<p>In Dark Times, Voices Against Intolerance;<br />The Republic of Reason, Selected Writings of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi<br />Miscellaneous<br />Sahmat </p>.<p>In the backdrop of the raging controversy over rise in intolerance and threat to India’s multi-culturalism, Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) has brought out two significant volumes reflecting the voices of dissent. These include considered opinions from intellectuals, writers and artists, historians and scientists who are aghast at the emergence of fascist tendencies that strive to stifle freedom of expression. There are loud thoughts from writers and filmmakers who have returned awards, letters from eminent persons representing different fields. Their numbers may be limited, but the weight the opinions carry is significant enough to influence public opinion. There is an overriding concern about the damage being done to the traditions of tolerance, and freedom of speech, belief and practices.<br /><br />Many of the pieces focus on the threat to institutions from the new powers in Delhi. The prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, witnessed prolonged strike by students against the imposition of a mediocre actor as its head. The turmoil has led to the return of national awards by 38 filmmakers. Still the government remained unmoved. The developments in Lalit Kala Akademi and National Museum are not dissimilar. The protesters are convinced that these developments are manifestations of the narrow cultural vision that the Sangh Parivar has been trying to promote. A letter from Scholars of Overseas Academic Institutions voices concern over ‘the glorification of homogenised and inflexible Hindu tradition.’<br /><br />The writers who have returned their Sahitya Akademi awards and those who have resigned from the Akademi explain the reason for their disenchantment with the establishment. They include Nayantara Sehgal, S N Devy, Keki N Daruwalla, Sashi Deshpande and K Satchidanandan. On October 23 last, over 250 writers submitted a memorandum to the Sahitya Akademi expressing solidarity with the eminent writers who have returned the awards. Artists Alert, a statement by hundreds of artists, states: “The ideology of the ruling party has revealed its contempt for creative and intellectual work; bigotry and censorship will only grow. As in the past, we must challenge the divisive forces through varied forms of appeal and protest, articulation and refusal.”<br /><br />The shock and horror over the murder of Kannada writer, scholar and social campaigner M M Kalburgi is voiced by a group of eminent thinkers. “We cannot help seeing it as part of an intensifying war against critical thinking by social forces that use obscurantist belief in quest for political hegemony,” the statement says.<br /><br />The second volume includes writings by Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi who lost their lives for their convictions. Dabholkar who waged a life-long war against superstition analyses faith and cites how people refuse to examine their faith and do not allow others to examine. He bemoans the absence of scientific outlook in our society, including scientists. He traces the root of this to the autocratic Indian family that does not encourage the habit of asking questions. <br /><br />Pansare finds an RSS attempt to usurp Gandhiji’s legacy. He also touches on the approach of revolutionaries to religion and the significance of Bahujan movement. Kalburgi spells out some unpalatable truths about the state of research in Karnataka which, according to him, is characterised by quantity and not quality.<br /></p>
<p>In Dark Times, Voices Against Intolerance;<br />The Republic of Reason, Selected Writings of Dabholkar, Pansare and Kalburgi<br />Miscellaneous<br />Sahmat </p>.<p>In the backdrop of the raging controversy over rise in intolerance and threat to India’s multi-culturalism, Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) has brought out two significant volumes reflecting the voices of dissent. These include considered opinions from intellectuals, writers and artists, historians and scientists who are aghast at the emergence of fascist tendencies that strive to stifle freedom of expression. There are loud thoughts from writers and filmmakers who have returned awards, letters from eminent persons representing different fields. Their numbers may be limited, but the weight the opinions carry is significant enough to influence public opinion. There is an overriding concern about the damage being done to the traditions of tolerance, and freedom of speech, belief and practices.<br /><br />Many of the pieces focus on the threat to institutions from the new powers in Delhi. The prestigious Film and Television Institute of India (FTII), Pune, witnessed prolonged strike by students against the imposition of a mediocre actor as its head. The turmoil has led to the return of national awards by 38 filmmakers. Still the government remained unmoved. The developments in Lalit Kala Akademi and National Museum are not dissimilar. The protesters are convinced that these developments are manifestations of the narrow cultural vision that the Sangh Parivar has been trying to promote. A letter from Scholars of Overseas Academic Institutions voices concern over ‘the glorification of homogenised and inflexible Hindu tradition.’<br /><br />The writers who have returned their Sahitya Akademi awards and those who have resigned from the Akademi explain the reason for their disenchantment with the establishment. They include Nayantara Sehgal, S N Devy, Keki N Daruwalla, Sashi Deshpande and K Satchidanandan. On October 23 last, over 250 writers submitted a memorandum to the Sahitya Akademi expressing solidarity with the eminent writers who have returned the awards. Artists Alert, a statement by hundreds of artists, states: “The ideology of the ruling party has revealed its contempt for creative and intellectual work; bigotry and censorship will only grow. As in the past, we must challenge the divisive forces through varied forms of appeal and protest, articulation and refusal.”<br /><br />The shock and horror over the murder of Kannada writer, scholar and social campaigner M M Kalburgi is voiced by a group of eminent thinkers. “We cannot help seeing it as part of an intensifying war against critical thinking by social forces that use obscurantist belief in quest for political hegemony,” the statement says.<br /><br />The second volume includes writings by Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi who lost their lives for their convictions. Dabholkar who waged a life-long war against superstition analyses faith and cites how people refuse to examine their faith and do not allow others to examine. He bemoans the absence of scientific outlook in our society, including scientists. He traces the root of this to the autocratic Indian family that does not encourage the habit of asking questions. <br /><br />Pansare finds an RSS attempt to usurp Gandhiji’s legacy. He also touches on the approach of revolutionaries to religion and the significance of Bahujan movement. Kalburgi spells out some unpalatable truths about the state of research in Karnataka which, according to him, is characterised by quantity and not quality.<br /></p>
