Socio/Political Archives - The Common Man Speaks

Coronavirus: Contact these NGOs for DAILY WAGERS’ welfare

March 29, 2020 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

The deadly Coronavirus has put the entire world into turmoil, including India. The cases and deaths are increasing every day as the country enters the third stage of Covid-19.

But along with those who are affected by Coronavirus, there are lakhs of migrant workers all across India who have lost their jobs overnight after the country went into a lockdown.

Worse, they are forced to migrate to their native places without any means of transport. What is more dangerous is that thousands of people are forced to walk in huge crowds. This has put them under direct threat of being in touch with Coronavirus since social distancing is out of question.

These workers or daily wagers have taken upon themselves to walk hundreds of kilometers to their native. They are short of food supply too.

Coronavirus Daily Wagers — Photo source: IndiaToday.in

As per latest updates, 21 deaths have taken place among the workers who have been travelling on foot. In such a situation, it is of utmost importance to provide them with food and shelter, so that they at least stay alive, along with ensuring that they don’t get exposed to Coronavirus.

Which government or party is to be blamed for this can be thought later. Right now they need immediate relief.

Here is the list of NGOs and organizations who are providing help to the daily wagers:

Delhi Sikh Gurudwara Management Committee (Delhi)
Contact: 011 2371 2580

Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (YUVA) (Mumbai)
Contact: 091520 51717

Safa NGO (Hyderabad, Chennai, Mumbai and Delhi)
Contact: 9866174665

International Association for Human Values (IAHV) (Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru)
Contact: 9818150404, 9886660006

Hasiru Dala NGO (Bengaluru)
Contact: 097421 12362

Janta Rasoi (Mumbai)
Contact: 093243 71989

Janta Meals (Gurugram)
Contact: 088000 00358

Uday Foundation (Delhi)
Contact: 011 2656 1333

Goonj Foundation (Delhi)
Click HERE to help the daily wagers

Delhi Youth Welfare Assocation (Delhi)
Contact: 011 2702 8090

Ramesh Raman, CEO of IAHV, which is listed above, spoke to us about their efforts. “We are giving away packets of 5 kilo rice, 4 kilo wheat flour, 2 kilo dal, half litre oil and various condiments like pepper, salt, etc,” he said.

He added, “Ten thousand packets have arrived already. We are doing it while tying up with local municipal corporations and other NGOs. We also have ground level volunteers. They will identify the people and take responsibility for the distribution. We did a similar thing during Chennai floods.”

An Open Letter to Arvind Kejriwal

February 16, 2020 by Keyur Seta 4 Comments

Dear Mr Arvind Kejriwal,

Firstly, congratulations for winning the Delhi Assembly Elections by a huge margin and becoming the Chief Minister of India’s capital yet again. Another feat you have achieved with this victory is that you have indirectly compelled me to do something I never thought I would – to write an open letter.

I have always admired you for showing guts when it comes to standing up against wrongdoers. But my opinion about you has always hanged between you being the best politician and way better from the lot we have [big difference between both]. But the one thing that has remained constant is that you have always proven me wrong.

I have been observing you ever since Anna Hazare’s India Against Corruption (IAC) movement. Like scores of youngsters, I too took part in it. It was only through this movement that I started taking interest in something like politics out of the blue. Trust me, before 2011 I didn’t even know the meaning of an MP and MLA and also the difference between both.

After nothing much happened due to the agitations and protests, you decided to form a political party in 2012. I completely disagreed with this decision and my interest in the movement started by Anna with able support from you diminished. The fact that Anna himself didn’t support the decision of forming a party was also responsible for this.

But you proved me wrong in 2013 by gaining people’s trust and winning 28 out of the 70 seats in your political debut in the Delhi Assembly Elections. But I again disagreed with your decision of forming the government with the help of Congress MLA’s since your entire IAC movement was against the corruption carried out by the leaders of their party.

But I was still happy to see you Mr Kejriwal at the helm of affairs in Delhi as the CM and appreciated the few decisions you made then. However, your resignation after 51 days came as a blow to a lot of Indians, including me. Then your party’s stint in the 2014 General Elections where you won only four seats despite contesting in the entire country forced me to accept that the new wave of Indian politics has come in danger so soon.

But interestingly, you worked hard to gain people’s trust yet again and bounced back like never before in the 2015 Delhi Assembly Elections. Your party winning 67 out of the 70 seats came as a pleasant shock as no political pundits had predicted such a result.

The result coupled by your period of self-introspection before the elections made me your fan yet again. However, the post-results period of 2015 was when my feelings for you took some beating. The entire controversy regarding Yogendra Yadav and Prashant Bhushan following which they quit the party didn’t go down well with me and many others who admired you.

This was followed by your drubbing in the 2017 Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) elections where you won only 49 out of the 272 seats, which would have come as a shock to you too Mr Kejriwal. This was enough to make me feel that your time is slowly getting over.

From here onwards, surprisingly, we saw a changed Kejriwal. Your harsh and negative criticisms against the Centre and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi in particular [‘coward and psychopath’ as you called him], which was a regular feature in the previous few years, was hardly to be seen. I don’t disagree with your views against the BJP or Modi but I just feel that a CM like you should let his work speak.

Fortunately, this is what you and your government in Delhi have been doing since close to last three years. Your turnaround in government schools has been revolutionary to say the least. Your efforts in giving free water and electricity to the Delhi citizens have also been praiseworthy. [I didn’t think much of the Lok Sabha Election results of 2019 as that was mainly contested to choose the Prime Minister for the next five years.]

Following this, your victory in 62 out of the 70 seats in the recent Delhi elections is another proof of how much the people of the city are pleased with your work. And hence, you proved me wrong yet again and I don’t mind this at all.

But this also reminds me of the controversial period that started for you and your party just after the huge 2015 victory. I really hope such a thing isn’t repeated and you continue your good work and show the kind of maturity you have been showing in the last few years.

The reason why I am writing to a politician for the first time is because I have hopes only from you Mr Kejriwal and the Aam Aadmi Party. It was you who made me and many others realize that one should not bury politics under the carpet believing it’s a place only for the crooked and the wicked.

Also read: To choose Gandhi or Godse: Confusion of a Bhakt

More importantly, the stakes are very high this time around. The Right Wing fascism has escalated tremendously in recent months. And I see you as a major force that can stand up to it. As we can see, the Congress party is hardly any force to reckon with now.

I don’t know whether you should now go national as you have better knowledge than me. But my only advice for you would be to look at long-term goals for Delhi and slowly and unhurriedly make your way to the rest of India.

From here on, it is you who will decide the future of Indian politics. So, please take each step carefully.

I hope, for a change, you will prove me right this time. Wishing you all the very best as you start your third term as the CM.

Yours fellow Aam Aadmi,

Keyur Seta

(Additional reading: How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters)

To choose Gandhi or Godse: Confusion of a Bhakt

February 2, 2020 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

Ever since Narendra Modi became India’s Prime Minister, he has shown tremendous respect towards Mahatma Gandhi. He started the nationwide Swachh Bharat Abhiyan dedicating it to him. The PM has also spoken highly of the father of the nation during his numerous speeches. But senior members of his party have been showing support for Nathuram Godse, the person who cold-bloodedly murdered Gandhi.

The one person that immediately comes to our mind is MP Pragya Thakur [Sadhvi for some]. She hailed Godse twice last year. In one statement, she went onto say “Nathuram Godse was a patriot and will remain so. People calling him a terrorist should introspect. They will be given a befitting reply in these elections.” She is also someone who hailed the death of cop Hemant Karkare at the hands of terrorist Ajmal Kasab but that’s another story. (See the video below)

Just last month, BJP leader Amitabh Sinha, during a debate with Kanhaiya Kumar, refused to answer whether he is against Godse. But when Kanhaiya persisted with the question, Sinha openly said, “He is not against Godse.” (See the video below)

Similarly, BJP MP Sakshi Maharaj said in an interview that Godse was a nationalist but then quickly made a U turn. (See the video below)

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP IT cell, also defended Godse’s act of killing Gandhi. (Read it in detail HERE.)

Shockingly, members of a Right Wing group recreated Godse’s murder of Gandhi. The ‘event’ was attended by BJP leaders, including the ex-Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh Shivraj Singh Chouhan. There was an uproar in the nation and social media over the event but none of the BJP leaders even criticized it, leave alone taking action against them. (See the video below)

And just today, BJP’s senior leader Anant Kumar Hegde said that Gandhi’s freedom fight was just a ‘drama.’ (See video below)

These aren’t small-time karyakartas of the party who can be ignored. CMs and MP’s are chosen as the representatives of the people of India and if they are openly showing support to the murderer of Gandhi, it raises several questions on PM Modi’s unending praise for the Mahatma.

Also read: Only living people can protest, rest are dead, says Aarey tribal activist Prakash Bhoir on CAA and NRC

Interestingly, Modi has never uttered a word against Godse.

If not for us, at least clear the dilemma for your Bhakts. They defend PM’s sweet words for Gandhi. But on some days they are forced to defend Godse, the diametrical opposite of Gandhi, to support the statements of the aforementioned leaders.

Whoever felt being a Bhakt was easy.

Jokes apart, this clearly looks like a clear strategy to keep the supporters of Gandhi as well as Godse happy. If only the people of India can see the bluff.

Additional reading:

How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters

How 2019 ended on a hopeful note amidst hopelessness

January 1, 2020 by Keyur Seta 2 Comments

The date was 23 May. It was, as expected, a hot Thursday morning but we were inside the confinement of our air-conditioned Yoga class. It wasn’t an ordinary day. It was on that day that the fate of the 130 crore odd Indians rested on the results of the Lok Sabha Elections, which were also set to be as unsurprising as the weather. BJP was set to win it easily.

As we wound up around 9:15 am, I could hear the excitement of few BJP supporters from the class over the results declared so far. As expected, NDA was leading. That was obvious considering we had an almost invisible opposition that did little to pose any danger to the arch rivals BJP.

As I already knew what the outcome would be, I didn’t keep a tab of it as a travelled from my Yoga class in Matunga to my office in Andheri. However, because of their many blunders and blatant misuse of power by the BJP, I was sure the margin of victory wouldn’t be as high as it was in 2014.

But as I was about to reach my office, a friend from Kolkata pinged and said that they are all set to win with a much bigger margin and that they are performing well even in West Bengal, which wasn’t expected.

Source: BBC

As the day progressed, it became all the more clear that the BJP was all set to win more triumphantly than it did in 2014. They eventually finished with 303 seats and the total of their alliance NDA stood at a resounding 353 seats.

The last five years had seen a number lynchings out of mere suspicion of a person carrying beef, which was banned in 2015. One or two lynchings were even supported by BJP leaders. One leader even went onto garland a group of people convicted [mind you, not just accused] in lynchings. One of the lynchings accused was wrapped in the tricolour after he died and India’s Minister of Culture went to pay him last respects.

The overall atmosphere of communalism was evident with BJP leaders dishing out one atrocious comment after another. After a point, this became a routine exercise.

Demonetization was a blunder of another level. It killed more than 100 people and at the same time almost the entire currency came back to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Not to mention how bundles of new currencies were found in the residences of powerful people, including BJP leaders.

The next year Ajay Mohan Bisht, known as Yogi Adityanath, was made the CM of Uttar Pradesh. The same person who, on numerous occasions, openly incited mobs for riots. Instead of putting him behind bars, he was rewarded with such a post.

The most audacious antic came from Pragya Thakur [not Saadhvi for me] who expressed her happiness at the killing of the supercop Hemant Karkare by terrorists during the 26/11 attacks. On another occasion she openly praised Nathuram Godse for killing Gandhi. While India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi continuously heaps praises on Gandhi, he took no action against Thakur except lip service that he will never forgive her (wow, amazing!).

It came as a jolt to many like me to know that Thakur went onto win the election with a large margin despite such shameless statements.

This coupled with the overall results was enough for me and a number of friends to conclude that is desh ka kuchh nahin ho sakta. It isn’t surprising to see the saffron party carry out such atrocious acts. But it indeed was a rude to surprise to see that people have absolutely no problems with it considering the even bigger margin of victory.

The results took away our interest from politics because, we thought, when the masses of India themselves are okay with such rulers, there is just no hope.

Anti NRC protests against BJP — Protesters at Azad Maidan on 27 December

But things turned around right at the last month of the year when the same masses got involved in large numbers to oppose the passing of NRC and CAA bills. And these protests weren’t confined to just one city or state but in the entire country. One can find people from all kinds of backgrounds, faiths and age-groups participating selflessly in the protests.

There has been rampant use of violence by authorities to nullify the protest at various places in the country but that didn’t deterred people from taking part in the protests. Even as I write this, I am wondering how such a turnaround happened in the same year. [It reminded me of the protests during the Anna Hazare movement which also I had attended].

I don’t know for sure whether we will succeed in getting the controversial bills scrapped. But I am certain that people will come together to agitate any sort of tyranny unleashed by the government or the Right Wing as a whole in the future.

With that renewed hope for our great country I am stepping into the New Year and decade.

Additional reading:

Only living people can protest, rest are dead, says Aarey tribal activist Prakash Bhoir

2nd Anti-NRC, CAA protest Mumbai: Videos and photos

December 28, 2019 by Keyur Seta 3 Comments

The second protest in Mumbai against the NRC and CAA took place today at the iconic Azad Maidan. The protesters were earlier supposed to take a march from Byculla to CST station. However, as they didn’t get permission for the same, they had to hold a rally at Azad Maidan.

But this didn’t deter the Mumbaikars from turning up in large numbers. Although initially it looked like not too many people might turn up, the numbers gradually started increasing until a mammoth crowd had formed.

People from all walks of life, religions, age-groups and languages were seen once again. That Mumbai is a multi-cultural city was seen yet again.

Also read: Only living people can protest, rest are dead, says Aarey tribal activist Prakash Bhoir

People were holding banners and placards with serious as well as funny messages in protest of the controversial bills passed by the Government of India.

A lot of the banners contained sarcastic messages for India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah. A majority of them were memes, which had made their way into the real world from the virtual world. The same was also seen on the rally that took place on 19 December in Mumbai.

A series of speakers expressed their views and protest against the government for passing the bills. These included Varun Grover and Umer Khalid. Grover also recited his famous poem ‘Hum Kagaz Nahin Dikhayenge. See HERE.

Also see: Photos and videos from 1st anti-NRC, CAA rally in Mumbai

Few Bollywood actors like Richa Chadha, Swara Bhaskar and Jim Sarbh also graced the rally.

Just like the earlier rally, one could find quite a few selfless citizens who distributed biscuits and water to the people for free.

Anti CAA rally Mumbai — Two girls distributing packaged drinking water for free.

Only living people can protest, rest are dead, says Aarey tribal activist Prakash Bhoir

December 22, 2019 by Keyur Seta 4 Comments

Aarey Forest has been in the news this year for all the wrong reasons and the same is the case now for the implementation of NRC and CAA bills. Earlier, the Maharashtra Government’s plan to make the Metro carshed over there led to a lot of protests by tree and environment lovers. The trees were eventually cut through deceit much to the heartbreaks of many in Mumbai and all over India.

While we are concerned about the trees, what a lot of city-dwellers are unaware of is that a large community of tribal population is also a part of the Aarey forest. The fact that we all spoke about the trees of the forest and not about the humans staying there since ages is alarming.

Considering how the tribal people of the Aarey forest are neglected, things are expected to get murkier for them if the NRC and CAA is implemented since having proper documents is out of question for tribals not only in Mumbai but also in other parts of India.

Tribal activist Prakash Bhoir spoke about the ordeal of the tribals at the chat session ‘Mumbai Rises To Save Democracy’ in the wake of the current widespread protests against the implementation of the controversial NRC and CAA bills on Friday 21 December.

Bhoir pointed out how they had never been outside the jungle before but now we are forced to because of the ‘development’. “If the birds and animals like leopard are also forced to go out of the jungle, who are we then?” he asked.

The protests ensured that Aarey made headlines but not much for its inhabitants. “Because of the protests Aarey came into the limelight for its jungle and its animals, including leopard. [But] this is where we have been staying too. There are 27 adivasi padas who have been staying in Aarey since long. In the whole of Mumbai there are 222 adivasi padas,” he added.

Bhoir added how the change that took place in their lives ever since the jungles gave away to commercial ventures. “We used to live happily among the lakes and wells. We didn’t feel the need to get anything from outside. But these padas were affected and became less in number after Aarey Colony, Filmcity, SRPF (State Reserve Police Force), veterinary college and other things came up and now there is Metro carshed too,” he said.

He added that in all this, the actual residents of the forest are becoming homeless, indicating that it makes all the more impossible for them to show any documents for the purposes of NRC.

Also see: Video and photos of NRC, CAA protests in Mumbai

Bhoir shared the horrific night when trees were forcefully cut in Aarey in October. He said that they were about to have dinner when they heard noises. “The trees were getting cut and we could hear the sounds. There were barricades. When we confronted the police, they told us none of the trees are getting cut, although we could hear noises of the machines and trees falling,” he said.

He also recalled how they have been offered accommodation in the past by the authorities with the pretext of keeping them safe and away from wild animals. “We said we don’t have any such complaints against them [animals] and neither have they against us. They are our neighbours. Don’t mislead us. They are saying we are poor and living in problems but we are definitely not. We are happy staying with them. We don’t fear them. We fear you,” he said.

Stressing the need to protest, Bhoir signed off saying, “I feel only those who are alive can protest. We don’t have hopes from those who are dead. They won’t feel anything. A lot of dead people are seen around. I feel they should shake themselves up to check in case they might be alive.”

Additional reading:

How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters

NRC, CAA Protests in Mumbai: See video & photos

December 19, 2019 by Keyur Seta 3 Comments

In Mumbai, all roads lead today to the historic August Kranti Maidan where NRC and CAA protests will be held. A huge number of Mumbaikars are expected to turn up in what is the first major protest against the two controversial bills.

People started pouring in much before the scheduled time of the protest at 5 pm.

The scenes easily bring back memories of the Indian Against Corruption (IAC) Movement led by Anna Hazare in 2011. Mumbai hasn’t seen any major protest by common citizens after that movement, until the ongoing one at the August Kranti Maidan against NRC CAA.

Earlier in the day, a large number of students from Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) got into the local train to reach the venue and started shouting slogans during their journey itself.

The crowd contains people of all ages and walks of life. Mane of them have banners which they must have prepared before leaving their residences or offices.

We have just come to know that the crowd has increased and there is a general mood of anger among the people who have gathered. People are heard chanting slogans against India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi. There is a rising discontent among the people against the passing of NRC and CAA bills.

Additional reading:

How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters

How Maharashtra leaders made a FOOL of their supporters

November 24, 2019 by Keyur Seta 2 Comments

The massive twists and turns in the Maharashtra politics over the last few weeks have put some of the best Bollywood thrillers to shame. The events have also inspired memes that shared on social media platforms and What’s App literally non-stop. While the jokes passed around are indeed hilarious and applaud-worthy, the situation is far from funny.

Over the last few years ever since the boom of social media, politics has suddenly become one of the most favourite topics for people across age groups. This has also given rise to most people clinging on to one party and becoming its ardent supporters. So, obviously, the ideology of their favourite party becomes their ideology.

The flipside of this is that most of the supporters of each party start defending their favourite party and its leaders with fierce determination; at times even when they themselves are aware that they are defending the indefensible.

This, in turn, has seen plenty of old friendships being broken over the last few years just because of difference in political views. Those who used to hang out with each other now don’t see eye to eye, literally.

Now, the dramatic events of the last few weeks after the results of the recently concluded Maharashtra Assemble Elections were declared have made supporters of all parties look like fools to say the least.

Maha U Turn:

It all started when Shiv Sena went rogue soon after the results. They fought the elections in alliance with the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) and people voted for them because of this reason. However, they broke the alliance post-results for their demand of a bigger share of power despite earning almost half the number of seats won by BJP and shockingly tied up with the Congress and NCP (Nationalist Congress Party).

It will be an understatement to say that the two parties have been Shiv Sena’s arch enemies. They have continuously slammed Congress and NCP for the corruption cases against them over the years. You don’t need to be an iota of expert in politics to know how Balasaheb Thackeray, the founder of the party, hated the two parties and made Shiv Sena successful only by his campaign against the two.

Now spare a thought for the Shiv Sena supporters who have been lambasting Congress and NCP over the years or even decades. The same can be said also for the supporters of Congress and NCP who have been sternly against Shiv Sena for its Hindutva ideology.

Maha surprise:

Last morning the nation got a jolt after knowing that Devendra Fadnavis was suddenly sworn in as the Chief Minister of Maharashtra after getting support from NCP’s Ajit Pawar and other rebel MLA’s (Member of Legislative Assembly) of his party. Ajit Pawar apparently turned rogue against his uncle and party head Sharad Pawar at the last moment just when Shiv Sena, NCP and Congress were about to form the government.

Ajit Pawar has got highly rewarded for his coup as he is made the deputy CM of Maharashtra. Interestingly, he has been named in irrigation scam when he was the Irrigation Minister from 1999 to 2009. He got a clean chit later from the then Congress-NCP government in 2012.

Also read: Does Thackeray hint at Shiv Sena’s changing relationship with Congress?

Now this is where it gets more interesting. After BJP-Shiv Sena government came into power in Maharashtra in 2014, they, under Fadnavis’ leadership, re-initiated enquiries into the alleged irrigation irregularities. Now, the same BJP awarded the post of the deputy CM to the person alleged in the same scam.

You don’t need to go too far to recall how India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi called NCP as ‘Naturally Corrupt Party’ more than once (read HERE). Funnily, a past video of Fadnavis vowing never to tie-up with NCP has also resurfaced.

(Article continued below the video)

Hence, now it is the time of the BJP supporters to feel embarrassed. Any regular social media user would know how Ajit Pawar has faced flak from BJP supporters over the years.

The events and twists of this month have proven that the ideology of a party is only followed by its supporters. And only ideology their leaders follow is power.

Let’s hope this turns out to be a wake-up call.

By: Keyur Seta

Additional reading:

When BJP leaders were so against EVMs that they wrote books on its ‘dangers’

Amol Palekar’s fight for freedom of expression goes back to the Emergency

Why people in their 30s should stop believing they are 70

October 19, 2019 by Keyur Seta 1 Comment

There was a time when 7-8 of us would play cricket. We used to enjoy it. But as much as playing the sport, our constant jokes, one-liners and banter used to delight us. As years passed by and all of us started working, playing cricket slowly faded away, which isn’t surprising.

But thanks to What’s App, we started a group few years ago with the hope that we would regularly revisit those days of fun and laughter.

But strangely, the atmosphere in the group was nowhere similar to the time we used to spend years ago. There were only serious talks. Jokes had no place. Even after I tried numerous times to create humour, it fell on deaf ears. There was just no response. Finally, I gave up.

Weeks later, a friend, one of the members of the group, bumped into me. I straightaway asked him the reason for everyone being so serious on the group and what all happened to their humour. His only reply was, “Ab humne 30 cross kar liya. Ab kya hasi-mazaak?” I stood frozen there, not knowing what to say. I never knew hasi-mazaak had an expiry date and that too so soon in life.

But this is just one example. As the months passed by, I regularly kept hearing similar things from people in their 30s. While having conversations, it is a must for them to say things like, “Ab toh umar ho gayi hai hum logon ki,” “Hum toh buddhe ho gaye hain ab,” etc.

It seems as if they have started believing that they are 70 +. But on second thoughts, I am reminded of how people even in their 80s are seen having fun and laughter while sitting on the fence of Shivaji Park maidan. Also, my Yoga teacher is 80 but I have hardly seen anyone so cheerful and funny. My aunt and her friends are in their 50s but when they meet they behave like teenagers.

But having said this, each one is entitled to live and think the way he or she likes. So, if friends who are in the 30s feel they have become too old to crack jokes and laugh their hearts out, it is their choice. Some of them have also stopped exercising or doing any kind of physical activity thinking there is no hope now for them to get into a better shape or health. I don’t have a problem with that too.

But I do have a problem when they assume that I also think and feel the same. I have a problem when they say umar ho gayi hai ‘hum’ logon ki and ‘hum’ buddhe ho gaye hain. Boss, please replace ‘hum’ with ‘tum.’

While you would be busy spending your evenings with a cup of tea while staring at the sunset thinking life mein ab kuchh raha nahin, I would be taking a jog or thinking about some idea for my next funny write-up or meme.

Never knew I would feel generation gap with people of my own age group.

By: Keyur Seta

Additional reading:

Why arranged marriages are nothing but shopping?

6 noteworthy moments from Article 15

June 30, 2019 by Keyur Seta Leave a Comment

Director Anubhav Sinha’s Article 15 is largely about the atrocities faced by people belonging to the backward castes. But the Ayushmann Khurrana starrer also has a lot of layers and the film ends up saying a lot without actually saying much. The end result is disturbing but at the same time positive as well.

It will be worth revisiting 6 noteworthy aspects from Article 15:

Urban-rural divide
A city bred person might get a jolt when he or she witnesses the way of living and norms of a rural area. The same happens when the protagonist Ayan Ranjan [Khurrana] is posted in a remote village in Uttar Pradesh. He is shocked to see such strict practice of caste even in 2019, including the practice of not even letting the shadow of the ‘untouchables’ touch you. Article 15 doesn’t shy away from showcasing such stark reality of ‘modern’ India.

Still proud to be an Indian
Ayan Ranjan’s situation is very much like many of us. He is disturbed and disgusted to see the reality of India and is ready to expose it in front of everyone. However, he is still proud to be an Indian, like he tells her wife on phone.

It reminded me of the scene in Ashutosh Gowariker’s Swades where Shah Rukh Khan’s character says, “Main nahin maanta humara desh duniya ka sabse mahaan desh hai.” But deep down, he cares for the nation and agrees to leave US for it.

Ignorance is bliss?
There is a scene where Khurrana is wondering as to how people around him can behave normal and quite happy despite the gruesome crime that has taken place in the village. This is reflective of how a section of the population is turning a blind eye on various issues under the garb of nationalism these days.

Horning out castesim
Khurrana asks the caste of a vendor but her answer is overturned by the loud horn of a passing truck. This is an impressively creative way of giving a message that anybody’s caste isn’t important.

Ambedkar’s presence
The teachings of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar has been hardly explored by mainstream Hindi cinema over the decades. We have had biopics on various leaders but none on him. This is a surprise since Ambedkar has had a lion’s share in the making of the Constitution Of India, the very book on which the idea of India is based. Article 15 fills the much needed void.

Heroic entry
The high point of the film for me is the entry of Article 15. The arrival of the document produces the same effect that a mass hero does when he makes a heroic entry. The words under Article 15 and the playing of ‘Vande Mataram’ in the background will always be unforgettable.

Additional reading:

Short Story: Caste Away

By: Keyur Seta