Reality of The Kashmir Files Exposed at IFFI
International Film Festival of India (IFFI) was held in Goa recently. Jury chief and Israeli filmmaker Nadav Lapid said that “We were, all of us, disturbed and shocked by the… film, The Kashmir Files,” the Hindi film directed by Vivek Agnihotri. He criticised the film as “a propaganda, vulgar movie, inappropriate for an artistic competitive section of such a prestigious film festival”. The Canadian filmmaker Dylan Mohan Gray said “…actually it’s (hatemongering, revisionist) garbage of no artistic merit and will be a further embarrassment to India” if sent to the Oscars. The film, which was released in theatres on March 11, revolves around the killings and exodus of Kashmiri pandits from the valley in 1990.
In India, the movie has been lauded by the ruling party, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and some communal parties. The film was also declared tax-free in most of the BJP-ruled state. At present divide and rule policies are in full swing, due to coming elections. May God save us from Hindu-Muslim division.
Chowdhry Nisar Ahmed
Noorullah Pet, Ambur (T.N.)
Haste Defined
This refers to a report “Tearing hurry: SC on appointment of EC” in a section of the press. Going through the reports with rapt attention as a student as well as teacher of English language, I was amused and impressed with Justice Ajay Rastogi’s five-in-one question to the Attorney-General, R Venkataramani during the hearing, by uttering the expression “the same day” five times connoting process, clearance, application, acceptance and appointment raising five fingers in one go.
Thus, in a way, doesn’t the 18th day of November assume an unparalleled significance in the annals of India, as if a sort of world record breaking day did come into existence?
Ironically, the AG evading five “same-day questions” half-heartedly ducked them by claiming ‘no haste’ was shown, further boasting, “If your Lordships were to go into that question, I must produce all those lists of appointment from 2015 onward because every time matter had moved within 2-3 days. Maximum 3 days time.”
Why shouldn’t the Apex Court hail and compliment the government for its promptness that it did improve further by completing the Herculean appointment task of Arun Goel as EC miraculously in “just one day”?
Does the AG imply this while replying to Justice Rastogi’s queries? How the Apex Court adjudicates this ticklish and complex prayer of the petitioner will affect the autonomy and independence of the Election Commission of India.
PK Sharma
Barnala, Punjab
Six College Professors Suspended, Principal Booked
A December 2 report said that six professors, including four Muslims, were taken off duty after a complaint by BJP’s student wing ABVP. The professors teaching at New Government Law College in Indore district of Madhya Pradesh are accused of promoting ‘non-vegetarianism’, ‘negative thoughts’.
The suspended professors are identified as Milind Kumar Gautam, Ameek Khokhar, Mirza Moziz Beg, Firoz Ahmad Mir, Suhail Ahmad Wani and Purnima Bese. The teachers have been freed from their duty for five days so that the probe against them is not affected. The suspension letter was issued by Principal Dr Inamur Rahman.
The next day, on December 3, Dr. Rahman was allegedly forced to resign and was later booked. The controversy erupted in the college about a book in the institute’s library. Members of ABVP alleged that the book Collective Violence and Criminal Justice System contains objectionable content against Hindus and Hindutva outfits such as RSS, VHP and Bajrang Dal. They alleged that the book talks about the emergence of “Hindu communalism as a destructive ideology”. The book also mentions that the VHP and other Hindutva outfits seek to establish a Hindu-majority state and want to “enslave other communities”.
These academicians are suffering on the complaint made by those who can go to any extent in the name of freedom of expression. Is writing a book, and that too mentioning the fact of the matter, not freedom of expression.
A.J. Philip
Indore, Madhya Pradesh