Solidarity in Defiance? A Conversation with Indian Activist Kavita Krishnan
25.6.2024, 18:30
Conference Room of the Center for Urban History
There are five thousand kilometers between India and Ukraine. Officially, New Delhi balances its position on Russia's war against Ukraine, often appearing to be pro-Russian. However, there are those in India who stand in solidarity with Ukraine and support the country in its fight against the aggressor.
Historically, our countries are linked by many ties, some of which are visible while others are frayed. What topics can become "bridges" between India and Ukraine? Do Indians understand the colonial component of Russia’s war against Ukraine? How has Indian society changed over the past decade, and what do the results of the recent elections say about it? How can resources for international solidarity be obtained? We will try to find answers to these and other questions in a conversation with Indian activist Kavita Krishnan and journalist Olha Vorozhbyt. A discussion will be moderated by Sasha Dovzhyk, INDEX’s Programme Director.
Working languages: English and Ukrainian. Simultaneous translation will be provided during the event.
Kavita Krishnan
Indian activist, feminist, and author of the book “Fearless Freedom” (2019), which describes the patriarchal and economic oppression of women in India. Kavita Krishnan was a member of the political bureau of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) Liberation and served on its Central Committee for over two decades. In 2022, she resigned from the party’s leadership due to its failure to demonstrate effective solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
Olha Vorozhbyt
Ukrainian journalist, affiliated expert of the Foreign Policy Council “Ukrainian Prism,” visiting lecturer at the Ukrainian Catholic University, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Week.
Sasha Dovzhyk
INDEX: Інститут документування та взаємодіїINDEX’s Programme Director and editor-in-chief of the London Ukrainian Review. She holds a PhD in English and Comparative Literature from Birkbeck. She taught English at Birkbeck and Ukrainian Literature at the School of Slavonic and East-European Studies, UCL. Sasha was a Special Projects Curator at the Ukrainian Institute London.
The event is organized in collaboration between the Center for Urban History and INDEX: Institute for Documentation and Exchange.
Credits
Cover Image: People hold placards protesting Russia's invasion of Ukraine outside the São Tomé Cathedral in Chennai, India, March 2, 2022. ARUN SANKAR/AFP VIA GETTY IMAGES
Kavita Krishnan's portrait: Vipin Wilfred, CC BY-SA 4.0
Olha Vorozhbyt's portrait: Foreign Policy Council "Ukrainian Prism"
Gallery: Bohdan Yemets