Biplab Halim Is No More

We have received the following message from a frequent contributor to Mainstream, VidyaBhushan Rawat:

“Just read on Ujjaini Halim’s wall the sad demise of her father, Biplab Halim, in the morning today (September 28, 2017) in Kolkata. It is a great loss to the social movements, particularly related to farmers and other marginalised sections in West Bengal as well as in South Asia, as Biplab Da was engaged in a number of them. He was a forceful voice against the neo-liberal agenda that was unleashed on our country. We worked together on many platforms and toured a number of places not only in India but also abroad. There was a common thread between us about the neo-liberal brahmanical agenda which was denying people their rights and displacing thousands from their places of abode. He not only founded IMSE but was also associated with numerous national and international networks including FIAN International of which he was the founder in West Bengal and one of the oldest members in India. His voice was powerful everywhere on human rights, land and hunger issues. On numerous cases he conducted fact-finding tours where adivasis and Dalits were facing state threat and eviction.â€

Biplab was the son of one of the founders of the communist movement in Bengal, Abdul Halim, and he was known to us quite well. We mourn his demise and convey our sincere condolences to the bereaved family.     —Editor