Kolkata: Amidst the news of her party leaders getting arrested, the last thing that Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee would not wanted is MP Jawhar Sircar expressing his family’s desire for him to quit politics, following the unceremonious arrest of his party leaders – Anubrata Mondal and Partha Chatterjee.
The former bureaucrat has had a spotless track record.
On Monday, while speaking to ABP Ananda, he pointed out that a part of TMC is ‘completely rotten’ and Bharatiya Janata Party cannot be fought in the 2024 elections with such elements remaining in the party.
Sircar has served Manmohan Singh as well as the Narendra Modi government and has been the chief executive officer (CEO) of Prasar Bharati. He was sent to Rajya Sabha by TMC in 2021.
Once he had said that in 2011 itself, he had got an offer to join politics, but he had not accepted it and continued his Indian Administrative Service (IAS) work.
In Rajya Sabha, he has been the most prominent faces of the party after Mahua Moitra and Derek O’ Brein.
On social media many describe him as (PM) Modi critic. And he has always been on the target of right-wing troll army. The right-wing website OpIndia often writes negative stories about him.
He mentioned that his family and friends asked him to quit politics after TMC leaders Partha Chatterjee and Anubrata Mondal were arrested.
“You can’t put up a fight against the BJP in 2024 with rotten elements in the party. A portion of the party is completely rotten. These rotten elements have to be operated out, or else it will infect the entire body,” he told ABP.
Referring to the hoards of cash recovered at the apartment of Arpita Mukherjee, an associate of Chatterjee, he said it was a very embarrassing moment for him.
“I had never encountered such a situation even when I was an IAS officer. My family asked me to quit politics, my friends called me up to ask how much I got. It was a very embarrassing moment for me,” he said.
Sircar made it clear that he joined politics to defeat the BJP.
He also stated how important the 2024 general election is for the nation. “If even after ten years we fail to defeat the BJP in 2024, then there might not be any other Lok Sabha election,” he claimed.
TMC leaders have declined to comment on Sircar’s statement.
Ranchi: Since the formation of Jharkhand, no single political party has ever got a majority in the eighty one seat Jharkhand assembly.
Because of this, for 15 years, Jharkhand has not had a stable government and the consequence being that the newly curved state had to witness several presidential rules.
In 2015, when the results of the Jharkhand assembly were declared, again no party had a majority. But being the largest one, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) got a chance to form a government. Later, six legislators of Jharkhand Vikash Morcha (JVM) were merged in the saffron camp. It helped Raghubar Das to complete its full five years tenure for the first time.
In 2019, when Mahagathbandhan had got absolute majority, nobody had believed that within three years, there would be another political uncertainty in the state.
Political Crisis in Jharkhand
But it happened. From August 25, since the ‘news’ started doing rounds, on the information based on sources in Jharkhand that state Election Commission has sent a report on the issue of profit to the Governor and recommended disqualification of chief minister Hemant Soren, political uncertainty has begun in the state.
The crisis has further deepened, when even after three days of the EC submitting its report, it was not made public by the governor Ramesh Bais.
For the third consecutive day, the media kept floating the disqualification story of Hemant Soren but there was no official statement from Raj Bhavan.
On Saturday, ruling party MLAs led by chief minister Hemant Soren held meetings and also went for a political picnic in Khunti. By the evening, they returned to the state capital.
While Bharatiya Janata Party leaders participated in a three day workshop in Giridih. Former chief minister Raghubar Das told newsmen that they will not let Hemant Soren do anything and they could not do illegal activities sitting on a constitutional post.
Meanwhile, eNewsroom has learnt that on Monday, August 29, the commission can submit another report, this time on Hemant Soren’s brother Basant. Basant Soren, an MLA from Dumka is also facing office of profit allegation.
Delay by the Governor fuels horse-trading
Vinod Singh, the CPIML legislator, who is neither in Gathbandhan camp nor in National Democratic Alliance (NDA) told eNewsroom on the political crisis in the state.
“Whatever is the decision of the Election Commission, the Governor should make it public horse-trading,” alleged the MLA.
Double Engine Ki Sarkar Chalane Ki Sanak
While political analyst Vishnu Rajgadia told eNewsroom, “Earlier, there was a trend in the media that they used to give substantial information and politicians used to react. But now politicians used to tweet any information and the media does not try to find out the truth behind it. What is happening in Jharkhand is nobody knows what is the truth, what is in the Election Commission report. But, a political crisis has been created, which is not good for the state.”
“In 2019, when the Mahagathbandhan got 51 seats, it was believed that there would be a stable government in the state. Lekin Jo Double Engine ki sarkar chalane ki jo sanak hai, Jo Aasanvedhanik Hai Uss Ke Wajah Se Ye Sab Ho Raha Hai. [The intent to run a double engine government (same party government in center and state. A term coined by BJP) leading to such a situation in Jharkhand]. It is not constitutional and it is unethical.”
The senior journalist argued, “Supreme Court should take this note if the party in center is giving preference to the same party government and doing step motherly treatment to another political party government.”
“The anti-defection law is very important. It should be implemented well. And the government at center has the responsibility to maintain it. But the reverse is happening in the country and the center is misusing it the most,” Rajgadia pointed out.
He added, “Hemant Soren government has sufficient numbers, and any government runs on numbers. But if some crisis has been created then it is not just unfortunate for Jharkhand but for the entire country.”
Ranchi: The Governor of Jharkhand is yet to make the state election commission’s report on the issue of office of profit of chief minister Hemant Soren public. But Hemant Soren has used the time to sharpen attack on the center.
Speaking at a Vikas Mela in Netarhat, Hemant not only highlighted important work that has been done during his tenure but also attacked the center for not letting him work for the people of Jharkhand.
Later, the speech was shared through 12 tweets posted from his social media handle. Apart from his work, which includes several important political aspects—issue of insiders and outsiders in Jharkhand, Tribals being insulted and Soren being the son of the soil.
“As soon as we asked for Rs one lakh 36 thousands crore of state from the center, they sent central agencies behind me. And when they realized that they could not do anything, they tried to disturb ‘Guruji’ (Shibu Soren), a very senior person now to reach me,” Hemant Soren tweeted.
He further stated, “I being the son of a tribal, neither stopped midway nor got frightened. Our forefathers have taught us how not to be afraid. In our Tribal DNA, there is no place for fear.”
The tweet has been pinned to his profile.
The only tribal chief minister of the country did not forget to remind that neither the tribal President nor Prime Minister greeted tribals on the occasion of World Tribal Day.
“It is our misfortune that the Tribal President and PM did not consider it worthy enough to wish us on World Tribal Day.”
On August 13, eNewsroom had published an exclusive report, how the Tribal community was in disbelief when they were not greeted by the President and Prime Minister on World Tribal Day.
Recently, the Jharkhand government has chosen not to renew notification of Netarhat Firing Range. The locals have been fighting against it for three decades. In the fair, Soren first talked about it and paid two minutes tribute to those killed during the movement.
He also pointed out that some ‘outside’ gang of powerful people are there in the state that have destroyed Jharkhand in the last 20 years, and when they have been rooted out in 2019, those conspirators are not able to digest it.
He also accused the center of being a group of businesses, which only knows how to take money but not give.
The chief minister said that constitutional bodies are being misused.
“Our rivals are not able to defeat us politically, so they are misusing the constitutional institutions. But it will not affect us,” he added.
Meanwhile, it is not just on the ground, but in the virtual world also, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha seems fighting it out on the issue.
On Friday, a trend- Hemant Hai To Himmat Hai was among the top ones nationally on Twitter.
Ranchi: When national and regional media were predicting the fall of Hemant Soren government in Jharkhand, claiming that according to their ‘sources’ State Election Commission had cancelled the chief minister’s membership from Jharkhand assembly in connection with the mining lease issue. But instead of getting worried Hemant Soren kept a brave face before the public and was seen celebrating with members of the Jharkhand police when the channels were busy reporting his dismissal.
Thursday morning started with the news that the EC had sent a sealed report on the issue of office of profit to Jharkhand Governor and it was all over that the Hemant Soren government was all set to fall.
Soon the legislators and MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), the principal opposition party in the state started tweeting about the same. It was being followed by the news channels which started conducting interviews of the former chief minister and BJP leader Raghubar Das and party MP Nishikant Dubey among others seeking their comment on the future of Jharkhand politics.
However, the recipient of the report, Governor Ramesh Bais was travelling out of the state. When he landed in Ranchi. He claimed that he was clueless about any letter from EC.
Later, Hemant Soren tweeted and which he pinned also, “You will buy constitutional institutions but how will public support?”
Jharkhand chief minister tweeted as policemen and others reached CM’s residence to thank him over the restoration of compensatory leave to them.
In the evening, Jharkhand Mukti Morcha organised a press conference and expressed shock and awe over how BJP leaders and media could claim about Hemant Soren’s membership being cancelled before the constitutional bodies.
“When the Constitution was framed in 1950, and these constitutional bodies were made. These institutions have their own rules and are autonomous. Nobody can guess what can be done by them,” said Supriyo Bhattacharya, the JMM spokesperson.
Bhattacharya also alleged, “It seems like the decision was made whether it was written at Deen Dayal Upadhyay Marg (Delhi) or BJP Office (Ranchi).”
JMM MP Vijay Hansda who was also present with Bhattacharya said, “It is worrisome that if some are speaking ahead of constitutional bodies, it makes us wonder whether these institutions have been weakened?”
JMM is demanding that the Indian Election Commission should not only take action against such Members of BJP but also disqualify their membership.
Bhattacharya charged the BJP and said that the party on a political level is ready. “We have defeated BJP in 2019 and later also defeated in four bypolls,” he added.
While JMM MLA Sudivya Sonu alleged and told eNewsroom, “It is another attempt to grab power in Jharkhand using constitutional bodies.”
Whereas, CPIML said that for several days a BJP MP has been forecasting the decision of the election commission against Hemant Soren. It also mentioned that the party is against the conspiracies to reverse the mandate of 2019.
Congress, one of the partners in the Soren government, has told its legislators to stay in the state capital on Friday.
However, while writing the news report, no official statements were made. However, sources confirmed that tomorrow, it will be made public by the governor.
Just ahead of the crucial Asia Cup, Team India has had two highly successful and morale-boosting tours. They not only thrashed West Indies and Zimbabwe in One Day International (ODI)s without dropping a single game but in the T20 series, India outclassed the Windies 4-1 as well. Beyond the victories, are the superb performances by a host of rising stars that augur well with the T20 World Cup just 8 weeks away.
The win against the Windies in the T20s was especially impressive considering that the island team is a powerful opponent in the shortest format. On the batting side, with Virat rested and KL Rahul unfit, a host of young guns got opportunities which they encashed in a big way. Surya Kumar Yadav was easily the most consistent and his heroics made Indian wins look easy. He was a class apart and often seemed to be toying with the bowlers. With Virat and Rohit in uncertain form, Surya is possibly the most important cog in India’s batting wheel for the Asia Cup. Even Wasim Akram has now said that Surya might be the biggest threat for Pakistan come to their Asia Cup encounter!
The other young star emerging on the horizon is Deepak Hooda who played some delightful knocks and picked up wickets to showcase his all-round utility. After a fine IPL season, Hooda has shown his prowess with the bat in the limited opportunities for India. In his first seven T20I innings he has scored at a strike rate of over 160 including a terrific hundred against Ireland.
With Rohit also making some useful scores in the Windies and all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Jadeja in good nick, the batting order looks in good shape. In particular, since the IPL, Hardik has blossomed and displayed what he can do when he is fit. The Gujarat Titans captain is contributing both with bat and ball and is now a huge asset for Team India. The X-factor for the team is Dinesh Karthik who has sealed his spot as a finisher and was in great form in the Windies.
In the two ODI series, Shikhar Dhawan showcased his class and Shubhman Gill enhanced his credentials in white ball cricket. Besides consistent knocks, his aggressive maiden ton in ODI cricket in the last game against Zimbabwe stamped the Test Opener as a batter of great value even in limited overs. In contrast, Shreyas Iyer’s problems against the short ball have got exposed and it is no wonder that he is not part of the Asia Cup squad.
Watch Team India’s video as they start practicing in Dubai for Asia Cup:
However, Virat’s return to form is the big development the entire cricketing world is waiting for, especially Indian cricket lovers. His lean patch has continued for too long whereby murmurs have now begun about his place in the T20 side with many talented youngsters performing well. More importantly, he needs to cut his frequent breaks as more game time will give him chances to regain his midas touch, critical for Team India to lift the T20 World Cup in Australia.
The Bowling unit seems to be running like a well-oiled machine. With Bumrah unfit and Shami not in the squad, the focus is on young pacers. Luckily, Bhuvneshwar Kumar has looked at his best in the recent tours. Not only has he rediscovered his zip and swing but the veteran pacer will also be a great guide for the young guns in the pace armoury. Meanwhile, Avesh Khan has been on target mostly but is inconsistent at times.
The big gain is Arshdeep Singh and his performances both in initial overs and in death overs have been encouraging. Arshdeep can be a toe crusher and his form could be vital to give an edge to India’s attack in the absence of Bumrah and Harshal Patel. As a left-arm, he added much-needed variety and was named Man of the Series in the T20s. Even, Deepak Chahar made a welcome return in the Zimbabwe series but his poor spell in the last ODI reflected that he’s under-cooked to get a recall in the first rung of Team India just yet.
The spinners all seem to be displaying their wares in abundance. Yuzvendra Chahal and Ravi Bishnoi are both in the Asia Cup squad with their terrific spells in the Windies. With Ravindra Jadeja and Ravi Ashwin lending all round skills for greater balance, the team has an excess of riches. But it also gives selection headaches as it will be tricky to pick the spinners for the playing 11.
The Indian selectors are now facing a problem of plenty both in batting and bowling. While injuries to top players have opened doors to many youngsters it has also created a dilemma for selectors once the injured and rested players are back in the fray. But it is always a better situation to pick a side from multiple options than to draft in less than the best.
However, the BCCI continues to play musical chairs with the Indian captaincy. After announcing Shikhar as Skipper for the Zimbabwe tour, he was replaced abruptly once KL Rahul was declared fit. A bit of grace and dignity is much-needed to ensure there are no unnecessary frictions being created in a unit that seems strong enough to lift the Asia Cup.
As India opens their Asia Cup campaign against Pakistan, it is significant to remember that the traditional rivals have also been in great form in recent months. While the absence of unfit Shaheen Afridi who had rocked India in the T20 World Cup last year will be a big relief, Team India will need to be at their best if as defending champs they are to regain the Asia Cup trophy in Dubai!
ডানপন্থীদের দ্বারা বয়কট একটি কারণ হতে পারে, কিন্তু ভারতে লাল সিং চাড্ডার বক্স অফিস পারফরম্যান্সের সাথে যা ঘটেছিল তা ভারতীয় চলচ্চিত্র শিল্পের সাথে দীর্ঘকাল ধরে সমস্যা রয়েছে।
লাল সিং চাড্ডা, আমির খান অভিনীত রিমেক হল 1994 সালের একটি দুর্বল অনুলিপি, টম হ্যাঙ্কস ক্লাসিক, ফরেস্ট গাম্প। হলিউড ক্লাসিকের একটি ফ্রেম-বাই-ফ্রেম রিমেক কাজ করতে ব্যর্থ হয়েছে। ভুল যে মি. পারফেকশনিস্ট এমন করলেন যে তিনি বুঝতে পারেননি যে ভারতীয় দর্শকদের মানসিকতা তার পশ্চিমা প্রতিপক্ষ থেকে অনেক আলাদা। বিদেশি ছবির যেকোনো রিমেক যথাযথ সিনেমাটিক ভারতীয়করণের মাধ্যমে করা উচিত।
42 বছর আগে, বাসু চ্যাটার্জি ম্যান পাসন্দের চিত্রনাট্য এবং পরিচালনা করেছিলেন, ক্লাসিক, মাই ফেয়ার লেডির শট-বাই-শট রিমেক। এটি একটি সুপার ফ্লপ হিসাবে উপহাস করা হয়েছিল যদিও এতে দেব আনন্দ, গিরিশ কার্নাড এবং মেহমুদের মতো বড় নামগুলি অভিনয় করেছিল। গিরিশ কার্নাড পরে স্বীকার করেছেন যে ভারতীয় দর্শকরা এমন একটি চলচ্চিত্র হজম করতে পারেনি যেখানে ভারতীয় আবেগ এবং অনুভূতি নেই।
যাইহোক, বাসু চ্যাটার্জি এক রুকা, হুয়া ফাইসলা টুয়েলভ অ্যাংরি মেনের আসল সংস্করণে চমৎকার ভারতীয় স্পর্শ দিয়েছেন এবং লাল সিং চাড্ডা একটি স্মরণীয় চলচ্চিত্র পরিচালনা করেছেন। পঙ্কজ কাপুর এতে দুর্দান্ত অভিনয় করেছেন।
হিন্দি পর্দায় বিদেশী সাহিত্যকর্ম নিয়ে চলচ্চিত্র নির্মাণ নতুন নয়। চেতন আনন্দ যখন 1950 সালে আফসারের মহাপরিদর্শক গোগোলকে দত্তক নেন, তখন এটি তার জন্য একটি চ্যালেঞ্জ ছিল। তার স্ক্রিপ্টে তিনি নৈন দিওয়ানে এবং মন মোর হুয়া অমর গানের মাধ্যমে দেব আনন্দ এবং সুরাইয়ার মধ্যে রোমান্টিক কোণ নিয়ন্ত্রণ করে সূক্ষ্মতার সাথে একটি ভারতীয় স্বাদ বেছে নেন।
ক্লাইম্যাক্স গানটি এক শটে পুরো কাস্টের উপর চিত্রিত করা হয়েছিল। সুরাইয়া ভালোবেসে মনে রেখেছেন কিভাবে চেতন আনন্দ তার অভিনেতাদের একটি কঠিন ব্যঙ্গের ত্বকে প্রবেশ করতে বাধ্য করেছিলেন। একটি ঐতিহাসিক সাক্ষ্য হিসাবে, আফসার হিন্দু পলায়নবাদী বিনোদন-প্রেমী দর্শকদের জন্য খুব বুদ্ধিদীপ্ত ছিলেন। এটি গড় ব্যবসা করেছে।
সাহেব বাহাদুরের চরিত্রে চেতন আনন্দের আফসারের রিমেকটি সবদিক দিয়ে ভুলবার মতো নয়। রাজ খোসলা তার দুটি স্মরণীয় চলচ্চিত্র কালাপানি (1958) এবং বোম্বাই কা বাবু (1960) এর জন্য এজে ক্রোনিন এবং ও হেনরির গল্প বেছে নিয়েছিলেন। প্রাক্তনটির জন্য তিনি গুরু দত্তের কাছ থেকে প্রচুর সৃজনশীল পরামর্শ নিয়েছিলেন এবং পরবর্তীটি চেতন আনন্দ দ্বারা পরিচালিত হয়েছিল।
কালাপানির মূল গল্পটি সঠিকভাবে পরিবর্তিত হয়েছিল, বিশেষত মূল ভারতীয় আবেগের সাথে ক্লাইম্যাক্সে এবং ষাঁড়ের চোখে আঘাত করেছিল। বোম্বাই কা বাবু, যদিও সত্যিকার অর্থেই তৈরি, তার সময়ের চেয়ে অনেক এগিয়ে ছিল। কীভাবে একটি অফবিট সাবজেক্ট শ্রোতাদের দ্বারা প্রত্যাখ্যান করা হয়েছিল তার আরেকটি উদাহরণ যা চিন্তা করতে এবং প্রতিক্রিয়া জানাতে পারে না।
গুরু দত্ত বিষয়টিকে সঠিকভাবে তুলে ধরেছেন। তিনি বলেছিলেন যে আশ্চর্যজনক উত্সের একটি বিষয়কে একটি পুঙ্খানুপুঙ্খ ভারতীয় সারমর্ম দিতে এবং এটিকে গ্রহণযোগ্য করে তুলতে সত্য সৃজনশীল কারুকাজ প্রয়োজন। তার নিজের আইকনিক কাগজ কে ফুল খারাপভাবে ফ্লপ হয়েছে। এটি সানসেট বুলেভার্ড দ্বারা অনুপ্রাণিত হয়েছিল, এবং চলচ্চিত্রের শ্রেষ্ঠত্ব ছিল কিন্তু দর্শকদের হৃদয় স্পর্শ করতে পারেনি। নিরক্ষর সমালোচকরা কাগজ কে ফুলের নায়ক মিস্টার সিনহার (গুরু দত্ত) পরাজিত আত্মাকে দোষারোপ করেছেন কারণ এটি ফ্লপ হয়েছিল।
মধুর ভান্ডারকর একই লাইনে একমত। তিনি পিয়াসা, গাইড এবং অভিমানকে ক্লাসিক মনে করেন। তিনি অনুভব করেন সুনির্দিষ্ট কমিক ছোঁয়া এবং চিরসবুজ সুরের সাথে শক্তিশালী ভারতীয় আবেগের ভাগ এই চলচ্চিত্রগুলিকে অমর করে তুলেছে। এগুলোর কোনোটিই পাশ্চাত্য সাহিত্য থেকে গ্রহণ করা হয়নি।
পার্ল এস বাক, একজন নোবেল বিজয়ী নিজেই, গাইডের ইংরেজি সংস্করণের জন্য একজন অসফল স্ক্রিপ্ট লেখক ছিলেন। বিজয় আনন্দ যিনি হিন্দি গাইড পরিচালনা করেছিলেন মনে করেছিলেন বাক মূল উপন্যাসের আবেগগত এবং আধ্যাত্মিক সারাংশ বের করতে পারেনি। তার মনের বাঁক রাজু গাইড এবং রোজির থেকে খুব আলাদা ছিল, যে চরিত্রগুলি তিনি তার উপন্যাসে কখনও লেখেননি।
ধ্রুব চ্যাটার্জি যখন আগাথা ক্রিস্টির উপর ভিত্তি করে গুমনামের চিত্রনাট্য লিখেছিলেন, এবং তারপরে কেউ নেই, তখন তিনি মনোজ কুমারের সহায়তার প্রয়োজন করেছিলেন। স্ক্রিপ্টে আবেগ, কমেডি এবং সাসপেন্সের সঠিক ডোজ সহ একটি সঠিক জাতিগত ভারতীয় স্পর্শ দেওয়া হয়েছিল। ওহ কৌন থি-র মতো মনোজ কুমার তাঁর স্ক্রিপ্টিংয়ের জন্য কোনও কৃতিত্ব নেননি। তিনি সবসময় বলেন, একজন ভারতীয় দর্শক একটি গড় চলচ্চিত্র থেকে একটি থালি আশা করে। এটি মিষ্টি, টক এবং লবণের একটি নিখুঁত মিশ্রণ চায়। পশ্চিমে, স্ক্রিপ্টগুলি অনেক বেশি উন্নত মানসিক সেটআপের সাথে লেখা হয় কারণ তাদের দর্শকরা আমাদের চেয়ে বেশি পরিণত।
প্রাচ্য বা পাশ্চাত্য বিষয়কে ভারতীয় সিনেমার মোড় দিতে ক্ষতি নেই। কোশিশের অন্যথায় জাপানি গল্পে গুলজার একটি উজ্জ্বল ভারতীয় স্পর্শ দিয়েছেন। এতে অবাক হওয়ার কিছু নেই যে সত্যজিৎ রায় স্বীকার করেছেন যে ভারতীয় বংশোদ্ভূত সাহিত্যের মাস্টারপিস নিয়ে পরীক্ষা করা সর্বদা ভাল কারণ শ্রোতারা তাদের সাথে সনাক্ত করতে পারে। ইসমাইল মার্চেন্ট তার ইংরেজি চলচ্চিত্রে হাউসহোল্ডার, শেক্সপিয়রওয়ালাহ এবং প্রিটি পলির মতো স্মরণীয় চলচ্চিত্র নির্মাণের জন্য ভারতীয় আত্মাকে বজায় রেখেছিলেন।
তবে লাল সিং চাড্ডা আন্তর্জাতিক দর্শকদের সামনে ভালো করছেন।
The boycott by right-wingers might be one of the reasons, but what happened with Lal Singh Chadda’s box office performance in India has an age-long problem with the Indian film industry.
The Aamir Khan starer remake is a poor copy of 1994, Tom Hanks classic, Forrest Gump. A frame-by-frame remake of the Hollywood classic has failed to work. The blunder that Mr. Perfectionist did that he did not understand the psyche of the Indian audience is far different from its western counterpart. Any remake of a foreign film should be done by proper cinematic Indianization.
42 years ago, Basu Chatterjee scripted and directed Man Pasand a shot-by-shot remake of the classic, My Fair Lady. It was ridiculed as a super flop though it starred big names like Dev Anand, Girish Karnad and Mehmood. Girish Karnad later confessed that the Indian viewers could not digest a film that lacked Indian emotions and feelings.
However, Basu Chatterjee gave an excellent Indian touch to Ek Ruka, Hua Phaisla the original version of Twelve Angry Men well and directed a memorable film. Pankaj Kapur delivered a stellar performance in it.
Making films on foreign literary works is not new to the Hindi screen. When Chetan Anand adopted Gogol’s, Inspector General for Afsar in 1950, it was a challenge for him. In his script he opted for an Indian flavor with finesse, controlling the romantic angle between Dev Anand and Suraiya via the immortal songs Nain Diwane and Man Mor Hua.
The climax song was picturised on the entire cast in one shot. Suraiya fondly remembered how Chetan Anand coaxed his actors to get into the skin of a difficult satire. As a historical testimony, Afsar was too intellectual for the Hindu escapist entertainment-loving audience. It did average business.
Chetan Anand’s remake of Afsar as Saheb Bahadur was a not forgettable film by all means. Raj Khosla opted for AJ Cronin and O Henry’s stories for two of his memorable films Kalapani (1958) and Bombai Ka Babu (1960). For the former he took a lot of creative advice from Guru Dutt and the latter was guided by Chetan Anand.
Kalapani had the original story altered properly, especially in the climax with original Indian emotions and hit the bull’s eye. Bombai Ka Babu though truly well made, was far ahead of its times. Another example of how an offbeat subject was rejected by an audience that could not think and react.
Guru Dutt summed up the issue correctly. He said that to give a thorough Indian essence to a subject with occidental origin and make it acceptable required true creative craftsmanship. His own iconic Kagaz Ke Phool flopped badly. It was inspired by Sunset Boulevard, and had cinematic excellence but could not touch viewers’ hearts. Illiterate critics blamed the defeated soul of Mr Sinha (Guru Dutt) the protagonist of Kagaz Ke Phool as the reason why it flopped.
Madhur Bhandarkar agrees along the same lines. He feels Pyasa,Guide and Abhiman are classics. He feels the strong Indian emotional quotient with specific comic touches and evergreen melodies have made these films immortal. None of them were adopted from Western literature.
Pearl S Buck, a Nobel laureate herself, was an unsuccessful script writer for the English version of the Guide. Vijay Anand who directed Hindi Guide felt Buck could not bring out the emotional and spiritual essence of the original novel. Her bent of mind was very different from that of Raju Guide and Rosy, characters whom she never penned in her novels.
When Dhruv Chatterjee wrote the screenplay of Gumnaam based on Agatha Christie’s, And Then There Was None, he required assistance from Manoj Kumar. The script was given a proper ethnic Indian touch with the right doses of emotions, comedy and suspense. Manoj Kumar like in Woh Kaun Thi never took any credit for his scripting. As he always says, an Indian audience expects a thali from an average film. It wants a perfect mixture of sweet, sour and salt. In the West, scripts are penned with a far more advanced mental setup as their viewers are more mature than ours.
There is no harm in giving an Indian cinematic turn to an Eastern or Western subject. Gulzar gave a brilliant Indian touch to an otherwise Japanese story in Koshish. No wonder Satyajit Ray confessed it is always better to experiment with literary masterpieces of Indian origin as the audience can identify with them. Ismail Merchant in his English films maintained the Indian soul to make memorable films like Householder, Shakespearwallah and Pretty Polly.
However, Laal Singh Chaddha is doing well before international audiences.
Kolkata: The rapists and murderers in Bilkis Bano case have been released to erase the 2002 Gujarat Riots, before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls but we will not forget it, said Jhelum Roy, a protestor while protesting in Kolkata against the remission of 11 convicts, who had gang-raped Bilkis Bano and murdered 14 of her family members including her daughter.
Today, three Public Interest Litigation (PIL)s have been filed at the Supreme Court challenging the remission of 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano gangrape and murder case, the protests have also intensified across India and in Kolkata.
The PILs have been filed by Subhashini Ali CPM politburo bureau member along with Revathi Laul and Roop Rekha Verma, while another one by TMC MP Mahua Moitra and the third one by another petitioner.
A bench headed by Chief Justice NV Ramana took note of the submissions.
Whereas, from Kolkata to Giridih (Jharkhand), people hit the streets to register their anger not only against the remission of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case but also against the murder of 9-year-old Dalit boy Inder Meghwal.
Standard III student, Inder was beaten for drinking water from a pitcher which was reserved for upper caste students according to the headmaster, Chail Singh, who beat him mercilessly which later caused the death of the 9-year-old.
The release of the 11 convicts by the Gujarat government in the gruesome Bilkis Bano case whereby she was gang-raped, her 3-year-old child had her smashed on a rock, her mother and sisters were raped and killed; as many as 14 family members were killed. She allegedly knew all the criminals, who were her neighbours. Five months pregnant, she escaped, because they left her for dead.
A protestor
In Kolkata, several organizations which works for women rights including Feminists In Resistance, Sharamjivi Nari Mancha, Sara Bharat Pragatisil Mahila Samiti, Nari Chetna, Sara Bharat Viplabi Mahila Sangathan, Manvi and Committee Of Release of Political Prisoner hold a protest.
One of the youngest protestors, Jhelum said further, “It was deliberately done keeping in mind the 2024 elections (Lok Sabha polls). We have seen Maya Kodnani being released too. This time, it has been done to erase the memory of 2002. But we will fight tooth and nail and we will not forget it.”
“The criminals have not only got released under remission policy but they were given regular parole too. One Radheshayam has been on parole this year too. In the Bilkis Bano case, several violations of complete CrPC sections have taken place. The court should look into all these. In both Inder Meghwal and Bilkis Bano’s matters, they try to dilute it so that nothing wrong has happened. And this is how they are strengthening their politics but we have to fight it out,” Nisha Biswas of Feminists In Resistance told eNewsroom.
In Giridih, Bhim Army and Bhim Sena staged a protest against the killing of Inder Meghwal and the release of convicts in the Bilkis Bano case.
Meanwhile, because of the release of the 11 convicts, led to the beginning of another specter of mass phobia in Gujarat, bringing alive memories of the terror and mass tragedies of Gujarat in 2002.
The Indian Express has reported: “A week after the Gujarat government released 11 convicts serving life sentences in the Bilkis Bano case, several Muslim families from Randhikpur (Singwad) have started leaving their homes and have taken shelter in Rahimabad Relief Colony of Devgarh Baria taluka in Dahod district, where Bilkis has been living since 2017. Bilkis was gang-raped in Randhikpur during the communal violence that followed the Godhra train-burning incident in 2002.
Nisha Biswas delivering her speech during the protest
On Monday, when The Indian Express visited the relief colony, loaded tempo rickshaws were bringing in residents of Randhikpur into the relief colony along with their luggage where they decided to stay until ‘a decision is made’ regarding the release of the convicts.”
Meanwhile, in an extraordinary, deeply sensitive and moving interview published in ‘Bar and Bench’, Advocate Shobha Gupta, who represented Bilkis in the Supreme Court, said:
“It cannot turn everything upside down. Here, the remission comes from the fact of the whole punishment. When it comes to the criminal justice system, if you are committing a serious crime, you have to undergo a serious punishment — it is making a mockery of it.”
She continued: “This is one saga of extreme atrocities, extreme violence, crime beyond words, comprehension and imagination. But at the same time, it is the saga of immense, incomprehensible strength shown by this girl, the bravery. I always say that we draw strength from her.”
“What do I say about Bilkis? We all are in a disturbed condition. You put in all this, ensure justice, you fight till the last court. You succeed to get the conviction upheld. Highest ever compensation in a matter because of the gruesomeness and the exceptional facts of the case, and then to come back to a minimum sentence undergone?” Gupta mentioned.
The advocate said further: “Now going for another round of appeal for harsher punishment, she would have had to live under the pain, the process for good long years. Let her live life. Let her at least allow her to learn to live her life in peace.”
(Bano, as per the interview, was on antidepressants for a considerable part of her legal journey, Gupta revealed, adding that she struggles to be in a crowd even today. She did not accept a job that was granted by a Supreme Court order because she just can’t be among people.)
And added: “She did not accept a job which was granted by a Supreme Court order because she just can’t be among people. And so we did not challenge it further, because the matter deserved a much harsher punishment than life imprisonment. We did not wish to go because we wanted peace to come to her. It should have been avoided. We failed as a society for her. It is a feeling of shame to face her. Have you ensured light at the end of the tunnel for it to come on my face like this? I have a shame written. I cannot face her. I would feel very guilty facing her.”
“See, it is not easy for a rape victim. Somebody had caused such a severe harm to your privacy, bodily integrity to your soul — what not. And to live with that pain continuously and reiterate it to get justice. to face people. Each time to tell someone that this happened to me somebody came and did like that. You suffer all that, why? Because you believe justice will be done and the wrongdoer will be booked. Booked for what? Booked for namesake? If people can come out like this to stare at your face?” asked Gupta.
Kolkata: A 24-year-old youth has been allegedly shot dead by the Border Security Force at the India-Bangladesh border, a fact-finding team of MASUM, a non-government organization which works for the human rights of residents living around Indo-Bangladesh border reported about it.
Ekramul Miya, a resident of Chhoto Madhusudan village under Sitalkuchi police station area of Cooch Behar district was shot directly without any warning, 500 meters within the Indian territory near Bangladesh border by the on-duty BSF personnel attached with Nalangibari Border Outpost, 169 Battalion, MASUM mentions in its report.
The NGO has written to National Human Rights Commission, on the alleged killing.
The incident took place on June 23 itself. However, local police are yet to register a complaint made by Ekramul’s widow.
ASUM’s fact-finding team has mentioned that the deceased Ekramul Miya, was a small-time smuggler. But he resorted to this illegal means of living to sustain his family. MASUM, works along the India-Bangladesh border, spanning over 2000 kilometers, claims that there is not much option left for the locals for legal works, as BSF does not allow them to work properly, be it farming or fishing.
On 25th June, MASUM conducted a social audit at Serampur in which at least fifty victims of BSF’s extra-judicial acts had recorded their statements of extra-judicial killings, torture, denial of livelihood by the forces before retired judges and other dignitaries.
Kirity Roy, secretary of MASUM had told eNewsroom, “Every year over 200 people are killed along the Indo-Bangladesh border. Not only that, torture, rape, molestation, denial of livelihood, and imposition of 144 CrPC are taking place with impunity. India also shares a border with Bhutan and Nepal, but it is not under BSF and it is not that violent. The time has come for the NHRC, West Bengal human rights commission and other concerned departments and officials to wake up as several innocent people are getting killed.”
On August 18, on Ekramul’s incident, the secretary wrote to NHRC, “According to our fact-finding report, it was revealed that Ekramul Miya was involved in illegal cross-border smuggling to get some extra income for his family. The victim is a poor labourer, who was involved in cross-border smuggling to survive and sustain his family.”
It further mentions, “Even after the victim’s widow complaining, police and administration has turned deaf ears to her pleas. The brutal incident raises several questions about the safety and security of Indian citizens residing along the border. Who is to blame if a person resorts to illegal means to survive and sustain his family? What is the highest punishment for cross-border smuggling; is it the death penalty? Does the BSF have the authority to grant death sentence to someone they think is guilty? Does the BSF have judicial powers to grant ruling over the Indian citizenry? Such incidents bring shame to the country’s criminal justice system and is a violation of the Indian Constitution. The autopsy report has revealed that the bullet was fired from close range and there were several blackish wounds over the left sacrum and lumbar area of the deceased victim, which means the victim was tortured first and then was shot from close range. From the post-mortem examination report, we can apprehend that its a case of custodial death by the BSF. They first apprehended the victim and tortured him heavily and then fired at him from close range.”
The human rights activist also mentioned, “As it is a case of custodial death by the BSF, the inquest of the body should be done by one judicial magistrate as per section 176 (1) (a) of the Code of Criminal Procedure. But in this case, the inquest was done by one police person of Mathabhanga Police Station and one executive magistrate which violated sections 174 and 176 (1) (a) of the Criminal Procedure Code.”
And pointed out, “The incident violates the rights guaranteed in Article 21 of Indian Constitution and the premise of Article 6 of International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights as well as the Goal No. 8 and 16 of Sustainable Development Goal earmarked by United Nations and in both these international instruments; the government of India is a party and have an agreement. The perpetrators also violated Articles 2, 3 and 8 of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials; Adopted by General Assembly resolution 34/169 of 17 December 1979 and basic tenets of the Eighth United Nations Congress on the Prevention of Crime and the Treatment of Offenders.”
The deceased victim was the sole earning member of the family. Killing the victim by the BSF thrashed the family members of the victim into more poverty. While the Government of India has been considering implementing the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals within 2030 and where the first goal is to reduce poverty, the agent of the government (here BSF) by killing the victim pushes them into the face of extreme poverty.
Kirity Roy, MASUM secretary’s June 25 interview to eNewsroom:
The letter added: Family members of the deceased victim have only two bighas of cultivable land. That agricultural land is situated beyond the barbed wire but that is also within the Indian Territory. The Central Public Works Department constructed this barbed wire 500 meters distance from the International Border Pillar (IBP). They have to face obstacles and illegal restrictions by the BSF when they go to cultivate the land situated beyond the barbed wire. The right to decent work is recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which has provisions dealing, not only with “the right to work”, but with the various aspects of decent work, including just and favourable conditions of work, protection against unemployment, equal pay and social protection. In connection with this case, we find that the deceased victim was migrant labour for nine months and for the rest of three months he worked as day labour or was sometimes involved in smuggling activities. The government failed to provide job security to the victim. Article 41 of the Constitution of India enjoins upon the State, the duty to secure the social and economic rights of the people. The Government of India has been considering implementing Goal number 8 of the Sustainable Development Goals which promotes sustained inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all but ultimately the government could not keep its words.
MASUM demand from NHRC:
The whole incident must be inquired about by the investigation wing of the Commission.
As the extra-judicial killing takes place and a firearm is used by the BSF and as a result of that one death occurred, an FIR to that effect shall be registered and the same shall be forwarded to the Court under section 157 of the Code of Criminal Procedure without any delay.
The Cooch Behar district administration must follow the guidelines laid down by NHRC in the case of “Encounter Death”.
This unlawful death should be properly investigated in line with Minnesota Protocol.
The unnatural death case initiated by the Mathabhanga Police station vide Mathabhanga PS U/D case number 83/22 dated 24.06.2022 must be properly investigated.
Specific case under section 302 IPC to be started against perpetrator BSF attached with Nalangibari Border Out Post, 169 Battalion.
Criminal Charge should include causing disappearance of evidence of an offense against the perpetrators in uniform
An independent investigation into the incident must be investigated by the CID.
The guilty BSF personnel involved must be booked and prosecuted in open court.
The family of the victim must be compensated.
Security and safety of the witnesses and the family of the victim must be protected.
The BSF must be posted on actual borders and not inside villages.
To stop infiltration and to check to smuggle the BSF must be posted on the actual border and not inside the territory.
To stop the smuggling activities governments must take proper steps to implement the MNREGA programme and construct Border Hut at the bordering populace.
Government should take appropriate steps so that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals will be implemented by the year 2030, the letter mentioned.
After the publication of this story, if BSF tells its side of the matter, we will publish it too.
Kolkata: Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and six thousand people from across India condemned the release on remission of the 11 convicts in the Bilkis Bano case on August 15, 2022.
Under remission policy, 11 convicts charged with charges of gang rape of a pregnant woman and multiple murders during Gujarat riots in 2002, walked out free.
PUCL in its statement mentioned, “The release of the 11 convicts, even as many others accused of less serious offences remain in jail, is an arbitrary exercise of power, having dangerous political overtones.”
And pointed out, “It mocks the idea of a democracy based on rule of law when those accused of serious offences including rape and murder are arbitrarily released even as those who are falsely accused of crimes, continue to languish in jail.”
“The release of the accused sends out the chilling message that the most heinous crimes including rape and murder when committed against the minority community, are not crimes. This has fatal repercussions for the future of Indian democracy,” it said.
While Sahelis stated on behalf of six thousand activists ordinary citizens, grassroot workers, women’s, human rights, peace, secularism, anti-caste, disability, queer rights and other peoples’ movements, groups and activists, eminent writers, historians, scholars, filmmakers, journalists and former bureaucrats and many more, said:
“On the morning of August 15, 2022, in his Independence Day address to the nation, the Prime Minister of India spoke of women’s rights, dignity and Nari Shakti. That very afternoon Bilkis Bano, a woman who embodied that ‘Nari Shakti’ in her long and daunting struggle for justice, learnt that the perpetrators who killed her family, murdered her 3-year-old daughter, gang-raped and left her to die, had walked free.”
It further said, “No one sent her notice. No one asked how she, a gang-rape survivor, felt about the release of her rapists… it shames us that on the day we should celebrate our freedoms and be proud of our independence, the women of India instead saw gang-rapists and mass murderers freed as an act of State largesse.”
The rapists and murderers were feted too soon after they were out from the jail | Express Photo
And added, “The remission of sentences for the 11 convicted of gang-rape and mass murder will have a chilling effect on every rape victim who is told to ‘trust the system’, ‘seek justice’, ‘have faith’. Further, the statement stated that the “remission of these sentences is not only immoral and unconscionable, it violates the State of Gujarat’s existing remission policy…” and “the guidelines issued by the Central government to States on a prisoner release policy to coincide with Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav which also clearly states that among the categories of prisoners NOT to be granted Special Remission are “those convicted of rape”. Most importantly, in a case investigated and prosecuted by the CBI, no remission can be granted by a State without concurrence from the Centre. That such remission was even considered and then permitted, reveals the hollowness of the public posturing about Nari Shakti, Beti Bachao, women’s rights and justice for victims.”
The signatories urged the Supreme Court to undo this grave miscarriage of justice.
While PUCL made found demands:
1. The remission of these 11 convicts be immediately revoked
2. Protection measures for Bilkis and her family be immediately ensured
3. The Central and State government be held accountable for such arbitrary abuse of power
4. The Government of Gujarat should place in the public domain the entire process, the proceedings of the committee leading to the governor finally giving assent to the remission of sentences.
Meanwhile, On March 3, 2002, Bilkis Bano from Randhikpur village of Dahod district Gujarat was 21 years old and 5 months pregnant when she was gang raped, 3 other women including her mother were also gangraped in front of the men of their family. Bilkis’s 3-year-old daughter Saleha was murdered, as the accused smashed her head with a stone and 7 members of her family were brutally murdered. All those who committed this gruesome act of brutality were people she knew from her neighbourhood.
Due to public outrage in the matter, the Supreme Court ordered the investigation to be carried out by CBI. In 2004 the accused in the case were arrested and the trial began in Ahmedabad, however, due to apprehensions over the trial being conducted in Gujarat, fearing evidence tampering and threats to the witnesses, the trial was transferred to Maharashtra by the Supreme Court.
On January 21, 2008, the Special CBI Court sentenced the 11 accused to life imprisonment on the charges of conspiring to rape a pregnant woman, murder, and unlawful assembly under the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The court acquitted seven other accused for lack of evidence and one of the accused died during the trial.
In January 2018 the Bombay High Court upheld the conviction of the accused. The case was carried to the Supreme Court which upheld the convictions.
Thereafter, one of the accused Radheyshyam Shah approached the Gujarat High Court seeking remission of the sentence under sections 432 and 433 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC). The Gujarat HC dismissed his plea saying that since the trial has been concluded in the State of Maharashtra, the application for premature release must be filed in the State of Maharashtra and not in the State of Gujarat, as prayed by the petitioner.
Protest against convicts of Bilkis Banos case in Delhi | Courtesy: PTI/Kamal Singh
The petitioner approached the Supreme Court, and the court in its order dated May 13, 2022, held that the crime in the instant case was admittedly committed in the State of Gujarat and ordinarily, the trial was to be concluded in the same State and terms of Section 432(7) CrPC, the appropriate Government in the ordinary course would be the State of Gujarat but the instant case was transferred in exceptional circumstances by this Court for the limited purpose for trial and disposal to the neighbouring State (State of Maharashtra) by an order dated August 6, 2004, but after the conclusion of the trial and the prisoner being convicted, stood transferred to the State where the crime was committed (Gujarat) which remains the appropriate Government for Section 432(7) CrPC. The policy with which the petitioner must be governed, applicable in the State of Gujarat on the date of conviction, is Resolution No. JLK/3390/CM/16/Part/2/J dated July 9, 1992.
Based on the order of the Apex Court, the government of Gujarat formulated a committee to consider the release of the accused and found it fit to allow the pre-mature release of these accused.
Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs, Central Government issued a notice on the “Special Remission Module” to grant remission to prisoners as part of the celebration of Azadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav and directed the states to take necessary action to expedite the process, the notice says prisoners to be released on August 15, 2022, January 26, 2023 and August 15, 2023 after due consideration by the committees formulated at the state levels. However, the guideline mentions that the policy will not apply to prisoners convicted of rape.
Similarly, as per the resolution no JKL/822012/1859/J dated January 23, 2014 of the Government of Gujarat Home Department, prisoners convicted of gang rape, or group murder of two or more members would not be considered for remission.
However, the Resolution No. JLK/3390/CM/16/Part/2/J dated July 9, 1992. according to which the 11 convicts were released have not categorised the convicts as eligible for the remission process. In any case, this is a discretionary relief that has to be exercised on an objective basis. In the present case where the Supreme Court had itself felt that the situation in Gujarat was not ripe for handling the trial and the victim and her family were constantly under pressure and threat the discretion should not have been exercised to release the persons. It was also incumbent, in the context of the case, to ascertain the views and apprehensions of Bilkis and her family before any decision was taken.
It should be noted that under section 435 of the CrPc if the case is investigated by the CBI, the power of remission that is awarded to the state government in a case investigated by the CBI shall not be exercised by the government except after consultation of the central government.
The PUCL release also mentioned, “The arbitrary release of these 11 convicts sends a rude shock across the nation, raising several questions as to how the State of Gujarat has arrived at this decision and how has the central government remained silent after affirming decisions on such matters. The decision to grant remission should be consultative, fair, informed, and reasonable. Here it is evident that the state has abused the discretionary power awarded to it.”
“This decision also mocks the efforts of all the human rights defenders in the country who have been walking the difficult path to seek justice for the most vulnerable in this country.”
“Bilkis and Yakub did not give up their faith in the state for nearly 17 years and fought tooth and nail for justice. The family today is again pushed into the darkness of fear, their faith shaken, and their world shattered.”
