We’re glad this article found its way to you. If you’re not a subscriber, we’d love for you to consider subscribing—your support helps make this journalism possible. Either way, we hope you enjoy the read. Click to subscribe: subscribing
The scholar and activist Anand Teltumbde spent 31 months incarcerated in Taloja Central Jail, as an undertrial in what is broadly termed the Bhima Koregaon case. He was released on bail in November 2022. In his new book The Cell and the Soul: A Prison Memoir, published by Bloomsbury, he writes at length about his period in jail, the pandemic, the prison’s systemic failures, the people he met, among other experiences. In another new book, The Caste Con Census, published by Navayana, he assesses the ideas driving the demand for a caste census, and its potential consequences. Ajeet Mahale, an assistant editor at The Caravan, spoke to Teltumbde about his recent writing, ideas of the caste census, recollections of time in prison and life afterwards, the criminalisation of dissent and more.
On 26 November, it will be three years since you were released. How has life been since?
In some ways, it has been different. My entire life is disturbed and dislocated. I started a world-class programme in Big Data in Goa Institute of management. I joined them in 2016 leaving IIT, Kharagpur to establish a Big Data centre within two years. But there were delays in creating infrastructure and the programme began in 2018. It began as one of the top programmes, right from its inception. As I was neck-deep involved in it, they implicated me in this case in 2018, which precipitated into my arrest in April 2020.
I had plans to develop the centre to take up research and after stabilising it, call it a day. I imagined that we would mostly live abroad. If not migration, go on teaching assignments. I could fund it with my savings. I had a very hectic life. Whatever four-five years are left of it, we will live it the way we want. Until now, my life went in discharge of family obligations, as the eldest son. Thereafter, it went towards my own family and activism. Almost, we lived a nomadic life. All these plans have gone fatt. Now, even within India I cannot travel around. In my long professional career, I have lived not even 15 days at a place. Now I am confined to this small place.
Thanks for reading till the end. If you valued this piece, and you're already a subscriber, consider contributing to keep us afloat—so more readers can access work like this. Click to make a contribution: Contribute