

The honour was presented in the presence of Dr. Neerja Madhav, renowned Indian writer and distinguished literary figure, who was the chief guest at the celebration. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Madhav encouraged women engaged in social and professional work to continue moving forward on their path of duty and to contribute actively to nation-building.

For Shruti Nagvanshi, the recognition is not merely a personal honour but an acknowledgement of the collective efforts of women working for human rights, social justice, dignity and the empowerment of marginalised communities.

As a founding member and Managing Trustee of Jan Mitra Nyas/PVCHR, Shruti has played an important role in strengthening community-based initiatives addressing the rights and dignity of Dalits, women, children, survivors of violence and other marginalised communities. Her work reflects a sustained commitment to building a more inclusive and humane society through grassroots action.

Speaking about the honour, Shruti expressed her gratitude to the organisers and said that recognition of women’s contributions also creates a greater responsibility to continue working with dedication and compassion.

She extended her heartfelt gratitude to Mr. Yogesh Ji, General Manager, and all the colleagues involved in the programme for providing this meaningful platform and honouring women committed to social transformation.

The occasion also served as a reminder that women’s leadership, resilience and collective action are essential to building a just, inclusive and democratic society.

PVCHR congratulates Shruti Nagvanshi on this well-deserved recognition and celebrates her continued commitment to human rights and social justice.

🌿 A recognition of commitment, a renewed responsibility

The Inspiring Women Award is a moment of appreciation, but for Shruti and the PVCHR family, it is also a renewed commitment to continue standing with communities whose voices are often unheard and whose rights remain at the margins.

Congratulations to Shruti Nagvanshi on this inspiring recognition.

Shruti Nagvanshi

Jan Mitra Nyas (Managing trustee)

PVCHR (Founder Member)         

 

 

                                                                    SPECIAL GUEST INVITATION

 

Respected  Ma’am,

 

We are delighted to inform you that, on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of Radio City, Radio City has selected you as one of the Inspiring Personalities of Varanasi City, in recognition of your remarkable contribution to society and the positive difference you have made through your work.

On Radio City Fun Fiesta, we would be honoured to felicitate you as an Inspiring Personality of Varanasi.

 

Radio City Fun Fiesta provides a vibrant platform for the women of Varanasi to express their hidden talents, showcase their creativity, and celebrate their individuality.

 

Your presence as our Special Guest and Awardee will make this celebration even more meaningful and memorable.

 

We warmly invite you to join us and be a part of this special occasion.

 

Venue: AKS Palace, Durga Kund, Varanasi

Date 4^th October

Time: 3.30 PM

 

With Warm Regards,
Yogesh Singh

General Manager

Radio city 

Music Broadcast Ltd

Dainik Jagran

Nadesar Varanasi UP.

  M: +91 9648936077                              E: yogeshks@myradiocity.com

                                                                    W: radiocity.in                        

#ShrutiNagvanshi #InspiringWomenAward #RadioCity25 #DainikJagran #PVCHR #JanMitraNyas #WomenLeadership #WomenEmpowerment #HumanRights #SocialJustice #NationBuilding #NariShakti #InspiringWomen

📰 When Recognition Becomes Memory

 📰 When Recognition Becomes Memory

What does an award mean after the ceremony is over? In my new Medium essay, “When Recognition Becomes Memory,” I reflect on caste, masculinity, human dignity, justice, activism, grief, and why I dedicated my three international human-rights honours to Bharat Kala Bhavan, BHU—moving from personal honour to public heritage.

Read the full essay:

https://medium.com/@lenin_75290/when-recognition-becomes-memory-69baf7db9efc

#WhenRecognitionBecomesMemory #FromHonourToHeritage #HumanRights #LeninRaghuvanshi #BharatKalaBhavan #BHU #Kashi #SocialJustice #HumanDignity #PVCHR