Frontline human rights activist and thinker Ram Narayan Kumar, associated with the South Asia Forum for Human Rights, and well known for his extensive work on custodial torture and disappearances, particularly in Punjab, passed away on 30 June 2009 in Kathmandu due to sudden illness. He was 56.

Better known for his series of works on Punjab’s human rights scenario, he was the co-author of Reduced To Ashes: Insurgency and Human Rights in Punjab, based on a report of the Committee for Coordination on Disappearances in Punjab (CCDP). The book focuses on human rights violations committed by the Punjab Police during its operations to suppress Punjab insurgency from 1984 to 1994. The report prompted the National Human Rights Commission to take cognizance of the large scale custodial disappearances and deaths in Punjab during that period.

His other major writings include Terror in Punjab: Narratives, Knowledge and Truth, Critical Readings in Human Rights, and Peace and Disappearances, Secret Cremations and the Issue of Truth and Justice in Punjab.
 
Known for his boldness, clarity of views and non-partisan approach, he was a respected figure among the human rights community of South Asia, both for his contribution to the issues of justice and peace, also for his politeness, humility and appealing personality. His loss will be deeply mourned across the region and is already being felt as a major loss to the human rights community and the larger cause of human rights.

For over a year, Ram Narayan Kumar had been engaged in documenting cases of human rights abuse and impunity enjoyed by security forces in Kashmir and the North-East. He dream of bringing to surface the nature of impurity in the entire country, on the pattern of his Punjab volumes, remains an unfinished agenda.  

Calcutta Research Group joins others in mourning the loss. On behalf of the Group we recall the several occasions in the past when its members had significant discussions with him on the work of the research collective and his generous offer to contribute to our research efforts. His help was generous, always without any expectation of return. The standards he set for himself were high and demanding, and for others difficult to emulate. It will be long before the human rights and peace community in South Asia will be able find another Ram Narayan Kumar.  

Ashok Agrwaal writes on Ram Narayan Kumar http://www.indogram.com?centerpiece=ar-433&city=bay