Martyr

Dr. Binayak Sen, an MD in pediatrics and and a gold medalist from prestigious Christian Medical School, Vellore.He dedicated his life to the betterment and upliftment of rural and tribals of MP and Chattisgarh. He left his academic career to work in a community based rural health centre in MP.

Dr Sen initiated Chhattisgarh Mukti Morcha's Shaheed Hospital. An inimitable venture; owned and manged by worker’s organization. Dr Sen and his wife Dr Ilina Sen, founded a community based NGO: Rupantar. It trained health workers and deploys them in across 20 villages. Besides, training and deployment, it also monitors the work of community health workers. Dr. Sen is also a consultant to Jan Swasthya Sahyog, a health care organization provides health care propram in tribal areas of Chattisgarh.

Dr Sen is also National Vice-President of PUCL (People's Union for Civil Liberties).
He initiated many investigations into human rights violations by Salwa Judum. Salwa judum is a state sponsored group; consist of adivasis, who claim to fight against maoist naxals. But reality is quite different. According to Administrative Reform Committee report; millions of adivasis have been forcibly removed from their homes and some 40,000 live in terrible condition in salwa judum camps organized by government. Salwa Judum coerces people to join them or destroy their houses and family. Dr Sen disapproved of measures used by salwa judum and actively protested against it. This created a rift between him and state.

On 14 May 2007, Dr. Sen was arrested under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. He was charge of passing letters from an ailing naxal leader to another detained naxal member. He was asked by the state to treat the naxal leader and traetment was done in the presence of jail authorities. Dr Sen’s house was searched and his computer was seized by state. But no evidence was proved that could link Dr Sen with naxals. His bail petition was rejected by supreme court.

In April 2008, the Global Health Council announced that Dr. Binayak Sen was selected for the highest international honour in Global Health and Human Rights, “the Jonathan Mann Award 2008”. The Mann Award is presented to "a practitioner who makes significant contributions toward practical work in the field and in difficult circumstances; highlights the linkage of health with human rights; works predominantly in developing countries and with marginalized people; and demonstrates serious and long-term commitment."

Global health council and twenty-two Nobel laureates from around the world wrote to India's President and Prime Minister and Chhattisgarh state authorities. They said Dr Sen should be allowed to travel to the US to receive the Jonathan Mann Award for Global Health and Human Rights.

Dr. Sen remains incarcerated