Protest held at Chandigarh Against the Suppression of People's Artists

On 3^rd September, a protest was held at Plaza Sector-17, Chandigarh, against the growing attacks on the people’s artists by the State-backed Saffron Brigade goons and Police.

 Within few days there surfaced many incidents of attack on people’s artists. On 21^st  august, the students of FTII- Pune were attacked by the ABVP goons after a documentary viz. “Jai Bheem Comrade” was screened there and the cultural group “Kabir Kala Manch” performed there. The Maharashtra Police arbitrarily arrested cultural activist Hem Mishra (who is also a student of JNU), who have gone to Gadchiroli for his medical treatment, on false charges. Similarily cultural-activists from Jharkhand, Utpal, Ispat and Vishvanath, were arrested by the police on false charges.

These incidents clearly expose the fascist and reactionary face of Indian State, which cannot tolerate any effort by the people to change this rotten social, economic and political system.

Various members of civil society, students and theatre & cultural groups came together and raised their voice against the ongoing attacks on the people's artist and freedom of expression and expressed their solidarity for the victims.

Demand was put forward for immediate and unconditional release of the cultural activists and the culprits responsible for the attack on FTII students be put to justice.

We appeal all the progressive sections of the society to raise their voice and stand against the ruthless suppression of people’s artist and stand for freedom of expression.

Below is the Press release by Gumphan for Arts, Chandigarh School of Drama, Alankar Theater, Students For Society (SFS), Lokayat, Chandigarh.

Press Release
3 September, 2013: Artists, intellectual and students assembled in sector 17 to protest against suppression of people’s artists. This protest was organized by Punjab Lok Sabhyachar Manch, Gumphan for Arts, Alankar Theaters, Students for Society and Lokayat.

In his address to assembly, prominent artist Samual John told that State is repressing the artists who are raising the People’s deprivation in their songs, drama and arts. People’s artist Hem Mishra, a student of JNU and member of a cultural group Revolutionary Cultural Forum has been arrested by Maharashtra Police. Since 15 years, Hem is giving his voice to raise People’s issues. Police has arrested him illegally and kept him in illegal confinement for many days. He was produced in court only when artists and intellectual from all over India raised their voice in his support. Ikahatar from Chandigarh School of Drama told in his speech that tribal artists Uttpal and Vishvnath have been arrested by Jharkhand Police in Ranchi on 29th August. Both were produced in Court after two days illegal custody.
Theater Artist Chkresh from Alankar Theater said that activists of Student group ABVP has attacked on Film and Television Institute of India (FTII) students while they were screening a documentary ‘Jai Bhim Comrade’ on the occasion of mourning assembly of anti-superstition activist Narinder Dabholkar . They gave warning to FTII students not to call the activists of Kabir Kala Manch. They also forced th FTII students to raise slogan to hail the Narinder Modi. Many FTII students got serious injury. The administration and Police did not take any action on the attacker, Inspite of that, administration did not give permission to FTII student to hold procession against this hooliganism.
Jagdish Tiwari of Gumphan For Arts said that these incidents are slaps on democracy. These ‘democratic’ criminals, who are responsible these acts, had also murdered Safdar Hasmi, pulled the People’s artist Jeetan Maradi to the door step of hanging, beaten the members of Kabir Kala Manch and sent them to Jail, some of whom are languishing in jail till now. In his address, the Editor of literary cultural magazine Bhor, Anjani said that the present India is being molded in such a ‘democratic’ social and economic structure where the space for dissent, protests and reasoning is continuously shrinking. Photo Journalist Randeep from Punjab Lok Sabhyachar Manch said in his address that Government is directly or indirectly trying to suppress the people’s artists, who are raising their voice on people’s issues, and communal forces are playing active role in this suppression.
Arti from Lokayat called all artists, intellectuals and students to raise their voices against the attack on freedom of expression so that a society based on democratic values can be established where there would be no discrimination and oppression on political, economic, social, communal and individual basis. In the assembly, artists registered their protest through songs. Many other speakers also spoke in assembly. Protesters demanded to take strict action on communal forces who have tried to curtail the freedom of expression and to release all people’s artists immediately and unconditionally.

Released by: Gumphan for Arts, Chandigarh School of Drama, Alankar Theater, Students For Society (SFS), Lokayat, Chandigarh. Dated 3 sept 2011.
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