Pintu Gupta: From Survivor of Torture to Beacon of Hope

An emotional moment as Pintu Gupta, survivor-turned-human rights defender, receives the Jan Mitra Award 2025 from Mr. Jitendra Chahar, Executive Director of PEACE, at Paradkar Bhawan, Varanasi.

On 20th August 2025, the historic Paradkar Bhawan in Varanasi reverberated with an unusual ovation. It was not just an award ceremony; it was the celebration of resilience, courage, and the unyielding human spirit. The Jan Mitra Award 2025 was conferred upon Mr. Pintu Gupta — a survivor of torture who has transformed his personal suffering into a lifelong mission of hope and dignity for others.

The occasion carried a deeper resonance as it also commemorated the memory of late Anil Chaudhary, founder of PEACE and a legendary activist whose life embodied the struggle for justice. Organized jointly by Jan Mitra Nyas, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), the International Rehabilitation Council for Torture Victims (IRCT), the Global Human Rights Protection Foundation (GHPF), JUSTER, and with the support of the United Nations Voluntary Fund for Victims of Torture, the event highlighted how literature, activism, and lived experience converge to challenge oppression and inspire transformation.

The audience at Paradkar Bhawan rises in ovation, celebrating courage, resilience, and the spirit of human dignity during the Jan Mitra Award 2025 ceremony

A Journey of Pain and Courage

Pintu’s life is a testament to the paradox of suffering and strength. A native of Sonebhadra, Uttar Pradesh, he bore the brunt of custodial torture and systemic discrimination at an early stage of his life. Many in his position might have retreated into silence, broken by fear and humiliation. But Pintu chose a different path — one that transformed his wounds into wisdom and his despair into determination.

Since 2010, he has been associated with Jan Mitra Nyas and PVCHR, dedicating himself to healing and empowering marginalized communities. With support from international partners like DIGNITY — The Danish Institute Against Torture, he coordinated projects aimed at creating 60 torture-free model villages, offering psychosocial support to survivors, and ensuring their reintegration into society with dignity. His activism has not only raised awareness about custodial torture and caste-based violence but also provided concrete legal and emotional support to survivors of organized violence.

The Citation of Honor presented to Pintu Gupta, recognizing his unwavering courage and commitment to human dignity, as part of the Jan Mitra Award 2025

From Victim to Defender

The Jan Mitra Award citation recognizes Pintu as a Human Rights Defender and grassroots activist who, despite continuous threats and intimidation, has stood firm against injustice. His efforts against bonded labor, his advocacy for marginalized communities, and his consistent fight for justice exemplify the ideals of resilience and non-violent resistance.

It is important to underline that Pintu’s recognition is not just an individual achievement — it is symbolic of the collective struggle of countless survivors who continue to resist systemic violence. His story challenges the normalization of torture and impunity within certain structures of power. He reminds us that silence is complicity, and that to resist injustice is a patriotic act that strengthens the very fabric of Bharat.

Literature, Activism, and the Spirit of Anil Chaudhary

The ceremony also honored the memory of Anil Chaudhary, whose life was an extraordinary blend of intellectual commitment and grassroots activism. He believed that literature was not merely an aesthetic pursuit but a weapon against oppression — a way to awaken consciousness and inspire social change.

In this sense, Pintu stands as an inheritor of that legacy. His life story is a narrative that blends pain, resilience, and resistance into a living testimony. By documenting and amplifying such stories, we create a counter-literature against the narratives of power that often silence or criminalize dissent.

A Patriotism Rooted in Human Dignity

Patriotism is often defined in narrow terms — flags, slogans, or allegiance to authority. But Pintu represents a deeper, more humane patriotism: the commitment to defend the dignity and rights of the most marginalized citizens of our country. His courage challenges the corrupt sections of society and administration who remain unhappy with his rise as a people’s icon.

In truth, his work restores faith in our constitutional values of justice, liberty, equality, and fraternity. By empowering survivors and restoring their sense of self-worth, he contributes to the unfinished task of nation-building. His journey is a reminder that Bharat will truly thrive not by suppressing voices of dissent, but by ensuring dignity and honor for all its people.

Hope as a Radical Act

Hope, in the context of systemic violence and structural oppression, is itself a radical act. For survivors of torture, hope does not come easily. It requires rebuilding trust, reclaiming dignity, and believing once again in the possibility of justice. Pintu’s activism embodies this radical hope.

Through his interventions in cases of police torture, SC/ST atrocities, domestic violence, and bonded labor, he has created pathways of healing. His sincerity, positive attitude, and keen observation have made him a trusted voice among survivors, many of whom see in him the reflection of their own struggles and aspirations.

The Broader Struggle

The Jan Mitra Award to Pintu Gupta is also a call to society and the state. It reminds us that torture, bonded labor, and caste-based violence are not isolated incidents but systemic issues that require structural reforms. The award highlights the role of civil society organizations, international collaborations, and survivor-led movements in keeping the flame of justice alive.

It also urges policymakers, law enforcement agencies, and administrators to embrace accountability, empathy, and reform. The path to a truly democratic and inclusive Bharat lies not in silencing defenders like Pintu but in learning from their courage.

Building a Nation of Dignity

As I reflect on the ovation that filled Paradkar Bhawan, I am reminded of a simple truth: nations are built not only by economic growth or political might but by the moral courage of their citizens. Pintu Gupta, once a victim of torture, now stands as an icon of human dignity and resilience. His life teaches us that survivors are not just statistics or case files — they are bearers of hope, builders of peace, and guardians of democracy.

In honoring him, we honor the countless unnamed survivors who continue to struggle in silence. In supporting him, we reaffirm our commitment to a Bharat where every individual, regardless of caste, class, or creed, can live with dignity and freedom.

The Jan Mitra Award 2025 is not just an accolade; it is a message — that human dignity is non-negotiable, that hope is stronger than fear, and that the true act of patriotism lies in standing with the oppressed.

And in this spirit, we continue our journey — towards a torture-free society, towards justice for all, and towards a Bharat built on the foundation of dignity, equality, and peace.