DUTA PRESS RELEASE, 16.8.2016

        DR.  ANITA GHOSH IN MYSTERIOUS ROAD INCIDENT
                          DUTA HOLDS MEMORIAL MEETING on 12th August

It was a motley crowd that gathered on a rainy Friday afternoon in Khalsa College to pay tribute to the remarkable personality of Dr Anita Ghosh, former Joint Secretary of DUTA, who had passed away on 4th August,2016, after lying in a coma since 26th July, when she suffered severe head injuries in a mysterious incident during her morning jog.

Teachers, young and old, from across the university, DUTA activists cutting across all political affiliations, students and teachers from Aditi College, Bawana, where Dr. Ghosh taught in the Department of Physical Education, members of Delhi University Physical Education Teachers Association and Indira Gandhi Institute for Physical Education and Sports Sciences, doctors from the University Health Centre, senior members of Delhi University Women’s Association and students of Jan Gyanodaya, a school for under privileged children conceived and run by her, came together to share their experiences of Dr Anita Ghosh’s indefatigable spirit and vitality, and immeasurable contribution in each of these spheres.

The programme, started with a short slide show on Anita Ghosh prepared by the teachers of Aditi College, and ended with Anita’s favourite song,” Ekla Chalo” sung by teachers from the Music department of the college. A video clip of her addressing the last General Body Meeting of the DUTA on 18th July was also played. Many teachers read out poems written by them in her honour.   Speaker after speaker spoke of the leading role played by her in struggles for truth and justice at every front, whether it was her College, the University or the world of Sports. Anita was not only a fearless crusader for truth  but also an enthusiastic entrepreneur. She started the forum SPORTS FOR ALL not only for Aditi Mahavidyalaya but for entire University community. On each sports day of the college, she would gather poor children from the roadside, children of poor and homeless, organise a race for them and give them prizes. She was a commentator for men and women hockey matches from Doordarshan and kept travelling to South Asian countries as subject  expert and trainer. Truth and a fearless pursuit of what appeared just to her was her biggest quality. She fought for the rights of sports girls, went out of her way to arrange and sponsor kits, shoes and nutritious food for them and never shied from asking for help from any governmental or private agencies. Such was her passion for her work! She invited leading social workers and sports persons for all her functions and refused to appease narrow political interests. And whatever she did, she did from the core of her heart, with a beaming smile on her face.

Her sudden and shocking death has left a vacuum in each of these fronts that is difficult to fill. While her family and friends are still trying to come to terms with the devastating event, the immediate question that has come up is why and how her fatal injury happened. There isn’t any clear evidence to whether it was a road accident and why our roads have become so treacherous or is it that some  people have become callous and careless? Or is there something more than meets the eye? Could her forthrightness and attitude of challenging illegal things have landed her in trouble?

The teachers, students, family and friends who were present pledged to continue her struggles and her humanitarian work, and to attempt to fulfil her dreams for the University community, her college, sports, and education for underprivileged children. They also pledged to fight for justice for her and demanded a proper investigation into the circumstances of her untimely death, so that the culprits responsible for snuffing out this young and promising life can be brought to book.

While we are all devastated and heartbroken by her loss, we are more determined than ever before not to let her ideals, her dreams and her spirit die.