Branded Naxalite by ATS, Sachin Mali's book launched

While poet-activist Sachin Mali, 31, is languishing away in jail after allegations of having links with Naxalites were levelled against him, a group of supporters gathered on Monday at St Xavier's College for the launch of his book Sadhya Patta Bhumigat (Current Address: Underground).

Hailing from Tasgaon in Sangli district, Mali surrendered to state ATS on April 3, 2013, with three other members of Kabir Kala Manch (KKM), after the police branded them collaborators of Naxalites.

Sadhya Patta Bhumigat, published by Lokvangmay Gruha, consists mainly of poems written by Mali while in hiding and a few after being incarcerated.

Mali's wife Sheetal, who recited some of the poems at the launch, said, "We have to pay a price for everything, right from holding our heads high to lowering them down. Dabholkar was killed with arms because nobody had the guts to contest his ideologies. Similarly, Sachin is behind bars because he believes in fighting with ideology."