A decade after her assassination, Gauri Lankesh's legacy continues to define the struggle for press freedom and democratic dissent in India.

Gauri Lankesh- The One Who Feared None

Gauri Lankesh, the name itself is now an icon that stands for freedom of expression, for freedom of having a political ideology. Exactly one year after the murder that shook our country and the journalist fraternity all over the world, where are we standing now? How far are we conscious about what is happening in this country?

To those who don’t know her, or deliberately chose not to know her, she was a journalist-activist and editor of Lankesh Patrike. Daughter of Kannada writer and journalist P Lankesh, Gauri was a sympathiser of the Naxal cause and a critic of Hindu fundamentalists, communal politics and the caste system. 

She was shot dead on the evening of September 5 last year with a 7.65-mm country-made pistol when she was opening the door of her house in Rajarajeshwari Nagar. Of the total seven bullets fired, four-hit her. Coming as it did following the murder of MM Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar, the murder was considered as a way to silence those who are anti-establishment or critical of issues. 

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the murder of activist-journalist Gauri Lankes are at the last stage of their investigation and could file the charge-sheet in the case within the next two months. 

The first arrest was made six months after the assassination, and now 12 persons, including the man who supposedly pulled the trigger as well as other suspected conspirators are behind bars. The Hindu reports, the investigations point fingers at an unnamed gang, some of whose members were associated with Sanatan Sanstha and its affiliates.

The same group are the suspected to be behind the killing of four rationalist thinkers – Dabholkar, Pansare, Kalburgi and now Gauri Lankesh. Parashuram Waghmare, the alleged shooter of Gauri, was a Sri Ram Sena worker accused of hoisting a flag of Pakistan in his hometown, Sindagi, in 2012 to stir up communal tension. He was recently acquitted of the charge.
 
Investigations show that Gauri Lankesh was among the 26 people who were in the hit list of the rightwing extremist group. The list included ten people from Karnataka including Prof KS Bhagwan, Girish Karnad and Chandrashekar Patil as they were critical of the Hindutva ideology. 

Dr G Parameshwara, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister and Home Minister said, “I cannot reveal anything as far as the case is concerned because the investigation is still on.”

S Prakash, a BJP spokesperson, said, “The alleged culprits in Gauri murder case have been arrested by SIT. Painting them right wing… is very unfortunate. When a bomb blast takes place, when a terror activity takes place, we are told not to brand them on communal lines. A similar line should be taken in Gauri murder case.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Who was Gauri Lankesh and what did she do?

Gauri Lankesh was a Kannada journalist-activist and editor of Lankesh Patrike. Daughter of writer P Lankesh, she was a vocal critic of Hindu fundamentalism, communal politics, and the caste system, using her platform to challenge anti-establishment narratives.

When was Gauri Lankesh killed?

Gauri Lankesh was shot dead on September 5, 2017, outside her home in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, Bangalore. She was hit by four out of seven bullets fired from a 7.65-mm country-made pistol by unknown assailants.

Was Gauri Lankesh’s murder connected to other journalist deaths?

Yes, her murder followed similar killings of MM Kalburgi, Govind Pansare, and Narendra Dabholkar. These murders were widely seen as coordinated attacks to silence anti-establishment voices and critical journalists in India.

How many people were arrested for Gauri Lankesh’s murder?

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) arrested 12 persons in connection with her murder, including the suspected trigger-man and alleged conspirators. The first arrest came six months after her assassination.

What is Gauri Lankesh’s legacy in Indian journalism?

Gauri Lankesh’s name has become an icon for freedom of expression and political dissent in India. Her courageous journalism and activism continue to inspire journalists and activists fighting for democratic values and press freedom.