December 2012

The recent arrest of two young girls from Palghar in Thane district for their remarks on their Facebook account, draws attention to the issue of Freedom of Expression in our country. This is not the first time that someone’s right to express has been challenged. Writers and artists in India have faced flak and threats in the past from fundamentalist forces for alleged ‘misrepresentation or misguidance or inciting religious sentiments.’ A proper definition as to what comes under these terms is still to be deciphered. Yet, writers, journalists, artists and historians have been targeted time and again by the so called moral police. The new add-on to the list is the popular social media. Certain things and certain people are a taboo and they cannot be written about, is the unwritten rule. Those who follow the rule can lead a peaceful life but those who challenge it, will have to face the wrath of hooligans who take law into their own hands and go about destroying property and indulge in physical violence with scant respect to law of the land. While it is expected that citizens show tolerance, it is also necessary to analyse how we are going to use the Freedom of Expression that the Constitution of India has bestowed on us. It is true that none of us appreciate censorship in our life, at the same time, it is imperative that we also use the right responsibly and wisely. In the hope that the pen, the brush and the mouse click are free to move as they would like to, albeit responsibly, the December issue of OIOP debates on the citizen’s ‘Right to Express’

In the lead article ‘Where the mind is without fear…’, Ranjona Banerji, senior journalist and consulting editor with the media website MxMIndia.com, writes that fear of possible reprisal at every step and indiscriminate banning of art or literature or attempts to curb the media are hardly hallmarks of a mature democracy.

In ‘Tolerance is the key’, Mihir Desai, human rights lawyer in Bombay High Court, writes that while the Courts have generally upheld freedom of speech and expression the State and the fringe fundamentalist groups are becoming more and more intolerant. In the times to come we are likely to witness a heightened tension on this issue, he warns.

‘The right to write’ is on the curb of freedom faced by writers. Writers or artists may not have any special need for freedom though it is their freedom to dream and to imagine to which we owe the greatest debt. Even the totalitarian societies, the non-democratic societies, the theocratic societies need to understand this: that to be free is to be human, asserts Jerry Pinto, a writer who lives and works in Mumbai. He has won the National Award for the Best Book on Cinema. Em and the Big Hoom (Aleph) is his first novel.

‘Cinema in shackles’ focuses on threats faced by film makers in the name of censorship and moral policing. Art needs society to flourish and society needs art to change, to grow. Art forms like cinema only mirror the social change happening in society. Encouragement of the medium will usher in a more evolved society but stifling it under the guise of ‘protecting Indian culture’ will only do more harm than good, says Dr. Narendra Panjwani, the author of a recent book on Hindi films - EMOTION PICTURES - Cinematic Journeys into the Indian Self. He teaches film studies at St. Xavier’s College, Mumbai, and is Director, G D Parekh Centre for Educational Research, Mumbai University.

In ‘Freedom of the press – the threat within’, Vidyadhar Date, senior journalist, says that a much bigger threat to media freedom comes from within, from the owners who are big businessmen or capitalists and adds that today, people in media are twisting ethics and their pen for the extra pie.

‘Art cannot flourish in a stifling atmosphere’ stresses Prakash Bal Joshi, Mumbai based journalist and artist and writes that an atmosphere of tolerance based on free exchange of views and debate alone can ensure real artistic freedom. Threats or stringent laws can only harm it more.

‘The theatre’s (in)ability to resist censorship’ delves on, as the name suggests, on moral policing against theatre. The theatre seems to be a historic object of censorship of all kinds. It may be that the vigour of the attacks is related to the fact that, in the final analysis, the theatre is the most resistant to censorship medium, observes Ramu Ramanathan, Mumbai-based playwright and director. A collection of his plays, 3 Sakina Manzil and Other Plays was published in 2011.

‘We all are seditious’, says Kamayani Bali Mahabal, an expert in gender, health and human rights issues, as she calls for revoking of all the draconian laws in the country that are anti-people and instruments towards declaring an “undeclared emergency”.

‘Are we willing to fight for what we are?’, asks Harish Iyer as he notes that the voices from the closets may not be loud to the outside world, but within they echo to tremor the conscience and the very being of the human being because we curb the freedom to be different, and unique. Harish is an active voice for Child Sexual Abuse and Equal Rights for Women and the LGBT among an ensemble of other causes. He is in his early 30s and his life has inspired a biography and 2 critically acclaimed films - national award winning I AM and Amen, which was released recently on DVD (www.bit.ly/AMENdvd). He blogs at www.hiyer.net and tweets as @hiyer.

In ‘Moral policing – the new demon’, Sunil Prabhakar, a well-known expert on consumer issues, wonders on what basis can the moral police attack common citizens in the name of ‘protecting Indian culture’.

In ‘The Internet censorship saga in India’, Shobha SV gives an account of the internet censorship in India and the efforts of various netizens to resist it. (Article courtesy: www.internetdemocracy.in)

The ‘Know India Better’ feature is on ‘Lucknow: City with a glorious past’. Spread out on both sides of the River Gomti, Lucknow, once known as the city of Nawabs, is famous for its charming culture as much as it is for its magnificent monuments like the Bara and Chhota Imambara and Rumi Darwaza. Music, poetry, dance and literature flourished in the 18^th century under the royal patronage of the Nawabs. Though the city is keeping pace with modern times, it still retains the famed courtly manners of aadaab and tehjeeb. Text and photographs are by Dr. M.A. Haque, retired Advisor, Ministry of Environment & Forests, Govt. of India.

In ‘Face to Face’, Rangasamy Elango, Scientist, Panchayat leader, social worker and an inventor, speaks to Disha Shetty, pursuing a PG Diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Asian Journalism College, Chennai, about his efforts to divert attention to the two major crises in Indian villages - power and sanitation. Hailing from a socially oppressed caste he fought his way up to be an engineer and hold a government job as a scientist at the Central Electrochemical Research Institute. He later quit his job to become a panchayat leader in 1996 and has since focused his energy on developmental work in his village. As the force behind making his village Kuthambakkam that lies to the north of Chennai, a model town, he shares how communities can transform themselves. Elango is the recipient of ‘the One India One People Outstanding Indian Award’ in 2009. Disha is pursuing a post graduate diploma in Broadcast Journalism from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai.

In ‘Great Indians’, we feature:

Brig Rajinder Singh MVC, The saviour of Kashmir (1899-1947) – His heroic stand at Uri and rearguard action from Uri to Baramulla saved Kashmir and the honour of the country when everything hung by a slender thread.

Comrade Vasant Gupte, Champion of the unorganized (1927 – 2010) – He was one of the first trade unionists to extend training to workers, in law and negotiations.  He made the workers capable of handling their problems themselves and taking their own decisions.

Squadron Leader Ajay Ahuja Vr C, Truly a fighter (1963-1999) - The brave officer died when his aero plane was hit by a Pakistan missile. Squadron Leader Ahuja was on Kargil duty and was on a search to locate his brother officer Flt Lt Nachiketa.

In addition, read our regular columns, features, snippets, satire and more!

To subscribe, write to Nagesh Bangera at oiopfoundation@gmail.com,oiop@vsnl.net or call – 022-2353 44 00