No speaking up, this is democracy!
ANJANA RAJAN
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If politics is the last refuge of scoundrels, what are politicians doing in the hallowed precincts of arts and letters?
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MADE TO PAY Mallika Sarabhai.
The Maharashtra Government banning James Laine's book on Shivaji, "The Epic of Shivaji" this week comes as no particular surprise in a country where even artistes are routinely threatened to reign in their imagination for fear of hurting someone's sentiments, for outraging someone's morals, for various reasons, in short, that might well be summed up as not keeping a low enough profile! Last time the professor of religious studies dared to write on the Maratha hero too, the Maharashtra Government moved to ban it, just about a year ago, and the office of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute in Pune was ransacked. This time, amid reports that the police are in action to ensure no copies of "The Epic" are available, people seem to have forgotten the work is a translation of the Sivabharata, composed in the 17th Century by Kavindra Parmananda, a court poet under the Maratha King Shivaji Bhosle.
But when we mount our high horses of enforced decorum, lots of things get overlooked. Like it rarely seems to be taken into consideration that when the `public' - read goons led overtly or covertly by political outfits - destroys works of an artist or writer, it inflicts emotional, moral and economic damage on that person too. Besides the age-old logic that violence cannot assuage hurt feelings, there is the very simple truth that violent protest in the place of discussion often causes artists to stop thinking and produce uncreative work, or to give up their vocation altogether. Neither can be called a healthy trend in a country that prides itself on its cultural heritage, whose art forms like Chhakiar Koothu, to name just one, have a tradition of irreverence to the State.
Coincidence?
M.F. Husain.
Recently eminent classical dancer Mallika Sarabhai, director of Darpana Academy in Ahemedabad, was in the news for the Gujarat Government's seeming determination to bully her. After facing a court case over her alleged participation in a `human trafficking' scam, which was later dismissed, the latest thorn in her side is a purported move by the municipal authority to build a theatre breathing down the neck of Darpana's own theatre Natrani. The move is decidedly not to increase cultural opportunities in the city, since the proximity of the buildings and the road being built ensure disturbance to the theatre already in existence. And what a coincidence, Mallika it was who stood up to the Narendra Modi Government over the 2002 massacre of Muslims, demanding an independent CBI enquiry!
As we march inexorably towards a more and more `liberalised' society, there are plenty of stains on the traditions of democracy we so pride ourselves in. One of the worst cases of political interference that wrought disaster for an artiste was the killing of theatre activist Safdar Hashmi whose group was staging a street play in the factory area of Sahibabad over a decade ago. The brutal attack by thugs that led to his demise triggered a whole movement of protest, and a number of organisations that perpetuate his memory and work to ensure such tragedies are not commonplace in our lives.
National shame
Mushirul Hasan.
Speaking of tragedies, for a country that doesn't like to offend anyone's sentiments, we seem to tolerate the hurts of the widows of Vrindavan, Varanasi and our other `holy' places quite well. But when Deepa Mehta wanted to make a film about it, the self-proclaimed protectors of the national dignity wouldn't let her. Never mind the national shame that such a tradition exists!
Then there is our artist firebrand M.F. Husain. It was not considered feasible to object verbally to any of his works someone may not have liked. His house had to be trespassed into, his works damaged. He had to be terrorised, because the Gods can't be expected to look after their own interests can they?
What could be debated, discussed - even rubbished as a product of bad taste, if we so wanted - takes on political overtones, and strident arguments that miss the details drown out the voices of reason.
Safdar Hashmi.
Yes, there is no single voice of reason. It has a plural identity.
Voices? Perhaps even more disturbing than the threats the celebrated author Salman Rushdie brought upon himself when he published "Satanic Verses" are the incidents where those who try to see the matter objectively find themselves under attack.
Take Professor Mushirul Hasan, who was attacked by a mob just because he stood for freedom of speech.
Criticism, it seems loses its edge if only verbalised.
Imagine being assaulted for being reasonable!
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