Films like Garm Hawa, with a unique perspective on Partition are of particular relevance today, given the current Indian regime that is characterized by a communal and fundamentalist outlook, noted film director MS Sathyu told Teesta Setalvad in this week’s special interview.
The Great War
The Great War is a video documentary series on YouTube that covers World War I. The series will air each week over the next four years with each 6-10 minute episode covering a week’s worth of the war 100 years after it happened.
Education & teaching in an de-intellectualised and obedient society – Interview with Apoorvanand
Since the new government has come to power, there are continuous attacks on education in order to saffronize it. The history of the national movement is being re-written to manufacture an RSS role, which did not exist in the struggles against British rule. Dinanath Batra’s books, already a part of the Gujarat curriculum, are sought now to be introduced at the national level. He is same Dinanath Batra, from whose books, Modi drew “inspiration” to prove that in Mahabharata times, India had discovered genetic engineering and plastic surgery! Subramanian Swami wants book burning, starting with books of secular historians like Romila Thapar. RSS leaders have recently met HRD Minister Smriti Irani to discuss revision of text books. Education is being used as a tool to create communal divide.
Newsclick interviews Professor Apoorvanand of Delhi University on this communal attack on Indian history and education.
RSS has a bitter and narrow vision of our tradition: Mahesh Bhatt in conversation with Teesta Setalvad
Don’t narrow your band width to a bitter and hate ridden version of Hinduism as appropriated by the RSS, Mahesh Bhatt, award winning film maker exhorts the young Indian film maker in this Special Interview with Teesta Setalvad on Communalism Combat and Hillele TV; and use the creative medium to express dissent.
Nobel Peace Prize for an Indian and Pakistani does have to do with global politics: Arundhati Roy
On the Lauran Flanders show, Arundhati Roy was asked her views on the Nobel peace prize:
Arundhati Roy:
“Look, it’s a difficult thing to talk about because Malala is a brave girl and I think she has now started speaking out against US invasions and bombings that are going on.
“But certainly… as an individual, it is very difficult to resist great powers trying to co-opt you and, trying to use you in certain ways, and she’s only a kid, you know, and she cannot be faulted at all for what she did, but certainly the great game is going on, you know.
“And, of course, the idea of an Indian and a Pakistani being given…sharing the Nobel prize does have to do with global politics and it does have to do with the fact that until the 1990s, Pakistan and America were allies. Now, with all the trouble in Pakistan, the US is trying to step back from that marsh and look for firmer ground, in India.
“So we are at the receiving end of the kiss of death, if you like, and so both the begums now, Pakistan and India, have to be in the sheikh’s harem. You know, they have to be both be…
“I am not…this should not be taken as if I am criticising the individuals at all, but when the great game is at play, then they pick out people…all of us, I am aware of… at least you have to be aware of it…”
Politics of Saffron Brigade
The victory of Narendra Modi led BJP government has brought with it a flurry of almost daily assaults of communal violence, inflammatory speeches and statements. Prime Minister Modi, whose government was ushered in on the promise of ‘good days’, has maintained complete silence on these issues.
Nakul Singh Sawhney from Newsclick speaks to Subhash Gatade about the growing instances of communal assaults to analyse the politics of both majority and minority communalism and why secular forces have failed to curb them.