‘How long can the moon be caged? Voices of Indian political prisoners’ by Suchitra Vijayan and Francesca Recchia, published in October 2023 with Pluto Press

• https://www.plutobooks.com/9780745347981/how-long-can-the-moon-be-caged/

Combining political and legal analysis with firsthand testimonies, the book explores the small gestures that constitute resistance inside and outside jail for the prisoners and their families, telling a story of destruction of institutions and erosion of rights.

How Long Can the Moon Be Caged? includes visual testimonies and prison writings from those falsely accused of inciting the Bhima Koregaon violence, by student leaders opposing the new discriminatory citizenship law passed in 2020, and by activists from the Pinjra Tod’s movement. In bringing together these voices, the book celebrates the courage, humanity and moral integrity of those jailed for standing in solidarity with marginalised and oppressed communities.

Respondents: Dr. Aditi Saraf (Utrecht University) and Dr. Divya Nadkarni (UvA)

Credit Requirements

Assignment for RMA students: To acquire 2 EC read the book, submit 1-2 questions in writing to the authors prior to the session, and write a 1000-word assignment, choosing from one of the following options:

a. A book review in an academic journal

b. A reflection on the notion of the carceral state (in India and other contexts)

Registration: send an email to s.bala@uva.nl

Credit Requirements