'Bhima Koregaon Accused a Test Case for Urban Naxal Theory': Anand Teltumbde Interview | The Quint

In this candid and frank conversation, scholar and civil-rights activist Dr Anand Teltumbde speaks about his latest book The Cell and the Soul, written during his imprisonment in the Bhima Koregaon case. He recalls his time behind bars — from the daily struggles of prison life to his moving exchanges with Father Stan Swamy, whose resilience deeply inspired him. Teltumbde reflects on what incarceration taught him about freedom, conscience, and the soul of democracy. The interview also explores the personal cost of state persecution — its impact on his family — and the persistence of caste hierarchies in modern India. Thoughtful and fearless, Teltumbde connects his personal experience to the larger idea of justice, urging us to question what freedom and equality really mean today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices