DU to screen Symbiosis-banned documentary on Kashmir
Freedom of expression
Jashn-e-Azadi, a documentary on the Kashmir conflict which got into problems with Symbiosis College in Pune, will be screened at Delhi University on Thursday. The show has been organised by left-wing All India Students Association (AISA).
Recently, Jashn-e-Azadi's screening and a discussion on it by director Sanjay Kak was cancelled at the Symbiosis College of Arts and Commerce amidst pressure from right-wing students’ union Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad. ABVP had called the documentary ‘separatist’ in nature. “There have been no hiccups yet in organising the screening of this documentary. We have not got any response from members of the ABVP, though, posters informing about the screening of this film have been found torn in various parts of the campus,” said Harsh, an AISA member.
Recently a group of students from Presidency College in Kolkata screened the 2007 film `to stand up for our right to free expression,' despite several hurdles from the administration.
“This film is available on YouTube. The idea behind screening this film in the campus is to show our tolerance towards different viewpoints instead of shunning them altogether. We may not agree with it, so we have the option of not watching it - instead of not letting it being screened. Like people have the right to freedom of expression, they also have the right to choose. Then why ban?” said Anmol, AISA member.
Members of ABVP refused to comment.
The screening at Delhi School of Economics (DSE) will be followed by a discussion by film-maker Sanjay Kak.
