Expressing concern over the growing danger to freedom of expression, democracy and Constitution, poet-lyricist Javed Akhtar on Friday exhorted film-makers, artists and poets to “fight against divisive forces trying to tear apart the country”.
Addressing the 14th Progressive Writers and Artists Association State meet, Mr. Akhtar said, “our territory is being taken way from us and we have to get it back. We have to stand up through literature, art, theatre, street plays or songs.”
Mr. Akhtar pointed to fascism as a danger to freedom of expression and democracy. “An atmosphere of war is being created within our society and rising intolerance is killing democracy,” he said.
Stating that never before had the need for progressive arts and literature was felt than in these testing times, he said that at no time in the past had the country faced so much inequality and intolerance. “It is the prime responsibility of the film-makers and artists to go beyond the entertainment role and inculcate positive values and freedom of expression,” he said.
Referring to “efforts to rewrite the Constitution”, he alleged that the BJP government wanted it to be rewritten by the RSS think-tank. “The Constitution lays down core principles that the BJP finds outrageous. It (the Constitution) says everyone is equal irrespective of caste, religion or gender which is considered anti-national by the BJP,” he added.
“While the world is hailing our Constitution, the BJP wants it rewritten. We are in times where women who want freedom and exercise their choice in marriage or people who seek basic necessities like food, clothes and people who stand up for their rights to protect environment are labelled anti-nationals,” Mr. Akhtar said.
He called upon people to reject majority and minority forms of communalism. “When we talk about secularists in India, the conversation is about majority communalism but is silent about minority communalism,” he said.
Writer S. Tamilselvan was present.
