LUCKNOW, Jan. 4 -- Marking the birth anniversary of Savitribai Phule, citizens from various sections of society including women, students, youth, writers, cultural organisations, and progressive individuals of the city held a sit-in protest at Shaheed Smarak on Saturday. The protest, which remembered Savitribai Phule and her associate Fatima Sheikh, was organised against the brutal violence inflicted on women and young girls and against the politics of hatred that prevails today. At the beginning of the sit-in, Madhu Garg of AIDWA read out a resolution recalling the immense contributions of Savitribai Phule and Fatima Sheikh towards the education and empowerment of girls and women from marginalised communities. The resolution strongly criticised the ongoing brutal violence against women and children and condemned the political patronage being extended to rapists. The participants expressed anger against the hate-driven politics being spread across the country in the name of Hindutva and collectively resolved to fight against it. Addressing the gathering, Naish Hasan said that nearly 150 years ago, Savitribai Phule, Fatima Sheikh, Jyotiba Phule and later BR Ambedkar, while carrying forward this mission, challenged the Brahmanical social order to build an egalitarian society where women and all communities enjoyed equal rights. He warned that those same oppressive forces have once again become active today. Kanti Mishra of the Women's Federation expressed deep concern over the present situation, stating that the manner in which rapists and those spreading hatred are receiving political protection has severely weakened the Constitution and democracy of the country. Rooprekha Verma, recalling the Phule couple, said that they had fought the inhuman Brahmanical system of their time to uphold the dignity of marginalised communities, especially women and young girls. She described them as warriors who resisted Manusmriti, adding that the same inhuman ideology is being openly advocated today....