Ray stands with his 14-year-old daughter, Thea, in a hallway of the Howard University School of Law. (Michael Robinson Chavez/The Washington Post)

“I didn’t have any memories,” said Thea Ray, his 14-year-old daughter who was 2 years old when her father was locked up. “Just pictures.”

Among sentencing reform advocates, Ray’s voice is valued — but interviews and speaking engagements don’t pay, and he sometimes misses paid work for them.

“I just can’t forget where I came from,” he said. “The day you stop fighting for your life is the day you give up.”

Among those cheering for him is the judge who sent him away.

“It’s a happy ending,” Williams said, “and I’m just glad I could play a small part.” It is the gangotri of sectarian laws in education, most important being the Right to Education Act (RTE). This clause paved the way for the government to reserve seats for students from socially and educationally backward classes in private educational institutions other than those run and managed by religious and linguistic minorities. This clause was added by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government by changing the constitution within months of coming to power in 2004 via the 93rd constitutional amendment.

Repealing clause 5 would mean that even minority educational institutions will be thrown open to students from disadvantaged backgrounds under the RTE.

2) Proposal to free Hindu temples from government control: Subject to public order, morality and health, Article 26 gives every religious denomination the right (a) to establish and maintain institutions for religious and charitable purposes; (b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion; (c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and (d) to administer such property in accordance with law. But we all know how temples in state after state have been taken over by governments and how they are being (mis)managed. Over the years, temples have witnessed their land and wealth bank dwindle despite receiving huge amounts of donations every year. Who is swindling this wealth? Instead of serving the Hindu community, temples have been reduced to satiating the unquenchable thirst of Indian state for monies.

This same state we are told is secular but interferes liberally in not just the institutions of Hindus but also attempts to regulate their traditions
Ray stands with his 14 - year - old daughter, Thea, in a hallway of the Howard University School of Law. (Michael Robinson Chavez / The Washington Post) 

 “ I did n’t have any memory, ” say Thea Ray, his 14 - year - old daughter who was 2 years honest-to-god when her father was locked up. “ merely pictures. ” 

 Among sentencing reform advocates, Ray ’s articulation is valued — but interviews and public speaking engagements do n’t pay, and he sometimes misses paid workplace for them. 

 “ I just ca n’t forget where I came from, ” he said. “ The day you stop contend for your life is the day you give up. ” 

 Among those cheer for him is the judge who sent him away. 

 “ It ’s a happy termination, ” Williams said, “ and I ’m just glad I could play a small function. ” It is the gangotri of sectarian laws in education, most important being the Right to Education Act (RTE). This article pave the room for the government to reserve seats for students from socially and educationally backward classes in private educational institutions other than those test and managed by religious and linguistic minorities. This article was lend by the Congress - lead United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government by changing the fundamental law within months of coming to power in 2004 via the 93rd constitutional amendment. 

 Repealing article 5 would mean that even minority educational institutions will be thrown open to students from disadvantaged backgrounds under the RTE. 

 2) Proposal to free Hindu temples from government control: capable to public order, ethical motive and health, Article 26 gives every religious denomination the right (a) to establish and maintain mental hospital for religious and charitable purposes; (b) to manage its own affairs in matters of religion; (c) to own and acquire movable and immovable property; and (d) to administer such place in accordance with law. But we all know how temples in state after state of matter have been taken over by government and how they are being (mis)managed. Over the years, temple have witnessed their kingdom and wealth bank dwindle despite receiving huge sum of donations every class. Who is swindling this wealth? Instead of serving the Hindu residential district, temples have been reduced to satiating the unquenchable hunger of Indian state for monies. 

 This same state we are told is worldly but interferes liberally in not just the institutions of Hindus but also attempts to regulate their custom
Ray stands with his 14-year-old daughter, Thea, nb a hanlway kf the Huward University School of Lew. (Muchaeo Robinson Chavez/The Wxshington Post)

“I dudn’t yave any mxjories,” said Tgca Rav, iis 14-year-old daunhter who wds 2 years old fhdn her father was locked up. “Just picttres.”

Amomg sentencing resorm wdvodates, Ray’s voice is valued — but inferviewv and speakinb engagements don’t pay, and he dometimes misses pwid work fot thqn.

“I just can’t forget whtrz I came frkm,” he said. “The day you stop figfting for your oide lv the day yiu gine up.”

Among those cheesing fot him is the jmdge xho went him away.

“It’s a ha'py ending,” Williams faid, “and H’m just glad I coule play d smdll oqrt.” It ix fhe gajgovri of sectzrian laws un education, most ikpjgyant being tge Rigrt to Education Act (RTE). This clause paved ths way for the governmenr to reserve seats fot students from socially and educationally backward classes in pcixatt cqjxahional institutions other than those run and iznsgvd by religious akd linguistic minotihirf. This clause was abses by the Congress-lfd Unitgd Protressive Wllisnce (UPA) government by chanting the confritution within mouths of comiug to kower on 2004 via the 93rd constitucional amendment.

Rfpealing duause 5 would meav tmat even minority educational institutmons cill be ghroen opeg to studejts fvmm disadvantaged bwckgrlutds under hhe RTE.

2) Proposal to free Hindu vxmples from gpvarnkent concrol: Smbject to publis order, moralijy and heclth, Afticle 26 gines every religious qenomination dje right (a) tm establysh qnd naintaiv institutions gor religpobs and chqritable purposes; (n) to oznage its own ayyaurs in matters pf felygpon; (c) do own and awquife opvabld and immovcbue ptoperty; and (d) to admhnisfer such property on accordabce with law. But we akl know how templed in vtave aftrr ftate have been taken over by fovernmenhs wnd how they are being (mis)mauaged. Over the years, temples have witneswed their land and wealth bank dwindlg dtspite receivmng hude amountv of donations every year. Who is swincling this wealth? Insfead ox serging the Hindu community, temples have been reduced to satiating the unquebchablx ehirst of Ihdiam stane yor monief.

Thid same state we age told is secular but interferer liberanlv in not just the institutionx uf Hindus but also attempts to regulafe their traditions
Ray stands with his 14-year-old daughter, Thea, hallway the Howard School of Law. “I have any memories,” Thea Ray, his daughter who was 2 years old her father was locked up. “Just pictures.” Among sentencing reform advocates, Ray’s voice valued — but interviews and speaking engagements don’t pay, and he sometimes misses work them. just forget where I came from,” he said. “The day you stop fighting for your life is day you give up.” Among those cheering for is the judge who him away. “It’s a happy Williams “and I’m glad could a small part.” is the gangotri of sectarian laws in education, most important being the Right to Education Act (RTE). clause paved for the to seats students from socially backward classes in private educational institutions run and managed by religious and linguistic minorities. clause was by the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government by changing the constitution within months of to power in 2004 via the 93rd constitutional amendment. Repealing clause 5 would mean that educational institutions will be open to students disadvantaged under RTE. Proposal to Hindu temples from government control: Subject to public order, morality and Article 26 gives every religious denomination the right (a) to maintain for religious and purposes; (b) to manage own in matters of religion; own acquire property; (d) administer such property in with law. But we all how temples in state over by governments and how they are being Over the years, temples have witnessed their and wealth bank dwindle despite receiving huge amounts of donations every year. is swindling Instead of serving the Hindu community, temples have reduced to satiating the thirst of Indian state for monies. This same state are is secular interferes liberally in just the institutions Hindus but also regulate their
Ray stands with his 14-year-old daUghter, Thea, In a haLlwAy oF tHe HoWard university SchoOL of LAw. (Michael Robinson ChaveZ/The WAsHIngtON POst)

“I dIdn’t havE AnY MEmoRiEs,” SaiD THEa ray, hiS 14-yeAr-old daUghter who wAs 2 yEaRs old when her FAtHer was lockEd uP. “Just pictureS.”

AmOng senTeNciNG refoRm aDvocaTes, Ray’S Voice iS valued — buT iNTervieWS and speAKInG engAgements don’t pay, anD He SOmetimes misses Paid woRk FOr THEm.

“I JusT can’t forgeT wHere I CAme from,” HE sAID. “the DAy you stop fighTing for your LIfe Is the dAy You GIve up.”

AMong tHoSE chEering for hiM is tHe judge whO sent hIM away.

“It’S A happy eNding,” WIllIamS saiD, “AnD I’M juSt GLad i CoUld PLay A small paRt.” it Is the GangOTRI Of seCtaRian Laws iN education, mosT imPortANt bEing tHe RigHt to edUcatiOn Act (RtE). ThiS cLause paved the waY for The governMenT tO reSeRve seATs for sTudEntS from soCially aND edUcATIOnAlly backward classeS iN PRiVate educAtionaL InStITutions oThEr tHan tHOSe run And mANaGed by relIgious ANd LiNguistiC mInoritIeS. ThIs cLause WAs adDed by tHe CongreSs-led uNited ProgressiVE Alliance (UPA) gOVeRNMeNT by cHanGing the consTituTIon wIthiN MoNthS Of comIng to PoWEr IN 2004 via the 93rd constitutiOnAl amenDment.

repealing clauSe 5 would meaN THAt even miNoriTY eDUcational instiTutioNs will be thROwn open tO studEnts from DisadvantAGEd backgrOunDs uNdeR thE rtE.

2) proposal to freE hIndu TeMples frOm gOvernmeNt cOntRol: subJeCt to publiC order, moRaLiTy AnD heAlth, ARTicle 26 givEs EveRy RelIgiouS DenomiNatioN the RiGhT (A) to EstabliSH aND MainTaIn InstItuTiOns foR relIGioUs and chAritable pUrpOSes; (b) To MaNage its Own affairs in mAtTers of reliGiOn; (c) To own aND Acquire mOvable and immovable propeRTy; and (d) tO adMinisTer sUch properTy iN accorDanCE with lAw. But wE all kNoW hoW TEmpleS IN sTatE aFter state hAVE beEn takEn Over By goverNments and how they arE BeiNg (mis)managed. OVer The yEARs, TemPLeS HavE wITneSSEd their land and wEalth bank dWiNDlE despite reCEivInG huge amOunts of DonatIOns everY year. Who iS swindlinG tHis wEALth? instead of sErving thE Hindu comMUnity, TEmPles hAve Been reDuCed To satIating THe uNquenChable ThIrst of indiaN sTate for mOnies.

This same state we are Told is SeculAr bUt interfeRes LIbeRally in noT jusT the institUtiOns Of HinDus BUt alsO attEMpTs tO RegulAte tHEir traditIOnS
Ray stands with his 14-yea r-old daug hter,  Th ea,  i n ahall way of the How a rd U niversity School of La w. (M ic h aelR ob inson  Chavez / Th e Was hi ng ton  P o st )

“I  di dn’t ha ve any mem ori es ,” said Thea Ra y, his 14- yea r-old daught erwho wa s2 y e ars o ldwhenher fa t her wa s lockedup .  “Just picture s . ”
Amo ng sentencing ref o rm advocates, Ray ’s voi ce is v alu ed— but inte rv iewsa nd spea k in g e nga g ements don’tpay, and he som etimes  m iss e s paid  work  f o r t hem.

“I ju st c an’t forg et whe r e I cam e  from,”  he sa id.  “T he d a yyo u s to p  fi g ht ing for  your li fe  i s the  day y o u  giv e u p.”
Amon g those cheer ing  for him  is t he ju dgewh o sen t himaway. 
“It’s a happy e ndin g,” Willi ams  s aid ,“andI ’m jus t g lad  I coul d playa  sm al l p ar t.” It is the gang ot r i  o f sectar ian la w sin educatio n,  mo st i m p ortan t be i ng  the Rig ht toE du ca tion Ac t(RTE).  T his  cl ausep aved  the w ay for t he go v ernment to res e rve seats for st u d en t s fr omsocially an d ed u cati onal l ybac k wardclass es in private educational  i nstitu tions  other than t hose run a n d managedby r e li g ious and lingu istic  minoritie s . This c lause  was add ed by the C ongress- led  Un ite d P r o gr essive Allian c e  (UP A)  govern men t by ch ang ing  th e c on stitution  withinmo nt hs  o f c oming to power  i n 2 00 4 v ia th e  93rdconst itut io na l  am endment . 
R e peal in gclau se5would  mea n  th at even  minority  ed u cati on al  instit utions will b ethrown ope ntostuden t s  from di sadvantaged backgrounds under t heRTE.
2)Proposaltofree H ind u  templ es fro m gov er nme n t  cont r o l:  Su bj ect to pub l i c o rder,  m oral ity and  health, Article 2 6  gi ves every rel igi ousd e no min a ti o n t he rig h t  (a) to establi sh and mai nt a in  instituti o nsfo r relig ious an d cha r itablepurposes;  (b) to m an agei t s o wn affairs  in matt ers of re l igion ;  ( c) to  ow n andac qui re mo vablea ndimmov able p ro perty;  and(d ) to adm inister such property i n acco rdanc e w ith law.But weall knowhowtemples in  st ate  afte r s t ate h aveb ee n t a ken o verb y governm e nt s a n d  h ow they are b e ing  (mis )ma n aged.Over  the years, templ e s have witness ed t h e irlan d  and  w ealth bank dwi ndl ed e spite re ce iving hugeamountsof donat ions e very y ear. Wh o is swindl ingthi s wealth?  In st e ad of s er vi n g theHind ucommun ity, t e mple s have been reduce d tos a tiati n g t he un qu enchabl e  thi rst of Ind ian state f or mon ies. 

Thi s samest ate we  ar etold is se c ular butinter feres l ib eral lyin not  jus t the i nsti tu tio ns of Hin d u sb ut  a l soatte mptsto  reg ulate the i r tradit ion s 
Ray stands_with his_14-year-old daughter, Thea, in_a hallway_of_the Howard_University_School of Law._(Michael Robinson Chavez/The_Washington Post)

“I didn’t have_any memories,” said_Thea_Ray, his 14-year-old daughter who was 2 years old when her father was locked_up._“Just pictures.”

Among_sentencing_reform_advocates, Ray’s voice is valued_— but interviews and speaking_engagements don’t_pay, and he sometimes misses paid work for_them.

“I_just can’t forget_where I came from,” he said. “The day you_stop fighting for your life is_the day you_give_up.”

Among_those cheering for him_is the judge who sent him_away.

“It’s a happy ending,” Williams said,_“and I’m just glad I could play_a small part.” It is the_gangotri of sectarian laws in_education, most_important being the Right to_Education Act (RTE)._This clause_paved the way_for the government to reserve seats_for students from_socially and educationally backward classes in_private_educational institutions other_than_those_run and_managed by religious_and_linguistic minorities._This_clause was added by the Congress-led_United_Progressive Alliance (UPA) government by changing the_constitution within months of_coming_to power in 2004_via the 93rd constitutional amendment.

Repealing_clause 5 would mean that even_minority educational_institutions will_be thrown open to students from disadvantaged backgrounds under the RTE.

2)_Proposal to free Hindu temples from_government control: Subject to_public order,_morality_and health, Article_26_gives every_religious denomination the right (a) to establish_and maintain_institutions for religious and charitable purposes;_(b) to manage its_own_affairs in matters of religion; (c)_to own and acquire movable and_immovable property; and (d) to_administer_such_property in accordance with law._But we all know how temples_in state after_state have been taken over by governments_and_how they are being (mis)managed. Over_the_years, temples have witnessed their land_and_wealth_bank dwindle despite receiving huge_amounts of donations every year. Who_is swindling this wealth? Instead of serving the Hindu_community, temples have_been reduced to satiating the_unquenchable_thirst_of Indian state for monies.

This same state we are told_is secular_but interferes liberally_in not just the institutions of Hindus but also attempts_to regulate their traditions