Former DU Professor GN Saibaba Passes Away: G N Saibaba, a former Delhi University professor and prominent human rights activist, passed away on Saturday evening following complications from gallbladder surgery. The 57-year-old academic was undergoing treatment at the Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in Hyderabad, where he had been admitted 10 days ago due to deteriorating health. Saibaba reportedly suffered a heart attack around 8 pm and was declared dead at 8:30 pm.
Wheelchair-bound due to post-polio syndrome, Saibaba had recently undergone surgery to remove his gallbladder. Despite initial signs of recovery, his health worsened in the days following the procedure, with his condition deteriorating on October 7.
Close Friends and Family Express Grief
Deepak Kumar, a close family friend and member of Saibaba’s Defence Committee, recalled that Saibaba had been suffering from extreme gallbladder pain before his surgery. Kumar had been taking care of him since his release from prison earlier this year and described Saibaba’s determination to improve his health and return to his work for human rights.
Nandita Narain, a former Delhi University professor and family friend, expressed deep sorrow at Saibaba’s passing. She reflected on how his family had been optimistic about his legal battle for reinstatement at Delhi University following his acquittal earlier this year. The Indian Express quoted her as saying, “He was a brilliant man, and it’s so sad to lose him. We need to keep his legacy and courage alive,” she said.
Acquittal and Release After 10 Years in Jail
Saibaba’s death comes just months after he was acquitted by the Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on March 5, 2024, after spending nearly a decade behind bars in connection with an alleged Maoist links case.
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Arrested in May 2014, Saibaba had been accused of having ties to the banned Communist Party of India (Maoist) and its front organization, the Revolutionary Democratic Front. A Division Bench set aside his life sentence, citing a lack of evidence, and acquitted five other co-accused.
After his acquittal, Saibaba had expressed the emotional toll of his imprisonment, saying, “I lost much more than the 10 years I spent in jail.” Despite his release, he had been actively pursuing legal efforts to be reinstated at Delhi University.
Legal Battles and Activism
Before his arrest, Saibaba had been an English professor at Delhi University and an outspoken advocate for human rights. His arrest and subsequent life sentence in 2017, along with five others, had drawn widespread attention and criticism from rights organizations, who viewed the charges as politically motivated.
Despite his physical disabilities, Saibaba remained resilient throughout his time in prison, advocating for the rights of marginalized communities and voicing his opposition to state oppression.
His death marks the end of a chapter in India’s academic and human rights circles, leaving behind a legacy of courage and activism.
