The year gone by would be remembered in human history for the havoc that COVID19 created in the lives of one and all. The epidemic that began sometime in late December soon turned into a pandemic making its presence felt in all the continents, including Antarctica. While countries like Cuba, China and Vietnam were able to successfully control the spread of the disease with timely intervention majority of the European and Latin American countries including Brazil and above all United States of America— the so-called super power— became its worst victims. The virus indeed exposed the harsh realities of the health care systems in place in these ‘developed’ nations.
Like other
parts of the world India too was not able to escape this menace. Tragically
people here, especially the poor and the downtrodden, due to the delayed and
reckless response by the incumbent government, had to pay a heavy price. And
while states like Kerala did make sincere attempts in reducing the pain of
these people majority of the states governments failed them miserably.
The pandemic has
brought about far reaching changes in our lives. It has forced people to go
beyond their comfort zone and explore avenues which have hitherto remained
under-explored. One such avenue is that of the virtual world. In last one year
virtual platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, Youtube, Facebook et al. have become
an important part of human lives and have changed the manner in which day to
day human interactions take place. While some have found it difficult to adjust
to this change others have found such platforms quite convenient. Safdar Hashmi
Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) too, as this past 1st January showed, experimented
quite creatively and with gusto with the virtual platforms.
Traditionally
the cultural evening organized by SAHMAT is marked by riveting performances and
camaraderie and bonhomie among long associates and
friends. However, since the proceedings of the 32nd Safdar
Hashmi Memorial took place virtually, it, unfortunately, meant the absence of
the latter element.
The theme of
this year’s event, depicted aesthetically on the SAHMAT brochure titled ‘Dukh
Likha Jana Chahiye’ (‘Sadness should be Documented’), was the plight of the
downtrodden, particularly the migrant labourers— people who were let down by
the Indian state.
The
proceedings of the evening began with moving tributes to Astad Deboo, Arjun
Dev, Kumi Chandra, Manglesh Dabral and Anjum Singh all of whom were closely
associated with SAHMAT and its workings and whom the organization lost in the
year gone by M.K. Raina talked about Astad Deboo’s long association with SAHMAT
and his life-long commitment to the ideals of the organization. Raina while
remembering Deboo’s contribution in the field of dance threw light on the fact
that even though he was a trained classical dancer he had over a period of time
created his own dance form influenced by several ideas from around the globe.
Rajesh Joshi
in his tribute to Manglesh Dabral talked about his immense contribution in the
field of literature. The mark that he has left in Hindi journalism was too
underlined by Joshi. That Manglesh Dabral was a master of protest poetry was
also pointed out by Rajesh Joshi. His poetries reflected the problems
encountered everyday by the urban dwellers. He also spoke about Dabral’s close
association with SAHMAT. His untimely death has left a vacuum in the literary
world which will be hard to fill. In Manglesh Dabral’s memory extracts from one
of his works Ghar Ka Raasta (co-authored with Mannu Bhandari) were also
narrated.
Tributes to
Kumi Chandra were paid by Madhu Prasad. She in her tributes narrated not just
her personal relationship with Chandra but also her contributions to the Safdar
Hashmi Memorial Trust. Prasad talked about the enthusiasm that Kumi Chandra and
her husband Anil Chandra showed in bringing out a weekly newspaper, Mongolpuri
Samachar in 1990 during the days when the first Janotsav was organized in
Mongolpuri, Delhi. An interesting thing of this weekly newspaper was that all
the work associated with its publication was done by the local population of
Mongolpuri itself. She also spoke about the proactive role that Kumi Chandra
played in organizing the musical concert Muktnaad in Ayodhya in 1993 in the months following the
demolition of the Babri Masjid. That her loss to SAHMAT is immense was underlined.
Year 2020
also saw the passing away of eminent historian Professor Arjun Dev. Tributes to
him were paid by two of his closest colleagues Professor Harbans Mukhia and Dr.
P.K. Shukla. While Mukhia in his tributes remembered the immense contributions
of Arjun Dev in the project which was undertaken in 1950s and 60s of re-writing
school textbooks by NCERT. As a member of NCERT and part of this project Dev
ensured that the school textbooks being written did not carry the colonial
perspective. Even though the project faced a lot of opposition by the right
wing organizations Arjun Dev’s efforts made sure that the textbooks survived
the onslaught. And his demise, Mukhia underlined is more than just a personal
loss. It is a loss to the entire education fraternity which is today under a
grave threat.
Dr. P.K.
Shukla spoke about the close bond that Arjun Dev shared with SAHMAT. The values
and ideals that Dev and SAHMAT stood for complimented each other. Shukla too
recounted the firmness that Arjun Dev showed in dealing with the right wing
groups’ opposition to the NCERT textbooks written by him and other historians.
Shukla narrated how SAHMAT provided a platform in those decades to historians
like Arjun Dev and others to voice their anger against such ‘intellectual’
attacks. That Arjun Dev from the platform of SAHMAT voiced his protest against
politics guided by communal and fascist agendas was also highlighted in P.K.
Shukla’s tribute. The important part that Arjun Dev played in opposing, along
with SAHMAT, the irrational approach in history writing cannot be ignored. His
staunch support to SAHMAT in its fight against ‘saffronization’ of various
educational institutions as well as right wing organizations’ repeated attacks
on the essence of Indian Constitution was also spoken about by Shukla.
Tributes were
also paid to Anjum Singh. Her long and close association with SAHMAT was fondly
recalled by Parthiv Shah.
Following
this Danish Hussain, well known film artist and dastango presented a poem penned by Faiz Ahmed Faiz titled
‘Intisaab’. The poem incidentally was dedicated by Faiz to the farmers of the
country. Though written quite a long time ago it remains relevant even today.
And, moreover, given the current scenario in which farmers are fighting for
their rights the addition of this poem in the evening’s proceedings was quite
apt. Another poem by Gauhar Raza about the ongoing farmers protest and titled
Kisan was also recited by Danish Hussain.
The
recitation of the poem was followed by a reading of a message by Professor
Irfan Habib. In his message Habib remembered the martyrdom of Safdar Hashmi and
paid tribute to him. He underlined Hashmi’s dedication and steadfast approach
in supporting the cause of poor and the oppressed. The Safdar Hashmi Memorial
Trust, he highlighted, has, since its inception, stood for the protection of
secular traditions of India and has fought vehemently against groups that have
made attempts to divide India on lines of caste and religion. SAHMAT has also
through various mediums including publications, plays, discussions et al. has
made successful attempts over the years to pursue the cause of the people apart
from making them aware of the Indian culture. SAHMAT in its three decades of
existence has played a pivotal role in fighting communal forces. It has never
bowed to the communal agendas. He also recounted the active role that SAHMAT
played in spreading messages of peace in places like Ayodhya in the months
following the destruction of Babri Masjid through various means. SAHMAT has,
through lectures and publications, made sincere attempts to present an accurate
account of the Indian national movement and has thus tried to protect the
heritage of the Indian national movement. He concluded by saying that at a time
when Indian Constitution’s ideals are under attack from the dark forces of the
right wing groups an organization like SAHMAT which is at the vanguard should
get support from one and all.
The message
was followed by a melodious performance by Avahan— a musical group comprising
of young students from University of Delhi, Delhi. The group presented some
moving Sufi compositions centring on the teachings of Sufi saints.
M.K. Raina
and Sohail Hashmi ably assisted by Anjali Raina and Saif Mehmood shared their
memories of SAHMAT. Talking about their experiences they reflected upon the
colourful history of the last thirty two years of the organization. They also
stressed upon the fact that SAHMAT’s foundation is based on ideals of
secularism, peace plurality of cultures. In this context they spoke about the
important role that it played in strengthening communal harmony which was under
grave threat in the decades following the wilful destruction of the Babri
Masjid. Raina and Hashmi also underlined the commitment shown by the younger
generation in recent years towards the ideals of SAHMAT and the active role
they played in taking forward its legacy.
A book on the
seventy years of Indian Constitution was also released on this occasion. The
book which is a result of an exhibition curated by Aban Raza which was put up
on the occasion of the SAHMAT celebrations by seventy artistes was released by
well-known artist Ghulam Sheikh. While releasing the book Sheikh briefly
discussed about his long association with SAHMAT.
Professor
Romila Thapar in her short but crisp message recalled some of her past memories
from the days when she was a school student in 1940s. It was a period when
national movement was at its peak. She recalled the struggles and sacrifices
which were made to achieve some of the fundamental rights. And since today many
of such rights are facing threat of being obliterated it is, she was of the
opinion, time for another national movement akin to the one in the past. Such a
movement is needed to secure the equal rights of all Indians and establish an
unshakeable secular democracy.
Professor
Prabhat Patnaik in his message highlighted the fact that virtually from the
time of its formation, SAHMAT has constantly campaigned against the rising tide
of communalism. He reiterated the fact that SAHMAT has played a pivotal role in
fighting communal and fascist forces. Its unique style of fighting communal
agendas by bringing together people from all walks of life on a common platform
was also highlighted by Patnaik. The all-India character of SAHMAT was also
underlined by him. That unlike many other NGOs, SAHMAT is political in nature
and that it straddles the two worlds of politics and culture is also something
which needs to be borne in mind. In this sense it is a unique organization and
one of its kinds in India. He concluded by saying that SAHMAT needs to reach
out more to the people outside of Delhi and that the pan- India character that
it already has should be strengthened further.
This was followed by a
book release of a collection of poems written in Hindi and Urdu titled Dukh
Likha Jana Chahiye. The title of the book has been adapted from one of the
poems of Suryakant Tripathi ‘Nirala’. The collection was released by Ashok
Vajpeyi. He also read extracts from some of the poems.
A couple of members of
BIGUL, a young theatre group, recited poems like ‘Rail Gaadi’ and ‘Shikari Kaun
Hai’. On the occasion Hussain Haidry, film maker, too presented some self
composed poems which touched upon a range of themes.
The evening also
witnessed an array of musical performances by Ananya Gaur, Priya Kanungo,
Parvathy Baul, Vidya Shah and Madangopal Singh. While Aanya Gaur put on a
musical performance of Faiz Ahmed Faiz’s poems, Priya Kanungo sang some
compositions of the Bhakti saint Meera. Vidya Shah sang some traditional folk
songs centring on the city of Benaras and Ganga. Parvathy Baul, known
throughout the country as well as outside as one of the most outstanding baul
singers, presented some pieces from this great singing tradition. Madangopal Singh, the famed Sufi singer
took the audience on a memorable musical journey. He sang about the Jallianwala
Bagh and also a song that he had composed from a Jan Natya Manch in 1985.
When the People are Not ‘We
the People’ a book comprising of articles by
various journalists documenting experiences of their own as well as of migrants
during the misconceived countrywide lockdown was also released on the occasion.
The book was released by Sashi Kumar, a senior journalist.
A poem recitation by
Navin Chaura and a dance performance by Aditi Mangaldas were also part of the 32nd
Safdar Memorial.
The evening’s proceedings
came to an end with an enthralling musical performance by Shubha Mudgal. Mudgal
a close associate of SAHMAT put on a riveting performance of Dushyant Kumar’s
powerful poem titled ‘Ho Gayi Hai Peer Parvat Si Pigalni Chahiye’ which focuses
on bringing about a radical change in the social justice system.
With this the 32nd
foundation day celebrations of SAHMAT culminated. Though the whole experience
of attending virtual session of SAHMAT was quite exhilarating it is sincerely
hoped that it was the first and last of its kind.