Culture

RSS Thinker who Scoffed at Ambedkar has Turned Arts Institution into Sangh Meeting Venue

The following is the statement issued by SAHMAT on June 9, 2016.
RAM Bahadur Rai, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s thinker who described BR Ambedkar’s role in framing the constitution “a myth” also has another achievement to his credit. Just two months after being appointed chairman of the Indira Gandhi National Centre for Arts, he has turned the government-funded culture institution into a centre for RSS activities in Delhi.

‘Condemn Intimidation by Chhattisgarh Govt’

IN a statement issued on May 24 by the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT), the signatories to which were eminent academicians, writers and artists, it has strongly condemned the Chhattisgarh government and its police force for using intimidation and threats of a criminal case against academics and political activists investigating human rights abuses in the southern parts of the state, especially Bastar and Dantewada. A fact finding team consisting of Prof. Archana Prasad, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Prof.

Threat to Minority Culture

THE recent announcement by the Narendra Modi government that Aligarh Muslim University and Jamia Millia Islamia, Delhi established by an act of parliament, cannot be recognised as special “minority institutions’ because the secular constitution of India does not permit the government to establish and provide funds to institutions of higher learning, specifically for the promotion of education and culture of religious minority communities.

Kerala Accords Grand Welcome to Ghulam Ali

BRUSHING aside repeated threats from the Right-wing Hindutva forces, the people of Kerala wholeheartedly welcomed Gazal maestro Ghulam Ali to the state. The Pakistani singer held a concert in the state capital on January 15 and in Calicut on January 15.The programmes were organised by Swaralaya, a socio-cultural organisation. DYFI activists gathered at the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport to extend a warm welcome to the renowned singer. Tourism Minister A P Anilkumar, CPI(M) Polit Bureau member M A Baby and city mayor V K Prasanth received Ghulam Ali at the airport.

Voices against Intolerance

WHAT do you do on an evening of dissent? You dance, you draw, you perform and yes, you sing. For as the vibrant banners, strung at the annual SAHMAT cultural event, reminded us of Bertolt Brecht’s iconic words, “Yes, there will be singing about the dark times.” But you also speak.

JANAM Commemorates Safdar Hashmi’s Life & Works

JANUARY 1, 2016 marked the 27th year of commemorating Safdar Hashmi’s life and works at the site of his attack, and subsequent death from injuries sustained, in Jhandapur by the CITU and the Jana Natya Manch (Janam). The interrupted Halla Bol show finished on January 4 that year, is marked with a new production by Janam each year, along with a roster of revolutionary songs and speeches. This year too the programme, with Badal Saroj as the chief guest, was a careful selection of acts in solidarity with the workers’ movement, with one major exception.

KARNATAKA: Writers of Four States who have Returned Awards Meet in Dharwad

ON November 27, a unique meet was held in Dharwad, the place where Prof Kalburgi was recently murdered. Writers who had returned their awards to Sahitya Akademi and various other academics and government servants from four states came together to tell the people why they had returned their awards. The occasion was the birthday of Prof Kalburgi. A group of writers from Gujarat under the leadership of Dr Ganesh Devy who had returned his Sahitya Akademi and Padma Sri awards, started a yatra from their state which they called Dakshinayan.

Gurajada Death Centenary Marked across Andhra Pradesh

THE death centenary of great poet Gurajada Appa Rao was observed across Andhra Pradesh. Various programmes were organised by AIDWA and Prajanatya Mandali, with the help of the CPI(M) units, in different parts of the state. Various cultural organisations also participated in these events. The commemoration started on Gurjada’s birth anniversary on September 21 and continued till the death centenary on November 30.

Ghulam Ali to Perform in Kerala in January

GHULAM Ali, ghazal legend from Pakistan, whose concerts in Maharashtra and Delhi were cancelled recently, will perform in Kerala twice in January. The 75-year-old singer is scheduled to perform in the state capital on January 15 and in Kozhikode on January 17 at the invitation of social organisation 'Swaralaya'.An office bearer of Swaralaya said that the singer had confirmed his participation. The organisation would also honour Ali during the function.  The singer could not be reached for comments.

Pages

Subscribe to RSS - Culture