Introduction

This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book explores the vivid memories of the survivors of the biggest industrial disaster in history, based on fieldwork carried out in the city of Bhopal, India. It considers the breakthroughs created by the Pasmanda movement among minority groups in India. The book shows how the Pasmanda movement is involved both in the broader context of the struggles of the subordinate castes and also in the defence of the most important minority religious group in India, the Muslim community. It analyzes the representations, struggles and sociolegal dynamics following the brutal gang rape of a 23-year-old woman on Delhi bus on 16 December, resulting in her death. The book is based on research into cases of violation of women’s rights presented against Brazil at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights by human rights NGOs, social movement activists and victims.