TIO - Issue 1

Ac onv er s at i onwi t hShaz i aI l mi

Shaz i aont het oughel ec t or al c ompet i t i on,t heambi t i onsoft he AAP,t he377debat e,Shei l aDi k s hi t ,Modi andmor e I ssue#1 Febr uar y28,2014

Thecom m on m anri s es 2013wast r ul yt hey earoft hec ommonman.Fr om AAP’ sAr v i ndKej r i wal t oChennai Ex pr es s ’ ShahRuk hKhan,t hepoweroft hec ommonmanwasi nf ul l di s pl ay .

Peopl e’ smov ement sar eher et os t ay ,andI ndi ahasac hanc eathi s t or y .

F ROMT HEE DI T OR’ SDE SK www. t hei ndi anopi ni on. co. i n

Founder s :AmanChar l esLuk e,Manc hi tMahaj an,Poor v aGupt a,Subhas hi s hBhadr a.Webs i t e l ay out :AmanChar l esLuk e,Poor v aGupt a.Logo: Samr i ddhi Gupt a.

CONTRI BUTORSTO THI SEDI TI ON AmanChar l esLuk e

Amat hemat i csst udentf r om St .St ephen’ s Col l ege,Del hi ,Amanwast hePr esi dentoft he St udent s’ Uni onoft hecol l ege.Hecur r ent l y wor kswi t hGoJaVasandi samovi eent husi ast .

Az eezGupt a AzeezGupt ai saconsul t antwi t hal eadi ng managementconsul t i ngf i m,andaf ut ur eent r epr eneur .Anal umnusofI I TDel hi ,hei spassi onat eabouteducat i onalr ef or ms.

Kar anNagpal Kar anNagpall i vesandwor ksi nVanuat u,an ar chi pel agoi nt hesout hwest er nPaci f i c Ocean.Hehasst udi edEconomi csatt heUni ver si t yofOxf or dandSt .St ephen’ sCol l ege, Del hi .

Manc hi tMahaj an

Aneconomi csgr aduat ef r om St .St ephen’ s Col l ege,Del hi ,Manchi thaswor kedasa managementconsul t anti nt hepast .Abuddi ng ast r ol ogi st ,Manchi ti si nt er est edi nmedi t at i on andot herspi r i t ualdi scover i es.

Poor v aGupt a Poor vaGupt ai sananal ystatal eadi ngi nvest mentbank.Agr aduat eofSt .St ephen’ s Col l ege,Del hi ,shei sat heat erent husi astand i sal socl oset edsi nger .

Ranj eetBhi de

Ani nvest mentbankerbypr of essi onandan ar t i stathear t ,Ranj eet ’ si nt er esti npol i t i cs st emsf r om hi sobsessi onwi t ht hecauseof democr at i candel ect or alr ef or msi nI ndi a.

Wr i t i ngandt heat r ear ehi spassi ons.

Subhas hi s hBhadr a Subhashi shi saconsul t antwi t hal eader i ng managementconsul t i ngf i r m.Ast udentof economi cs,hei si nt er est edi npol i t i csandhi st or y.Hei sal soapar t t i mepoetandnovel i st .

YohaannBhaar gav a Yohaanni sawr i t erandcr eat i vevi sual i ser .

Hest aysi nMumbaiandhousesanast oundi ngknowl edgeofI ndi anci nemat hr ought he year s.

“ Idon' tk nowwhypeopl ehav edi v i dedt hewhol ewor l di nt ot wo gr oups ,wes tandeas t .Educ at i oni snei t hereas t er nnorwes t er n, educ at i oni seduc at i onandi t ' st her i ghtofev er yhumanbei ng. ” Mal al a,at16,hast aughtt hewor l ds omet hi ngs of undament al l y undeni abl e,t hatonec oul dar guewhyt hi sr eas oni ngi snotappl i ed t oal l oft hewor l d’ si nc ont r ov er t i bl et r ut hs .AnI ndi anOpi ni onwor t h i t snamei spos s i bl eonl ywheni ti sdy nami c .Atat i mewhenour c ount r yi satac r os s r oads ,whenangerandhopear ef i ght i ngav i c i ousbat t l eons oc i al medi a-wet houghtt hati ti sanoppor t une t i mef orust or ef l ec tt hes edi f f er ents t r andsofopi ni onsonal ar ger pl at f or m.Thet i mei sper hapsr i pet oenc our ageabal anc eddi s c us s i onont opi c st hatot her swoul df l i nc hf r om.

TheI ndi anOpi ni onbegi nsi t sj our neyt hr oughi t sf i r s ti s s ue,byex pl or i ngs omeof2013’ si nel uc t abl et hemest hatc oul dbedebat ed ordi s c er ned,butc er t ai nl ynotdi s mi s s ed.

Ourc ov ers t or y ,AnI nt er v i ewwi t hShaz i aI l mi ,memberoft heNat i onal Ex ec ut i v eoft heAam Aadmi Par t y( “ AAP” )di s pl ay st hat whet herornoty ouappr ov eofi t ,t heAAPhasemer gedasoneof t hebi gges tpeopl e’ sr ev ol ut i onsI ndi ahasev ers eenwhi l eRanj eet Bhi dewr i t esont hebur ni ngi s s ueof“ TheEr aofPeopl e’ sMov ement sandI ndi a’ sMomenti nHi s t or y ” .I n“ ThePi nkReel ’ s ”YohaannBhaar gav al ook st or ei nf or c ehowt hei r r ef ut abl et r ut hsof humanc hoi c eandf r eedom ofs ex ual behav i orhav ebeenper c ei v edbyI ndi anCi nemaov ert hey ear s .Subhas hi s hBhadr a wr i t eson“ Nar endr aModi andt heRedef i ni t i onofChi efMi ni s t er s ” , hi st ak eonwhet herr i ghtorwr ong,Modi andhi spol i t i c shav e c hangedt hewayI ndi anpol i t yf unc t i onsf or ev er .Poor v aGupt a wr i t esonwhyt heI ndi anwoman’ sf i ghtagai ns therc ount r y ’ sr ape c ul t ur ei ss c r eami ngoutf ort heneedt or eas s es showt hemal ai s e i sbei ngat t empt edt ober edr es s ed.Vi ol ent ,c ommunal ,j i ngoi s t i c ornot ,t hes oc i al medi ai sc hur ni ngoutanewbr eedofr adi c al ex t r emi s t s ,s ur mi s esAz eezGupt ai n“ Headsi nt heSand?” .Kar an Nagpal r ei t er at est heneedt or eev al uat e,asI ndi ans ,whatt he c onc eptofNat i onal Pr i deac t ual l ymeanst ousandYohaann Bhaar gav ac el ebr at esahundr edy ear sofI ndi anCi nemar emember i ngPak eez ah,at ant al i z i ngf i l mt hr ought heev enmor ef as c i nat i ngs t or yofi t sc r eat i on,ex ac t l y42y ear saf t ert hedayofi t sr el eas e.

Weai mt or ai s eques t i onst hatpeopl er es pondt o,andi nt ur nf ac i l i t at eac t i ont owar ds ,f orabet t erj our ney ,al l i nt hepur s ui tofa mor ei nf or med,r ec ept i v eandc ons equent i al I ndi anOpi ni on.We l ookf or war dt oy ours ugges t i onsandc ont r i but i onsat f eedbac k @t hei ndi anopi ni on. c o. i n.

Forr epr i ntr i ght sandenqui r i es ,c ont ac tusat ques t i ons @t hei ndi anopi ni on. c o. i n

1

I NSI DE

2 0|

Fi ght i ngt her ape cul t ur ei nI ndi a

I ndi aer upt edagai nstsexualvi ol encel astyear ,buthasmuch changedsi ncet heNi r bhaya case?Whatwi l li tt aket omake t hi scount r ysaf erf ori t swomen?

2 5|

Headsi nt he sand?

COVERSTORY

6|

Theer aofpeopl e’ smovement s andI ndi a’ smomenti nhi st or y

Thecommonmani spr ot est i ngi ncount r i esacr osst he wor l d,i ncl udi ngI ndi a.I st hewor l dr eadyt oacceptt hei rdemands?

1 1|

ThePi nk Reel s

1 5|

Lovehi m orhat ehi m,you can’ tdenyt hef ac tt hatNar endr aModihascompl et el y changedt her ol eandst at ur e ofChi efMi ni st er si nI ndi a

2 9|

Nat i onal Pr i de?

I ndi ar espondedwi t hal acr i t yat t hevi ol enceagai nstt r oopsby Paki st anandt hehumi l i at i onof Devyanii nt heUS.Wher edoes onedr awt hel i ne?

3 2 |

दा स् ता नए पा की ज़ा

I ndi anci nema,i sgr adual l y acknowl edgi ngt heLGBTQ communi t y .Butwhatdoest he Sect i on377ver di ctmeanf or i t ?

Nar endr aModi andt her edef i ni t i onofChi efMi ni st er s

Thesoci almedi ai st ur ni ngi nt oa medi um ofshar i ngpol i t i caland soci alvi ews.I tal sot endst opr omot eext r emi sm.I st hecost wor t ht hebenef i t ?

3|

Conver sat i on wi t hShazi a

AAP’ sl eadi ngl i ghtonher t oughel ect or ai l f i ght ,t hechal l engesofanewpar t yandt he ent r enchedpol i t i c i ans

गु ला बीमहलमे ं क़ै द,पा की ज़ाएक हसी ं र क् का साकीकहा नीहै जोबा ज़ा रकी गलि यो ं से नि कलसली मकीबर ा तके सा थर खसतहोजा ु तीहै .

Aconver sat i onwi t h Shazi aI l mi TI O:FormanyAAPsuppor t er s,t hej oyofvi ct or ywast emper edduet ot henar r owl ossi nRKPur am.Youevi dent l y pi ckedandf oughtt het oughestf i ght ,andwer et hel eadi ngexampl eofAAP’ sdi sr egar df ori dent i t ypol i t i cs.

Shazi a:Yes,i twasaver yt oughf i ghti nt er msofever yt hi ng,i t wasver ycompl ex,andyouknow,t heel ect or alcompl exi t y cannotbeexpl ai nedsoeasi l y .Buti fyousee,Idi dn’ twantt o gof orvot ebankpol i t i csatal l .Ther ear eal otofgover nment ser vant s,al otofsl ums–t her ear eal sovi l l ages!I ti sact ual l ya ver yt oughconst i t uencyt ocont estf r om.I twasal sobecause t her ewasar apet hathappened,t heNi r bhayar apet hathappenedovert her e,( whi chi swhy)Iwant edt of i ghtf r om t her e.I t wasi nMuni r ka,t hesameconst i t uenc yandsoIwant edt ot al k abouti tandt hi swast hepl ace,t hi swast hewhol eepi cent erof t hegenderr evol ut i ont hatwesaw,t hat ’ swhyIchoset hi sconst i t uency .

TI O:Whataboutt hest i ngoper at i ont hathappenedatt hatt i me?

Shazi a:Yeah,youknow,i twassosadbecausecr edi bl emedi awasusedbyt hesepol i t i c al mi scr eant sandi fyouseet her awf oot age,i t ’ sj ustat hr eemi nut ef oot age,wher eI ’ vesai d j ustt heopposi t eandt hey’ v ecutandpast ed.Peopl ej ustpouncedonus,andyouknow,I wantt ot al kaboutt hat .ASt i ngOper at i onl i ket hat ,i t ’ sl i kear ape.Yourbodyi snothur t ,but al lt hatyoust andf or ,al lt hatyoust andf orandbel i evei n( i sdest r oyed) .Apar tofi thur t sbecauseyoust andf oraf ewt hi ngs ,andoneoft hem,akeyone,yourwhol ecur r ency ,i si nt egr i t y .That ’ swhatyous t andf or ,youk now,andi fsomebodyt akest hatawayf r om youandt he medi acanbeal l owedt of ool i shl ybeusedbypeopl el i ket hi s,i tdoeshur t .

TI O:Ast hepar t yexpands,t heabi l i t yoft hesyst em t odoaduedi l i genceonmember swi l l r educe.Howwi l lyouhandl et hei nf l uxofpar t ymember s?

Shazi a:See,anybodycanj oi nt hepar t y ,butwe’ l lbever ycar ef ulaboutt hecandi dat es,f or t hati t ’ l lhavet obeat hr eet i erpr ocess,we’ l lhavet ohavel ocal sver i f yi ng,vouchi ngf ort he peopl eappl yi ng.Fi r st ,t her ewi l l beaver ycur sor y ,aver ybr i efki ndofanaf f i davi tsor tofa pr ocess,wher et heywi l ldecl ar et hatt heydon’ thaveanycr i mi nal ,communal orcor r upt i on casesagai nstt hem.Buthavi ngsai dt hat ,i t ’ snotj ustf ort henat i onal andexecut i vel evel ,but al soatt hest at el evelandt hel ocall evel ,wewi l ldoasear chont hem.Wewi l lhaveasear ch commi t t eeandasel ect i oncommi t t ee,andal so,t hel ocalpeopl e,andwewi l lputt hese namesup.Andno,i twi l lnotbeeasy ,i twi l lbever yt ough.

3

TI O:Wast her eanypoi ntatwhi chAAPcompr omi sedoni t sdecl ar edi nt ent i onsorpr i nc i pl es?

Shazi a:No.No,Idon’ tt hi nkso,becausei fwest ar tcompr omi si ngwe’ l lbef i ni shed.Wehav e, t heonl ypower ,asapar t y ,t heonl ycur r encyt hatwehavei st hi s.Yousee,i fwel oset hat ,t hen whatwi l lwebel ef twi t h?So,Iguesst hat ’ swhat ’ st hemosti mpor t antt ous.Li kewet al k ed aboutt hest i ngyouknow,i t ’ sl i ke,i t ’ sl i k eani nt el l ect ual r ape,t hecutandpast e.Andyoumust wr i t et hi s,It ol dAr nabal so,Isai d,I fIaskyout hi s,asast i ngr epor t er ,‘ Doyout akecashf or youri nt er v i ews?’ ,youwi l lsay‘ No! ’ Mysecondquest i onwi l lbe,‘ Doyoubel i evei nmedi a et hi cs?’ ,youranswerwi l lbe‘ Yes! ’ .Whati fIusedt hef i r stquest i on,t hat‘ Doyout akecashf or i nt er vi ews?’ andIuset hesecondanswer ,‘ Yes’ ,yourwhol ei nt egr i t ygoes.Andi t ’ sasi mpl e caseofpost pr oduct i onandedi t i ng.Andanybodywhosawt hest i ngcoul dt el l t hatwhatIwas sayi ngwasdi f f er entandwhatt heywer ewr i t i nghadabsol ut el ynot hi ngt odowi t ht hat .

TI O:Shei l aDi kshi thadbecomesynonymouswi t hDel hi .Somear guedt hatshehadchanged Del hi ’ sphysi cali nf r ast r uct ur ewhi l eot her ssawherascor r uptandal oof .Howdoyout hi nkMs. Di kshi twi l lber emember edt enyear shence?

Shazi a:Howwi l lsheber emember edt enyear sf r om now?See,Idon’ tevenknow i fshewi l lber emember edt enyear sf r om now.Pol i t i ci anscomeandgo,and Ir eal l ydon’ tf eelshedi ds omet hi ngt hatcanbecal l edsubst ant i al .Ir eal l y dof eelt hatshewasoneamongstal lt heot herpol i t i ci anst hatDel hisaw andIdon’ tknowi fshewi l lber emember ed.

TI O:TheAAPhasopposedFDIi nr et ai l .Thi si sacl assi ccaseofbar gai ni ngpoweri ngamet heor y–asmal lbutconcent r at edgr oupsuch asr et ai l t r ader scanhi j ackani ssue.Whydi dt heAAP,f ori nst ance,not doar ef er endum onFDIi nr et ai l t ogauget heconsumer ’ smood?

Shazi a:Yeah,sot her ear eal otofsuchi ssues,youknow,f orexampl e, i fwedoar ef er endum onAyodhyaorBabr iMasj i d,weal l knowwhat t hemassr esponsewi l lbe.Wedoar ef er endum oni ssuesonwhi ch t her ei sacl eardi l emma.Butwhenwet al kaboutFDIi nr et ai l ,t hat ’ si n conf i dencewi t ht heover al l pol i cyt hatwebel i evei n.Becausewehave apr obl em notwi t hcapi t al i sm,butwi t hcr onycapi t al i sm.It hi nk,t hata mi ddl egr oundcoul dbest r uckher e,butIdon’ tt hi nkt hati st heanswer , oranyt hi nggr eatwi l lcomeoutoft hi s.So,whet hert her esour ces ar eal l ocat edbyt hegover nmentorpr i vat epar t y ,t her ei sst i l lcor r upt i ont hatr unsi n.Ther ealgaugedoesnothappen,soyouhavet o f i xt hesyst em.Anymodelt hatyouuse,youhavet omakesur e, t hati t ’ sat r anspar entpr ocess.Cur r ent l y ,i fyoul ookatt hewayi t i s,FDIi nr et ai l ,i twi l lbet hesameol dpeopl e,i t ’ l l bet hesame i ssuet hatwi l lcomet ohauntus.Sowehavet of i xt hatf i r st , bef or ewedeci det hi ngsei t herway .Andwehaveneversai dt hat wear eagai nstcapi t al i s m,wear eagai nstcr onycapi t al i sm.Wear e agai nstf r audul entpr i ci ng.Webel i evei nwhol et r anspar ency .

4

TI O:It al kt omyf r i endsanddespi t ebei ngf r om t hemet r os,t heydonotsuppor tdecr i mi nal i s at i onofgaysex.Mostpeopl ei nI ndi apr obabl ydon’ t .Thi si spr obabl ywhatl edt oBJP’ sst andon t hei ssue.Howwi l lt heAAPdr awt hel i nebet weendecent r al i sat i onandpeopl ecent r i ci t yon onehandandmi nor i t ypr ot ect i onont heot her ?

Shazi a:Di dyouseewhatt heAAPsai daboutt hi s?See,ourconst i t ut i onsayst hatnobi ases shoul dbet her ebas edongender .Thi si spar tofgenderequal i t yf orus.Andanymi nor i t y ,even t hesexualmi nor i t yshoul dnotbei l l t r eat edorcr i mi nal i zed.West andbyt hat .I fwewer et o f ol l ow,onl yt hepopul arvot e,wewoul dnothavegonebyt hat ,r i ght ?Butj ustt hef actt hatwe di d,meanst hatwest andf ori ncl usi onandf orconst i t ut i onalval uesandl i ber alval ues.

TI O:DoyouseeNar endr aModiasspeci alamongyouropponent s?Ori shej ustanot herconvent i onalpol i t i ci an?

Shazi a:If eel ,youknow,Nar endr aModi ,i st heBJPcandi dat ef ort hePr i meMi ni st er ,butwe f eelver yl i t t l edi f f er encebet weent het wopar t i es.Noneoft hem addr essest hesyst emi cr ef or mst hatar eneeded.I tcan’ tbebas edoni ndi vi dual s,i thast obesyst emi c,youhavet oover hault hesyst em,t hemachi ner y ,andnei t herpar t yt al ksabouti t .I t ’ sonl yourpar t y .I t ’ snott hat i t ’ sbecausei t ’ sAr vi ndhewi l ldosomet hi ng,buti t ’ sbecausehe’ smadet hesyst em l i ket hat .

I t ’ sbecausewehaveMohal l aSabhas,becausewehavepeopl edeci di ngandwear ei ncl udi ng t hem.So,Nar endr aModii ssympt omat i cofaki ndofpol i t i cs.AndbecauseRahul Gandhihas f ai l edmi ser abl y ,andsohast heCongr esspar t yi ncont r ol l i ngcor r upt i onandi nf l at i on,t heonl y ot herchoi ceseemst obeNar endr aModi ,youknow,f ort hepeopl e.Butwear enoti nt er est ed i nt hatki ndofpol i t i cs.Forus,i tdoesn’ tmat t er .I t ’ snotaboutRahulGandhi ,Nar endr aModi ,i t ’ s aboutt her egul arci t i zensoft hi scount r y .AndAam Aadmif orusi snotj ustapoorper son,you know,butaper sonwhowant st owor kt owar dsacl eanI ndi a,abet t erI ndi a,andal sowant st o l i vehi sl i f ehonest l y ,anyonewhohasbeenavi ct i m oft hesyst em.SoAam Aadmicanbeanybody ,i tcanbesomebodyf r om GK,i tcanbesomebodyf r om aj huggi ,asAr vi ndsai dont he Assembl yf l oor .

TI O:Ass t udent sandyoungwor ki ngpr of essi onal s,Pai dMedi ai ssomet hi ngt hathasmadeal l ofusl osef ai t hi nt hef r eedom oft hepr ess-maybet hati soneoft her easonswedeci dedt o st ar tt hi s.Weal mostneverknowwhoi sbehi ndwhatwear er eadi ngorwat chi ngonTV!You’ ve beenapar tofI ndi anmedi af orover15year s.Doyout hi nkt hatwi l levergetf i xed?

Shazi a:Pai dMedi ai sar eal i t yoft hecapi t al i ster a.ButIt hi nk,youknow,f r om t i met ot i me,t he medi ahousesandt hechannel s,shoul dsay ,anddi scl ose.Tr anspar encyi st heanswer .So, onceyouknowt hatMukeshAmbaniownst heCNNI BNGr oup,t her eshoul dber emi nder sof t hatanddi scl osur esoft hi st hi ng.

TI O:Howcanabuddi ngeconomi storanemer gi ngeducat i oni stgetassoci at edwi t ht heAAP? Howcanwecommuni c at eouri deast oyourpar t y?

Shazi a:Wr i t et ous,j ustwr i t et ousyouknow.Wedor ecei veal otofi deas.Whenwecr eat ed t hepar t y ,wedi dn’ tknowal otpeopl e,i twasn’ tj ustf orour sel ves,sower eal l yl i ker ecei vi ng i deas.Sowr i t et ous,andi fwef i ndanyt hi ngr eal l yexci t i ng,wecoul dt akei tf or war d.

---------------------

5

Theer aofpeopl e’ smovement andI ndi a’ smomenti nhi st or y Ranj eetBhi de I n2010,si mmer i ngdi scont enti nt he Ar abwor l der upt edi naser i esofpr ot est s,andmar kedt hebegi nni ngofan er aofpeopl e’ smovement s.Ar abSpr i ng, ast hepr ot est swer ecal l ed,sawt housandsofpeopl et aki ngt ot hest r eet st o voi cet hei rdi ssat i sf act i onwi t hwhatwer e most l ydi ct at or i al r egi mes,anddemandedr egi mechanges.I nsever alcount r i es r egi meshavebeent oppl ed,andt her egi mest hathaver epl acedt hem have beent oppl edagai n.Ther ehasbeena l otofbl oods hed.Themostcommondemandwast hatt hepeopl ewant ed‘ change’ .Butwhat changedi dt hepeopl eexact l ywant ?Di dal lt hepeopl ewantt hesamechange?Di dpeopl e evenknowwhatchanget heywant ed?

Thef ol l owi ngyear ,t heAr abSpr i ngi nspi r edt heSpani shI ndi gnadosandsubsequent l yt he OccupyMovement .I ti smostcommonl ybel i evedt hatt hi swasamovementagai nsti ncome i nequal i t y .Butwhatdi dt hepeopl epr oposet odoabouti t ?Di dal lt hepr ot est or shavet he samedemands?Di dt heyknowwhatdemandst heyhad?

Iwasext r aor di nar i l yf or t unat et oemer geoutofamet r ost at i oni nt hemi ddl eofPl açaCat al unya,Bar cel ona,att heexactt i mewhen400, 000peopl ear r i vedt her et ost ageanOccupypr ot estr al l yal lar oundme.Thesl ogansspokeoutaboutanumberofi nt er r el at edpr obl ems– unempl oyment ,i nequal i t y ,per sonaldebt .Ther ewer eal soanumberofgr oupspr ot est i ng agai nstI sr ael ’ soccupat i onofPal est i neandot herunr el at edi nj ust i cesi nandout si deSpai n.

Lat er ,Iaskedt heyoungwomanatmyhost el ’ sr ecept i ondeskwhatt hewhol et hi ngwasal l about .I t ’ sagai nstt hebi gbanker s,shesai d.Idi dn’ tt hi nkt hatwast hebestt i met ocont i nue t heconver sat i on,si ncemypr of essi onwoul dqui t el i kel yhavecomeup.

Somebel i evet hatt he‘ Tur k i shModel ’ ofanI sl ami stGover nmenti napr ogr ess i ve,democr at i c st at epr ovi dedamodelandamot i vef ort heAr abpeopl e.Evenmor econf oundi ng,t her ef or e, wer et hepr ot es t st hater upt edar oundTur keyi nmi d2013.Thepr ot est sst ar t edagai nstt he pr oposeddemol i t i onofGaz iPar ki nI st anbul ,butsoont heyspr eadar oundTur key .Tur keyi s ahugecount r y;cl ear l y ,peopl ei not herci t i esandr emot evi l l agesdi dn’ tcar emuchaboutt he demol i t i onofoneur banpar k.

Agai n,Iwasf or t unat et obei nTur keyj ustwhent hepr ot est swer ehappeni ng.

6

“ Ther ei st oomuchgover nmentever ywher e”sai dSavaş,af or t ysomet hi ngwhor unsac osy r est aur anti nSaf r anbol u,i nbr okenEngl i sh.“ He’ sagoodman, ”hesai d,r ef er r i ngt oPr i meMi ni st erEr doǧan,“ buthewant st ot el l ust odot hi s,dot hat ” .Hecoul dn’ tputhi sf i ngeronwhatex act l yt hepeopl ewant ed,butt heycl ear l ywer enotpl eased. ‘ Today’ sZama’ ,anEngl i shl anguageTur ki shnewspapercar r i edanar t i cl eont henat ur eoft he pr ot est s.I tpoi nt edoutt hati ti sal mosti mpossi bl et ol i stoutdemands.I nr emar kabl ywel l or gani zedpr ot est s,peopl ei nI st anbulandel sewher ei nTur keygat her edi npar ksandsquar es, andvoi cedt hei rconcer ns.Ever ybodypar t i ci pat ed–ar t i st s,bl uecol l ar edwor ker s,st udent s, women.Peopl eshar edt hemi kei nadi sci pl i nedmanner .However ,ever ybodyhadsomet hi ng di f f er entt osay–ever ybodyhadadi f f er ents t r uggl e,adi f f er entgr i evance.Whatdi dt hemass ofpeopl eexpectt ocomeoutoft hi s?

Anot herpeopl e’ smovementi scur r ent l yunder wayi nThai l and.Thecausesar ef ami l i ar ,especi al l yt ousI ndi ans–ext r emecor r upt i on,anunr esponsi vegover nment .Yetagai n,Ihappened t obei nThai l andr ecent l y .Thi st i me,however ,Ihadl i t t l el uckwi t ht hel ocal s.Ar at herl oquaci ouscabbi ewast heonl yonef ai nt l yi nt er est edi nt al ki ngaboutt hepol i t i calsi t uat i on( t he ot her sbusy ,f ort hemostpar t ,t r yi ngt osel lmequest i onabl epr oduct sandser vi ces) .Evenhe t r eat edi tr at herl i keat our i stat t r act i on–“ Youcomeher e, ”hesai d,“ t owat chbi i i gpr ot est . ” Fr i endswhodi dact ual l ywi t nesst hepr ot est si nBangkokr epor t edt heywer el i keacar ni val– peopl esmi l i ng,sel l i ngf oodandgener al l yhavi ngagoodt i me.Nott osayt hatpeopl ewer en’ t ser i ousaboutar egi mechange,orr ef or ms.I tcoul dwel lbet heThaist yl eofpr ot est i ng–t hey ar ear eal l yni cepeopl e,af t eral l .ButIdoubtt hepeopl ehadoneagenda,onepl anaboutwhat ki ndofchanget heyr eal l ywant .Yes,t heyar er al l yi ngaf t ert heOpposi t i onLeaderwhodoes seem t ohavesomeki ndofagenda,butwhet heral lt hepeopl ear ef ul l yonboar di saquest i on onl yt i mewi l lanswer .TheEgypt i ans,af t eral l ,di dr al l yaf t ert heMusl i m Br ot her hoodf ora whi l e.Atl eastsomeoft hem di d.Whathappenedt ot heMusl i m Br ot her hood?

Thi sar t i cl ei snotanat t emptt odi vi neordi st i l ani nvi si bl eunder cur r entcommont oal lt hese movement s.Notonl yi st heaut horunqual i f i edt omakesuchadi vi nat i on,t her ei smostl i kel yno commonunder cur r ent .I nf act ,whatwasmostevi dentf r om per sonalexper i encesandconv er sat i onsi nt hesecount r i eswast hatt her ehar dl yacommonunder cur r enti ni ndi vi dual movement st hemsel ves,exceptaf eel i ngofdi si l l usi onment ,ofnotbei nghear d,ofbei ngshor t changed.

Andwhof eel smor eshor t changedt hanus,ci t i zensoft hi sper pet ual l y‘ f ut ur e’ super power ?

Whoknowsbet t ert hei l l sofever ydaypet t ycor r upt i on,massi vepol i t i calcor r upt i onscandal s, i nef f ect i vegover nmentser v i cedel i ver y ,andl owerr ewar dsf orever yef f or tdayaf t erday ?

I n201 1,west ar t edourownpeopl e’ smovement ,undert heunl i kel yl eader shi pofAnnaHazar e.

Ourmovement ,ost ensi bl y ,hadanai m:t oupr ootcor r upt i onbyest abl i shi ngaci t i zens’ ombudsman.Att hehear t ,however ,i twasqui t esi mi l art omovement si nt heAr abwor l d,t hewest er n wor l dandel sewher e.J ustl i kear oundt hewor l d,peopl ewer ef edupand‘ want edchange’ .The pol i t i ci ansar ebad,wesai d,andweneedt obr i ngt hem t oj ust i ce.However ,wedebat edt he desi r abi l i t yandef f i cacyoft hemovement ’ sul t i mat eai m,t heLokpalBi l l .Wedebat edt hel egi t i macyoff or ci ngchangef r om out si det hedemocr at i csyst em.Wewer enotsur ei ft heBi l lwas anadequat esol ut i onorevenasol ut i onatal l .I fi twasn’ tasol ut i on,di dwehavet ost ar tanew movementever yt i mewewant edt of or ceachange?

Ent erAr vi ndKej r i walandhi sAam AadmiPar t y .Bor noutoft heant i cor r upt i onmov ement ,t he AAPt odayr unst heSt at eGover nmenti nt hecount r y’ sc api t al .

7

Enoughhasbeensai d,i nmai nst r eam andsoci almedi a,aboutt hepar t y ,i t sf ounder ,i t shour l y act i vi t i essi ncei tt ookoverpower ,i t sl ackofexper i ence,andsoon.Si ncet hemomentAr vi nd Kej r i walhasst eppedi nt opol i t i cs,hehasf acedanunpr ecedent edamountofscr ut i ny ,never bef or eaccor dedt oanyot herpar t y .Whathasmostpeevedal ar gesect i onoft heupperand mi ddl ecl asses,t hough,i st hesl ewofsocal l ed‘ soci al i st ’ deci si onst hepar t yhast aken,andi t s i ncl usi onofanumberofsocal l ed‘ l i ber al ’ voi ces.I nt hef r enzyofexpandi nghi s‘ common man’ smovement ’ ,Ar vi ndKej r i wali saggr egat i ngal lt hedi ssent i ngvoi cesi nI ndi a,whi chsof ar wer eoutoft hepol i t i cal syst em,i nt oamai nst r eam pol i t i calpar t y .Hei st r yi ngt obr i ngt oget her al lant i est abl i shmentel ement si nt ooneant i est abl i shmentmovement .Someoft hedeci si ons t hi secl ect i cbunchhast akenar ebei ngcal l ed,andi ndeedar e,r egr essi ve.Somesayt hatsuch an‘ anar chi cal ’ appr oachwi l ll eadt oanot herpol i cypar al ysi s.

Whatweneed,i ti sar gued,i sast r ongl eaderwhocant aket oughdeci si ons.Weneedst abi l i t y .

Wedonotneedt hes ej oker si npol i t i cs,weneedvet er anpol i t i ci ans.I not herwor ds,our peopl e’ smovementhasf ai l ed,weneedt heEst abl i shmentbackandst r ongert omaket hi ngs bet t er .

Whi l ei ti st r uet hatwecannothaveshor t t er mi nt er est sdet er mi nepol i cyi nourcount r y ,canwe si mpl ynul l i f yt heot hervoi ceandmakei tf al li nl i ne?Justbecauseapr ocessal l owsust ot ake deci si onsunopposed,byl eavi ngonevoi ceoutoft hedi scussi on,doesi tbecomet hebestway t ot akedeci si ons?Whathappenswhenvoi cesar esuppr essedf orl ong?A‘ l ef t ’ –i nt hes ense ofant i est abl i shment ar i ani sm –emer ges,makesnoi ses,andevent ual l yl eadst ovi ol enceor chr oni cpol i cypar al ysi s.Howi st hi spr ocessofoneupmanshi p,ofsomehowget t i ngt ot het op andt r umpi ngt heot hersi de,i deal ?Sur el y ,t her emustbeawayofar r i vi ngatcompr omi ses,i f notgol denmeans?

Tooof t en,whenpar t i esoral l i anceshaveobt ai nedmaj or i t i esi nourel ect i ons,havewesai d t hatt hepeopl ehaveI ndi ahave‘ del i ver edt hei rver di ct ’ ,or‘ gi venamandat et oXpar t y’ .And t hen,Xpar t ygoesahead,basedonwho’ ssuppor t i ngi t sgover nmentatt hatmoment ,t obul l dozet hel egi s l at ur ei nt oi mpl ement i ngi t sagenda.TheOpposi t i onopposes,andi nsome cases,pl aysal ong,i nor dernott oal i enat eavot ebank.Thet r ut h,mostof t en,i sf arf r om ‘ t he peopl ehavedel i ver edt hei rver di c t ’ .Ther eal i t yi st hatsomepeopl ehavevot ed,f i gur at i vel y ,i n f avourofbui l di ngdams,andsomehavevot edagai nsti t .Theor et i cal l y ,1.

2bi l l i onpeopl emust debat eandar r i veatamut ual l yaccept abl esol ut i on.Thef unct i onofademocr at i csyst em i st o cr eat et hec l osestr eal wor l dmodeloft hi st heor et i calexer ci se,andr eachar easonedoutsol ut i on.Thecur r entsyst em,however ,gi vesusnotsuchamodel ,buta‘ r ul i ngpar t y’ ,whoi mpl ement st hewi l l ,i fatal l ,ofi t ssuppor t er s,andi t ssuppor t er sonl y .Ther ei snodebat eanddi s cus si on,onl yamocker yoft hem.Nott oment i ont heevi lbypr oductcal l edcor r upt i on.

Al t houghbl ami ngt hi son‘ badpol i t i ci ans’ i snaï ve,most ofourpol i t i ci ansar e,asamat t eroff act ,bad.Ther eal cause,mostpr obabl y ,i st hef l awedst r uct ur eofour democr at i ci nst i t ut i onswi t hper ver sei ncent i ves per vadi ngt hesyst em.Consi dert her ol eofanMPor anMLAf ori nst ance.Whi l et heyt heor et i cal l yr epr esent l ocaluni t s,t her ei sl i t t l ei mpactt heycanhave,of f i ci al l y , ont hewel f ar eoft hei rvot er s,exceptext r emel yi ndi r ect l y t hr oughvot i ngonbi l l st hataf f ectt heent i r est at eornat i on, andhence,t hei rconst i t uency .I nourover cent r al i zedsyst em, t heonl ywayt omakeanyr eali mpact ,evenonal ocall evel , i st ocomet opoweratt hest at eorcent r all evel .

8

Whi ch,i r oni cal l y ,l endsi ncr edi bl ei mpor t ancet oMPsorMLAs,becausewi t houtt he‘ number s ’ , noChi efMi ni st erorPr i meMi ni st ercansur vi vei nof f i ce.Soher ear eabunchofel ect edr epr esent at i ves,whocannotdi r ect l yaf f ectt hei rvot er s’ l i ves,whosevot er sdonotk nowhowt oj udge t hei rper f or mance,butwhohavet r emendousr ent seeki ngoppor t uni t yi nt hecont extoff or mi ng t hegover nment .Becauser emember ,f or mi ngt hest at eorcent r algover nmenti sever y t hi ng.

Whatki ndofpeopl ei ssuchaposi t i onl i kel yt oat t r act ?Fur t her mor e,i nourcount r yofboundl essscar ci t y ,t her ei snat ur al l yi mmensecompet i t i onf ort heseposi t i ons.Si ncet hevot er sdon’ t car eanyway ,ver yf ewpeopl eact ual l ycomeoutt ovot e,whi chmakesi teasi er ,i nourpoor count r y ,t oswi ngout comesbybuyi ngvot es,capt ur i ngboot hs,andpr omi si ngf r eebi es .These honour abl eact i vi t i esneedmoneyandmuscl epower .Whensomuchi nvest mentgoesi nt oget t i ngel ect edt oaposi t i onwi t hl i t t l er esponsi bi l i t yandt r emendousr ent seeki ngcapabi l i t y ,t hei ncent i vef orear ni ngr et ur nsont hati nvest mentt hr oughcor r upt i on,andensur i ngr et ur nt opower bypl easi ngvot ebanksi sver yhi gh.Anyhopeof‘ r easoneddebat eanddi scussi on’ i smi spl aced.

Theonl yper manentsol ut i on,t her ef or e,i sdemocr at i cr ef or ms.Thesubj ectofDecent r al i zat i on, i t sst r uct ur albenef i t sandexper i encesf r om ar oundt hewor l ddeser veasepar at epi ece.I naddi t i on,Pr opor t i onat eRepr esent at i on,whi chi sai medatr educi ngt hedi st or t i onsi nt heel ec t or al pr ocess,andot herr ef or mssuchasRi ghtt oRecal lar eal soi mpor t ant .Nol eader ,however wel l i nt ent i onedorexper i enced,canensur eef f ect i vef unct i oni ngoft heent i r esyst em unl ess t heper ver sei ncent i vesi nt hesyst em ar ecor r ect ed.Atbest ,t heycanpl ayabal anci ngactof doi ngl i mi t edgoodwor kbydi sappoi nt i ngasf ew‘ st akehol der s’ ast heycan.No,t hati snot goodenoughf oracount r yof1.

2bi l l i on.

Toget her ,decent r al i zat i onandpr opor t i onat er epr esent at i onar el i kel yt ocor r ectt hesyst emi ci ncent i ves,i mpr ovet heel ect abi l i t yofgood,penni l esspol i t i ci ansandensur eadequat er epr esent at i onf orev er yvoi ce.Posi t i vei ncent i vest ogoodpol i t i ci answhof ai r l yr epr esental lvoi cesi n t hecount r ywi l lnat ur al l yr esul ti nmeani ngf uldebat eandr easonedout ,i fonl ymi dways ol ut i ons.That ,andnotj ustar egi mechange,wi l lbeTr ueDemocr acy Thi si st hechange;t hi si st her evol ut i onwewant .Wewantasyst em t hatf aci l i t at esser i ous democr at i cdebat eandr easoneds ol ut i onst hatsat i sf yasmanyi nt er est saspossi bl e.Whatwe needi st hei nst i t ut i onali ncl usi onofal lvoi cesi nt hatdebat e.Whent hathappens,t her ewi l lno mor ebeOneEst abl i shmentVi ew,no‘ Ri ght ’ .Whent her ei snoRi ght ,t her ewi l l benoLef t–no col l ect i onofmi nor i t yant i est abl i shmentvoi ces,becauset heEst abl i shmenti t sel fwi l lbet he f or um f oral lsuchvoi ces.

Thatbr i ngsusback,howev eruncomf or t abl y ,t ot heAam AadmiPar t y .Her ei sapar t yt hat cl ai mst obet heonl yhonestpol i t i calpar t y ,el ect edonanant i cor r upt i onpl at f or m.Her ei sa par t ywhi chi sat t empt i ngt oaggr egat eal lvoi cesnomat t erhowr adi calt heysoundt oyouand me.I ti sbei ngcr i t i ci sed,r i ght f ul l yso,f ormaki ngsomer egr essi ve,‘ soci al i st ’ deci si ons.I t seemsasi fi ti st r yi ngt odot oomanyt hi ngsatt hesamet i me.I ti sbei ngj udgedever yhourand compar edt opar t i est hathavebeenar oundf ordecades.I t scr edent i al sf orgover nancear e bei ngquest i oned,i t sl ef t i stl eani ngsar ebei ngr i di cul ed,andi t spar t ymember sar emadef un of .Mostoft hi scr i t i ci sm i spr obabl yj ust i f i ed.

Yet ,consi dert hehi st or i cali mpor t anceoft heAAP’ sf i r stvi ct or y .

9

Notonepeopl e’ smovementi nt hi swavear oundt hewor l dhasknownwhatchangei twant s.

Whatt hepeopl eoft hewor l dhavebeensayi ng,unknowi ngl y ,i st hatwear enotbei nghear d.

Ourl i vesar ebei ngr unbydeci si onswhi chwehavenopar ti nmaki ng.Wewantdemocr acy .

Wher et her ewasdemocr acyal r eady ,peopl ewer esayi ngt hi si snott r uedemocr acy .

TheAAP,bybr i ngi ngi nr ef or ms,eveni funwi t t i ngl y ,i st r yi ngt osetupasyst em whi chi sr eal l y desi gnedt oascer t ai nandi mpl ementpeopl e’ scol l ect i vewi l l .I ti st r yi ngt ohandt hepowerbac k t ot hepeopl eandensur et heyhaveas ayi nt hedeci si onst hataf f ectt hei rl i f e.Andt hati st r ue democr acy .

Mostmovement st hatact ual l yr esul t edi nanychangewi t nessedr i ot s,bl oodshedandconf l i c t .

Notonl yhast her ebeennobl oodshedi nt hi sbegi nni ngofI ndi a’ sr evol ut i on,t hemeansadopt edbyAAPar ei ndi sput abl yl egi t i mat e–t hebal l ot !

I ft hati snotmoment ous,whati s?I ndi ahasanoppor t uni t ynotonl yt ocr eat eani nf l ect i onpoi nt i ni t sownf at e,butt oshowt hewor l d,yetagai n,howar evol ut i oni sbr oughtabout .

Eveni ft heAAPmakesmi st akesal ongt heway ,mi st akesi ngover nance,t hosemi st akeswi l lbe asmal lcosti ft heyi mpl ementr ef or mst hatper manent l yenabl eandi ncent i vi sebet t ergover nancei nt hef ut ur e.Thepeopl eofI ndi amustseeAAPnotasmessi ahs,t heul t i mat el eader s,but asani nst r umentt obr i ngaboutcondi t i onst hatpr oducebet t erl eader s.Equal l yi mpor t anti st hat t hepar t yal soseesi t sel fassuch,andconcent r at esonr ef or msmor et hani mpl ement i ngac er t ai nagendaofgover nance.I fi tt r i est ochanget oomucht oosoon,ori fwej udgei tbyt he wr ongyar dst i ck,wer i skl osi ngsomet hi ngmuchmor ei mpor t ant :ouronechancei nhi st or yt o becomeaTr ueDemocr acy .

I ndi ahast hechancet omak ehi st or y .Letusnotsquanderi t .

--------------------

10

Thepi nkr eel s YohaannBhaar gava

‘ Pi nk’ and‘ Li l ac’ havecl osel ybeen usedt odepi ctt ender nessonscr eeni nI ndi anCi nema, wel l ,l i keal lot hermovi emar ket st heset wocol or shavebeenapar toff emi ni ni t yandf emi ni sm.Her oi sm ast heysayhasal waysbeenf ormenandt ender nessonscr eeni ncl udi ngt he ‘ Pi nk’ st ayedwi t ht hewomenandt hesi ssi es.

Yes,t hi spar tofc el l ul oi di spi nk.Mov i eshaveal wayst ol dst r ai ghtmenandwomenwhatt o t hi nkaboutt hegaysandt ol dt hegayswhatt ot hi nkaboutt hemsel ves…Thi swayt her ealgay i mager yhasr emai nedi nt hecl oseteversi nce.

Yes!Si ssi es…t hef i r stgaymi nor i t ywasr epr esent edi nI ndi anCi nema,as acl i chéwhi cht ook t hei nt er medi at espacebet weent hesexesbecausei tdi dnotseem t ohavesexual i t y .Gr eat act or sl i keMehmoodandanar r ayofot her spl ayedt hedancet eacher s,cookset c.Whet her t heywer egayornot ,wasneverdi scussedi npubl i c,i npr i vat e,onl yhi nt swer edr opped.

Bol l ywoodci nemahasal ongt r adi t i onofhavi ngcomi csequencesorsongsf eat ur i ngcr oss dr essi ngmal est ar ssuchasAmi t abhBachchanl ampooni ngaeunuchi nasar ii nLaawar i s ( 1981)oranynumberofsongsf eat ur i nghi j r as.I ti snowqui t et r endyt or eadBol l ywoodf i l ms as‘ gay’ or‘ queer ’ .HoshangMer chantment i onst heAndaz( 1949)andSangam ( 1964)l ove t r i angl eswher e―t her eall ovepl oti sf r i endshi pbet weent het woher oes….Thef emal el ead i st her eonl yt ol essent hehomosexual st i ng.

Shohi niGhoshr eadsDost i( 1964)asdeal i ngwi t h ―t hei nt ensef r i endshi pbet weent wopoorandphysi cal l ydi sabl edyoungmenwhost r uggl et osur vi vei n t heci t y ,anal l egor yofhomosexuall oveexpr essed t hr ought hemet aphorofphysi caldi sabi l i t y .

RRajRao,Gayat hr iGopi nat handAshokRowKavi haveal lqueer edBol l ywoodi nasi mi l arvei n. Mast Kal ander( 1981)f eat ur edBol l ywood’ s‘ f i r st ’outand out‘ gay’ char act er ,Pi nku.

I fHol l ywood’ sf i r stgaychar act er swer eei t hercomi corvi l l ai nous,Pi nkuwasbot handt he cr i t i cshadaf i el dday!Pi nkui sanewgener at i ongangst er .I nhi sf l ami ngyel l oworpi nk sui t s,Pi nkui sbot hpansyandcomi cr ol l edi nt oone.Agayl i t t l et unest r i kesupwhenever heent er s.Andj ustt omaker eal l ysur et hatyouar el ef ti nnodoubtabouthi m,Pi nkui nhi s openi ngscener unshi sf i nger soverhi sf at her ’ sbr awnybodyandasks‘ Daddy ,hamar a bodyaapkej ai sest r ongaurmuscul arkyoonnahi nhai ?’ ( ‘ Daddy ,whyi sn’ tmybodyas st r ongandmus cul arasyour s?’ )WhenPi nkui sn’ tpl ot t i ngf el lmur der sandki dnappi ngs,he pl eadsf oramot or bi ke( ‘ Daddy ,Iwantt ol i vedanger ousl y’ ) ,orchasesmen.Andwhenal l t het hugsar ef i nal l yr oundedupi nt hepol i cel ockup,Pi nkuexul t satwhatheseesasa heavensentoppor t uni t y .

1 1

Bef or et hat ,i nRameshSi ppy‘ sShol ay( 1975) ,oneoft hei nmat esopenl ymakespassesat ot hermen,r eveal i nghi sf ondnessf ormen.Thi ssmal lsi debarwasover l ookedbymostorper haps,notunder st ood.Buti twast her ef ort hosewhower eobser vantenough.

Thegaysi deki ckemer gedasast apl ecomi cchar act erf r om t he1990sonwar d,i nf i l msl i k e Hum Hai nRahiPy aarKe( 1993) ,Raj aHi ndust ani( 1996)andTaal( 1999) ,of f setbyr ar ei nst ancesofsomewhatcompl exgaychar act er si nf i l msl i keBombayBoys( 1998)andSpl i tWi de Open( 1999) .Ther ewer eal so‘ sensi t i ve’ hi j r apor t r ayal si nf i l msl i keBombay( 1995) ,Tamanna ( 1997)andDar mi yaan( 1997) ,avi l l ai noushi j r at ur ni nSadak( 1991) ,TamannaandMur der2.

Ther ewasaf i l m cal l edShabnam Mausi( 2005)abi opi cofahi ghpr of i l eI ndi anhi j r awhowas el ect edasamemberoft hel egi s l at i veassembl yi nt heI ndi anst at eofMadhyaPr adesh.

LGBTt hemesi nI ndi anci nemahaveal waysbeensomet hi ngt o l aughabout .I nsomecasesgaysevenhadani dent i t yofcr ossdr essed,col dbl ooded vi l l ai ns,l i ket heonepl ayedbySadashi v Amr apor karasMahar ani .

LGBTdepi ct i oni nmai nst r eam ci nemahasal mostbeensadand negl i gi bl e,keepi ngasi desomest andoutf i l msl i ke“ MyBr ot her Ni khi l ”i nwhi chPur abKohl iandSanj aySur ipl ayagaycoupl e.

Howeverevent hes emai nst r eam f i l mshaveast er eot ypi calpat t er nofdepi ct i nggays ,event ual l yi ft heyar enotcomi ci nt hef i l ms, t heyendupbei ngt or t ur ed,mut i l at edandevenki l l ed.Fi l msl i ke “ Fi r e” ,t hatdealwi t hLGBTt hemesheadonhavenotbeenencour agedas‘ I ndi anHomosexual i t y’ i sgener al l yconsi der eda t aboosubj ectbybot ht heI ndi anci vi lsoci et yandt hegover nment .

Homophobi ai spr eval enti nI ndi a.Publ i cdi scussi onofhomosexual i t yhasbeeni nhi bi t edbyt hef actt hatsexual i t yi nanyf or mi s r ar el ydi scussedopenl y .Homosexual sf aceat r emendousamountofhost i l i t y ,ost r aci sm and di scr i mi nat i on.Thi si st hecaseevenamongt heeducat edel i t eoft hecount r y .I nr ecentyear s , however ,at t i t udest owar dshomosexual i t yhaveshi f t edsl i ght l y .

I nt hel astt went yyear st hequeeri dent i t yhascomet obet akenmor eser i ousl yi nar t .Books hadmendecl ar i ngt hei rsexual i dent i t yi nnouncer t ai nt er mswhi l eci nemast r uggl edt ost r i kea bal ancebet weent hemor al l yaccept abl el i nest hemaker sst i l l compl i edwi t hand t hec hangi ng t i mes.

Butf i l msnever t hel essshi edawayf r om anyser i ousr ef er encet ohomosexual i t y .Manyconsi deraman’ sl ovef oracl ear l yandr ogynousPai nt aldr essedasawomani n‘ Raf ooChakkar ’ ( 1975)t obeci nema’ sf i r str ef er encet ohomosexual i t y .Thel i nesdef i ni nggender sgetbl ur r ed andt hespur nedl ov eraccept st hat‘ noone’ sper f ect ’ i nasexuali nsi ghtamaz i ngl ycy ni calf or i t st i mei nt hecl i max.

Si ncet hent her ehasbeenpar al l el wor ki nMal ayal am,Bengal i andMar at hici nemaonsamesexl ove.The1982Mar at hif i l m‘ Umbar t ha’ hi nt edatal esbi anr el at i onshi pbet weent woi nmat esofar emandhome.Pr at i bhaPar marmade‘ Fl eshandPaper ’ ( 1990) ,ashor tonI ndi an l esbi anpoetSuni t iNamj oshi .DeepaMeht a’ sFi r e( 1998)wasyear sl at ei ncomi ngi nhi ghl i ght i ngt hest r uggl esofl onel ywoment r appedi nunhappymar r i agesandboundbyconvent i on.

Buti tst i l lst i r r edupahor net ’ snesti nacount r ywher esexualequal i t ywasaconceptunhear d of .

12

Li gyJPul l appal l y’ sMal ayal am f i l m‘ Sanchar r am’ ( 2004)beaut i f ul l ypor t r ayedt hedi l emmaof t wovi l l agebel l esembr aci ngt hei rsexual i t y .The‘ Kamasut r a’ wasofcour set her el i abl ehandbookofsext hatdi r ect orMi r aNai radapt edi nt oaf i l mi n1996t hatcel ebr at edi nt i macybet ween women.BuddhadevDasgupt a’ sBengal if i l m‘ Ut t ar a’ ( 2000) ,wasnuanc edwi t hhomoer ot i c t hemesi nhi ssi gnat ur e,nonnar r at i ve,poet i cst yl e.

Whi l et hemai nst r eam t r i edt omakei t speacewi t hhomosexual i t y ,t hedocument ar ysc enewas mi l esaheadi nvi si onandcompet i t i on.Ni shi tSar anf i l med‘ SummerI nMyVei ns’ i n1999ona mot hercomi ngt ot er mswi t hherson’ ssexual i t y .

Kai zadGust ad’ s‘ BombayBoys’ ( 1998)andRi yadVi nci Wadi a’ s‘ Bomgay’ wer et hebr eakout f i l msoft hi st i met oopenl ydi scusshomosexual i t yi nt hecont extofur banl i vi ng.

DevBenegalwasf i l mi ng‘ Spl i tWi deOpen’ wi t hRahulBoseandLai l aRouass,anot hersi gni f i cantnar r at i veonhomosexual i t y ,pr obabl yatt het i meI anI qbalRashi dwasf i ni shi ng‘ Sur vi vi ng Sabu’ –af i l m aboutaf at herandhi sgayson’ sabr asi v eequat i onwhi l ewor ki ngonaf i l m pr oj ect .Atat i mewhensexualr i ght swer enotevendi scussedi npubl i c,act r essRohi niHat t angadi pl ayedal esbi anl overi nVi j ayTendul kar ’ sMar at hif i l m‘ Mi t r achiGosht a’ ( 1981) .

I nt heSout h Theear l i estr ef er encest oagayt hemei nMal ayal am ci nemawas‘ RanduPenkut t i kal ’ i n1978.

Basedonast or ybyNandaKumar ,di r ect orMohannar r at edt heobsessi vel oveofawomanf or adanseuse.Ther ear ehomoer ot i cr ef er encesi n‘ Deshadanakki l i Kar ayaar i l l a’ ( 1986)andt he mor er ecentandf amous‘ Sanchaar am’ ( 2004) ,i nRi t hu( 2009)and‘ Par anj aKat ha’ ( 2010) .

I nTami lf i l m‘ Vet t ai yaaduVi l ayaadu’ ( 2006) ,t womenmol est edi nsi deapr i sonbyagangof hi j dast akeonal i f eofcr i me.I nt her el at i vel yconser vat i veTami lcr eat i vemedi um,di r ect or VenkatPr abhumanagedt osl i pi nagayc har act eri nhi sf i l m‘ Goa’ .

Sexualmi nor i t i esar esl owl yf i ndi ngt hei rpl acei nBol l ywoodt hemes.Por t r ayalofl i f est or i es andi ssuesf acedbyl esbi ans,gays,bi sexual s,t r ansgender s,hi j r as,kot hi sandot her si dent i f i ed as―queeri nf i l msi naposi t i vemannerhasact edasabal mf ort heLGBTQ communi t y .

13

Thi si sr at heranat t emptt of ocusont hel i vesandexper i encesoft hecommuni t yr ender edi nvi si bl ebysyst emi chomophobi aandt r ansphobi a.I nhi st or y‘ sweaveofcul t ur alt apest r y ,t he f i l mspr esent edl i f est or i est hatar emi ssi ngandl ef tunt ol d.Andyeti ti st hequeermovementi n I ndi aandel sewher et hati spr ovi di ngmuchneededchal l engest ohet er onor mat i vi t y ,whi ch meanst hest er eot ypi ngdef i ni t i onswi t hi nwhi chwor dsl i kemar r i age‘andf ami l y‘r emai n t r apped,t hegender edr ol est hatwor kwi t hi nt hesei nst i t ut i onsandsoon.Atat i mewhenwe ar esur r oundedbyshackl i ngdef i ni t i onsoft hei dealf ami l y‘ ,i dealhusband‘ ,wi f e‘ ,daught er i nl aw‘ ,et c. ,i ti sf el ti mpor t antt or ecogni zeandhi ghl i ghtt hesenewchal l engessoci et yi snow havi ngt oencount er .Anot herpoi ntwhi chshoul dbehi ghl i ght edi st hathomosexual i t yi nI ndi an f i l mswi l lhappenonl ywhent hechar act er sar epor t r ayedwi t houtf ussi ngovert hem.Whena maj or i t yoff i l mmaker scanconcent r at eonhet er osexual r el at i onswhycan‘ taf ewf i l mmaker s cr eat emor eawar enessongayi ssuest hr oughourci nema?Oni rwhosef i l m‘ IAm‘wasdecl ar edt heBestHi ndiFi l m att he59t hNat i onalFi l m Awar dssai d,―” I t ‘ snotj ustaper sonalt r i umph.I t ‘ savi ct or yonamuchl ar gerl ev elf orgayf i l mmaker sandf i l mswhohavebeensof ar si del i nednotj ustf r om t heNat i onal awar dsbutal sot hepopul arawar ds. ” I nt het i met hathomosexual i t yhasbeenr ef r amedasacr i mi nalof f ence,f i l mmaker smi ght havet of unct i oni nanat mospher eofl esst ol er anceandf r eedom,nowt hatt hegover nment cl ear l ysayst hataf i l m abouthomosexual i t yi sasi n.

--------------------

14

Nar endr aModiandt her edef i ni t i onofChi efMi ni st er s Subhashi shBhadr a Sumant r aBose,i nhi sbookTr ansf or mi ngI ndi a,f ocusesont hecont i nueddecent r al i zat i onof powerandt hef ut i l eat t emptbyt heCongr essandBJPt ocount eri t .Bot hpar t i esshedt hei ri ni t i aluni t ar ychar act er s,andhavesever alpopul arr egi onall eader s.AsMehr a( 2012)sai d,t he BJPhasbecome“ acol l ect i onofsi xorsevenst at epar t i es. ”Nar endr aModi ,t hecr owned champi onoft her esur gentI ndi anr i ght ,i ssy mbol i cofsomet hi ngmor et hanj usthi squestof power–hesymbol i zest heconf l uenceoft henat i onal andt her egi onal .Het al kedaboutnat i onaluni t yandwant st ocont estf r om Ut t arPr adesh,buti savocalpr oponentofGuj ar at i pr i de.I n t hi scapaci t y ,Modi mi ghtwel lbet hepr ot ot ypeofwhatourf ut ur epol i t yi sl i kel yt obe.Thi scal l s f oral ooki nt ot hemaki ngofaModi l i keCM.Whatdef i nest henewageI ndi anCM?

Regi onalsat r ap I nar ecentsur veybyI ndi aTodaymagazi ne,t hemostpopul archoi cef orCongr essPM candi dat e( nonManmohan,nonGandhi )wasnei t hert hesuaveChi dambar am nort hevet er an Shi nde–i twast heever popul arShei l aDi xi t ,t hef or merDel hiCM whohadonl yaf ewmont hs backbeensweptoutofpower .Ear l i eri nt heBJP,t hepat r i ar chAdvanihadt ol eanont hepopul arMadhyaPr adeshCM,Shi vr aj Si nghChouhan,t ounsuccessf ul l ycount eranascendant Modi .Regi onalpar t i esar er unbypopul arCMsandexCMsasper sonalf i ef doms.Fr om Di xi tt o Modit oMamat a,t hest at eshavebecomet heepi cent erofI ndi andemocr acyt oday .

Modihaschangedt hegamef orCMsi nI ndi a.Notonl ydi dhet ur nr ogueonhi sment orAdvani , butal sosubj ugat edt heRSSi nGuj ar at .Hi sper sonal popul ar i t yhasecl i psedt hatofhi spar t y .

Hi s‘ di ct at or i al ’ at t i t udehasal i enat edsever al col l eagues;andyet ,hef i ndshi msel fper ched at opt heBJPmount ai nduet ot hesheerst r engt hofhi sper sonal i t y .Hehasspawnedr epl i casi n ot herst at e–Chouhani nnear byMPdoggedl ykeptt hel i mel i ghtawayf r om Modii nt her ecent l y concl udedel ect i onsandhasbui l tt hest at eor gani zat i onar oundhi msel f .The t hi r dpopul arBJPCM,RamanSi nghi nChhat t i sgar h,i st heonl yr ecogni zabl e f aceoft heChhat t i sgar hBJ P.Thi sper sonal i t ycul thasi t sownbenef i t s.

TheCMshaveal mostcompl et edeci si onmaki ngi ndependence,and manyoft hem havebecomeCEOsoft hei rr espect i vest at es.The bur eaucr acyi scompl et el yser vi l et ot hem,knowi ngf ul l ywel lt hat t oppl i ngt hem i si mpossi bl e.

Wi l lsucht endenci esi nI ndi anpol i t yl eadt of ur t herf r agment at i on?Why doesModinotbr eakawayf r om t heBJPt of or m hi sownr egi onalpar t y?

AsGui char d( 2013)poi nt sout ,t hecent err et ai nssi gni f i cantpower si nI ndi a, i ncl udi ngast r ongcont r ol onf i nances.Bei ngapar tofanat i onalpar t y t hushasi t sbenef i t s.

15

Economi csuper st ar s Eversi ncet hef al loft heNDAgov er nmenti n2004,pol i t i calcomment at or shavecal l edi nt o quest i ont hel i nkbet weeneconomi cgr owt handpol i t i calsuccess.I ti sof t enar guedt hat‘ popul i sm’ i swhatmovest heI ndi anpubl i ct oact i on,andt hatgr owt hi s,atbest ,asecondar yconcer n.

However ,evenacur sor yl ookatgr owt hst at i st i csdi spel ssuchanot i on.Atat i mewhennear l y 49per centofI ndi a’ swor kf or cei sst i l lengagedi nagr i cul t ur e,i ti sagr i cul t ur alGDPgr owt hand notover al lgr owt ht hatmat t er s.Thet womostdr amat i cr eel ect i onsi nI ndi a–I ndi r aGandhi ’ s 1971vi ct or yaf t ert hespl i ti nt heCongr essPar t yandRaj i vGandhi ’ s1984vi ct or yaf t erhi s mot her ’ sdeat h–wer epr ecededbyver yhi ghagr i cul t ur alGDPgr owt hofnear l y7per cent ( Fi gur e1) .I nt hesamevei n,t hedr ubbi ngr ecei vedbyt heCongr essi n1977andt heJanat a Par t yi n1980canbot hbeat t r i but edt ol owagr i cul t ur algr owt hof1per centand1per centr espect i vel y .TheNDA’ s‘ I ndi ashi ni ng’ campai gnal sopr obabl yf ai l edbecauseagr i cul t ur algr owt h i nt heNDAyear swasamer e2per cent ,and200001wasasever edr oughtyear .TheUPA benef i t t edf r om moder at eagr i cul t ur algr owt hofj ustover3per cent .

Fi gur e1:Agr i cul t ur alGDPgr owt hbet weenel ect i ons

Havi ngest abl i shedt hecent r al i t yofeconomi cgr owt h( mor especi f i cal l y ,agr i cul t ur al gr owt h)t o el ect i ons,Inowt ur nt ot heI ndi anst at es .Idi dasi mi l aranal ysi sofagr i cul t ur alGDPgr owt h bet weent hel astt woel ect i ons,andt her esul t sar est r i ki ng.Al mostnogover nmenthasl osta r eel ect i oni ft heagr i cul t ur al GDPgr owt hhasbeenabove3per cent( Fi gur e2) .Theonl yexcept i oni sRaj ast han2013,whenar esur gentVasundhar aRaj esweptt heCongr essoutof power .Ut t ar akhandi sanot herexcept i on,buti twasacl osef i ghtwher et her ul i ngBJPl os t nar r owl y .Thenat i onalagr igr owt hsi nce2009hasbeenover4per cent–soar eopi ni onpol l s under est i mat i ngt heCongr ess’ t al l y? Ti mewi l l t el l .

Tomaket hi spoi ntf ur t her ,t aket hecaseofWestBengal .Hi ghagr i cul t ur algr owt hsi nce1977 r esul t edi nt hecont i nued30yearr ul eoft heCPI( M) .However ,event houghgr owt hact ual l y accel er at edt o7per centbet ween20061 1,agr i cul t ur alGDPgr owt hsl umpedt oonl y2per cent .Thi swasoneoft hef act or st hatl edt ot heoust eroft heCPI( M)gover nment .

16

Fi gur e2:Agr i cut l ur alGDPgr owt hi nst at esbet weenel ect i ons

TheBJP’ sChi efMi ni st er s,l edbyModi ,seem t ohaveunder st oodt hi sl i nk.Guj ar at ’ sagr i cul t ur alt ur nar oundbet weensi nce2000hasbeenwel l document ed.Modihasbr oughtagr i cul t ur et ot hef or ef r ontoft hegr owt hdebat e.Wi del ypubl i ci zedKr i shiMahot savshavebeenor gani zedandakr i shir at hvi si t sf ar mer si nal mostal lvi l l agesofGuj ar at .Decent r al i zedi r r i gat i onhasal sobeenact i vel ypur sued,wi t h‘ checkdams’ becomi ngabuzzwor di nGuj ar at .

Somehavear guedt hatt heagr i cul t ur algr owt hhasal sokeptci t yboundmi gr at i oni nchec k, t huspl acat i ngt heBJP’ st r adi t i onalur banconst i t uenci es.

Si mi l arpol i ci eshavebeenpur suedbyt heot hert woBJPChi efMi ni st er s.Si ngh,f ori nst ance, const i t ut edt heChhat t i sgar hRaj yaBeejevam Kr i shiVi kasNi gam Li mi t edt opr omot eagr i cul t ur aldevel opmenti nt hest at e.Asi nGuj ar at ,si gni f i cantsubsi di esar epr ovi dedf oradopt i onof newt echnol ogi es,especi al l yt hosel i nkedt oi r r i gat i on.Chouhani ncr easedt hemi ni mum s uppor tpr i ce( MSP)f orwheati nhi sst at ebyj ustover10per cent ,power i ngMadhyaPr adeshas t hel ar gestwheatpr oduceri nt hecount r yt oday .

Ofcour se,t hi smodelofagr i cul t ur el edgr owt hhasal sobeenr epl i cat edi nnonBJPst at es.

Fori nst ance,Andhr aPr adeshl ai dal otofemphasi sonf ar meri ncomesandagr i cul t ur alsuppor tunderY. S.Raj ashekharReddy ,r esul t i ngi nar eel ect i onf ort heCongr essi n2009.

Odi shaandAssam’ sagr i cul t ur alsect or scont i nuet of l our i shundert hei rl ongt i meChi efMi ni s t er s.Ledbyt heBJPChi efMi ni st er s,I ndi ai sr edi scover i ngagr i cul t ur e,r esul t i ngi nst abi l i t yi n ourpol i t y .

I nf r ast r uct ur eki ngs WhenModir epeat edl yboast saboutGuj ar at ’ sdevel opment ,hei snotf arof ft hemar k.TheBJPChi efMi ni st er s’ cl ai mt odevel opmenti ss ost r ongt hatevent heCongr esscanatbestcomeupwi t han‘ i t ’ snotr eal l yt r ue’ r epl y .MadhyaPr adeshi st heonl ypowersur pl usst at e amongt heer st whi l eBI MARUst at e( Fi gur e3) .Chhat t i sgar hi st ur ni ngar oundt hecor nerasf arasel ect r i ci t y gener at i oni sconcer ned.I ncompar i son,al lst at escont i nuousl yr ul edbyt heCongr essandr egi onalpar t i es ( wi t ht heexcept i onofWestBengalandHar yana)ar e powerdef i ci tst at es.

17

Fi gur e3:El ect r i ci t ygener at i oncapaci t yi nI ndi anst at es

Roadi nf r ast r uct ur ei sanot herf avor i t eoft heBJPChi efMi ni st er s.Anybodywhohast r avel l ed onGuj ar at ’ sst at ehi ghwayscanvouchf orhowwel l devel opedGuj ar at ’ sr oadi nf r ast r uct ur ei s.

Thi ssuccessf or mul ahasbeensuc cess f ul l yr epl i cat edi not herst at es–Ni t i shKumari nBi har f ocusedonr oadsassoonashewasel ect ed,andt hi shasact edasaspr i ngboar df ort he economy .Ast udybyFan,Hazel landThor at( 2002)al soshowst hati nvest menti nr ur alr oads hasamuchl ar geri mpactonr ur alpover t yt hanvi r t ual l yanyot herki ndofpubl i ci nvest ment , i ncl udi ngeducat i on,heal t hcar eandi r r i gat i on.TheBJPChi efMi ni st er sagai nf i ndt hems el ves asl eader si nt hei nf r ast r uct ur edevel opmentscheme.

I nf r ast r uct ur edevel opmenthasver yst r ongl i nkageswi t hpol i t i cal out comes.Fori nst ance, ShankarandSi sodi a( 2009)poi ntoutt hatChouhanwasbuoyedbyhi ghappr ovalf orhi s r oadsscheme–over55per centr espondent sacknowl edgedt hei mpr ovementi nr oadqual i t y , ver sus62per centi n2003hadf el tt hati thaddet er i or at edundert het henCongr essgov er nment .Theel ect or ali mpactofi nf r ast r uct ur ehasal sobeenf el tont heot hersi de–Shei l aDi kshi t ,f ori nst ance,benef i t t edi mmensel yf r om ar oadandf l yoverconst r uct i ondr i vei nDel hi .

Ef f ect i vepopul i st s Makenomi st ake,t henewageCM i sapopul i st .ForModi ,cr ownedt hechampi onofr i ght wi ngeconomi cs,t hemaj orpr obl em wi t ht heFoodSecur i t ybi l l wast hati tdi dn’ tgof ar enough!Hi spr i mar yar gumentwast hatent i t l ement sshoul dnotber educedf r om 35kgt o25 kg.Hi spar t yhassi mi l ar l yopposedFDIi nr et ai l ,bowi ngt opr essur ef r om i t smostl oyalconst i t uencyofmer chant sandt r ader s.TheBJPChi efMi ni st er sar enott heconvent i onalr i ght wi ngf i scalhawks–al ookatt hei rr espect i vest at es’ debt sr eveal st hat( Fi gur e4) .Accor di ng t oSenandDash( 2013) ,Guj ar atwasoneofonl yf ourst at est ohavear evenuedef i ci tbe t ween2007and201 1–t heot hert hr eebei ngWestBengal ,Ker al aandPunj ab,r eput edas f i scal l yi mbal ancesst at es.I nf act ,Guj ar atunderModi sawadecl i nei nst at et axr evenues bet ween200004and20071 1,wi t hcoi nci dedwi t hadecr easei ncent r algr ant s.Cont r ar yt o per cept i on,Modi al sodi dnotspendmor eoni nf r ast r uct ur e–capi t alout l ayi ncr easedbyonl y 0.

4per centofst at eGDP,compar edt o2.

7per centi nBi har ,1.

3per centi nKar nat ak aand0.

6 per centi nOdi sha.

18

Fi gur e4:St at edebtasper cent ageofst at eGDP

Butt heBJPChi efMi ni st er spr act i cepopul i sm wi t hadi f f er ence.Theyunder st andt hepol i t i cal compul si onsofpopul i sm,andf ol l owt hel east r esi st ancepat ht opopul i sm.TakeSi ngh,f ori nst ance.Oneofhi sf i r stact saf t ercomi ngt opoweri n2004wast onear l ydoubl et henumberof benef i ci ar i esundert hef oodsubsi dypr ogr am ( t hePubl i cDi st r i but i onSyst em) ,andr educe pr i cesoff oodgr ai nacr osst heboar d.Att hesamet i me,acompr ehensi veover hauloft he ageol dsyst em wasunder t aken,wi t hover90per centoft hef oodgr ai nnowr eachi ngt hebenef i ci ar i es.Nowpopul ar l yknownast he‘ chawalwal ebaba’ ,Si nghhasensur edt hr eecont i nu oust er msf orhi sgover nment .Nextdoor ,Chouhan( popul ar l yknownas‘ mama’ )of f er sa numberofcost l yschemessuchassubsi di zedf oodgr ai n,moneyf ordaught er s’ mar r i age, const r uct i onofhouses,bi cycl est or ur algi r l sandpi l gr i magef ort heel der l y .

Ofcour se,ot herChi efMi ni s t er sar eequal l y( ormor e)popul i st–f orexampl e,t hef r eemedi ci neschemel aunchedbyAshokGehl oti nRaj ast han.Butunl i ket hei rcount er par t si not her st at es,t heBJPChi efMi ni st er sar enoti r r esponsi bl epopul i st s.Theypr act i ce‘ ef f ect i vepopul i sm’ ,maki ngsur et hatmostoft hedol est heyr ol loutar er ecei vedbyt hei nt endedbenef i ci ar i es.Thi sensur est hei rcont i nuedpopul ar i t y ,whi l eensur i ngt hatt hedamaget ot hest at e t r easur yi sasl i t t l easpossi bl e.Taket hecaseofel ect r i ci t ysubsi di es.Accor di ngt oast udyby Komi vesetal( 2005) ,Guj ar ati st heonl yst at ei nI ndi at ohaveneut r alsubsi dydi st r i but i on– t hati s,t heshar eofsubsi di esaccr ui ngt opoorhousehol dsi sequalt ot hei rshar ei npopul at i on.MadhyaPr adeshhasar egr essi vedi st r i but i oncl oset ot heal l –I ndi aaver age,whi chi s commendabl egi vent hati ti satasubst ant i al l yl owerst at eofhumanandeconomi cdevel opment .I ncont r ast ,t hepoori nWestBengalandBi harr ecei veonl y62per centand43per cent oft heshar eofel ect r i ci t ysubsi dyt hatshoul dber eachi ngt hem,gi vent hei rshar ei npopul at i on.

I nconcl usi on,Iseet henewageCM asacombi nat i onoff ourel ect or al l ypower f uli deas–a r egi onalsat r ap,aneconomi csuper st ar ,ani nf r ast r uct ur eki ngandanef f ect i vepopul i st .Thi s r eci pef orsuccesshasbeenper f ect edbyModi ,andi sbei ngr epl i cat edacr osst hecount r y .

Per hapsi nt hi st r ansf or mat i onl i est hef ut ur eofI ndi andemocr acy .Wi norl ose,Modihasf or everchangedt hel andscapeofI ndi anpol i cy .

--------------------

19

Fi ght i ngt her apecul t ur ei n I ndi a Poor vaGupt a

I ’ m notavi ct i m.Idon’ tevenl i ket hatwor d.Butst or i esshoul dn’ tj ustbeaboutorbyvi ct i ms, shoul dt hey?Iwr i t easawomant hough,andmor ei mpor t ant l yasar easoni nghumanbei ng.

Aconver sat i onwi t haf r i endonce,af ewyear sagohadst r uckupani nt er est i ngt hought . “ Ar en’ tyoubei ngsl i ght l yhypocr i t i calher e?I sn’ tsaf et ywhatyoul ookf ori nar el at i onshi pwi t h aguy?Whenyouwanthi mt ot akecar eofyouandkeepyousaf e,whydoyoudenyhi mt he r i ghtt ot r eatyouwi t howner shi p.Justat hought ,youknow. ”Hewasr i ght .Iwasbei nghypocr i t i cal .Mostofusar ewheni tcomest odef i ni ngt hef i nel i nebet weenpr ot ect i onandsaf et y .

Let ’ shol dt hi st houghtf orawhi l e.

Iwasbor nandgr ewupi nNor t her nI ndi a-t hesocal l edcr i mecent r aloft henat i onandst udi edf ormyunder gr aduat edegr eei nDel hi -t hesocal l edr apecent eroft henat i on.I twasan easychi l dhood,Ihadt hemostl i ber al ,openmi ndedpar ent sagi r lcoul daskf or( wewer et wo si st er s,sot her ewasnoi ssueofpr ef er ent i alt r eat mentt ot heboychi l danyway) .ButInever r eal i zedIwasal wayshomebef or edar knessf el l ( onshor t erwi nt erni ght s,t i mi ngsf ort ui t i ons, musi ccl assesandspor t ssessi onswer esoadj ust edt oal l owf orconveni ent l yget t i ngbac k homebef or ei tgotdar k) .Iwasneverl ef tal oneathomei fi tcoul dbeavoi ded( event hough t hatmeantmypar ent shadt omak ecer t ai nsacr i f i cesi nt hei rsoci all i ves)andmyf r i endsand Ist ar t edwear i ngacer t ai nki ndofat t i r eoncewehi tourt eens( i twasnot i ceabl ydi f f er entf r om t hepr et eendaysandcer t ai nl ymuchmor ebashf ulandmodest ) .

20

Iwasapamper edchi l di nt hatsense,al lgi r l sIknowf r om backhomear e.Butwedi dn’ tquest i onourpar ent swhent heyt ol dust obehomeapar t i cul arhour ,orst ayedupl at eont her ar e occasi onswer et ur nedpastour“ i magi nar ycur f ewhour ” .Thesear esi mpl et hi ngsIst ar t ednot i ci ngonl yonceIgotal i t t l eol der ,movedawayf r om homeandt ur nedi nt oavi si t orasoppos ed t oar esi dentofmyhomet own.I tf i r sthi tmewhenIcoul dn’ tt akeani ghtt r ai nt hatwoul dt ake mehomei nt heshor t estspanoft i me,t her ebyal l owi ngmenott ohavet osacr i f i ceadayort wo oft heal r eadypai nf ul l yshor tvacat i onsont r yi ngt ogett hemostappr opr i at e( r ead:saf e)means oft r avel .I tal sohi tmewhenIr eal i zedt hatmypar ent swer en’ twr ongati nsi st i ngont hi s,becauseI ’ dsatonl ocalbusesdur i ngt hedayt i mewi t hmi ddl eaged“ uncl es”si t t i ngr i ghtnextt o me,engagedi n,whatcanonl ybet houghtofassomesor tofdi sgust i ngef f or tt ol eanonme ( butwhy?! )andst oppedusi ngt hosebus esmysel f .Amusi ngont hef aceofi t ,onemi ghtt hi nk, buti thi tmeevenhar derwhenonceonmyr oadt r i phome,“ unavoi dabl e”r oadbl ockscauseda si gni f i cantdet our ,whi chens ur edt hatInotj usthadt obepi ckedupatt heai r por tbutal sohad t obedr i venhomebymypar ent s( mybei ng22andt hedr i vebei ngl esst han6hour snot wi t h st andi ngbecauseI ’ m agi r landIcannotbel ef tal oneatt hedi sposalofadr i verwho,al t hough weknowdecent l ywel l ,can’ tr eal l ybet r ust ed,becauseofcour sehe’ samanandI ’ m not ) .I t st ar t edhi t t i ngmemor eandmor ebecausemypar ent swer en’ tbei ngover l ypr ot ect i veorunr easonabl e,i nf actt heywer emaki ngper f ec tsense!

Theyear2013wi l lpr obabl yber emember edast heyearoft hei nsur gentI ndi an;maybeeven t heI ndi anSpr i ngi ft heAam Aadmi succeedsi nover haul i ngt heexi st i ngsyst em enought o cr eat eamat er i ali mpact .Butwhi l et heyearmar kedI ndi a’ sr ebel l i onagai nstt heexi st i ngpol i t i calmodusoper andi ,i tal somar kedt heupsur geofI ndi a’ sant i r apemovementi nt hef or m of candl el i ghtvi gi l s,s t r i kes,pr ot est sanddemandsf orspeedyj ust i cet ovi ct i msandcapi t alpuni shmentt oal laccusedofr ape.Di dt heNi r bhayar apecaseser vet hepur poseofopeni ngc i t i zens’ eyesandmi ndst ot hecr i mesathand?Per haps.Di di tser vet hepur poseofmobi l i zi ng mi l l i onsacr osst henat i ont of i ghtf orapr edi camenthal foft hecount r yhassi l ent l ybeenf i ght i ng f ormostofi t sl i f e?Yes,def i ni t el y .Overt hecour seoft heday sf ol l owi ngDecember16,2012, t hel at entemot i onsofmi l l i onsofI ndi angi r l sandt hei rl ovedoneser upt edl i keador mantv ol canot hathadf i nal l yexhaust edi t sr eposeper i od.Thecount r yt ookt ost or m,andr i ght l ys o.But whi l et hecr owdst ookt oI ndi aGat eandt hepol i t i ci anspr omi sedj ust i ce,t hest or i esofot her gangr apesandmol est at i onscont i nuedt oador npr i ntandonl i nemedi aspacesal i ke,maybe evenmor ef r equent l yt hanbef or e.

I nMar ch2013t heLokSabhaandt heRaj yaSabhapassedt heamendedAnt i r apeBi l lt o whi cht hePr esi dentgavehi sassentaf ewdaysl at er .Iwasr ecent l yr eadi ngt het r anscr i ptof t heLokSabhaPr oceedi ngsont hedayt heHousepassedt heBi l l .

TheSamaj wadiPar t yr ef usedt obackt heBi l lsayi ngt hesamecoul dbeusedt ohar assand f r amei nnocentpeopl e.

Shar adYadav ,MP,JD( U)wonder edi famandoesn’ tst al kagi r l ,howwi l lyoungpeopl ef al li n l ove?“ Ist i l lt hi nkt hatmaki ngst al ki ngt ovoyeur i sm apuni shabl eof f encei st oohar shand wr ong.Peechakar nekel i ye,t aaknej haaknekel i ye,yehbahutbadisazahai( Tof ol l ow,t o evet ease,t hi si st oobi gapuni shment ) .Whenyouwat chShei l akij awaaniorMunniwi t hher ZanduBal m whatgoesoni nyourmi nd…?Sowhat ,wear eal l menaf t eral l ! ”“ …Wehaveal l f ol l owedwomenar oundi nyout h.Andwomendon’ tt al kt omenf i r st ,wemenhavet of ol l ow t hem andgett hem t ot al k.So,nowwi l ly ouputal lyoungmeni nl ovei nj ai l s?Ther ear en’ t enoughj ai l st ooher e. ” 21

Sumi t r aMahaj an,BJPMPsai d,“ Anywaypeopl et hesedaysgetdi vor cedoveri nsi gni f i cant i ssues.Mar i t alr apeshoul dn’ tbemadei nt oacr i mi nalof f ence.I twi l ldest r oyI ndi anf ami l i es.

Thi ngsl i ket heseshoul dbesor t edoutwi t hi nt hef ami l yorbycounsel i ng.Ther ei snoneedf ora l aw.Youknowt heI ndi anf ami l y ,i thasabi ndi ngef f ectont hesoci et y . ”Thi swasaf t erhert i r ade onr eal i t yshows,deodor antandcondom commer ci al sbei ngt hecausef orsexualassaul t si n I ndi a.Yes,bel i evei tornot ,she’ sawoman! “ Lotofpeopl emadef unofuswhenweopposedVal ent i ne’ sDay .Butnowever yoneagr ees t hati ti swest er ni zat i onofourcul t ur ewhi chi st obl amef ort her i si ngnumberofr apesi nt he count r y .Wehavet oaccepti t , ”s pokeAnandGangar am Geet eoft heShi vSena.

Idonotwi sht ocommentont hei mpl i cat i onsoft hei rdi scour seont heamendment st ot heBi l l .

Yes,whi l ei ti sext r emel yembar r assi ngt or eadt hel evelofdebat eshel df ordeci di ngt hi s count r y’ sf ut ur e,Imer el ywi sht opoi ntoutwhyIdon’ tf eel t hi sl aw,oranyot herf ort hatmat t er wi l lst oporevenr educesexualcr i mesagai nstwomenandchi l dr eni nI ndi a.Wehaveawoman suppor t i ngmar i t alr ape,amanj ust i f yi ngmor alpol i ci ngandanot heronegoadi ngoverhi sr esponsi bi l i t yasa“ Man”t owoohi s“ Woman” .Thesear ej ustaf ewoft hesever alexampl esIcan gi ve,andweknowt hes ear ei nt hemaj or i t y .

I ti sof t enar guedt hought hatr apei sagl obalphenomenon,notj ustl i mi t edt oI ndi a.I nf act , manycl ai mt hatwest er ni zat i onhasnotnecessar i l ybr oughtaboutf r eedom f orwomen.Thi s cl ai mi sver ydi ver gentf r om t heoneswesawabove,anddoesn’ tassumet hatwest er nf ood habi t sordr essi ngst yl espr omul gat esexualvi ol ence,buti nst eadbel i evest hatmoder nt hought andout l ookhasnotsuf f i ci ent l yext endedt oensur et hesaf et yofwomen,eveni nt hedevel oped wor l d.

I nJanuar y ,2013,soonaf t ert henewsoft hepr ot est si nI ndi abr okeoutt ot hedevel opedwor l d’ s medi a,Hi l l ar yHal dane,aPr of essorofAnt hr opol ogyatQui nni pacUni ver si t y ,wr ot eal et t ert ot he Edi t oroft heNewYor kTi mesi nr espons et oopi ni onspubl i shedi nt hepaper ,“ …Whi l ebot har ecor r ectt onot et hatI ndi ahast er r i bl yhi ghr at esof sexualassaul tandot herf or msofvi ol enceagai nst women,t heydonotment i ont hef actt hatvi ol ence i sagl obalepi demi c,notsol el yabypr oductof I ndi ancul t ur e.

Oursi mi l ar l yhi ghr at esofsexualassaul tandot herf or msofgender basedvi ol encei nAmer i cancul t ur eseem t obeaccept edbyacol l ect i veshr uganda“ bl amet hevi ct i m”ment al i t y .We coul dl ear nf r om t heI ndi anr esponset ot her ecenthor r i f i cdeat hofayoungmedi calst udent : col l ect i veact i onanddemandsf orchange.Amer i canandI ndi anwomendeser vebet t er . ”Her s wasamongahandf ulofr esponsest hatonewoul dgett or eadcompar i ngt he“ r apecul t ur e”i n I ndi awi t ht hati nt heUS.Tr ut hbet ol d,mostcount r i esoft hewor l d,whi l ewi del yappl audedt he I ndi anmovement ,wer enotasgener oust owar dsI ndi ancul t ur eandsaf et ynor ms.Jason Bur kewr ot ef orTheGuar di ani nSept emberl astyear ,“ Thebr ut algangr apeonabushi ghl i ght edt her out i neabuseofI ndi anwomen–andhowt henat i on’ ssur get osuper powers t at us hasl ef tmi l l i onsbehi ndst r uggl i ngont hemar gi ns. ” 22

Never t hel ess ,whathasbeent r ul yr emar kabl eaboutt heI ndi anant i r apemovementi st he i mpacti thashadonf emal eempower mentef f or t s,notj ustbasedi nI ndi a,buti ncount r i esl i ke Br i t ai nandt heUSwhi chhaveasi gni f i cantSout hAsi anandAf r i canpopul at i onspeaki ngout agai nstt heI ndi angover nmentandl awandor dersi t uat i on,andi nsuppor toft hepeopl e’ sef f or t s.TheFr eedom Wi t houtFearPl at f or m,f orexampl e,wassetupi nLondon,asanar enaf or Bl ack,Sout hAsi anand‘ Mi nor i t yEt hni c’ woment ol eaddi scussi onsont hevi ol enceagai nst womenandgi r l s;t ocount eri mper i al i str aci stdi scour set hatUKmai nst r eam medi abombar ds uswi t hand;t ohi ghl i ghtt hecoopt i ngofvi ol enceagai nstwomenandgi r l si ssuesbyvar i ous gr oupswhoseekt of ur t hert hei rownr aci st /ant i i mmi gr at i on/I sl amophobi cagendas.Yetonei s f or cedt owonderwhati ti saboutwomen’ ssaf et yi nI ndi at hatmakesi tf al l sobehi ndt her estof t hewor l d,i nspi t eoft hef actt hatr apes ,ar eanest abl i shedgl obal phenomenon?

Asperdat apubl i shedf r om t heNat i onalCr i meRecor dsBur eaui nt heWal lSt r eetJour nali n December2013,over1, 00, 000caseswer ependi ngt r i ali n2012,appr oxi mat el y25, 000cases ar er epor t edever yyear ,t heper cent ageofwhi chhasonl ymar gi nal l yi ncr easedovert hel ast5 year s,andbar el yhal foft heset r i al sr eachcompl et i on,nott oment i ont heabysmal l yl owl evel s ofconvi ct i on.Whati si nt er est i ngt onot ei s,outoft he38, 144cases( i ncl udi ngt hosef r om l ast year )onl y991,orr oughl y3% wentt ot r i ali n2012.Oft he1, 33, 922t r i al spendi ng,onl y20, 660 t r i al s,orr oughl y15% wer ecompl et ed.Whi l esomemi ghtf i ndi thear t eni ngt onot et hatonc ea caser eachest r i alst age,i ti sf i vet i mesmor el i kel yt obeact edupont hanacaseexpect i ngt o got ot r i al ,Idon’ t .TheDel hiPol i cer egi st er eddoubl et henumberofr apecasesi nAugust2013 ascompar edt ot hecor r espondi ngmont hof2012andsi xt i mest henumberofmol est at i on compl ai nt sovert hesamet i meper i od.Buteveni ft hemovementhasmadei teasi erf orwomen t of i ndt hest r engt ht ocomeoutwi t ht hei rgr i evances,i st her edr essalmechani sm goi ngt odo anyt hi ngt oaddr esst hem?

I nJanuar y2013,t heWal lSt r eetJour nalpubl i sheda“ RapeMap”ofI ndi abasedon201 1dat a f r om t heMi ni st r yofHomeAf f ai r s.Accor di ngt ot hatmap,t henor t heast er nst at esofMani pur , Nagal andandMi zor am havet hehi ghestconvi ct i onr at esof100.

0%,84.

2% and80.

7% i nt he count r y ,whi l eJammu&Kashmi r ,Andhr aPr adeshandWestBengalhavet hel owest ,at8.

3%, 1 1.

0% and1 1.

5% r espect i vel y .Theot herdat af ocusedonwast heabsol ut enumberofcases r epor t edandt henumberofcasesr epor t edper100, 000women.Thef actoft hemat t erbei ng, t oomuchi sbei ngr epor t edandt al kedaboutt hemet r os,whi l ei nci dent sar ehappeni ngever y wher e,andgoi ngunnot i ced.

I nt hecol l ect i on,“ Wor d.OnBei nga[ Woman]Wr i t er ”( 2004) ,onewr i t erment i ons,“ Ther ei sno wayawomancanuseswearwor dsi nHi ndi ,becauset heyar especi f i cal l yandabusi vel yant i women;t ouset hem woul dbet odel i ber at el yendor set hei rder ogat or yi nt ent . ”Thi si snot mer el yaf emi ni stwr i t er ’ sdi l emma.I nar ecentdi scussi onont hedemandsofdi f f er entI ndi an l anguages,Pr asoonJoshinot edt hatnoneoft heI ndi anexpl et i vesar edi r ect eddi r ect l yt owar ds t her eci pi ent( whoi nmostpr obabi l i t ywoul dbemal e) .Theyar ei nf acti nf l ammat or yr ef er ences t ooneormor eoft her eci pi ent ’ sf emal er el at i ons.Nost r ai ghtt hi nki ngI ndi anmanget sof f ended unl essyoumakeadi sr espect f ulal l usi ont ohi swi f e,mot her ,si st erordaught erbecauset hos e ar et he“ t hi ngs”t hat“ bel ong”t ohi m andnobodyel se,notevent hemsel ves,andsoheal one hast her i ghtt oabuset hem.

23

Myi ssuewi t ht hi smovementi st hatIf eel af t erper f or mi ngi t si ni t i alf unct i onoff eedi ngf uelt o t hef i r e,i twi l l ver ysoonl eti tgetext i ngui shedunl esswecol l ect i vel yr eal i zet hatt het r uechal l engedoesn’ tl i ei nhowwewor dal aw.Buti nst ead,i nsoci alr ef or mt hatwi l lcompl et el ycome onl yoversever algener at i ons,butwhi chdef i ni t el ycannotbef ost er edt hr oughseet hi nganger .

Thosewhowor kwi t hr api st s( convi ct edorot her wi se)sayt hatsomer apebecauseofi nf er i or i t y compl exes,amar gi nalf ewhavepsychol ogi cali l l nesseswhi l et her eevenar et hosewhocan’ t bear ousedbyconsensualsex.Whi l enotal loft hi scanbef i xed,whet heri ti sdecadesofpover t y ,unempl oyment ,oppr essi onoranyot herf or m ofst r uggl et hathascompel l ed( f orl ackofa bet t erwor d)I ndi anment ot akeonsuchabr ut i shchar act er ,i tcan’ tbei gnor edbecausewe haveal lhadapar tt opl ayi ngi vi ngt hem t hei nf al l i bl econf i denceofknowi ngt hatwhat evert hey chooset odo,wewi l laccepti tuncondi t i onal l y .Ourmot her st aughtus,t hei r st hem,andi thas happenedovert heyear s.So,l et ’ sal sor evi si tt her oot s.Remembert hedi scussi onofpr ot ect i onver sussaf et y?

I n1981,i nBombay ,17yearol dSohai l aAbdul al iwasgangr apedandnear l yki l l ed.Today ,she sur vi vest owr i t ef ort heNewYor kTi mesandput st hei ssueper f ect l y ,“ Rapei shor r i bl e.Buti ti s nothor r i bl ef oral lt her easonst hathavebeendr i l l edi nt ot heheadsofI ndi anwomen.I ti shor r i bl ebecauseyouar evi ol at ed,youar escar ed,someoneel set akescont r olofyourbodyand hur t syoui nt hemosti nt i mat eway .I ti snothor r i bl ebecauseyoul oseyour“ vi r t ue. ”I ti snothor r i bl ebecauseyourf at herandyourbr ot herar edi shonor ed.Ir ej ectt henot i ont hatmyvi r t uei s l ocat edi nmyvagi na,j ustasIr ej ectt henot i ont hatmen’ sbr ai nsar ei nt hei rgeni t al s. ” So,t henextt i meyoucomeaski ngmef oravot eandpr omi set odepl oymor epol i ceof f i c er s andpr ovi deacommandof or ceatmydi sposalwhenIst epoutl at eatni ght ,showmef i r st ,how yout r eatyourwomen.Tel lmewhet heryoul ett hem st udy .When,howandt owhodi dyouget t hem mar r i ed?Gi vemepr oofyou’ vepr ogr essedasahumanbei ngandIpr omi seI ’ l lvot ef or youevenwi t houtt hecommandof or cesandt hepol i ceof f i cer sandwomenhel pl i nesyoupr oposet oputi npl acef ormysaf et y .Under st andt hatI ’ m aper son,notanot herpi eceofy ourbel ongi ngst hatneedspr ot ect i on,r eal i zet hat ,andbel i eveme,mywor l dwi l lbecomeasaf er pl ace.I fyoudi sagr eewi t hme,askmewhy ,wecoul ddi scusst hi sandIcoul dputmypoi nt acr ossasl ogi cal l y ,obj ect i vel yandki ndl yasIcan.Buti fyoust i l ldon’ tagr ee,I ’ m sor r y ,I ’ m t r yi ngt ochangemywor l d,andi thasnopl acef orpeopl el i keyou.

--------------------

24

Headsi nt hesand?

AzeezGupt a

Askedt owr i t eanar t i cl ef oranupandcomi ng webmagazi ne,Iwasaf f l i ct edbyt hepar al yzi nguncer t ai nt yoft hatmostundi gni f i edofobj ect s–aheadl esschi cken,when,f r ant i cal l y l ooki ngar oundf ori nspi r at i on,Idi scover ed t hatamosti nt er est i ngt opi cwasr i ghtunder mynose–t het i t l eoft hemagazi nei t sel f .The I ndi anOpi ni on.Ist ar t edt owonderaboutt hi s I ndi anopi ni ont hatt hemagazi nei sat t empt i ng t ogi veavoi cet o,orf ort hatmat t er ,about opi ni onanywher e.Howdoesopi ni ongeti ncubat ed,f or medandmani pul at ed?I t smostobvi ousmani f est at i on–al lt hosei nt er est i ngFacebookst at usesandcomment sonournewsf eed,compl et ewi t hi nsi ght sandj i ngoi sm – wher edot heycomef r om?Andmostspeci f i cal l y ,whati st hei mpactofi t smostsi gni f i cant shaper–t heubi qui t ous24X7TVandonl i nesoci al medi a?

Ibegi nmyexami nat i onbydi scussi ngt hedomi nantpol i t i calnar r at i veoff ourorf i veyear sago –t heAr abSpr i ng.TheMi ddl eEastwassubj ectt omassi veupheaval s,wi t hanumberofaut hor i t ar i anr egi mest oppl edandr esi st ancest i l longoi ngi not hercount r i es.Thei nt er netand soci almedi awer eher al dedasmaj orf act or sbehi ndt heser evol ut i ons,bui l di ngnet wor ks amongpeopl e,r ai si ngconf i denceandi nc r easi ngaccesst oi nf or mat i on.Theef f ect soft hese r el at i vel ynewf or msofmedi aandopi ni oni ncubat or swer et her ef oral lt osee,andconsi der edver yposi t i ve.

However ,t hedomi nantnar r at i vehassi ncechanged–acur sor ygl anceatt oday’ snewsr eveal sagr owi ngr adi cal i zat i onandext r emi sm i nt houghtandact i onal l overt hewor l d.Acc or di ngt oTheEconomi st ,t heUSi smor edi vi dedt haneverbef or e,wi t ht henumberofswi ng st at esf al l i ngt oj ust4andt henumberofl andsl i dest at essoar i ngi nt hel ast30year s.Though vot er s’ vi ewsof‘ t hei r ’ par t yhavenotmuchchanged,mor esayt heyf earorar eenr agedby t heot herone.Amani f est at i onoft hi shasbeent her i seoft heTeaPar t yont heext r emer i ght f r i ngeoft heRepubl i canPar t y ,whi chenj oyedsubst ant i alpopul arsuppor twheni twasf or med i n2009t houghsubsequent l ydecl i ni ngi npopul ar i t y .Si mi l ar l y ,ext r emei nsur gent shavemade headwayacr ossmai nl andEur ope–t heUKI Pi nt heUK,t heFNi nFr anceandt heFr eedom Par t y( PVV)i nt heNet her l andscoul deachwi nt hemostvot esi nEur opeanPar l i amentel ect i onsi nMay .ThePr ogr essPar t yhasj oi nedNor way’ sgover nment .Sl ovaki ahasanewf ar r i ghtpr ovi nci algover nor .Counti nsur gent sont hel ef t ,suchasSyr i zai nGr eeceandt heFi v e St armov ementi nI t al y ,andmai nst r eam par t i esi nEur opear eweakert hanatanyt i mesi nce t heSecondWor l dWar .Cl oserhome,ournei ghbour si nPaki st anandNepalhavebot hseen t her i seofl ef t i stpar t i es,wi t hant i westsensi bi l i t i es.I nI ndi a,ofcour se,t her ecentdr amat i c r i seoft heAAP,wi t hi t sext r emel ef tagenda,andt hest eadyi ncr easei npopul ar i t yoft he r i ght wi ngRSSmoder at edBJP,ar ewi t nesst ot hi sr adi cal i zat i on.

25

Ofcour se,t her ei snot hi ngi nher ent l ywr ongi nr adi cal i zat i onort hef or mi ngofext r emepol i t i cal al t er nat i ves–i tshakesupt hesyst em andf or cesest abl i shedor gani zat i onst oupt hei rgame.I t hel psnewi deasgett r act i on,andi nani dealwor l d,sui t abl enegot i at i onswoul dseekt oensur e t hatal lpol i ci esar et emper edandmoder at edt obemostaccept abl eandsui t abl e.Howev er , whatIal soseei st her i seofadar kersi de–ext r emi sm wi t ht hei nabi l i t yt oappr eci at eshadesof gr eyandt hepossi bi l i t yofami ddl egr ound.MyFacebookf eedsar el i t t er edwi t hj i ngoi sm ofone ki ndort heot her ,wi t hpr oponent sofapar t yoraper sonal i t yunwi l l i ngt oevencount enancet he exi st enceofashr edofsensei nanopponent ’ si deasorsomef l awi nt hei rowni deal ’ si deasor act i ons.Cr i t i cal ,unbi asedanal ysi sonasi t uat i onbysi t uat i onbasi si ssel dom seen–onei s consi der edei t herf ororagai nstt heent i r ecl umpofopi ni onshel dbyapar t i cul argr oup.Br oadl y wear eshi f t i ngf r om abel lcur vet ot heapt l ynameddumbbel l .

Ther ei sal so,admi t t edl y ,aposi t i vesi de–somei ndi vi dual shavebeenopent ochangi ngt hei r vi ews,wi t hgr eat eraccesst oi nf or mat i onandevi dence.I nmyexper i encet hough,suchpeopl e ar ef ewandf arbet ween.Nosi ngl ef act orexpl ai nst hi st r endofr adi cal i zat i onandi nt ol er ance– manyt hi ngshavecomet oget hert opr eci pi t at et hi schange.Af ewoft het opofmymi ndar et he sl owi nggl obalgr owt hsi nce2008,r el at i vel yhi ghi nf l at i onr at esacr osst heboar dandt hef r ust r at i onatper cei vedi nef f ect i vegover nanceandapat hyofpar t i esatt hecent r e.Buthast he adventandspr eadofr ec enti nf or mat i onandcommuni cat i ont echnol ogyt r ends,par t i cul ar l y 24X7TVandonl i nemedi a,pl ayedasi gni f i cantr ol e?

Ther ear econf l i ct i ngt heor i es.Accor di ngt oast udybyMar kusPr i orofPr i ncet onUni ver si t y , onl y1015% oft hevot i ngagepopul at i oni nt heUSwat chmor et han10mi nut esofcabl enews aday ,ashar et hatr i sesmodest l ybef or eexci t i ngel ect i ons.Whi l eFoxNewsandMSNBCar e der i dedasr i ght wi ngandl ef t wi ngbast i onsr espect i vel y ,Mr .Pr i orsuggest st hatnott oomany peopl eact ual l ywat cht hei rnews,andhencet hatt hi si snotasi gni f i cantf act or .Thecasemay besi mi l ari nI ndi aaswel l .Thi sschool oft houghtsuggest st hatt heopi ni onofal ar gesetof peopl ehasnotbeenduet ot hemedi abutduet ot heot herf act or sment i onedabove.

However ,i ti st r uet hatamongi nt er est edandopi ni onat edi ndi vi dual s( t heconst i t uencyI ’ m addr essi ng) ,Facebooki snowt hebat t l egr oundf orf or mat i onofopi ni on.Ormor ebr oadl y ,t hei nt er neti s.I ti swher ewedi spl ayoural l egi ancesandwher ewe( supposedl y)engagei nourdebat es.Sowhatr ol edoest hei nt er netact ual l ypl ay ,wi t hpeopl ewhoar eengagedwi t hi t ?Agai n, weseet hatt her ear et wopos si bl er ol es,whi chcanbeexami nedt hr ought heconceptof‘ soc i al capi t al ’ .

TheHar var dacademi cRober tPut nam def i ned‘ soci alcapi t al ’ as“ connect i onsamongi ndi v i dual s–soci alnet wor ksandt henor msofr eci pr oci t yandt r ust wor t hi nesst hatar i sef r om t hem” .

Soci ol ogi st sf ur t herdi st i ngui shbet weent wot ypesofsoci alcapi t al ,t ypi f i edbyt woki ndsof gr oups.I nPut nam’ swor ds,“’ br i dgi ng’ gr oupst hatf unct i ont obr i ngt oget herdi spar at emember soft hecommuni t y ,exempl i f i edbymi xedr aceyout hspor t scl ubsi nSout hAf r i caort he Ci vi cFor um i nNor t her nI r el and,and‘ bondi ng’ gr oupst hatr ei nf or cecl osekni tnet wor ksamong peopl eshar i ngsi mi l arbackgr oundsandbel i ef s. ”Consequent l y ,“ Br i dgi ngsoci alcapi t alr ef er s t osoci alnet wor kst hatbr i ngt oget herpeopl eofdi f f er entsor t s,andbondi ngsoci alcapi t albr i ngs t oget herpeopl eofasi mi l arsor t .Thi si sani mpor t antdi st i nct i onbecauset heext er nal i t i esof gr oupst hatar ebr i dgi ngar el i kel yt obeposi t i ve,whi l enet wor kst hatar ebondi ng( l i mi t edwi t hi n par t i cul arsoci alni ches)ar eatgr eat err i skofpr oduci ngext er nal i t i est hatar enegat i ve” .

26

Pi ppaNor r i ssuggest st hatt hedevel opmentoft hei nt er netspeedsupt hepr ocessoff or mat i on ofsoci alcapi t al ,bot hbondi ngandbr i dgi ng.Fi r st l ywi t hr espectt obondi nggr oupswi t hhomogeneousi nt er est sandbackgr ounds,t hei nt er netpr ovi desanunpar al l el edf or um f ori nt er act i onsbet weensuchpeopl e.Ther ear emi l l i onsofi nt er estgr oupsonl i ne,whi chcanbej oi ned andwher edi scussi onscant akepl aceonver yspeci f i ct opi csandi nt er est s.Al somostonl i ne communi t i esar el owcostwi t hnobar r i er st oent r yorexi t .User scanal soavoi dt hesomet i mes pai nf ult askofhavi ngt oengagewi t hsomeonewi t hopposi t epoi nt sofvi ewast heyar enot physi cal l yi nt hei rpr esence.Ther ef or e,“ t her esul tofpar t i ci pat i ngi nonl i necommuni t i esc oul d beexpect edt or ei nf or cel i kemi ndedbel i ef s,si mi l ari nt er est s,andt her ef or ei deol ogi calhomogenei t yamongmember s” .Si mi l ar l y ,t hei nt er netcanal sopl ayaval uabl epar ti ncr eat i ngsoci al br i dgesamongt hosewi t hhet er ogeneousi nt er est sandbackgr ounds.Text ualonl i necommuni cat i onhi desal lmar ker sofi dent i t yoraf f i l i at i ont oanypar t i cul argr oup–gender ,r ace,age,and soci oeconomi cst at us–t huspr omot i nghet er ogenei t y .Theanonymi t ycoul dal l owpeopl et oput acr osst hei rpoi nt sofvi ewwi t houtf earofr et al i at i onandot her st or ecei vet hem wi t houtpr i or pr ej udi ces.

Nor r i st hengoesont oanal yzet heex acti mpactofi nt er netonsoci alcapi t alt hr oughapl et hor a ofsur veydat a.Theef f ectofdi f f er entt ypesofonl i negr oupsonbr i dgi ngandbondi ngsoci al capi t ali st hef i r sti ssueaddr essed.Onanaver agei twasf oundt hatt hei nf l uenceonbondi ng soci alcapi t alwasmor et hant hatonbr i dgi ngcapi t al ,al ongwi t hvar i at i onswi t ht het ypeof gr oup.Et hni ccul t ur algr oupsandgr oupsshar i ngsi mi l arl i f est yl ewer ef oundt ohavemor e soci albenef i tagai nstgr oupsl i kespor t sgr oups.“ Thepat t er nsuggest st hatonl i necont actdoes br i ngt oget herl i kemi ndedsoul s,whoshar epar t i cul arbel i ef s,hobbi esori nt er est s,pr obabl y duet ot hehyper pl ur al i sm andi deol ogi cal di ver si t ywi del yevi dentont heI nt er net .I nt er msof br i dgi ngsoci alcapi t al ,t her esul t si ndi cat edt hatt hesegr oupsdi dl i t t l et obr i dger aci alandeconomi cdi vi des,whi l eef f ect i vei nbr i dgi nggener at i ongaps” .

Whi l et hes esur veyswer epr i mar i l yUSbased,Ibel i evet heyhel pexpl ai nwhatweseebef or e usi nI ndi at oday .Ourgener at i onhasadopt edanOst r i chl i ke‘ Headi nt hesand’ pol i cy ,t hr ough t hedevel opmentof‘ bondi ngcapi t al ’ ,whi l eshowi ngl i t t l et endencyt owar ds‘ br i dgi ngcapi t al ’ .

Wet endt oaccesst hepl et hor aofsour cest hatr ei nf or ceouri ni t i al vi ewpoi ntwhi l econveni ent l yi gnor i ngal levi dencet ot hecont r ar y .Ourowncl osekni tgr oupsconveni ent l yl i keourst at usesandcomment s,andwecaneasi l yi gnor edi ssent er sorbombar dt hem wi t hi sol at ednugget sf r om ourownsour ces.Thi si sf aci l i t at edbyt hespr out i ngupofbi aseswi t hi nbot hi mpor t antandni chemedi aout l et s–pr omi nentexampl esbei ngt her i ght wi ngal l egi anceoft he Ti mesGr oup,ort hepr ol i f er at i onofcommuni t yspeci f i copi ni onf or umsont hei nt er net .

27

Howdowet henensur et hatwet r ul yeducat eour sel vest ohavean‘ I ndi anopi ni on’ t hati sconsi der edandt est ed?Weknowt hatwehaveabi ast or ei nf or ceouropi ni onsel ect i vel y .Medi a savvypol i t i calor gani zat i onsl i ket heBJPandt heAAPhavesoughtt of or mul at eandshape publ i copi ni onbygener at i ngl ar geamountofnews–aposi t i vedevel opmentbutwi t ht he dangerofdi si nf or mat i onandmani pul at i onaswel l .Wi t ht heCongr ess,ofcour se,t her ei sno suchdanger–t hei rnegl i gi bl epr esenceonsoci almedi aori ndeedonmostf or msofcommuni cat i onensur est hat .However ,i tal sounf or t unat el ydepr i vesusofanyabi l i t yt ovi ewex i st i ng pol i ci esorachi evement s,i nani mpar t i all i ghtunt ai nt edandunmani pul at edbyi t sopponent s.

Al lt hesef act or sensur et hatwenear l yal waysgr avi t at eandst r engt henourownpar t i cul arpoi nt ofvi ew,i r r espect i veofchangesi nt her ealsi t uat i on.

Theonl ysol ut i onseemst obet oputi nmor eofanef f or t ,et er nalvi gi l anceaf t eral l bei ngt he pr i ceofl i ber t y .Maybeweneedt oaccessandanal ysemor enewsanduseamor edi sc r i mi nat i ngl ens.Thanksagai nt ot hei nt er net ,dat ai snowwi del yavai l abl e–whynotcheckst at i st i cs f orour sel v esbef or espr eadi ngt hem ast hegospel ?Whynotgot oanopposi ngcamp’ sf or um ever ydayandseet hei rvi ewpoi ntf orour sel ves?Andt hought hi si snoti nt endedt obeanadver t or i al ,whynotmakeupourmi ndsbasedonf act sf r om r espect edunbi asedsour ces,r at her t hancompr omi sedones?Ther ei sgr eat erpot ent i alt haneverbef or et obeawel l i nf or med, t hi nki ngpr ol et ar i at–butonl yi fweadoptt hebenef i t sofbr i dgi ngsoci al capi t al .Thenweshal lf i nal l yhaveanI ndi anOpi ni onwor t hyoft hename.

--------------------

28

Nat i onalpr i de?

Kar anNagpal

Theot herday ,Ir ecei vedasur pr i si ngt extmessagef r om t heI ndi anHi ghCommi ssi onert o PapuaNewGui nea,whowasonanof f i ci alt ourt oVanuat u.“ Letusal lI ndi ansmeett odayat myhot el . ”If oundt hi sappealt oournat i onali dent i t yqui t ei nt er est i ng,suggest i ngt hatwe shoul dmeethi m becausewewer eI ndi ans,andbecausewewer eI ndi ans,wemustmeethi m.

Theexhor t at i ont akesoni nt er est i nghuesi napl acel i keVanuat u,wher et her ear emor ei ndi vi dual sofI ndi anor i gi n,f r om Fi j iorMaur i t i usorMal aysi a,t hant her ear eI ndi ansf r om I ndi a.I t wasn’ tcl earwhet hert heHi ghCommi ssi onerwasmer el yappeal i ngt oournat i onali dent i t y ,as ci t i zensoft heRepubl i cf oundedi n1947,ort oourdeepercul t ur ali dent i t y ,asapeopl ewi t h t hei rr oot si nt heI ndi ansubcont i nent .I fi twast hel at t er ,t henwoul dt he4Paki st ani swor k i ng ast el ecom engi neer sher eandspr eadi ngt hef r at er ni si ngmessageofI sl am,al sobei nvi t ed?I cer t ai nl yf el tcul t ur al l ycl osert ot hem t hant oI ndi a’ sHonor ar yConsul Gener ali nVanuat u,who wasbor ni nMal aysi a,st udi edi nTami l Nadu,andcamet oVanuat ut ospr eadt hemessageof t heequal l yf r at er nalBahaa’ i f ai t h.

Wef acedsi mi l arappeal st hr oughout2013.Letusal l I ndi anspr ot estagai nstt hebeheadi ngof sol di er sbyPaki st an.Letusal l I ndi anspr ot estagai nstt het r eat mentmet edoutt oDebyani Khobr agade.Letusal lI ndi ansdemanddeat hf ort heI t al i anmar i neswhoki l l edourf i sher men.

Letusal lI ndi anspr ot estagai nstt heSupr emeCour tdeci si ononSect i on377.Letusal lI ndi ans comet oget hert opr ot estwhenourf el l owci t i zensar er epr i mandedf orbr eaki ngdoor st oot her peopl e’ shousesi nt hemi ddl eoft heni ght …Oops,sor r y ,t hel astl i nei sonl ymeantf orAAP member sandDel hivot er s.

29

Thei deapr ompt sofTheI ndi anOpi ni onseem t osuggestt hatsuchappeal st oournat i onal i dent i t yr ef l ectagr owi ngdesi r et ost andst r ongi nt hef aceofi nt er nat i onalopposi t i on,andt o notbecomeapushover ,orGodf or bi d,a‘ sof t ’ st at e.Thi si st r oubl i ng,becausesuchgr andi ose asser t i onsofst at epowerseem t opl acet hei nt er est soft heSt at eabovet hatoft heci t i z ensi t wascr eat edt oser ve.Att hesamet i me,suchasser t i onsser vet oactassmokescr eent opr omot et hei nt er est sofonei ndi vi dualorsect i onsofsoci et yt ot hedet r i mentoft heci t i zenr yasa whol e.I nt hepr ocess,byemphasi zi ngonl yonedi mensi onofourcompl exi dent i t i es,t heseexpr essi onsofnat i onali dent i t yhavet hepot ent i alt osetusagai nstourf el l owhumansandgi vea f i l l i pt oconf l i cti nt hi sal r eadyt or nwor l d.

Tost ar twi t ht hesi mpl estoft hes ei nst ances,t hei deaof“ al lofusI ndi ans”st andi nguni t ed behi ndDebyaniKhobr agadei st hedi pl omat i cequi val entofI ndi ansst andi ngbehi ndBappi Lahi r it owi nanOscar ,andpr ot est i ngdi scr i mi nat i onwhenhedoesn’ t .Di dDebyanibr eakt he l aw?Wemayneverknow.Butt heUni t edSt at es’ pr osecut i onsyst em bel i evedi thadast r ong caseagai nsther ,cl ai mi ngshehadcommi t t edt opaySangeet aRi char damuchhi ghers al ar yi n t heUSi mmi gr at i onf or mst hanwhatsheact ual l ypai d.Ont hatbasi s,andwi t hacl earunder st andi ngoft heVi ennaConvent i ononConsul arRel at i ons,t heUSaut hor i t i esdeci dedt oi ni t i at e pr oceedi ngsagai nstDebyaniKhobr agade.I twoul dhavebeenj ust i f i edf or“ al lofusI ndi ans”t o pr ot esti fshehadbeenar r est edbecauseshewasanI ndi an,andi ndeedsuchasent i mentwas soughtt obest i r r edbyt heMi ni st r yofExt er nal Af f ai r sandherf ami l y .Butt hi si st hepoi ntabout t hesmokescr een-t hei deaofst andi ngupf orI ndi awasessent i al l yacovert opr ot ectt hei nt er est sofonei ndi vi dual -ani ndi vi dual whonotj ustsour edourst r at egi ci nt er est swi t ht heUni t ed St at es,butwasal soi mpl i cat edi nt heAdar shhousi ngscam.For t unat el y ,t het ensi onshave cal med,Debyanibr oughthome,andourout r agei snol ongerr equi r ed.

Theot heri nci dentment i onedi nTheI ndi anOpi ni oni deapr ompt ,ofPaki st anisol di er sbeheadi nganI ndi ansol di er ,i sl essst r ai ght f or war d.Pr i maf aci e,i tcal l edf oranout br eakofout r age, howdar et heydot hi st ous?SushmaSwar aj cal l edf ormor eheadst obebr oughtbackf r om t heot hersi de.I faneyef oraney ewoul dl eavet hewhol ewor l dbl i nd,Ishuddert ot hi nkwhat woul dhappeni fwegoheadf orhead.Butmor et hought f ul anal ysest hatf ol l owedt hei ni t i alout bur stsuggest edt hatt heal l egedbeheadi ngoccur r edasat i t f or t atf orki l l i ngsf r om t heI ndi an si de,whi chwer ei nr esponset oaPaki st anipr ovocat i on,whi chwasi nr esponset o….The ent i r eepi sodewasper f ect l ysui t edt opr omot et hei nt er est sofourmedi ai ndust r y ,whi chf eeds of fpopul arangerandmakesmoneyf r om sel l i ngt or chest ot hei nf l amedt or cher s.Theonl y pyr el i ti st hatofcommonsense.

Abi ggerr i ski sconf l at i ngt hei nt er est soft hemaj or i t ywi t ht hoseoft henat i on,andr i di ng r oughshodovert hosewhosevoi cesar el essl i kel yt obehear d.Suchat hi nghasbeenwi t nessed,onasmal l er ,butnol essdanger ous,scal ewi t ht heAAPt heat r i csi nDel hi .Themor al i t y andwi sdom ofonemanbecomest hatoft heent i r eci t y .I tmayormaynotbet r uet hatt hepar t i cul arhousesSomnat hBhar t iwast ar get i nghouseda“ dr ugandpr ost i t ut i onr i ng, ”butt he ent i r edr amaandt heexhor t at i ont o“ ever yonebel i evesso”ar eal ar mi ng.Oneoft hemosti mpor t antt hi ngst hathavehel dI ndi at oget herhasbeent hei nst i t ut i onsofgover nanceandadmi n i st r at i ont hatwei nher i t edf r om t heBr i t i sh.Thesehave,ofcour se,evol vedovert i me,changed i nr esponset osoci et alpr essur es ,butgr adual l y ,t hr oughanext ensi vepr ocessofcons ul t at i ons, t oensur et hatt hechangei ssust ai nabl e.Tor i der oughshodovert hesei nst i t ut i onsand demandchangeatt hebar r elofagun,oratt hepoi nt edt i pofyoursanct i moni ousf i nger ,can havedanger ousr ami f i cat i ons.

30

AsAmar t yaSenwr i t esi nI dent i t yandVi ol ence:TheI l l usi onofDest i ny ,vi ol encei scausedbya sol i t ar i stvi ewofhumani dent i t y ,avi ewt hatemphasi zesonei dent i t yaboveal l ,andcompel sus t or eactagai nstt hoseofot heri dent i t i es.Butweal lhavemul t i pl ei dent i t i es:wear enotj ustci t i zensoft heRepubl i cofI ndi a,butal soshar ecommonbondswi t ht hosewhospeakourl anguage,t hosewhobel i evei nourgod( s)( orshar eourvi ewt hatnoneexi st ) ,t hosewhoses ki n col ourr esembl esour s,t hos ewhol ovet hewaywedo.Cr eat i ngabet t erwor l di nvol vesemphasi zi ngandembr aci ngourmul t i pl ei dent i t i es,andt hei deaofnat i onalpr i decomesi nt heway .

I ti st empt i ng,i nt hi scont ext ,t oappealt ot heanci entHi nduphi l osophyofvasudhai vakut umbakam,t heent i r eear t hi s( i ndeed)af ami l y ,asmanypol i t i ci anshavedonet opr omot et hei rver si onofuni ver sal i stval ues.I ti sanot hermat t ert hatvasudhai vakut umbakam i t sel fwasmeant asawar ni ngagai nstsmokescr eens,agai nstpeopl ewhosoughtt opr omot et hei rownagenda whi l eappeal i ngt ouni ver salf r at er ni t y .Thephr aseappear edi nast or yoft hePancht ant r a, whenacunni ngj ackalt r i edt obecomef r i endswi t hagul l i bl edeer ,i nor dert oevent ual l yf east onhi m.Thedeerbel i evedt hej ackal ’ spr et ensi onsoff r i endshi p,andpr oceededt ot ak ehi m home.Enr out e,t hedeermethi swi sef r i end,t hecr ow,whowar nedhi m nott obl i ndl yt r ustt he j ackal ’ scl ai mswi t houti nvest i gat i nghi sr eali nt ent i ons.Thej ackalwasmi f f ed;heopenedhi s ar gumentwi t ht hef amousphr ase,vasudhai vakut umbakam,andaccusedt hedeerofdi scr i mi nat i ngbet weenhi msel fandt hecr ow.“ Theent i r ewor l di saf ami l y ,t henwhyt hi sdi scr i mi nat i on?”Thedeerf el lf ort hear gument ,andt ookt hej ackal home.Ofcour se,t hi si sanI ndi an st or yandt heendi sahappyone:t hedeersur vi vesandt hej ackali ssl ai n,buti nt her ealwor l d, t heendi ngsar enotal wayshappy .Thei nvocat i onofnat i onalpr i dei n2013wasasmucha smokescr eenasvasudhai vakut umbakam wasi nt hePancht ant r a,andwewoul ddowel lt onot poseourf ai t hi nt hecl ai msoft hosewhopur por tt ouseout r aget of ur t hert hei rowni nt er est s.

--------------------

31

दा स् ता नएपा की ज़ा यो हा नभा र गव ्

“ऐ फि रमे र ीयेआवा र ाला श अपनेगु ला बीमक़बर ेमे ंदफन होजा नेकेलि ए लौ ट आई ” गु ला बीमहल मे ंक़ै द,पा की ज़ाएक हसी ंर क् का साकीकहा नीहैजोबा ज़ा रकीगलि यो ंसेनि कल सली म कीबर ा त केसा थर खसत होजा ु तीहै . १९७२मे ंआज हीकेदि न पा की ज़ापर देपरदि खा ई गई थी .अपनेखू बसू र त छा या कन ,गु ं ला म मु हम् मद केसं गी त केसा थ नौ शा द कापा र श् ् वसं गी त सेइस फि ल् म को“ स् टे ट ऑफ़ आर ट”कादर ् जामि ् लताहै . इन सब केअला वाइस फि ल् म केबननेकीकहा नीइस फि ल् म सेभीज् या दादि लचस् प है .१९५६से बनतेबनते१९७२मे ंर ि ली ज़ होपा ई पा की ज़ाने१६सा ल मे ंकई उता रचढ़ा व दे खे . आज इस फि ल् म कोया द कर तेहु ए इसकेबा र ेमे ंपा च बा ं ते ंजोअनो खीहै

तकनी के : ं ब् ले क एं ड वा ईट मे ंइस फि ल् म कीशु र वा त हु ई (ht t p: / / www. yout ube. com/ wat ch?v=I 4FLyUu0vU ) ,खू बसू र त से ट बना ए गए औरफि ल् म काकु छ सं गी त बना यागया .कमा ल सा हब “ मु गले आ ज़म”के ले खको ंकीटी म मे ंथे .पा की ज़ाकीकु छर ी ले ंशू ट होजा नेकेबा द कमा ल अमर ो हीनेमु गले आ ज़म की दोकलरर ी ले ंदे खी .कमा ं ल सा हब नेफि ल् म फि रसेनई तकनी क केसा थ फि रसेफि ल् म कीशू टि ग ं कलरमे ंशु र ूकी .बा द मे ंपू र ीफि ल् म सि ने मा स् को प मे ंबना ई गई.

सली म: सली म कीचि ट् ठीजोसा हि ब् जा न केपै र ो ंमे ंथीउसमे ंलि खाथा “ इत् ते फा कन आपकेकम् पा र टमे ् ट मे ं ं चलाआयाथा ,आपकेपा व दे ं खे!बड़ेहसी ंहै ,इन् ं हे ंज़मी न पेमत उता र ि ये गा ,मै लेहोजा एं गे” . सली म केकि र दा रकोकई एक् टर स नेकि ् या ,अशो क कु मा रकेबा दर ा जे द् ं रकु मा रऔरफि रसु नी ल दत् त सा हब केबा द गौ रतलब हैकीसली म काकि र दा रअदाकर नेकेलि ए धर मे ् न् द् रसा हब कोसा इन कि यागया था .कि न हीनि जीका र णो ंसेजब उन् हो नेयेफि ं ल् म छो ड़ दीतोफि रर ा ज कु मा रनेउस कि र दा रको नि भा या .

32

छा या कन: ं इसफि ल् मकोएम् जीएम् से र ो यल् टीपरसि ने मा स् को पले सले ं करफि ल् मशू टकीगई.कमा लसा हबने ले न् स काएक बड़ाफो कसएर रपकड़लि याजोब् र ि टि शसि ने माकीसबसे उम् दालै बकीआँ खो ं से भीबा चके नि कल गयाथा .इसबा र े मे ं जबएम् जीएम् कोपताचलातोउन् हो ने ं कमलसा हबकोले सउपहा ं रमे ं दि याऔरकभी उसकीर ो यल् टीनही ं ली .दि वं गतश् र ीजो सफ वी र शि ् गजोइसफि ं ल् मके छा या का रथे उन् हे ं इसफि ल् मके लि ए सर वश् ् र ष् े टछा या का रकाअवा र डदि ् यागया .

नौ शा दऔरगु ला ममु हम् मदऔरप् र ा ण

:

नौ शा दके सबसे अज़ी ज़ दो स् तऔरअसि स् टे टगु ं ला ममो हम् मदसा हबइसफि ल् मके सं गी तका रथे ,औरनौ शा द सा हबइसफि ल् मके पा र ष् सं गी तके र चे ता .कहते है ं कीइसफि ल् मके लि एगु ला मसा हबने १२गी ततै या रकि ये थे जि नमे से ६गी तफि ल् ममे ं इस् ते मा लहु एहै .बा ं किसभीगी तएक एलबम“ पा की ज़ा–र गबर ं ग”मे ं ं सु ने जा सकते है .पा ं की ज़ाकासं गी तबे हदउम् दाथा .इतनाकीजब१९७२के सर वश् ् र ष् े टसं गी तकाफि ल् मफे यर “ बे ईमा न”कोदि यागयातोप् र ा ण सा हबने “ बे ईमा न”फि ल् मके लि एहीमि लाअपना“ फि ल् मफे यर ”लौ टादि या , कहाकीये अवा र डके ् वल“ गु ला मसा हब”के ना महो नाचा हि एथा .

सा हि बजा नऔरनर गि ् स सा हि ब् जा न( मी नाकु मा र ी ), अदा का र ानर गि ् सकीबे हदख़ा सदो स् तथी .१९६४मे ं जबमी नाकु मा र ीने पा की ज़ा औरकमा लसा हबसे ना तातो ड़दि यातोफि ल् मचा रसा लके लि एडब् बाबं दर ही .सु नी लदत् तसा हब( जोकी पहले इसफि ल् ममे ं सली मके र ो लके लि एचु ने गएथे ) औरनर गि ् सजीने मी नाजीकोफि ल् मकर ने के लि ए प् र ो त् सा हि तकि या .वही दार हमा नऔरनर गि ् स,मी नाजीसे मि लने कईबा रसे टपरआते क् यो किउनकीबी ं मा र दो स् तमी नाजीजोकीजीजा नसे फि ल् मकीशू टि गकरर ं ही ं थी .मर ते दमतक मी नाजीके सा थर ही ं उनकी दो स् तो ं ने उनके आखर ीसा लो ं कोर ो शनकि या . पा की ज़ाकोकु छ लो ग“ ओवरदटॉ प”,“ ला उड”फि ल् मकहते है ,मे ं र ीनज़रमे ं पा की ज़ाएक उम् दा ,सो शलफि ल् म है जोऔर तो ं के उत् था नकीबा तकहतीहै .

--------------------

33