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On 5th September, eminent journalist Gauri Lankesh was brutally murdered. Since then numerous questions were asked regarding her death. What did it mean for India in the long run? Her death began a very important and long over-due discussion around freedom of speech. Her death still remains a mystery. But, she has only begun a wheel of questions that will continue to turn.
Announcing ‘Gauri Day’
Gauri Lankesh’s birthday, the 29th of January is going to be announced as ‘Gauri Day’. It will see youth leaders from around the country gather in Bengaluru, to mark the occasion. The event is slated to take place at Town Hall. The day could become the cornerstone for annual discussion on democracy. Leaders like Jignesh Mevani, Kanhaiya Kumar, Shehla Rashid are expected to address the gathering. There is a plan in the works to memorialise Gauri through a weekly newspaper as well. This innovative move is definitely going to bring the youth of the country together. But there are bound to be differences of opinion.
Updates on her murder
Gauri was an unfortunate victim of a murder in September 2017. Her murder though has been tough to investigate. Nobody knows yet who the culprit is. The gunman still roams Scott free. No one has been arrested or taken into custody yet with regard to her murder. Therefore, leaving multiple questions open. The SIT is said to have had success with regard to the case. They have found two people in connection with the case. The breakthrough is linked to the CCTV footage and the SIT has been questioning weapon dealers around the state.
Two days before the journalist’s birthday, one hopes the victim’s killer is found. Here’s hoping the culprits are given the punishment they are due. This is not a question of left versus the right. It’s about another voice of freedom lost, another loss for the freedom we fought so hard for. This goes beyond politics. The politics masks the deep-rooted nature of Gauri’s death, she stands as an example. But it’s saddening, that one must sacrifice their life so that the discussion even begins. We must pick up the pieces of our broken democracy and patch it up as soon as possible.