Human rights fete brings docu-films, bands to city

An ongoing cultural festival is focusing on human rights and the right to dissent.

Titled Haq, the festival opened at St Joseph's College for Commerce, Brigade Road, on Human Rights Day (December 10).

Organised by Amnesty International India and The Student Outpost (TSO), it features documentary screenings, street theatre shows and panel discussions at colleges across the city.

On Tuesday, documentary films-Campus Rising and Ek Minute Ka Maun-were screened at Sampurna Monfort College, Indiranagar.

"We all have human rights, and we need to work together to ensure they are realised," said Khatija Khader, human rights education campaigner, Amnesty International India. "International Human Rights Day deserves to be celebrated by everyone, and we hope to hold this festival every year."

The inaugural day saw the screening of Public Service Broadcasting Trust's national award-winning documentary Soz: A Ballad of Maladies. Shot partly in Bengaluru, it was screened for the first time in the city since its release a year ago.

The film features an ensemble of poets, musicians, artists and activists talking about political resistance through art.

Filmmakers Tushar Madhav and Sarvnik Kaur participated in a discussion with students after the screening.

"We faced no problems from the Kashmiri people but it was a challenge to get them to open up because of the way they have been misrepresented," said Tushar Madhav.

The film has been screened 30-35 times and shows were disrupted on a couple of occasions.

"We needed censor certification to screen the film in public. The censor board did not ask for cuts, but a few spoken words, such as those demanding Azadi, removed," said Sarvnik Kaur.

Two musical performances followed the screening. The first performer was Akhu Chingangbam, lead singer of Imphal Talkies, who played bilingual folk-style Western music while narrating tales of repression in his home state of Manipur.

His song 'Home is Burning', spoke about human rights defender Irom Sharmila and victim Thangjam Manorama, and met with thunderous applause.

His performance was followed by another by Kerala rock band Oorali.

Saji V of the band said: "Although people classify us as protest music, we believe we just speak about things we see happening around us: police atrocities and human rights violations. Our message to students is to voice your opinion and express yourself."

'We must demilitarise Kashmir'

A student asked Tushar Madhav about Kashmir after the screening of his film Soz: A Ballad of Maladies.

Q: Do you agree with Yashwant Sinha that India has lost the Kashmir valley emotionally? What do you think is the political solution for Kashmir?

Madhav: My feeling is that the powers-that-be don't want to solve the Kashmir problem as prolonging the conflict is in their vested interests. It is a legal problem and the United Nations needs to step in. For any lasting peace or progress, we must demilitarise Kashmir and encourage student exchanges.

Session on nationalism tomorrow

On Thursday, the festival features a panel discussion titled 'Nationalism, militarism and suppression of dissent' at Christ College, Hosur Road. The panel includes activists Sandhya Raju, Babloo Loitongbam and Achin Vanaik.