- Arun Pathak
-
Arun Pathak 
Born 1975
VaranasiNationality 
IndianOccupation activist Known for protest with staged suicide Arun Pathak is an activist in Varanasi, India. He is best known for staging suicide attempts as a form of political protest.
Contents
Personal life
Pathak was born in Varanasi on 16th of June, 1975 in Varanasi. He went to Sanatan Dharam Inter College in Varanasi to complete his high school but couldn't because of poor family condition. Later he went to Ballia to study Sanskrit because Sanskrit studies were cheaper in Ballia and he wanted to complete his Acharya but again he could not complete his education because of his poor family condition. He quit school and joined the Shiv Sena at the age 14.[1] At present he is an active member of Bahujan Samaj Party.
Pathak is married with Manisha and has a daughter named Rakshita and a son named Srinivas. He lives in a room at Jain Dharamshal near Bhelupur, Varanasi.
Political career
Pathak joined Shiv Sena in the year 1989 as a member when he was only 14. After 25 days of joining the Shiv Sena he was appointed as chief of Assi ward for Shiv Sena. He was promoted to the post of chief of 5 wards only after one and half months of joining Shiv Sena. After six months he was given the responsibility of chief of executive members for Varanasi region. In the year 1994, he was appointed as district organizing secretary for Shiv Sena. In the year 2000, he was given responsibility of district chief of Shiv Sena. He worked with Shiv Sena as district chief till 2003. On 23rd of November, 2003 he left Shiv Sena and formed his own political party called Kranti Shiv Sena. Pathak was the founder and national chief of Kranti Shiv Sena. On 23rd of November 2004, he changed the name of Kranti Shiv Sena to Kranti Sena. On 13th of May 2007, Pathak joined Bahujan Samaj Party as a member. On 19th of December 2008, he was appointed as coordinator for Rohania block of Varanasi. In the year 2009, he was given responsibility of coordinator for Rohania and Cantt blocks both. Since February 2010 he has working only as an active member of Bahujan Samaj Party.
Activism
As of 2009 Pathak had been rescued from suicide at least five times by his followers.[2]
Suicide to protest liquor stores near holy sites
In 1997 Pathak started a campaign to ban the allowance of liquor stores to be within a certain close distance to holy sites. He wanted this policy to be in place in Varanasi as it is in another holy city, Ayodhya. To get attention for this campaign Pathak climbed to the top of a 300 foot tower in Varanasi and threatened to jump to his death. After getting written assurance from the police that the shops would be closed, Pathak climbed down from the tower.[1]
Suicide to allow Babri Masjid demolition celebration
In 1998 Pathak organized a celebration in Varanasi to commemorate the 1992 demolition of the Babri Masjid. He put up flags as decoration, but the local police chief PK Singh had them taken down and destroyed. In response Pathak went to Singh's office and took 50 valium pills in a suicide attempt to get Singh fired from his job. Three days later Pathak woke up and found that Singh had not been fired, so Pathak took 50 more valium pills and threw himself in front of the car of the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh. Pathak survived and a police officer who was responsible along with Singh was fired for misconduct in removing the flags.[1]
Movie protests
Organizing a demonstration against Girlfriend
Pathak led a Shiv Sena group in Varanasi to oppose the screening of the movie Girlfriend in that city and elsewhere. The movie was novel in that it was a Bollywood film which contained subject matter about lesbianism. During the protests Pathak said "We'll not allow such a film to be screened... What one does in the bedroom and bathroom should not be displayed publicly,"[3]
Suicide to prevent filming of Water
Deepa Mehta filmed parts of Water (2005 film) on the ghats in Varanasi. The film was controversial to Pathak for having the line "...if a Brahmin or God sleeps with a woman she is blessed," which he interpreted to be oppressive to women's rights. To protest the filming, Pathak tied a large stone around his waist, took a boat to the center of the Ganges, and jumped into the river when the cameras were filming. His friends jumped into the river, rescued him, and rushed him to the hospital.[4] He arrived in critical condition. Pathak's actions were followed by some rioting. The Varanasi city government responded by ordering film production to stop.[5]
References
- ^ a b c Rahul Bhatia (9 July 2006). "The invincible suicide attempter". Greenchannel blog. http://greenchannel.blogspot.com/2006/07/invincible-suicide-attempter.html. Retrieved 26 November 2010. Bhatia writes for OPEN and publishes additional details from his articles on his blog.
- ^ Rahul Bhatia (February 5, 2000). "YAMA, INTERRUPTED". Tehelka. http://www.tehelka.com/story_main18.asp?filename=hub071506Yama.asp. Retrieved 23 February 2011.
- ^ "Police guard Indian lesbian film". BBC News. BBC. 15 June 2004. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/3808101.stm. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ^ Haima Deshpande (26 December 2009). "Retired from Active Suicide". OPEN (Indian magazine). Open Media Network Pvt Ltd. http://www.openthemagazine.com/article/living/retired-from-active-suicide. Retrieved 26 November 2010.
- ^ "'Water' shooting stopped again, Mehta 'asked to leave Varanasi'". The Hindu. The Hindu Group. 6 February 2000. http://www.hindu.com/2000/02/07/stories/01070005.htm. Retrieved 20 October 2011.
External links
Categories:- Activists from Varanasi
- 1975 births
- Living people
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