It is the battle of the protest marches. While a section of film-makers, artists, painters, scientists have returned their state awards to register their protest against ‘growing intolerance’, a counter protest is underway in Delhi.
In an unprecedented scenario, the battle has been reduced to one between conflicting ideologies, with one side questioning the other’s patriotism and nationalism. From the chaos of TV studios, the debate has now reached the streets of the national capital.
By any means, it does not look like the debate is growing to drown out anytime soon. NewsMobile caught up with noted Nishtha Jain, who shot to fame with her award-winning pieces of work ‘At My Doorstep’, ‘Lakshmi and Me’, and most recently, ‘Gulaab Gang’ for a short chat on the developments.
An alumna of the prestigious Film and Television institute of India (FTII), she returned her national award for ‘Gulaab Gang’ in protest of the FTII logjam.
Here are the excerpts of the conversation:
1. What is your general view of today’s march?
Today’s march makes me think that the return of national awards by key writers, filmmakers, artists, academicians, scientists and other social pioneers from India has been highly effective.
2. Would you question the political affiliations of those heading the march?
This march is being led by people who have been accusing the award returnees of having affiliations with the Congress party. They have been asking us to leave India and go to Pakistan. They are an unimaginative and vicious lot. Their main accusation against us is that we are affiliated with the Congress. If so many luminaries were Congress puppets then Congress must have done something right.
But the fact is that Congress is not in power today and that’s because they have been criticized and exposed by the award returnees through their books, films and art. The debate has to go beyond BJP vs Congress and media has to focus on the reasons why the awards are being returned, instead of giving space to people who are shooting their mouths off without any research.
These are the people who have never spoken against any injustices, ever. Anupam Kher never uttered a word in 1984 massacre nor did he ever speak up for the Kashmiri pundits.
3. Do you think questioning the political affiliation is a good move? The govt questioned the credentials of the ‘Award Wapsi’ folks, calling it ‘politics by other means’, and you doing the same will make it an ideological battle.
It’s very apparent to those who have eyes what the agenda is of the people marching today.
4. Do you think returning awards is a good means to protest?
It’s one means of protest and it seems to have been highly effective to get our voices heard.
5. Are you planning any other ways of protesting?
There will be protests if the government does not control the increasing violence in this country against the minorities and tries to silence dissent.