Wednesday, January 16, 2008

Profiling John Dayal : Every Community Needs an Activist


In the aftermath of the recent violence against Christians in Orissa, I realized once again that while human rights are universal and important, every community needs a John Dayal, for while human rights as a whole needs champions, minority rights needs many more champions. John Dayal wears many hats. He is the Chairman of the All India Catholic Union, he is also a Catholic member of India’s National Integration Council (a stone age body resurrected by the UPA), he is also the secretary general of the All India Christian Council.

John Dayal has been instrumental in bringing to national and world attention the violent Hindutva fundamentalist agenda against minorities within India. His pioneering work in documentation, networking and public mobilization has been largely responsible for the majority community in India coming to the assistance of the minorities in countering the challenge of its opponents.

This is especially true because a great deal of the violence, harassment and victimization is directed towards tribals, Dalits and other marginalized sections of the community whose voice unless it is amplified and reported in time, will never reach the desks and tables of those in authority who can make a difference. At a time when temperatures typically run high, keeping a cool head and making a factual and dispassionate analysis and assessment requires a commitment and a calling that not many have.

John Dayal, a professional journalist and documentary film maker specializing in politics and diplomacy, has been active in Human rights and civil liberties since 1971 when he published his research papers on drug addiction among the youth in the national capital of Delhi, followed by a series of investigations into child prostitution, sexual exploitation of young boys, and police torture of under-trial prisoners in Delhi and neighboring states

John has been instrumental in documenting the recent communal violence in Orissa’s Kandhamal district as part of a three member fact finding group and released a White Paper on the prevailing situation after their visit. The committee condemned all forms of fundamentalism, whether Hindu or Christian and demanded a judicial probe by a sitting judge of the High court or the Supreme Court.

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