When children face adversity, mothers experience their deepest fears. Fathers respond in their own way. July 2024 witnessed all of this, as it was also a month that reshaped the way families looked at protest and resistance.

It’s been barely a year since July 2024, yet it feels like an eternity. The smoke clouding the sky, the gunshots, the sounds heard across the country — all seem like distant memories. However, no matter how fleeting our minds are, the collective conscience of the nation remembers the martyrs — brave individuals who sacrificed their lives so that we can have a country that is fair and just.

We should use Martyred Intellectuals Day as an opportunity to meaningfully engage with their memories.