Freedom Fighters Research Articles

The Historic Bond: The South African Liberation Movement and the Palestinian Struggle

In today’s world, we are witnessing one of the gravest crises humanity has faced: the ongoing genocide by Israel against the Palestinians. This situation has compelled South Africa to initiate legal proceedings against Israel at the ICJ, seeking accountability for the severe human rights violations and acts of genocide perpetrated against the Palestinian people. To fully grasp the significance of South Africa’s action, it’s essential to explore the deep-rooted and historic ties that bind South Africa’s liberation efforts to the Palestinian fight for freedom. This commentary delves into the intertwined narratives of oppression, resistance, and unity shared by these movements, illuminating the striking similarities between the apartheid regime in South Africa and Israel’s treatment of Palestinians. Additionally, the discussion sheds light on South Africa’s rationale for approaching the ICJ. In conclusion, the commentary underscores the solidarity between South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement and the Palestinian liberation struggle, highlighting the importance of global solidarity, accountability, and collective endeavor in championing justice and equality.

Zamach na esesmanów pod Ełkiem

On 31 October 1943, a fifteen-person strong unit of the Home Army, under the command of Władysław Świacki “Sęp” (1900–1972), with intelligence support from Czesław Nalborski “Dzik” (1910–1992), was to carry out a successful strike to take out an SS execution squad commanded by Haupsturmführer Stammer in East Prussia, on the road between Lyck (Ełk) and the village of Neuendorf (Nowa Wieś Ełcka). The German squad was said to have carried out a mass execution of Italian prisoners of war, held at the camp in Bogusze. On 28 October 1989, an obelisk with a plaque commemorating this operation was unveiled in Nowa Wieś Ełcka. The spectacular strike is recorded in the documentation of the ZBoWiD (the Society of Fighters for Freedom and Democracy), but has not been confirmed in any source unconnected to its supposed participants. The execution of the Italians, assassination of Stammer, and even the date of the operation (31 October 1943) were all contrived by a writer based in Białystok, Aleksander Omiljanowicz (1923–2005). The information board erected in 2017 presents a compilation of Świacki’s recollections, Omiljanowicz’s fiction, and selectively chosen historical facts. The monument in Nowa Wieś Ełcka is a troublesome legacy, as too are the heroic and martyrological stories of former Home Army members belonging to the ZBoWiD.

Freedom Fighters: An Ecowomanist Reading of the Female Figures in Moses's Life

Abstract: This article underscores how intersectional female collaboration—across ethnicity, age, gender, and class—is supported by the forces of Mother Earth. It posits that the female collective in the book of Exodus both resists the oppressive Pharaonic regime and violence enacted by the deity. It also illuminates that girls and women offer effective models for addressing systemic violence against marginalized and vulnerable people through collective action and wisdom, which shift physical, social, economic, and political realities, enabling life and justice to thrive over killing and oppression.

:Running from Bondage: Enslaved Women and Their Remarkable Fight for Freedom in Revolutionary America

:<i>Running from Bondage: Enslaved Women and Their Remarkable Fight for Freedom in Revolutionary America</i>

Education as Liberation: An Appraisal of Canaan Banana’s View on Education

Canaan Sodindo Banana, a freedom fighter, statesman, academic and cleric, is arguably the most controversial clergyman from Zimbabwe. He was a polarising figure in both his personal life and academic writings. Much is known about his political legacy, but very little about his educational views. This essay appraises Banana's views on the content and purpose of education in a post-white settler society. The essay employs document analysis to review Banana’s views on education and concludes that his view was that education should liberate and empower the poor, particularly the previously disadvantaged.

সুন্দরবনের জল ও জঙ্গলে বাংলাদেশের মুক্তিযুদ্ধ: নব্য-নির্ধারণবাদী বিশ্লেষণ

In the Liberation War of Bangladesh, its geographical features were influential in many ways on the activities of the freedom fighters and their opposing forces. This is even more true in the case of the liberation war of the Sundarbans in water and jungle. In June 1971, Under Lt. Ziauddin's leadership, freedom fighter bases were established inside the Sundarbans. The group is organised in the deep forest, accepting and in some cases overcoming the various obstacles of nature. Using the natural obstacles to their advantage, they again engaged the Pakistani troops and their allied forces in the immediate area. Using their positional advantage, these freedom fighters played an effective role in sending refugees and trainees across the border. On the other hand, the freedom fighters in Sundarbans were used as a transit for many of the freedom fighters who came from July with training and weapons to the interior of the country, especially in the Khulna-Barisal region. This article analyses such activities of the Sundarbans freedom fighters in a neo-deterministic trend.

Families in the Lithuanian Partisan War: The Case of the Dešinys Group (1949–1953)

The purpose of this study is to analyse the relationship of the participants of the armed underground resistance with their families after they decided to become partisans and after they actually became partisans, to include discussion of how such a decision changed the fate of their loved ones. The existing sources hint at three possible reactions of any family to the decision of one of its members to join the armed anti-Soviet resistance: such a person might be blessed with a prayer (and a cross) with kneeling; but there were also chaotic reactions. But, in any case, having to saying goodbye to loved ones did not change the decision of those who went ahead with it. Family members, regardless of whether they expressed approval of or opposition to such a decision, often naturally became involved in underground activities. The case of Dešinys Group (tėvūnija) reveals the importance of families in the Lithuanian fight for freedom and the extent to which relatives were involved – with a unit as small as the Dešinys Group, according to this investigation, 66.7% of the individuals of these five families became fighters or their informants. In the Lithuanian fights for freedom, these five families in it lost 16 children, and not a single relative was left untouched by the Soviets – all of them were exiled or forced to hide.

Šeimos Lietuvos partizaniniame kare: Dešinio tėvūnijos (1949–1953 m.) atvejis

The purpose of this study is to analyse the relationship of the participants of the armed underground resistance with their families after they decided to become partisans and after they actually became partisans, to include discussion of how such a decision changed the fate of their loved ones. The existing sources hint at three possible reactions of any family to the decision of one of its members to join the armed anti-Soviet resistance: such a person might be blessed with a prayer (and a cross) with kneeling; but there were also chaotic reactions. But, in any case, having to saying goodbye to loved ones did not change the decision of those who went ahead with it. Family members, regardless of whether they expressed approval of or opposition to such a decision, often naturally became involved in underground activities. The case of Dešinys Group (tėvūnija) reveals the importance of families in the Lithuanian fight for freedom and the extent to which relatives were involved – with a unit as small as the Dešinys Group, according to this investigation, 66.7% of the individuals of these five families became fighters or their informants. In the Lithuanian fights for freedom, these five families in it lost 16 children, and not a single relative was left untouched by the Soviets – all of them were exiled or forced to hide.

Uncanny Times: The Case of Eugene de Kock

ABSTRACT This article focuses specifically on post-apartheid representations of Eugene de Kock, who is seen as one of the bookends to the first, more optimistic, phase of South Africa’s post-apartheid moment. The other bookend, also discussed briefly here, is Nelson Mandela, the country’s first democratically elected president. De Kock was a notorious apartheid-era assassin and commanding officer of Vlakplaas, infamously associated with the extra-judicial torture and execution of anti-apartheid freedom fighters in the 1980s. I isolate this time-frame, from Mandela to de Kock, to comment specifically on what can be seen as a distortion of temporality in South African public life – a kind of disjuncture between time and history, to use David Scott’s formulation (2). I argue that this distortion is characteristic of the post-revolutionary present, not only in South Africa, but in many other parts of the world where a struggle for freedom terminates in a neoliberal order. The figure of the prison is central to this discussion: indeed, the prison is understood as one of the privileged sites where meaning is made and contested in the imagination of a national identity. Also central to this discussion is Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela’s remarkably prescient 2003 book about her encounters with de Kock in the ‘C-Max’ section of Pretoria Central prison, A Human Being Died That Night.

Rebels in Arms: Black Resistance and the Fight for Freedom in the Anglo-Atlantic by Justin Iverson (review)

Rebels in Arms: Black Resistance and the Fight for Freedom in the Anglo-Atlantic by Justin Iverson (review)

Emma Donoghue'nun the Pull of the Stars Romanında Kan Vergisi

This paper sheds light on a thrilling feminist triangle in The Pull of The Stars, Julia Power, Dr. Kathleen Lynn, and Bridie Sweeney and manifests how each character endures different unpleasant experiences and goes through a variety of painful attitudes. It also discloses females’ income and their economic status, exhibits plainly women’s social and political situations, and how males downgraded females in career areas just because they were women in Ireland in the 20th century. The paper also shows how women throughout history have helped their societies in different fields and tasks; in times of war by treating the injured and manufacturing weapons; in politics as inspiring thinkers, revolutionaries, Sinn Feiners, and freedom fighters; in the health sector as nurses and doctors, especially during pandemics; in houses as breadwinners, housewives, and nurturers, etc. Furthermore, this paper illuminates the miracle of birth, the challenges of midwifery, yet more superiorly the blood tax by females in the Irish masculine society. Moreover, this paper demonstrates how Emma Donoghue empowers women in a male-centric culture that belittles women, exploits their bodies to produce many children, prevents them from electing and expressing their opinions, practices gender discrimination in workplaces, and embraces economic inequality. It also addresses issues concerning the physical and psychological aspects of gestation, childbirth, maternity, matrimony, and family violence experienced by women, especially those from the poorest socioeconomic backgrounds in The Pull of The Stars. Finally, this paper uses a qualitative research method for analysis purposes and the interpretation process.

An Insight into the Eventful Journey of a Freedom Fighter, Writer and Social Reformer

Chinna Annamalai, a passionate freedom fighter, a remarkable Tamil enthusiast and a dedicated social reformer played a significant part in India’s freedom struggle in the southern part of Tamil Nadu and contributed to various social causes. He earned several nicknames like “Desiya Semmal,” “Thiyaga Semmal”. and ” Tamizh Thondar.” He had his early education in Karaikudi and pursued his higher secondary education at Nagarathar High School in Devakottai. Influenced greatly by his cousin Litterateur Kamban Adippodi Sa. Ganesan, he became involved in the Congress Movement and met Mahatma Gandhi during his visit to Karaikudi. Impacted at the very first sight by Gandhi’s charisma and simplicity and integrity, Chinna Annamalai became a staunch supporter of the Congress Movement and remained a staunch member of the party throughout his life. As an enthusiastic advocate of India’s liberation, he participated in numerous events and processions that resulted in temporary suspension of his education at Devakottai. He later studied in Vairavizha High School in Gopichettipalayam. Chinna Annamalai’s activism and oratory skills drew the attention of great leaders; and he had the opportunity to speak at the Congress Conference in Gobichettipalayam and his fiery speech elicited appreciation for its eloquence. From then on he started wearing Khadar and continued that habit till his death. He remained actively engaged in various movements of India’s independence struggle, including the Quit India Movement. To divert young Chinna Annamalai’s attention from the freedom struggle activities his father sent him to Malaysia and his participation in protests against alcohol in Malaysia led to his expulsion from that country. Again in India he participated in the freedom struggle with renewed vigour. His dedication to the cause of India’s freedom resulted in several arrests and imprisonments, with an instance of public support for his release from the jail. His exhortations to the Tamil community to participate in struggles for India’s freedom remains a significant part of his legacy. Chinna Annamalai also made contributions to Tamil literature and the film industry, writing scripts for successful movies with social messages and establishing a Fan Club for a star actor Shivaji Ganesan. By launching Tamil Pannai, a publishing concern, he inspired many to establish similar companies that richly contributed the growth of modern Tamil Literature. In short his life was one of endless pursuits and achievements contributing to the national and societal welfare.

WHY EFFECTIVE INTERGOVERNMENTAL GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS ARE IMPORTANT BEYOND 2024

The relevance of local governments is frequently defended based on municipalities’ novel contribution towards the promotion of democratisation and also the intensification of community participation in decision-making due to its close proximity to its citizens. However, the departing premise hereto is also that the realisation of a democratic and accountable government likewise depends on the degree of functionality of every municipal council. Volatility in governance structures like councils can therefore adversely compromise democratic and accountable governance, for example in cases of hung councils. In recent years, local coalition governments have been seen more frequently, partly due to the number of hang councils in South Africa. This can indirectly be attributed to the decline of support of the current ruling party in the Republic and, equally, the inability of other parties to obtain a clear majority during local government elections (Netswera &amp; Khumalo 2022:1). This article investigates the effectiveness of national and provincial mechanisms strengthening an accountable and democratic local government Premier, Gauteng and Others v Democratic Alliance and Others matter. Through the doctrinal legal research, the authors used an analysis of primary sources on South African local government legislation and the impact the Premier, Gauteng and Others v Democratic Alliance and Others; All Tshwane Councillors who are Members of the Economic Freedom Fighters and Another v Democratic Alliance and Others; African National Congress v Democratic Alliance and Others (CCT 82/20; CCT 91/20) [2021] ZACC 34; 2021 (12) BCLR 1406 (CC); 2022 (1) SA 16 (CC) (4 October 2021) case have on hung councils. The research benefitted from secondary sources such as research reports, publications, journal articles and books. It follows that successful coalition councils are founded on the principles of cooperation and trust. Therefore, interventions as solitary intergovernmental mechanisms cannot remedy accountability and governance failures in municipalities, caused by coalition fallouts. Still, when a break between coalition partners ensues, accountable governance suffers because of the resulting volatility caused by the political standoff. The intergovernmental governance mechanisms, in isolation, are ineffective in sustaining and ensuring an accountable and democratic local government. Whereas, coalitions governments are the primary cause of volatility and dysfunctionality in municipalities, it remains the responsibility of coalitions to step up and execute their constitutional obligations as responsible executive actors in the local government area, to ensure accountable governance. In the absence thereof, coalitions must be held liable for the failure to execute their constitutional responsibilities

Jayaprakash Narayan, domestic dissent and the unfolding of the Tibet crisis in Sino-Indian relations 1959-1961

ABSTRACT The historical origins of the Tibet issue in Sino-Indian relations remain understudied. Most diplomatic histories on this subject focus on the highest levels of government, glossing over the immense role of domestic actors in shaping the Tibet question in the India-China relationship. This paper aims to address this gap by studying the domestic response to Dalai Lama’s flight to India. Specifically, it analyses the domestic and international advocacy of the noted freedom fighter Jayaprakash Narayan. The paper highlights how Narayan’s advocacy was critical in building global and public opinion on the Tibet question, culminating in the passage of Resolution 1723 at the United Nations. It argues that understanding his actions on Tibet is critical because of its negative impact on the Indian government’s policy of preventing the issue from gaining international recognition – a gesture aimed at steadying the declining relationship with China. By hindering the government’s efforts at damage control, the paper demonstrates how Jayaprakash Narayan’s advocacy was a key factor explaining why Sino-Indian ties precipitously declined over the Tibet issue.

Forgotten Flames of Bravery: Unsung Heroes of Inidia’s Struggle for Freedom

Every Individual in India knows about a country’s struggle story for freedom. India was ruled by several European powers from time to time, i.e., Portuguese, Dutch, English, Danish and France. The most recent rulers were the British rulers, and they ruled for a long time. Indian freedom fighters had a dream of removing British rule. The Indian freedom fighters were the brave-hearted souls who did not think twice about sacrificing themselves and liberating us from the British rule. It is because of these brave souls that we are living happily and peacefully in an independent nation, so as a responsible citizen it is our duty to discuss these freedom fighters who fought our future. There were possibly thousands of unsung Heroes of the freedom movement in India. Thus, India’s independence would not have been possible without sacrifices and struggles made by freedom fighters. Aside From Subhash Chandra Bose, Mahatma Gandhi, Bhagat Singh. Rani Laxmi Bai, many hidden gems have given their lives to make our nation free from the British Raj.

Spiritual Nationalism: Unraveling Aurobindo Ghosh's Influence on Indian Freedom Struggle

Aurobindo Ghosh the great Indian nationalist, freedom fighter, poet, philosopher and political leader focused on the combination of spirituality and nationalism, stressing the idea that political freedom can be achieved only in a spiritually awakened society. He emphasized on the notion that mere political independence cannot make a nation free in a real sense and it is only because of spiritual renaissance that can develop a nation. Aurobindo believed in the philosophy of ‘integral nationalism’ which is a combination of political, cultural and spiritual dimensions of a nation in which an individual acts as a whole. Therefore, the present study will explore the concept of spiritual nationalism as developed by Aurobindo Ghosh. While delving into Ghosh’s philosophical and spiritual ideas, this study seeks to unravel how his thoughts shaped the Indian national movement. This study also focused on Ghosh's role in shaping the ideological dimension of the Indian freedom struggle against British colonial rule. The present study highlights the role played by Ghosh in the Indian freedom struggle in which the main tool was spiritual nationalism. The paper begins by delving into the life and works of Aurobindo Ghosh, emphasizing his spiritual philosophy and its integration into the nationalist discourse. It also provides a historical context for the emergence of spiritual nationalism within the Indian National Movement, highlighting the socio-political conditions of the time. This paper primarily focuses on the political ideas of Ghosh and his contribution in the Indian Freedom Struggle with the lens of spiritual nationalism.

ABUL KALAM AZAD’S IDEA OF RELIGIOUS PLURALISM FOR AN INCLUSIVE INDIAN NATIONALISM: A CIVILIZATIONAL REVISIT

Abul Kalam Azad (1888-1958), the first Minister of Education in independent India, was a towering figure in the modern subcontinent. A freedom fighter against British colonial rule following the steps of Syed Ahmad Khan (1817-1898), an Islamic thinker, and a champion of Hindu-Muslim unity, Azad was an intellectual-activist advocating an inclusive Indian nationalism. This article focuses on Azad’s idea of religious pluralism based on the doctrine of unity of religions (wahdat al-adyan) and how he related it to his vision of an inclusive Indian nationalism. It discusses the main ideas embodied in this vision, especially the interrelated ideas of national unity and integrity, communal solidarity and harmony, cultural cohesion, and the need for a comprehensive education system that would serve national unity and the well-being of all Indians. Azad’s idea of unity of religions is articulated in his well-known exegetical work The Tarjuman al-Qur’an, especially in his commentary on the “Opening Chapter” (Surah al-Fatihah) of the Qur’an. This article also shows that Azad emphasized on common religious and cultural values as a means of embracing others for partnership in a national unity movement.

Social Media's Impact on Kashmir's Liberation Movement

The youth-driven liberation struggle in Indian Held Kashmir (IHK) goes beyond the armed insurrection. The non-violent technique uses social media to expose and denounce Indian armed forces brutality and human rights violations, including systematic torture, rape, extrajudicial killings, and prisoner mistreatment. The victims' stories have been widely shared on social media. The next phase of the liberation movement began in 2016 after the Indian military forces killed Burhan Muzaffar Wani. Wani, a young leader and freedom fighter, used social media to mobilize the youth of Kashmir for the cause. Modern communication platforms like social media ensure the Kashmiri people's story about their struggle for liberation from Indian occupation and worldwide persecution is spread. The IHK liberation movement is examined using social movement framing analysis in this research. It seeks to understand how activists reinvent the movement through international protests. The activists are reiterating the global relevance of modern human rights mobilizations.

South Africa's Persistent Social ills Post-1994 and the Deterioration of the African National Congress (ANC): Is the Country Heading towards a Failing State?

This article investigates the increasing and continuous social ills that millions of South African individuals have faced since the ushering of a democratic government in 1994. It claims that the African National Congress (ANC) is yearly losing its grip on its power to run the country and alter the current development hurdles. This is against growing dissatisfaction with the ruling party of poor service delivery, corruption, state capture, and maladministration, among other dynamics. Post-1994, the realities of changing society and putting in place the bold development aspirations of a newly democratic country put more spotlight on the institutions and fiscal arrangements that could, mindful of ecological constrictions and economic ambitions, deliver much-needed essential services to people experiencing poverty. However, lessons from this are that irrespective of some achievements; the country has continued to witness significant challenges, particularly the triple challenges of unemployment, poverty, and inequality in an era where the ANC continues to lose power and grip in many municipalities. However, it is argued in this article that the ANC might not necessarily lose control in the next decade, nor will South Africa become a failed state. Nevertheless, it will face the uncertainty of more fighting and losing more grip as parties such as the Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) gain more political ground yearly. The article is based on a qualitative research approach through secondary data sources, including journal articles, books, chapters in books, credible newspapers, and online sources.

EUPHEMISMS IN JOSEPH BIDEN’S MODERN POLITICAL DISCOURSE IN THE WAR IN UKRAINE

Euphemism occupies a central place in political discourse. The article aims to probe into the rhetorical device of euphemism in the political discourse of the 46th President of the United States, Joseph Biden, during the Ukrainian-Russian war. The significance of the study is based on the necessity to research the linguistic image of the Russian-Ukrainian war and its main political actors in current political discourse. The relevance of this study is also determined by the aim to show the use of euphemisms in current political discourse on the example of Joseph Biden’s speeches. The research methods of the article combine continuous sampling, component analysis; comparison and observation, classification and systematization of data, quantitative calculations, etc. The also study employs Multimodal Discourse Analysis (MDA) which explores the relations between language and power as well as the relations between language and image. Our research limits its analysis of multimodality to two modalities, gesture and speech. President Joseph Biden’s speeches on the United Efforts of the Free World to Support the People of Ukraine (February 26, 2022) and on the One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Brutal and Unprovoked Invasion of Ukraine of the US (February 21, 2023) at the Royal Castle in Warsaw serve as a material for the study of euphemisms in political discourse. Conclusions. Euphemism is a characteristic element of political discourse. The role of euphemisms in political discourse is primarily determined by the desire for politically correct intercultural communication, politeness and tolerance, and mutual understanding. Euphemisms express the moral values of society and help to overcome intercultural barriers. The analysis of Joseph Biden’s political speeches made it possible to identify groups of the most commonly used types of euphemisms, namely, concealment of military conflicts (“conflict”, “invasion”, “aggression”, “fight for freedom”, “crisis”, “the great battle for freedom”); taboo of death (“sacrifice”, “pass away”, “lose their lives”); socio-economic sphere (“the continued support”, “support”). According to research data, 47.2% of euphemisms have a veiling function, 38.9% of euphemisms perform a cooperative function and 8.3% of euphemisms have a preventive function in Joseph Biden’s speeches. We suggest Joseph Biden delivers the same viewpoint across his gestures and speeches. Analyzing the gesture-euphemism correlation, we conclude that the 46th US President mainly employed these gestures with integrative and complementary functions. The present paper shows how the polyphonic self of the US political leader is conveyed not solely through speech, but also through gesture. Thus, we assume that the driving force in the evolution of the politician’s polyphonic self is the distribution of viewpoints across modalities of political discourse, where they influence each other in live communication. Biden’s speech is characterized by a short syntagm, as he slows down the pace, trying to convey every word to the audience. The stress is mostly emphatic, with emphasis created by increasing pitch, volume, and duration. Pauses, intonations, voice, register, and tone of speech, being a frame of euphemistic connotations, form the specificity of the communicative and pragmatic field of audiovisual narrative.