‘Our secret press defied emergency censorship': Underground bulletins, 2.5-month mission, arrest in UP's Varanasi
Speaking to TOI, Tripathi described how a group of young activists operating from secret hideouts near railway stations and village shelters, ran an underground publication campaign to counter state propaganda after the suspension of civil liberties by then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
'Immediately after the Emergency was declared, electricity supply to Delhi's newspaper offices was snapped and all media content was subjected to pre-censorship.
Some newspapers protested silently — printing blank spaces or blacked-out editorials to show something was amiss. To make people aware and spread the message, we secretly ran press while hiding underground,' he recalled.
To avoid arrest, Tripathi and his colleague in Allahabad went underground. 'Khadi kurtas' were swapped for trousers and shirts, fake spectacles were donned, and anonymity was easier in a pre-digital India with no Aadhaar or surveillance networks.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất
IC Markets
Đăng ký
Undo
From a small hideout near Rambagh railway station, the group began publishing bulletins using a hand-operated cyclostyle duplicator, ironically purchased from a shop near a police station.
'We worked in the dark, cutting stencils by hand to print headlines like 'How is JP's health?' besides publishing accounts of govt excesses,' Tripathi said.
Distribution was equally risky. Bulletins were either couriered through trusted networks or posted discreetly. 'Some even reached their targets via post,' he added.
The Allahabad group's covert operation lasted nearly two and a half months. It ended with Tripathi and a colleague being arrested in Varanasi on Sep 14, 1976, while going to Azamgarh seeking guidance from senior Sarvodaya leaders.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Why MAGA is losing its mind over Zohran Mamdani eating biryani with his hand
Image: It's 2025 and eating rice by hand is the new political weapon! It was just a man eating rice. With his hands. The way millions of people do every single day, across continents, cultures, and kitchens. But in 2025 America, that simple act turned into a political battlefield. Enter New York Assemblyman Zohran Mamdani, a progressive politician and proud South Asian who casually posted a video of himself eating rice and curry with his fingers. No flashy graphics. No soundbites. Just rice, lentils, and quiet dignity. But then came the backlash—loud, swift, and, frankly, ridiculous. Texas Republican Congressman Brandon Gill responded with what can only be described as textbook cultural xenophobia: 'Go back to the Third World.' Just like that, eating with your hands was no longer about dinner. It was about identity, dignity, and who gets to belong in America. So, let's talk about why eating rice—yes, rice—became a political weapon in 2025 in MAGA vs Zohran Mamdani. A plate full of prejudice First, let's get one thing straight: eating with your hands isn't dirty, weird, or backward. It's normal. In India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, parts of the Middle East, and even in some parts of Europe, using your hands to eat is a sign of connection—to the food, to your senses, to tradition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Trading CFD dengan Teknologi dan Kecepatan Lebih Baik IC Markets Mendaftar Undo But in the video of Mamdani eating with his fingers, Gill and his supporters saw something else. They didn't see heritage. They saw a threat. Because in their worldview, anything outside the 'white, Western' norm becomes fair game for mockery or suspicion. It wasn't about rice. It was about power. 'Go back' is never just a phrase The phrase 'go back to the Third World' isn't just a casual insult—it's a political dog whistle. It's the same energy as 'go back to where you came from,' just dressed up in geopolitical vocabulary. It's meant to delegitimize, to humiliate, and to draw a cultural boundary line: You're not one of us. Never mind that Mamdani is a New York-born elected official. Or that the "Third World" terminology is outdated, inaccurate, and soaked in Cold War-era snobbery. Or that Americans eat burgers, fried chicken, and ribs—with their hands—without being called uncivilized. In this case, eating with your fingers wasn't seen as personal—it was seen as political. The double standard is deliciously obvious Let's play a game: list five foods Americans love eating with their hands. Go ahead. We'll wait. Pizza. Burgers. Fried chicken. Fries. Tacos. All messy. All finger food. All accepted without question. No one tells someone chowing down on a dripping cheeseburger to 'go back to the Third World.' But when a brown man eats rice with his hands? Suddenly, it's a threat to civilization. The hypocrisy is wild—but not surprising. When authenticity makes people uneasy The fallout wasn't just political—it also caused some rumbles within the South Asian diaspora. Some folks felt secondhand embarrassment. Others applauded Mamdani for showing up as his full, unapologetic self. This tension isn't new. Many second- or third-generation immigrants grow up navigating two worlds: the world of their parents and the world of their peers. That often means editing how they eat, speak, or show up. Whitewashed lunch boxes. Switched-off accents. Curry smells hidden in sealed containers. Mamdani's hand-eating wasn't just a cultural moment—it was a reminder that authenticity still makes people uncomfortable. Even within our own communities. From curry to campaign trail To understand why Mamdani's rice moment landed so hard, you have to zoom out. He's not just some guy eating lunch—he's a progressive elected official in a country where identity politics and culture wars have taken center stage. Mamdani, who once ran on a campaign called Roti and Roses, has always tied his politics to food, culture, and justice. His support for food justice programs, housing rights, and labor protections connects with the everyday experiences of working-class communities—including immigrants. So when he posts a video eating with his hands, it's not just aesthetic. It's a deliberate choice to show solidarity, connection, and pride in his roots. But for critics on the far right, that pride is interpreted as defiance. And defiance must be punished. Food isn't just food. It's identity Here's the thing: food is never just food. It's memory, heritage, comfort, protest, and politics—all rolled into one. What we eat, how we eat, and who we eat with sends signals about who we are and where we belong. Mamdani's video did all of that. It was subtle but powerful. A quiet act of defiance that said, This is who I am—and I'm not hiding it for anyone. And that's what truly scared his critics. What this moment really says about 2025 America and MAGA This entire episode—one man, one plate of rice, one racist response—says a lot more about the country than about Mamdani. It says that cultural insecurity still runs deep. That people will use something as universal as eating to divide and exclude. That even in a so-called melting pot, some flavors are still considered 'too foreign.' But it also shows something else: people are tired of hiding. Tired of apologizing. Tired of editing themselves to fit into someone else's idea of 'American.' Because if America is truly a place where everyone belongs, then eating rice with your hands shouldn't be controversial—it should be celebrated. So, the next time someone mocks a cultural practice as 'uncivilized,' hand them a mirror—and maybe a biryani. Because food is power. And in 2025, eating rice with your hands isn't just a meal. It's a message. Hands, not hate. Always.
Indian Express
25 minutes ago
- Indian Express
People will struggle to produce documents at such short notice, INDIA bloc tells EC
Amid concerns being raised by Opposition parties about the 'special intensive revision' of the electoral roll in poll-bound Bihar, a delegation of INDIA bloc leaders met Election Commission officials in New Delhi Wednesday and said people will struggle to produce documents being sought for the exercise at such short notice, and 'this is against a level-playing field in a democracy'. Briefing the media after the meeting, senior Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said: 'The main issue we went to discuss… The first point we raised was that since 2003, 22 years have passed. Four or five elections have happened in Bihar. Were they against rules? The second point was that if you were to do the SIR, then why was the announcement made suddenly at the end of June. Why was this decision taken? If there is a need for SIR, then it could have been done in January-February. You have given one month for this. There is one month for enumeration of 7.75 crore voters. Whatever has to be done, any challenges, there are two-three months for that. When you had done it in 2003, after one year, there were general elections. When you did it in 2003, then Assembly elections were two years later. You only have one month or so. This is not enough.' 'The third point is that you are seeking documents for this. For one decade, for everything, you ask for the Aadhaar card and ration card. For the first time, you are saying that a person's name will not be considered if one doesn't have a birth certificate. In one category, one also needs the parents' birth certificates if you are born between 1987 and 2012. We said that there are so many poor, and minorities, backward in Bihar. Will they keep running around for papers? This is against a level-playing field in a democracy,' he said. 'Our 11-party delegation held a meeting for three hours with the EC. Twenty people had gone from 11 parties. Before I talk about the main issue, I will say that we were told some rules about going inside for the first time. We were told that only party chiefs could go in. This is not possible. This isn't practical. This kind of ban means the necessary conversation in a democracy between political parties and the ECI won't happen. We give lists of people who are to go in… Then, for them (ECI) to say only two persons will be allowed. Some people had to wait outside. We have complained over this issue, alleging that this is against democracy,' Singhvi said. Those present at the meeting included senior Congress leaders Jairam Ramesh, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Pawan Khera, Bihar Congress chief Rajesh Ram, Bihar leader Akhilesh Prasad Singh, RJD MP Manoj Kumar Jha, Samajwadi Party's Harender Malik, NCP-SCP's Fauzia Khan, CPI(M)'s John Brittas, CPI (ML) Liberation's Dipankar Bhattacharya, and CPI's D Raja. No representative of the TMC was there at the meeting. A delegation of the party had met EC officials Tuesday. The TMC delegation said it had suggested that 2024 should be used as the base year for the electoral roll's SIR. ECI sources said Wednesday that 'some people have come without being authorised' by their party chiefs. 'Even then, ECI has invited two persons per party,' the sources said. Paving the way for a nationwide exercise, the Commission on June 24 announced a 'special intensive revision' of the electoral roll in Bihar, where all existing electors who were not on the rolls in 2003 would have to again provide documentation proving their eligibility. The enumeration form will require those electors born before July 1, 1987 to provide a document establishing date and/or place of birth. The EC announcement came under fire from Opposition parties which voiced concerns about the exercise potentially disenfranchising electors. Ahead of the meeting, the Congress and the EC appeared to be involved in a tussle with the Commission saying that the Congress and seven other Opposition parties hadn't confirmed their participation for the meeting Wednesday evening. EC sources said that the CPM and CPI(ML) Liberation representatives had 'confirmed their availability for the meeting with EC at 5 pm today to discuss the ongoing intensive roll' in Bihar. 'None of the other eight parties, including Congress, confirmed their participation yet,' the EC sources said. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called the move 'more dangerous than NRC (National Register of Citizens)' and alleged that her state, which heads to polls next year, was the real 'target'. Reacting to the SIR announcement, the Congress said the EC was admitting that 'all is not well with India's electoral rolls' but called the revision 'a cure worse than the disease'.
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
Zero tariffs for US: Donald Trump announces trade deal with Vietnam; latter subjected to 20% duty
US President Donald Trump announced on Wednesday that he has struck a trade deal with Vietnam. Under the terms of the deal, Vietnam will impose a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the United States which the US will have to pay zero tariffs. 'I just made a Trade Deal with Vietnam. Details to follow!' he said. Trump made the announcement through his social media platform Truth Social, declaring what he described as a major new trade agreement with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. The deal, according to Trump, was finalised following direct talks with Vietnam's general secretary of the Communist Party, To Lam. 'It is my Great Honor to announce that I have just made a Trade Deal with the Socialist Republic of Vietnam after speaking with To Lam, the Highly Respected General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam,' Trump wrote. Outlining the terms, Trump said Vietnam has agreed to pay a 20% tariff on all goods exported to the United States and a 40% tariff on any transshipped goods. The US president also claimed that Vietnam will offer the United States "TOTAL ACCESS" to its domestic markets, allowing its products to be sold there without any import tariffs. 'Vietnam will do something that they have never done before, give the United States of America TOTAL ACCESS to their Markets for Trade. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo In other words, they will 'OPEN THEIR MARKET TO THE UNITED STATES,' meaning that, we will be able to sell our product into Vietnam at ZERO Tariff,' Trump said. He further highlighted the potential of American made SUVs in the Vietnamese market, saying that the SUV or the 'Large Engine Vehicle' that are doing well in the US, would be 'wonderful addition to the various product lines.' He ended the post with a note of appreciation, thanking To Lam. 'Dealing with General Secretary To Lam, which I did personally, was an absolute pleasure. Thank you for your attention to this matter!' The deal comes just a week ahead of the July 9 deadline, when the 90-day window for tariff negotiations was set to expire. With this agreement, Vietnam joins the UK and China as the countries to have reportedly secured a trade deal with the United States so far. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . AI Masterclass for Students. Upskill Young Ones Today!– Join Now
