Wheelchair-bound activist and former Delhi University professor G.N. Saibaba passed away on Saturday in Hyderabad. He was 58 years old. Saibaba’s life was marked by academic achievements, political activism, and legal battles.
Born in 1967 to a poor farming family in Andhra Pradesh, Saibaba overcame many challenges. At just five years old, he contracted polio, which left him reliant on a wheelchair. Despite this setback, he excelled in his studies, topping his class in college and earning advanced degrees.
Saibaba’s journey took him from rural Andhra Pradesh to Delhi University, where he became a respected English professor. However, his involvement with left-wing politics led to repeated run-ins with the law.
Key points in Saibaba’s life:
1. Excelled academically despite physical challenges
2. Became a Delhi University professor
3. Founded an NGO to help poor prisoners get legal help
4. Arrested multiple times for alleged Maoist connections
5. Spent years in jail under anti-terrorism laws
6. Recently acquitted by Bombay High Court
Police accused Saibaba of being a key figure in Maoist networks, claiming he helped plan attacks and recruit young people. They alleged he used code names and traveled internationally to build connections with like-minded groups.
Saibaba consistently denied these accusations. His supporters argued that he was targeted for his political beliefs and advocacy for marginalized communities.
In 2014, Saibaba was arrested and charged under India’s strict anti-terrorism laws. Despite his declining health and 90% disability, he spent years in jail. Multiple bail attempts failed.
In a surprising turn of events, the Bombay High Court acquitted Saibaba in March 2024. Sadly, he died just months after regaining his freedom.
Saibaba’s life and death highlight ongoing debates in India about academic freedom, political dissent, and the treatment of disabled prisoners.
-Sanyogita
