Harsh Mander on Solidarity, Peace, and Why Holding Together Can Be the Real Victory

In a world where social movements often face immense pressure to quantify success, Harsh Mander, a veteran human rights activist in India, offers a compelling redefinition of “winning.” His work spans decades of advocacy for the marginalized, from the right to food and shelter to confronting hate violence through the Caravan of Love campaign. Mander’s journey—from a senior civil servant during the 2002 Gujarat riots to a relentless advocate for justice—highlights the complexities of activism in an era of increasing polarization and state scrutiny.

The Evolution of a Moral Voice

Mander’s decision to resign from his civil service post in the wake of the 2002 Gujarat riots marked a turning point. The violence, which claimed over 1,000 lives, particularly targeting Muslim communities, left him disillusioned with the state’s capacity to uphold justice. “India was hurtling in a direction exactly where it is now,” he reflects, emphasizing the need for independent action against systemic oppression.

His activism has led to landmark Supreme Court interventions. In 2013, Mander was appointed as a commissioner to draft the National Food Security Act, a pivotal moment in recognizing the legal right to food. Yet, he underscores that legal victories alone are insufficient. “The answers to great injustices are not simply amending a law or getting a court order,” he says. “They require challenging cultural acceptances of