Ban on Play Mr. Jinnah

dear veeresh

I have to asnswer all you well meaning queries. I think everybody needs some facts before they start reacting.

[[a) The hand-written script was illegible. You have been requested to provide a typed copy, in what is a standard format. ]]

reply to a) The script is 95% typed and there are 5% hand written notes made by the Author and sometimes the actor. Also there are some parts edited by the Author. Either the delhi Police has forgotten to read Hindi or needs to get it`s eyes checked. Because about 300 apart for the 40 cast members, other theatre workers, their parents and enighbours have read the script so far, without any faltering. And 50% of those are from the vernacular medium, who have rarely read Hindi and 25% of them are seniors who need specs to read.

IF NOTHING

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Those who have claimed that it is illegible, are directly insulting the noted author Dr.Narendra mohan`s HANDWRITING.

First of all the Police UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES has the right to censor anything. For that we have the Censor Board. And there is NO CENSORSHIP on THEATRE. Inspite of that ASMITA gave them the script to read. Notably some months ago when Eve ensler visited India, Delhi Police had asked her for the script of `Vagina Monologues.``

I think the adults of this country are mature enough to handle a adult play. But the POlice thinks otherwise.

[[b) The licence of the theatre at the IHC where you wished to present your play was and still is suspended, and is under routine scrutiny. That is an established and verifiable fact. ]]

Reply to b) This is not true. The auditoriums of IHC opened on 24th June and now are holding plays everyday. They have a packed calender. On July 2nd and 3rd they staged a workshop production of Arvind Gaur in the basement theatre of IHC. There is no opbjection for anyone to stage any play there. You have to get your ``established and verifiable facts` corrected.

[[c) Fact remains that you went ahead and sold tickets even before you had applied for the required permissions. How do you blame Delhi Police for that? ]]

Reply to c) Asmita had a permission to sell tickets from the Entertainment and Excise department a week before the show. SO they had all the right to sell the tickets. there was nothing illegal in it. Asmita also had the Delhi Traffic Commissioner`s NOC a week before the show. SO who chould stop them from selling the tickets. Yet s it is in practice the tickets are nevr sold BUT BOOKED.

The tickets for both the shows were BOOKED ON PHONE AND IN PERSON on `first come first served` basis. The audience was supposed to collect the tickets No money was taken and till the 22nd evening and 23rd whole day I myself have attended hundreds of calls when I had to to request and explain the people interested in seeing the play, that the play was banned.

[[d) There has been no ban on your placing another application for another valid theatre. ]]

Reply to d) Asmita has been trying to seek booking in another hall, but the funniest part is all the halls are running scared of the police. Primarily maybe they don`t have the complete licences for safety. Even after 10 yrs of the Upahaar tragedy most halls in delhi don`t adhere to fire safety norms. Or they have been directed not to stage Mr.Jinnah.

It`s amazing how the authorities of the capital of this huge country pees in its pants at the very mention of Jinnah. Even after half a century of his death the Indian `SYSTEM` is so scared.

Question is ``what are they scared of?`` Facing the mirror, revisiting history or the fact that the revelations will prevent them from controlling the minds of the nation.

pre-note: This article might be able to address some of the questions raised during the interacts at CHOWK. Some of the details about the play are also available on www.indiantheatre.blogspot.com

Quaid-e-Azam Jinxed: Ban on Artistic Freedom

Dear Reader,

We start this article with a recollection of events and sharing of what Asmita Art Group artists went through the course of events in last few weeks after deference of staging of Mr. Jinnah by Delhi Police. This article is addressed to anyone who believes in values of democracy.

Arvind Gaur received a script on Jinnah written by Dr. Narendra Mohan about seven months ago. The script of the play focuses on scriptwriter`s interpretation and narration of an introspective dialogue of a leader who influenced masses, had the intelligence and courage to withstand political course of events-rise and downfalls.

This script and portrayal of Jinnah intrigued Arvind Gaur, the Director of the play `Mr. Jinnah`, so much that he, along with his team of artists, started research work and discussions on Mr. Jinnah about six months ago. Long discussions and debates followed among the team members which, interestingly, comprises of people with various ideological inclinations and orientations.

As all the team members would recall, it was not merely reading of a script but an intellectually stimulating exercise where a person`s political life along with his personal life--projected as well as un-projected self --were discussed at length to find out possibilities of interpretation and visual representation on stage. Several meetings followed with the scriptwriter where he shared and discussed his viewpoint and interpretation not only with the Director but also with the team of Mr. Jinnah. Following this, almost two months ago, the team started with `on floor` rehearsals of `Mr. Jinnah`.

Fortunately or unfortunately, as it would seem to any individual reader, it`s a coincidence that Asmita announced the staging of the play on Jinnah when Mr. Advani`s statements on the leader, held responsible for the partition and the events following 1947, have been in hot debate since last month among various political circles, in news columns-online as well as in print, on various discussion forums.

However, what is most unfortunate is how the system of a democratic state treated a work of art, in the name of maintenance of law and order. You may be aware that Asmita`s play ``Mr. Jinnah`` has been `banned` from being staged. The `ban` word is probably missing from the official letter issued by Delhi Police South District Office but the meaning is all the more same. The play was ``deferred`` by the Delhi police on the plea that they were not able to scrutinise the script as it was not legible.

Asmita had applied for various clearances on May 22 about a month ago. The clearance from the traffic police and the entertainment tax office was duly procured, however, the south district police asked for a script of the play, which was immediately submitted on June 16. But, the permission was denied on June 21, a day before the announced date of the show, without assigning any clear reason. The police so far have not been able to cite a proper cause for the ban, though they agree that there is nothing objectionable in the play. Is not allowing staging of the play an attempt to culture policing and moral policing of the artists of this city, the capital of a democratic nation? The TOI editorial, June 24, also mentions,`` The police action is outrageous. It`s a sinister assault on creative freedom``.

On June 22, 2005 as a silent protest the writers and dramatists, authors, artists, actors, filmmakers, theatre lovers, and other intellectuals, historians and general public symbolically staged a portion of the play in front of the Lodi Road police station. The lead actor of `Mr. Jinnah`, Mr. Susan Brar was aggrieved due to demise of his mother the same morning. Though it was very tough but Susan braved the time and decided to stand by the team in joining the protest.

On June 23 the protest was again staged by the team where the theatre artists, writers, journalists, students were invited by the team of Mr. Jinnah to view a portion of rehearsal of the play. Following this a silent candle lit protest march was carried out from the venue of the rehearsal to the Delhi Police Headquarters at ITO. The protesters placed the candles outside PHQ and again staged several portions of the play.

However many questions crop up about the colonial type mindset of the police and the system. It is a matter of great dismayal that no one except the Asmita team has ever read the script of `Mr. Jinnah`. We say this because; the ordeal of the team of `Mr. Jinnah` does not end here. The team has been approaching many of the famous auditoriums in Delhi to hold its performance however; none of them has agreed so far to allow booking for staging of `Mr. Jinnah`. As if, Jinnah`s Djinn would start haunting the place. One auditorium manager even asked the director to get no objection certificate from several political and religiously affiliated organizations!! Why does a psychodrama need religious sanctions? And, that too, when none of such organizations has till now raised any sort of objections against Mr. Jinnah. It seems two hundred years of colonial experience has converted us into Macauley`s children for generations to come. We are so scared of ourselves, as unsure of our convictions and values as a democratic nation and have become so much used to an outsider being our master that we as a nation can not muster enough courage to look up into eyes of our past.

The right of the citizen of a democratic state is being blatantly trampled by our own colonized minds. We do not actually need an East India Company to do that to us. It seems to be a suicidal attempt by a state which has declared itself to be a democratic republic. With events like this, the issues of social relevance in the artistic fields would soon take a backseat and a mindless entertainment would emerge which takes no responsibility of society and has no concern with civil liberty. Are we ready to pay heed to the slow poison killing democracy? It`s high time that all of us who have even slightest concern for India as a democratic nation and democracy and civil liberty as a value, must come forward, hold hands together for the freedom of expression. It is now just not a matter of how the police treated an artistic expression, it is also a matter of what we are doing to ourselves by resurrecting baseless fears and inviting any sort of self styled religious representation to take decision for ourselves.

Coming back to the play, like most great tragedies, King Lear, Julius Caesar, Hamlet, Macbeth and Othello the play is more of a psychological scrutiny than a political retrospective or a historical docudrama. The visual treatment of the play is unconventional. The director has chosen a visual depiction of Jinnah`s introspection, his pain, regret and sorrow as out of body projections. The facets of his character, emotional outbursts are simultaneously expressed through his body, heart, mind and soul, played by four actors other than Jinnah himself.

Let us all join hands together so that democracy may live and our future generations breathe not in a colony but in a democratic nation. Let us safeguard what is every citizen`s right to free expression in India.

Contact us at: 9312233561 (Arvind Gaur);
Or e-mail us at arvindasmita@yahoo.com; susanbrar@rediffmail.com ; naad.research@gmail.com

Anyone interested in visiting us to view rehearsals of `Mr. Jinnah` is most welcome.

This write up is submitted with a request to the reader to forward it to friends all over the globe. It`s just not a matter of Censorship by Police in India. As a human, do you believe in right to free expression? Decide for yourself and act today.

Regards,
Anupam Pachauri
For Asmita Art Group

Ref stuka #75

[Harimau: Dude, whatever!! I can sing Jai Dubya and that`s better than singing Jai Hitler or Jai Bal Thackeray...The last thing I need is moral lessons from a dude who wants to line up Mahim with tanks and kill a few thousand people.]

I only suggested ringing Mahim with tanks and let those who harbor bomb-throwers stew in their own garbage. It is your imagination, aided by probably watching any number of Arnold Gropenegger movies, that adds the stuff about killing a few thousand people.

Any amount of arti`s in front of the White House while singing ``Jaya Dubya Bush Hare`` ain`t going to save your butt if suddenly the Department of Homeland Security declares some Hindu temple in Washington, DC to be a terrorist organization for sending funds to India and you are on the list of contributors to that temple. So sing all you want but remember that they can get you if they want to.

In case you don`t read the news, Jeb Bush had the husband of Terry Schiavo investigated to see if he had called Emergency Medical Services soon enough after his wife`s accident. That is what, some 12+ years after she went into a coma. All for what? So that he can prove he is a pro-lifer!

So, be afraid. Be very very afraid.

kaalchakra:

i know. i`ve done it myself. :) and i`ve done plenty of it these last couple of days. and i said to ally what i said in peace (and love) and i think he knows that. :)

re: Veeresh # 77

LOL...both are cool guys so long as CISF keeps the two at least a few meters apart :)


ana

Agreed. It`s just that every healthy system should allow people to blow off steam once in a while.

now anyone who says this is my country, or mera p`yo da jagir, but not yours -- these folks might just come thiiiis close. *almost joining thumb and finger.* :)

kaalchakra:

i wasn`t being harsh on ally. . . but forgive me if i don`t consider the word ``fascist`` a term of endearment. the point to be made, briefly is that people who ``without class`` will heap abuses on what ally has listed are not necessarily fascists. if that was the case, just about everyone on unplugged would be one. :) from all sides of the border.

Re: #76 by stuka


[Commie and LET?? HAHAHA!! There is no limit to fucktards in India as you amply prove...yeah, feel free to call Delhi Police. I will be in the Air Force car with a few CMPs. ]

I am not even going to take a guess at what you would be doing in the with those CMPs in the backseat.

Disgusting!



Re: #75 by stuka


[Yeah, and u are a stupid cunt who can want Nazi fantasies online while lacking the testicular fortitude to do anything else...Who gives a rat`s arse what you think...I think you are a wanker and will remain one for the rest of your misreable life. Oh yeah, and u can keep on saying ``should this`` and ``should that`` and they will remain your wet dreams. ]


And what kind of testicular fortitude do YOU have, selling out your motherland to a bunch of Islamists.

And stop talking all the time about ``arse``s and ``testicles`` and ``wankers`` and ``wet dreams``.

Get a hold of yourself. (No, I didn`t ask you to hold that!)





[Oh ya, before claimimg India to be your daddy`s property, you should maybe check if your milkman was a Bangladeshi refugee. ]

Yes, imported into India by Commie bastards like yourself into West Bengal, for the purpose of rigging the elections.





[Harimau: Dude, whatever!! I can sing Jai Dubya and that`s better than singing Jai Hitler or Jai Bal Thackeray...The last thing I need is moral lessons from a dude who wants to line up Mahim with tanks and kill a few thousand people. ]


But you can always take moral lessons from dudes who ran over a peaceful demonstrator with a tank in Tianamen Square.

Fukcing hypocrite!

One has a Daddy-ji in the IAS and the other has a Daddy-ji in the IAF.

Airport is now under CISF, by the way.

``Actually there is. I have informed the Delhi police that a treacherous Commie LeT sympathizer is going to arrive. If you see suspicious people behind you, it could be them.
``

Ajeya

Commie and LET?? HAHAHA!! There is no limit to fucktards in India as you amply prove...yeah, feel free to call Delhi Police. I will be in the Air Force car with a few CMPs.

``Leftie closet-cutloos like yourself should be deported to China which treats Islamists and Islamist sympathizers the way they should be.
``

Yeah, and u are a stupid cunt who can want Nazi fantasies online while lacking the testicular fortitude to do anything else...Who gives a rat`s arse what you think...I think you are a wanker and will remain one for the rest of your misreable life. Oh yeah, and u can keep on saying ``should this`` and ``should that`` and they will remain your wet dreams.

Oh ya, before claimimg India to be your daddy`s property, you should maybe check if your milkman was a Bangladeshi refugee.


Harimau: Dude, whatever!! I can sing Jai Dubya and that`s better than singing Jai Hitler or Jai Bal Thackeray...The last thing I need is moral lessons from a dude who wants to line up Mahim with tanks and kill a few thousand people.

We may be moving toward a new social contract. One in which everyone must assume the very worst about everyone else.

Should we ever reach that situation, we will live in a much fairer world. There would be no free lunch. Trust will not be guranteed. It will need to be actively earned. And then cautiously maintained. For it`s very unreasonable to demand that others trust us merely on the strength of our good word.

All social interactions beyond primitive units (family, tribe) will become quite costly. The less a person can be trusted, the more the person will have to pay upfront for the privilege of interacting socially. These costs will change over time, getting adjusted through a market mechanism.

So what`s visualized here is a sort of market for social interactions among inherently and openly antagonistic actors, in which people will participate as both individuals and as parts of preferred groups.

ana

Fascist has very much become a term of endearment. It`s quite impolite to not call our closest friends fascists at least a couple of times every month. Ally certainly didn`t mean anything harsher than that :)

#65 by stuka

[India is your daddy`s property? I think I am more loyal than a fascist like you.]

Yes, it is my daddy’s property. But not your daddy’s.

Leftie closet-cutloos like yourself should be deported to China which treats Islamists and Islamist sympathizers the way they should be.

Fascism: A system of government marked by centralization of authority under a dictator, stringent socioeconomic controls, suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship, and typically a policy of belligerent nationalism and racism.

“Centralization of authority under a dictator”: Pakistan, or India?
“Suppression of the opposition through terror and censorship”: Pakistan, or India?
“Belligerent nationalism and racism”: Compare the plight of the minorities in the two countries.

I think you are a closet-cutloo. Either that, or you are under the advisement (for the lack of a better term) :-) of some Muslim/Paki girl.

Otherwise, calling me a fascist and showing Pakistan favourably as compared to India is not possible.


[BTW, I will be landing at IGI New Delhi on Monday night and there isn`t crap you can do about it.]

Actually there is. I have informed the Delhi police that a treacherous Commie LeT sympathizer is going to arrive. If you see suspicious people behind you, it could be them.

ally:

let me ask you this. and i apologize for involving names in this, but i have to ask this:

when the same group of pakistanis are critical of those who are ``liberal`` or democratic in pakistan, are they all to be defined as fascists? let`s think about that one, because i certainly don`t consider myself to be a fascist.

now let`s turn to the indians. who are ``these fascist indians`` yaar? is dullabhatti a fascist? he has said plenty about FV, muslims and pakistan, and yet you address him in referring to ``these fascist indians``.

you know just because people don`t always show class when they`re involved in an argument doesn`t automatically make them a fascist. do you think these people and their constant tirades are just paying lip-service when they are critical of communalists? how do we know?

there are hypocrites aplenty here, including you and me. but mittarji is one who shows class, because he doesn`t agree with how fv has portrayed certain issues, and people, but he has stuck to the issues, and her expression of those issues, not insulted her in any way. and to my knowledge mittarji is NOT a fascist. his views are sometimes alarming, but he`s not a fascist.

you`re falling in the same trap a lot of folks do here, of taking a brush and tarring ``these fascist indians`` with the same color. a lack of understanding, or being understood, or giving a damn about being understood does not necessarily a fascist make. i will give you an example. arjun and mohar and harimau have voiced their views much as we can`t stand those views about pakistanis. but my observation is that you can`t lump these three together in the same box. it doesn`t work. just like you and i can`t be.

my sympathies re: your attempt to quit smoking. i`ve been there. i`ve kicked the habit -- for now.

xo ~ ana

Ana and DB,
Yes i got a little peed off, but its not just this article it was a whole bunch of things, recently been reading a lot from these fascist Indians, and their constant tirade against FV and Muslims and Pakistan. That along with the fact that i am trying to quit smoking and a few other things, allowed me to let off some steam to some of these maha k*njars!!!