Ignored by Christian Educationists: Fr. Jerome D'Souza SJ: A Pioneering Patriot and Diplomat

Author: Frank Krishner

It's been a while since I've put down some of my really frank views on any subject.

Yesterday night, I was in an online meeting, listening to one of our noted peace activists, and there I heard him speak of Reverend Father Jerome D'Souza, one of the framers of our Indian constitution.

My reaction was "what the *&%#@?"

I have studied in Catholic schools and colleges, and taught in some as well. Why the dickens do we not know of Fr Jerome D'Souza? Why haven't I been able to flaunt him alongside Ambedkar and the other chaps? Why have we know information about him in our textbooks?

So, for those of you interested people, here is a very brief and sketchy piece, which you teachers and others can hopefully use in your lessons.

Jerome D'Souza: Patriot and Diplomat

Fr. Jerome D'Souza SJ, a Jesuit priest of remarkable intellect and unwavering dedication, played an instrumental role in shaping modern India. As a member of the Constituent Assembly, he contributed significantly to the drafting of the Indian Constitution. 

Admired by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Fr. D'Souza's influence extended beyond  politics, into diplomacy and international relations, leaving an indelible mark on the our modern history.

Born on August 6, 1897, in Mangalore, Fr. D'Souza joined the Society of Jesus in 1921 and was ordained a priest in 1931. His academic brilliance shone through early in his career, earning him a reputation as an erudite scholar. This intellectual prowess made him an invaluable asset to the Indian National Congress, particularly during the crucial period leading up to India's independence.

Fr. D'Souza's entry into the Constituent Assembly in 1946 marked the beginning of his direct involvement in the nation-building process. He was one of the few non-Hindus in the assembly, representing the interests of minorities and advocating for a secular state. His contributions were marked by a deep commitment to social justice, equality, and religious harmony.

Voice of Reason and Compassion

In the assembly, Fr. D'Souza was a voice of reason and compassion. He emphasized the need for a constitution that safeguarded the rights of all citizens, irrespective of their religious or social backgrounds. His speeches often reflected a profound understanding of India's diverse cultural fabric and the necessity of unity in diversity. His ability to articulate complex ideas with clarity and conviction earned him the respect of his peers, including Pandit Nehru.

Pandit Nehru's admiration for Fr. D'Souza was well-known. The two shared a mutual respect that transcended their religious and ideological differences. Nehru valued Fr. D'Souza's insights and often sought his counsel on matters of national importance. This camaraderie was not merely a testament to Fr. D'Souza's intellectual acumen but also to his character and integrity.

Fr. D'Souza's role extended beyond the Constituent Assembly. Recognizing his diplomatic skills and deep understanding of international affairs, the Indian government appointed him as a delegate to the United Nations. As a diplomat, Fr. D'Souza represented India with distinction, advocating for peace, justice, and cooperation on the global stage.

Role in the UN

At the United Nations, Fr. D'Souza's contributions were multifaceted. He participated in numerous debates and discussions, bringing India's perspectives to the forefront of international discourse. His interventions were marked by a commitment to the principles of the UN Charter, emphasizing human rights, decolonization, and international solidarity.

One of Fr. D'Souza's notable achievements at the UN was his involvement in the discussions on decolonization. He passionately argued for the rights of colonized nations to self-determination and independence. His eloquence and moral authority lent weight to India's position, contributing to the broader movement for decolonization that swept through Asia and Africa in the mid-20th century.

Fr. D'Souza's work at the UN was not limited to political matters. He also focused on social and economic issues, advocating for policies that promoted global development and poverty alleviation. His holistic approach to diplomacy underscored the interconnectedness of peace, justice, and development.

Throughout his career, Fr. D'Souza remained deeply committed to the Jesuit principles of education, social justice, and service to others. He continued to be actively involved in educational initiatives, recognizing the transformative power of education in building a just and equitable society. His legacy in this field is reflected in the numerous institutions that continue to uphold these values.

Jesuit Fr. Jerome D'Souza SJ was a pioneering patriot whose contributions to India's constitution, diplomacy, and international relations were profound.His intellect, integrity, and compassion left an indelible mark on India's history. 

Jibber Jabber on the Jab

Author: Frank Krishner

"Have you been vaccinated yet? Come on, don't delay. Go for your jab!" 

Goodness me, everybody seems to have become so pushy nowadays, especially my nosey-parker colleagues, some of whom even flaunt their 'I've been vaccinated' status.

But there are other 'worldly wise' fellows, who're saying, hang on for a spell. 

Why? 

Because the single dose Johnson and Johnson jab will be out, and then you can flaunt your 'single jab' pedigree- or even better still, you may even get the chance to sniff, "What jab? I opted for that truly exclusive nasal spray!"

Even if you are safely ensconced in your fortress like home, and your only contact with civilization is the weekly grocery delivery dropped at your door, you can't escape the Vaccinate! Vaccinate! vaccinate! jibber jabber that's cluttering up practically every available space.

Ringtones blab about the jab in a cacophony of dialects! Switch on the news and most of the time they're serving up even more 'jabber talk'. And let's not even think about the  Whats App - Facebook -Social Media Tsunami of posts, reposts and look- at- me- with- a- needle- in- my- arm pictures!

Let's not mention the social snobbery : "I'm proud to have the Indian vaccine!" "Really? But isn't the Astra Zeneca the one with the more reliable data?" "Oh, nothing, really, no side effects at all. I wonder how people claim to have side effects!"

It's interesting to see how local authorities are trying their best to cajole, browbeat, and even threaten those who haven't been vaccinated. And all this, for goodness sake, when it's common knowledge that most of the states haven't received enough of this much touted magic potion to go round.

In Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, they say that cops  handing out  'patriot missiles' in the form of oversize badges to the vaccinated, who have 'proven their deshbhakti', and they're hanging posters with a skull and crossbones around  the necks of those who haven't been able to access the dose. Well, so much for  human respect and dignity! So much for not stigmatizing others!

The thing is that the vaccine doesn't stop you catching COVID-19 and from transmitting it to others. What it really does is reduce your chances of infection. 

If you're vaccinated and do catch the bug, you have a  really great chance of not kicking the proverbial bucket.

So I'm not really sold on all this 'patriotic' drivel.

The vaccination is really about protecting me from possible death and black fungus and the horror story that goes with it.

That's what immunization is all about in the first place.

In some areas, all shopkeepers have been asked to get vaccinated if they want to get their business running again when the unlock happens. This makes sense, because shopkeepers and their assistants are the ones who have to interact with loads of unknown strangers.

The Meghalaya Government has directed its employees to take COVID-19 vaccine. The Meghalaya government has directed all employees, who are aged 45 years or above, working in the State Secretariat and other government offices to get themselves vaccinated.

Those employees who do not take the jab, will become 'non-eligible' for special leave in case they get infected with COVID-19.  “Those who have got themselves vaccinated, will be eligible for special leave against COVID infection, which will however not available to those who have not been vaccinated,” the order said.

Nice move. Talk about the carrot and the stick!

Interesting, huh? If you take the jab and then get

COVID-19, you'll get special leave.

The vaccine doesn't stop the bug from getting to me and doesn't stop me passing it on to others. So why are the powers that be doing this song and dance? Why the pressure?

And  what's all this about 'patriotic duty'?

Use your common sense buddy.

Yes, come the third wave, infections may rise but hopefully, things will be under control.

If you're vaccinated,  and if COVID-19 does host a party in your system, you ain't gonna be in line for oxygen cylinders and expensive treatments.

Your loved ones aren't going to be  screaming out their private emotions and frustrations  in front of TV news cameras.

You will not be among the dear departed.

You'll have flattened the curve.

And no prizes for guessing who's going to hog the credit.

 

It's shrinking!

Hey, the Indian parliament is shrinking. have you noticed?

let me see...

The last nomination for the reserved seat of Anglo Indian MLA took place hours before the January 25 deadline, scrapping the reservation of Anglo-Indian representatives to legislative assemblies and parliament dawned.

Read these details

To deprive Anglo-Indians of their representation was on the BJP agenda, and the community leaders sensed that something was amiss, when after the 2019 elections, the government never got around to nominating an Anglo-Indian representative.

Of course, Modi (or his advisors)  knew two things. First: the Anglo-Indian community isn't as commercially well off as the Parsi community, and the Anglo-Indian population, [a few lakhs], is widely dispersed across India. Second: no major opposition parties, including the Congress were likely to kick up a fuss about the Anglo-Indian seats being abolished.

Well, true to the script, nobody spoke up. The community leaders, did approach the law minister and others for 'discussions'. They were told that the government would look into the matter 'at a later date'. That date never arrived.

The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha have grown smaller, a tad shrunken, and less representative of India's diversity.
I wonder if you've noticed.

Author: Frank Krishner

Bihar's Opposition- condoning manslaughter?

A few days ago, the local newspapers in Bihar carried reports of a burn victim dying a painful death because the ambulance carrying her was caught up in a ‘traffic jam’ on the rickety Mahatma Gandhi Setu, the bridge that joins Patna to North Bihar.

The woman died because the Home Guards, an auxiliary security force, had blocked the bridge in protest. They were demanding benefits from the Bihar Government. These men turned a deaf ear to the pleas of the ambulance driver and the people who were in the ambulance. They wilfully obstructed an ambulance that according to law had the absolute right of way. If anybody is to be held responsible for the death of that woman, it is the organizers and the men from the Home Guards who were obstructing traffic. Logic says that a criminal case should have been slapped on them.

 It was sickening to read reports in the newspapers the next day, where the protestors, backed by the opposition BJP sought to blame the state government for the woman's death.  Was this a sick joke? By what stretch of warped logic could one come to such a conclusion? Worse still, the papers who faithfully carried the statement, so far haven't had the decency to question the logic even on the editorial pages!

 

Have our politicians sunk so low? Is heckling the government and encouraging others to do so their only game?  You condone uncivilized and brutish behaviour -such as the obstruction of an ambulance carrying a burn patient in a critical condition on a hot summer’s day - on the one hand, and complain of ‘Jungle raj’ returning to Bihar on the other!

 The BJP (and others in the opposition)  would have done the  honourable thing if they had strongly taken on  the government  for  going soft on the ringleaders, and failing to punish the fellows who were actually responsible for manslaughter because they obstructed the ambulance, with the full knowledge that the patient inside would die unless she received immediate treatment.

 

Why are two separate issues being muddied up? And why is the present government and the administration letting this happen? Why hasn't the Nitish Kumar administration really shown some 'testosterone' and booked a couple of those protestors for manslaughter?  

Why is it that whenever there is some 'political' support, a 'legitimate' protest becomes an occasion to threaten, beat-up, smash and vent anger on inanimate objects and harmless individuals?

 

The right to lawful protest is one thing, causing harmful obstruction and destroying government and private property are entirely different. They are cowardly, criminal offences.

 

Why are all political parties blind to this? 'This is an election year' isn't the right answer!

 

Author: Frank Krishner

Let Dalits who want reservation remain Hindus

A vocal section of the Catholic Church in India, has, for some two decades now trying to get ‘Dalit Christians’ recognized as one of the scheduled castes in India. Now, these scheduled castes are usually formerly untouchable Hindus who get certain privileges above ‘general’ citizens.



This is a stupid picture, isn't it? No? Think about it!

 Recently there have been anguished outpourings from no less than veteran media person and Indian Catholic leader John Dayal that  the present dispensation [read the government of India led by Narendra Modi] are going to ignore that longstanding demand.

 If the Prime Minister Modi once and for all totally rejects this impassioned plea, several thousand Christians would actually be pleased. Very pleased.

 This nonsense about caste -based reservations is political clap-trap. I maintain that the demand is totally un-Chrisian and subversive. Historically, and biblically, one does not deserve to become a Christian ‘the easy way’. If a Dalit chooses to join the church and be ‘equal’ to those high caste Christians who have literally ‘forsaken all’ to embrace the faith, then let him forsake the government benefits which are for Hindus. If he can’t do that, then what the dickens is he in it for? For free access to Christian educational and medical institutions? that shouldn’t be a problem anyway, because Christian, especially church run institutions are supposed to reach out to the poorest of the poor, no matter who they are.

Let the Dalits who want reservation remain Hindus. Those who want to 'convert' must reject reservation. It is a moral choice. I would say that we should encourage such wishy-washy chaps to opt for 'Ghar Wapsi'!

 

Let them choose between material benefit and spiritual benefit in the same way as several other high caste ‘converts’ have. When a Brahmin or a Rajput person decides to become a Christian, are the Christian  priests unaware of the great risks they take? Friends, and most importantly, their own families treat them as outcastes. Even so, knowingly, they accept the cross, both literally and figuratively. Its very interesting how the catholic  priests  and bishops are extremely careful when high caste people want to get baptized and publicly state that they wish to join the Church.  They actually discourage them.

 

This pro-Dalit casteism within the Catholic Church has rankled and continues to rankle many. The Church was built on the blood of martyrs. However misguided they may have been, it is the fact that hundreds and thousands of people were ready to lay down their lives rather than do a Ghar Wapsi. This ghar wapsi stuff was tried by the ancient Romans: recant your beliefs and here’s a life of luxury, follow this new ideology called Christianity and be torn apart by lions.

 

[By the way, Latin “christianus” meant cretin; the Romans used to throw Christians to the lions, and because the Christian martyrs refused to give up their religion, to run away, or even to fight back, they were thought to be acting like complete idiots.

 Throughout the Roman Empire (i.e. the civilised world), if someone was stupid, they were called “Christian”. The word meant that.]

Coming from a lineage that can claim that an ancestor or two was executed by Henry VIII rather than switch allegiance from the Pope, I find this pandering to the so-called  Dalit Christians particularly nauseating. What is more disturbing is the fact that there are a lot of chaps who are ‘officially’ getting government benefits as Hindus while masquerading as Christians and getting handouts from the Church as well.

In the Catholic Church there is no ‘Dalit reservation’ -- or is there a lobby  led by a few Jesuits and Diocesan priests that wants to give reservations to guys so that they become ‘dalit pastors’ even though they are morally, spiritually  and intellectually wanting? 

I have a great love for Dalits and want them to evolve as soon as possible into efficient, tax-paying citizens of the country, with dignity and without having to play the victim always. Being an agnostic, I have an unbiased attitude towards all religions, and do find it extremely silly when some of my Catholic priest friends become misty eyed over the perceived injustices to the Musahars, but are stone cold to the problems and the tribulations of the poorer sections of Christians such as those from Bettiah, Goa, or the Anglo-Indians.

 

The Modi government would do well to curb any more ‘reservations’. We’ve had enough. Modi should firmly deny any such benefits to the so-called  Dalit Christians.  If Brahmin and Rajput Christians don’t get minority benefits, why should they?

 

Author: Frank Krishner

Anglos in the wind ... not in the Lok Sabha ?

The winds of change blew in a brand new Indian Parliament, but has it blown away the Anglo-Indian representation as well?

It’s been almost a year since the Modi government came to power, and guess what? The 16th Lok Sabha has no Anglo-Indian member. There are usually two nominated members there, as per Article 331 of the Indian constitution.

It’s probably skipped the Prime Minister’s mind. After all, does this predominantly Christian, Angrezi speaking community, this micro-minority really matter? These half-caste, half-breed, beef-eating fellows aren’t the kind that should be taken seriously. And come on, they are just about 4-5 lakh in number, that’s all. Less than half a million!

Seriously, if a Supreme Court ruling says that the gays who are about 10 per cent of the Indian male population are ‘a miniscule minority’, do these Anglo-Indian fellows even come close?


The 16th Lok Sabha is completing its first year soon. The Narendra Modi government doesn’t seem keen (understatement of the year) to nominate two Anglo-Indian members to the Lower House. Well, that’s had the Anglo-Indian representatives asking President Pranab Mukherjee's to intervene.

They wrote to Modi in December last year, the Bangalore-based ‘Federation of Anglo-Indian Associations in India’. Well, fat lot of good that did!

 

Dr Charles Dias, a former MP from the community and federation president, has said several memoranda have been submitted to the Prime Minister, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu and Minority Affairs Minister Najma Heptullah. Well, what happened?

 "But, there was no response from them so far. This is an injustice perpetrated on a microscopic and weak minority," Dias said in the memorandum submitted to President Mukherjee last week, saying the community is “anxious and eager” to know why their representatives are not nominated to the Lower House.

Really? haven’t seen any signs of restlessness or anguish among most of the Anglo-Indians of Bihar, nor Jharkhand for that matter. Do the Anglo-Indian 'youngsters' care a fig about what we're talking? Are any of the 'community' under 30 ever seen in the forefront of any civic action?

 According to Article 331 of the Constitution of India, if the President is of the opinion that the Anglo-Indian community is not adequately represented in Lok Sabha, he may nominate not more than two members of that community to Lok Sabha.

 “This Article was followed and acted upon all these years since independence. The community is forced to believe that this is yet another cruelty shown by the NDA Government towards a minority community,” the memorandum said.

 La,la,la,la,la…. who are these Anglo chaps anyway? The BJP should know. After all, a decade ago, it relied on the vote of the nominated member in the Jharkhand Assembly to ensure it remained in power during those very shaky initial days!

The Parsi community is tinier than the Anglo-Indian, but look at the clout it has.

It's not good enough for the Anglo-Indians to dream of past glory and how they contributed
to the workforce of modern India.

We are in post-modern, fluctuating times, which as Dylan says are-a-changing. And fast.

It's high time that the young Anglo-Indians sit up and smell the... well... the c-c-coffee!  Before the sh** hits the fan!

Just wearing a badge that reads 'Courage is Destiny' isn't enough. If you are indeed a community with intellect, education, and courage, then give us a sample. Introspect about the double standards and the prejudices within. Address them.  It's nice to recognize your  own rights, and stand in solidarity with others fighting for theirs. And rights have duties as well!

So if Modi and his government don't nominate your chaps to the Lok Sabha, what are you going do about it? And what if he's planning yet another tweak to the constitution of India, saying let's get rid of that redundant  article 331?

Any Political Party ready to shoulder you cause? H'm....?


Author: Frank Krishner also published on NEWSNET ONE

Bihar State AIDS Control Society doesn't give a damn about Mothers!

It’s Mothers’ Day today.

And what does a poor, sick mother in the boondocks of Bihar, desperately trying to ensure that her HIV positive orphaned child gets his essential daily dose of life-saving meds get? Insensitivity, buck-passing and indolence by the government medical fraternity and the Bihar State AIDS Control Society!

 On Thursday May 7, [incidentally observed as AIDS Orphans Day, part of the annual global aids awareness week], a desperate 25 year old widow in Chapra (Bihar state)was running from pillar to post in a frantic bid to obtain the next dose of ART for her 8 year old son. An HIV positive person needs to take the prescribed medicine daily, just like a daily insulin dose for diabetics. If the dose is missed, even for a day, the immune system of the patient starts deteriorating. The people at the ART dispensing centre were helpless, stocks were over. (The special ART formulation for children is given in a syrup form.) When the woman, in desperation went to submit a written intimation to the Nodal Medical Officer, pleading that the medicine be made available, she was brushed aside. The doctor refused to accept her application!

 The woman, a widow on her own, who somehow ekes out a living working in one of those hole-in-the wall ‘ private schools’, is distraught. For the past five days, she has abandoned her work, running to and from the dispensing centre. The irony is that the medication can only be obtained from the government centre and no private chemist shops in Chapra stock the medicine, which is very expensive.

 “I went to get the medicines on the 4th, a day before the last dose ran out. (This is the practice. Patients are given medicines for a month only, and they can’t ask for any advance stocks). There was no medicine available. My child is on ART since 2011. What’s worrying me is that in January, when a CD-4 count was done, his platelet count had dropped to 311 from 1100. I’m desperate,” she said over the phone.

 Exactly 14 days ago, I happened to visit the Chapra ART centre with RTI activist Sanjeet Singh, where the personnel us that stocks were low. “We are just not receiving adequate stocks from BSACS, and we struggle to do what we can,” they said.

 “The High Court has decreed that every ART centre should have a two month stock of ART medicines and medicines for opportunistic infections, but despite assurances from BSACS officials, see the situation!” says Sanjeet.

 In Chapra, the situation is overwhelming. 4200 registrations, ART 2,900 total counting. Last month 1748 patients received ART. There are about 150 children on ART. NACO guidelines are not met. BSACS has not appointed the required staff. Only 4 posts out of 14 are filled. No Medical Officer for the ART and ICTC centre, so obviously, no ‘accountable’ official! There is no CD4 testing machine, even though NACO funds were there for one unit in each district, it is said.


How does the State, and BSACS, which gets funding from the Centre ensure safe motherhood? Probably by twiddling their thumbs and looking the other way!

this is NOT a photo of the widow.... for representation only

BSACS is supposed to provide ‘safe delivery kits’ at all its PPTCT centres. Reality check: That doesn’t happen. Pregnant women have to buy their own ‘safe delivery kits’ from private stores in Patna because the hospital has no stock. “We advise them to take precautions, because many of them end up having home deliveries. Even when they have go to the government hospitals, if they bring along their own kits, it can pre-empt any refusal by the nurses not to deliver the babies for lack of safety kits,” said PPTCT Counsellor Sadhna. A kit costs about Rs 750, and add on the cost of a trip to the state capital, just to buy the kit!

HIV positive pregnant women are denied surgery at Chapra. This was told to me by the PPCTC counsellor. She said that because there is only one OT for caesarean sections in the district hospital, there would be ‘complications’ if an HIV positive C-section was performed. So the pregnant woman is told to be prepared to make the long trip to the Patna Medical College Hospital, over 120 kilometres away, in case a C-section is called for. When we asked the resident gynaecologist at the district hospital about this, all she said was, “I am aware that we have delivered babies from HIV positive mothers, and as for C-sections, so far, no such case has been brought to my notice.”

The woman says “My child is the only reason I am living, if he dies, I am nothing, I might as well destroy myself.”

Just as I was putting the finishing touches to this article, I received a phone call from Sanjeet Singh, the activist. The ART medicines have finally arrived at the Chapra centre on Friday. The 25 year old widow can breathe easy, for one more month… Happy Mothers’ Day!


But, for how long will the State Government and BSACS flout the orders of the High Court? Instead of getting on with the procurement of medicines, will they try to pass the buck if summoned to court once again?









Author: Frank Krishner

Throttle NGOs, snuff out dissent!

The Narendra Modi Government, rather like its forerunner the UPA (especially towards the end of its tenure), has trained guns on non-governmental organisations and people’s movements in general.

This began primarily as a crackdown on organisations protesting against the nuclear power projects in Kudankulam and Jaitapur. If UPA II barred a dozen NGOs from receiving foreign donations and contributions, the BJP led government has not only frozen NGO accounts but also blamed them for the economic ills of India!

An Intelligence Bureau report has apparently blamed NGOs for the slump in India’s GDP. So, NGOs are the major stumbling blocks tripping up Modi’s avowed pursuit of development.

There are also claims that some NGOs — (obviously) Christian NGOs — are engaging in proselytisation! The present government and its leading spokespersons never tire of reiterating their strange position on people who opt out of one religious practice and embrace another. They keep harping on the possibility of bringing forward a law to curb ‘conversions’. In other words, a citizen of ‘free India’ will need government permission to adopt a philosophy of life, and to exchange one set of superstitions for another! Mind control, mind it! Now to get back to the point I was making.

The crackdown on NGOs in terms of putting a freeze on foreign donations they receive, on the grounds of perceived Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA) violations, is a manifestation of the dim view the government has of NGOs.

Is the government shooting itself in the foot? Must all those who may have a dissenting view be taken as enemies of the state? By freezing their accounts, the government has almost forced the closure of Greenpeace India, which was spearheading the movement against a power plant in Madhya Pradesh. Bank accounts of the Ford Foundation and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and others are also seemingly under scrutiny.

India has some two million registered NGOs. India must also acknowledge the innumerable positive interventions made by NGOs, and their imprint on landmark Acts passed in Parliament. Whether it is about the Right to Food, Right to Education or the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, and the most fundamental of them all, the Right to Information — which seeks to make the government accountable to the public on its decisions — several key pieces of legislation owe in no small measure to NGO interventions.

No doubt the crooked among them must be tackled firmly. They should be held accountable for their actions if they violate the law. 
The UPA attempts to muzzle NGOs were shoddy and shameful. But the NDA ‘sarkar’ has launched a reboot and upgrade: a sinister version. The sledgehammer treatment now being meted out to NGOs is intimidation and bullying. The clampdown is nothing short of an extreme step. In India today, the NGOs are the ones who form the public conscience. Narendra Modi appears to want no questions asked, no dissent to his ‘iron man’ rule. If that’s not fascism, what is?


Author: Frank Krishner

Kathmandu: from Playground to Chessboard?

“Kathmandu today is an entirely different city from the one almost levelled in 1934. It is now a densely populated home to almost 2.5 million people, many living and working in buildings that will not withstand a significant seismic event. An earthquake, experts say, could displace more than 1.8 million people, kill over 100,000 and injure a further 300,000. Sixty percent of buildings could be destroyed.” This is an extract from a report on the OCHA website, of an international conference, held in April 2013, when Nepalese and international disaster officials gathered to imagine ‘once again’ the humanitarian consequences of another earthquake, and to consider the response.

80 years after the disastrous 1934 earthquake, the warning signs were there. The meeting also worked out ways in which to mitigate the consequences of the earthquake. So why wasn’t Kathmandu ready?

Unfortunately, South Asian governments don’t seem to have the political will to  take tough decisions on proper planning, especially when it comes to ‘freak events’ like earthquakes. Nepal is the 16th poorest country in the world. It has had a decade of civil war,  that some believe was quietly abetted by its larger neighbours, but that’s another issue. The country hasn’t been able to redraft its constitution ever since it changed from a Hindu monarchy to a secular democracy. Then there is the matter of corruption and bribery that allows ‘unsafe’ construction to grow.

The 2015 Global Assessment Report on Disaster Risk Reduction (GAR15), prepared by the UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR) released in march 2015 by the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, states that economic losses from disasters are now reaching an average of US$250 billion to US$300 billion annually.

In connection with the report’s findings, the Secretary-General said: “We are playing with fire. There is a very real possibility that disaster risk, fuelled by climate change, will reach a tipping point beyond which the effort and resources necessary to reduce it will exceed the capacity of future generations.”

Relief operations are on, but as an editorial in the Guardian put it, this ‘callous disproportion between Everest as a playground for a certain kind of privileged westerner and the poverty of their hosts is nothing new.’

The world has started to respond, and India and China are doing their ‘big brother’ bit. But this is only the beginning of a long and hard road.  An earthquake lasts mere minutes. But in the debris lie lifetimes of hopes and plans.

Nepal has always been poor and has been seen as a pawn by China and India, that’s no secret. The earthquake ensures that Nepal will need  support for years to come. But Nepal, like never before, will become a diplomatic chess board because international aid rarely comes with no strings attached.

Author: Frank Krishner

A haunting experience

[Okay folks, you've read the truncated version in this Sunday's Times of India, Patna Edition. Now here's the full version with the original title...]

 

The last day of October was the day that Patna reluctantly limped back to work after the days of Chhat Puja that followed the Diwali festival. Last  Friday night, a few unsuspecting folk who meandered down New Patliputra Colony  almost jumped out of their skins when they encountered a two flesh eating zombies, a vampire, two witches and assorted monsters  hanging around  outside a couple of houses. An elderly man walking his dog was so fascinated at the sight that he  stood transfixed and took in the scene for a full five minutes before walking on. Halloween has finally come to town!

A couple of years ago, a voluntary organization hosted a small Halloween themed fund raiser in aid of kids from dysfunctional families. This year, a few spots around Patna, mainly private homes, did thrown a Halloween party or two. Scary costumes, food and games, candy and fun is the local version of the festival. ‘Trick-or-treating’ of course is not possible.  Yet. “Trick or treating is when you go up to houses, ring the bell, and ask for candy,” explained Mithun, one of the vampires haunting the street, “obviously we can’t do that in Patna, many Bihari bhais don’t have a sense of humour, so you will see the sight of a poor vampire being chased down the streets by a frenzied mob of irate flat-owners.

“Haunting the street for a few minutes was fun, though. The stunned, curious, surprised, and even scared looks on the faces of passers-by were priceless,” said a lady bank officer in a party mask. “It was my very first Halloween party, and I enjoyed it!”

Apart from Halloween being the second most commercial  holiday in the US raking in some $ 2 billion during Halloween, so it’s likely that we’ll see more of this thing happening once the commercial establishments catch on. Sweet and chocolate are consumed in large amounts, so confectioners and dentists will be very happy, quipped a reveller.

But how do you manage to have a Halloween party in Patna? “Internet shopping comes to your rescue, and there’s enough of things locally available if you keep a sharp lookout, “says a local party organizer. “Local confectioners are quite capable of baking innovative Halloween cakes if you show them a sample picture. Only this time the chat celebration meant that all the bakeries were closed for almost four days, so we had to forgo a sinfully rich chocolate cake. Otherwise, pranks and gags, scary masks, and simple dressing up aids can be bought over ebay or amazon.”

Collect interesting stuff wherever you get it: gothic tattoos with skulls and dragons, pirate badges that come at 10 rupees each, those very realistic collections of plastic creepy crawlies… they all serve to make your party memorable, and you an source them from any small store. My own favourite is a tiny place in Kurji called ‘Prabhat Tara’, the shopkeeper there has oodles of stuff that kids love: strange flavoured candies and other cool stuff that can go well with your scary night.

Some history: “Hallowmas” was a three-day Catholic festival where saints were honoured and people pray for the recently deceased. In the  11th century, the Pope decreed  that it would last from Oct. 31 (All Hallow's Eve) until Nov. 2 (All souls Day), most likely because in that era the Pope wanted to counter the influence of the ‘Samhain  festival’ which was celebrated around that time. According to folklorist John Santino, the exact nature of Samhain is not fully understood, but it was an annual community event at the end of the harvest, a time to gather resources for the winter months and bring animals back from the pastures. Samhain is also thought to have been a time of communing with the dead.

"There was a belief that it was a day when spirits of the dead would cross over into the other world," Santino says.  Halloween provides a safe way to play with the concept of death. People dress up as the living dead, and so on.  "All Hallow's Eve" then evolved into "All Hallow's Even," and by the 18th century it was commonly referred to as "Hallowe'en."

Author: Frank Krishner

Bihar SACS: bouquet of broken promises?

You just can’t beat the ingenuity of low-level government functionaries in Bihar who want to shirk responsibility and foil attempts to bring them to book. No matter what promises and undertakings the Bihar Government has made to the Patna High Court, people living with HIV are still at the receiving end of discrimination, abuse and neglect, caused by the very people being paid to assist them.

In 2010, the then health minister of Bihar had told them ‘why should we bother about you’? Left with no other option, Sanjeet Singh and other doughty HIV positive people, with the help of public spirited lawyers, moved the High Court at Patna. Hearing after hearing, and one by one, each judgement brought some relief, as the Bihar government and BSACS acknowledged their responsibility to provide treatment and relief to people living with HIV [PLHA], especially those from the labouring classes.



Sanjeet Singh: soldiering on...

The State government committed that the supply of life-saving ART drugs would be maintained faithfully, that the ART centres for HIV positive people would be made hygienic and equipped with toilets, that special schemes for children living with HIV would be formulated. Four years on, with the assurances given to the High court remaining largely on paper, with HIV positive patients still being ridiculed, discriminated against and even refused treatment by government medical service providers, activists are wondering whether the fight would have top be taken to the Supreme Court.

“What does one do when the entire establishment is in some sort of a conspiracy?”  asks Singh. “Refer to the High court judgement where the  BSACS project director  and principal secretary Health assured the court that the government  would supply  ART (anti-retrovral treatment) 365 days and they were to  ensure stocks of  two months’ advance supply to avoid shortages. The reality is that for the past one month the essential drugs in the ART regime are not being dispensed and the patients are frantic. The government ART centres run short of the drugs. The situation is such that there is a tacit understanding within the department that no correspondence should be generated on the matter so that there is no paper trail, in order to duck accountability and escape ‘action’ later.”

Singh, a member of Bihar Network of Positive people and attached to CHMU (Community Health Medicinal Unit) alleges that  BSACS functionaries are refusing to register more HIV positive persons for ART, in order to avoid ‘complications’. The logic being ‘There’s no stock, if we register them, from where will we get the medicines?’ These unfortunates are running from pillar to post.  

Functionaries at the government ART centres hand out  ‘prescriptions’  on scraps of paper and the patients are  told to buy the drugs elsewhere. There is a provision that in the case of shortage, the patient may be directed to buy ART medicine from a private pharmacy, and the record is kept in the ART book, so that the registered patient be reimbursed. (These drugs are available at very high rates in the open market). BSACS had given an undertaking to this effect in the court. The ART functionaries in gross violation, merely give the patients a scrap of paper with the name of the drug written on it. Evidently, this scrap of paper is not valid for reimbursement.

The situation is such that, even those patients who were lucky to have their purchases recorded in the ART book previous months, have not been reimbursed. Daily wage earners with a hand to mouth existence can’t afford to cough up for medicine that costs in the range of a thousand rupees every time, says Singh.

Singh’s own commitment to the cause has been the loss of his infant son to AIDS related complications largely brought on due to the negligence, apathy and dysfunctional State Aids Control Society services.

“What’s to be done? Do we have to start another agitation? Do we once again knock at the doors of the Court?” This is a question that a coalition of NGOs may soon be taking up. Watch this space.

Author: Frank Krishner

Bringing the Deep back into Deepawali

The festival of lights is around the corner, and as has become the norm, the environmental clubs of city schools and colleges plan human chains and such, calling for less noise, less wastage, and less consumption.

Some folks are a bit fed up with all the activism and noise around Diwali  fireworks and  noise pollution. In fact, there may be a strong case for setting off a few rockets and roman candles, some believe.

 “Diwali brings with it the ‘kali poka’ those tiny green insects. The change in season witnesses a multiplication of insects because it is their breeding time. One method to control the insect population is to use sulphur gas. The  fire crackers during Diwali release sulphur gas, which helps in killing the insects around us. Yes, we actually control insect population by bursting crackers. But fireworks have become a vexed issue,what with all the negative publicity and links to child labour with the cracker industry,” asserts K. Srinivas, a social activist.

This week Taru Mitra, (the friends of trees), India’s largest student  environment group, called for going back to the traditional earthen lamps, and shunning the use of those fancy electric bulbs (mainly the cheap ones imported from China) that have become so popular and ubiquitous. ‘Bring the Deep back to Deepawali’ is the new slogan.

 Why this sudden insistence on going back to the ‘polluting’ soot-spouting old-fashioned diya?

“Aha,!” says Taru Mitra’s Jesuit founder and eco-spirituality guru Robert Athickal, “One electric bulb is twenty times more polluting and harmful to the earth than an earthen lamp. Look at the amount of precious electricity that we consume on illuminations. In Bihar, we use thermal power, and we do have a power supply famine. The diya is traditional. It is also earth friendly.”

Think of how the skilled potters are starving, a social thinker might say. Whatever money they could earn from the sale of humble earthen lamps has dwindled, thanks to the shrinking demand. Let’s buy a few more earthen diyas so that these humble folk can keep their home fires burning.

Latika Mishra from Jharkhand blogs, “Notwithstanding the spiritual reasons to celebrate the festival of lights, there is a scientific fact behind it.” She points out that the Diwali season is marked by the abundance of an insect called the 'tiny leaf-hopper' of the cycadilladae family.  This insect feeds on plant sap and can transmit plant infecting viruses and bacteria. They are of sporadic occurrence in the rice growing areas. They have piercing and sucking mouth parts and are serious threats to rice cultivation as they can transmit the virus to standing paddy. Nymphs and adults both have the capacity to damage the crop.

Rice has a close association with Hindu rituals. Sage Parashara has laid stress on essentiality of rice cultivation and in his treatise called 'Krishi Parashar' sings, "Rice is vitality, rice is vigour and rice is indeed the fulfilment of all ends of life. Gods, demons and human beings all subsist on rice."

Burning of earthen lamps is a way to protect the civilization from starvation, as rice is the principle crop in the subcontinent. The sages used the return of King Rama as a pretext to get people to light thousands of earthen lamps, thus successfully removing the insect from the environment, for insects are attracted to the fire and are killed. So, Diwali  is marked by the mass killing of insects- tiny leaf-hoppers and mosquitoes that are abundant during the season every year, and pose a threat to crop cultivation and human nutrition.

What a beautiful, non-toxic way to get rid of pests! Now pause for a moment, do those fancy electric fairy lights have any use other than looking pretty, and gorging on electricity? The humble earthen lamp provides a livelihood to the poor potters, protects us from biting insects, and even wards away famine. What’s your call?

Author: Frank Krishner

Celebrate diversity say Christian Communicators

A week ago, an event that took place in New Delhi has caused ripples within certain sections of the population in Patna. A rally at Jantar Mantar coincided with the release of a report that detailed some 600 cases of violence and hate-based anti-social activities against minority communities across India since May 18 this year. This rally, largely ignored by the print and electronic media, is an important conversation piece among the more aware sections of the Christian populace.

 Visiting the Bihar capital this week was Sunil Lucas, the National President of SIGNIS, the social communications wing of the Catholic Church, who mirrored the anxiety being felt by Christians when news about attacks on priests or pastors  are becoming commonplace. “It’s natural that a sense of insecurity will creep in unless the Prime Minister deals firmly with all those who are spreading misconceptions and hate, vitiating the unity and harmony of the country,” he said.

Patna will be the venue for the National Assembly of the Social Communications wing of the Catholic Church, where some 120 representatives of Christian and secular communications organizations and professionals will meet around the theme ‘Cultural Diversity’, to emphasis we India’s multi-lingual, multi-faith, and multi- cultural identity.

“Christians are a small minority in Bihar, but our commitment and contribution to the state in several fields, mainly education and health is significant. We stand for a united India. As Christian  audio-visual  communicators, it is our duty to show unity, brotherhood and peace between all communities in our productions, be they films or videos,” says local video film maker Victor Francis, who has directed one of Patna Doordarshan’s earliest Bhojpuri serials.

“Ahimsa is what Jesus taught, and so it is natural that our priests advocate non-violence and faith in the rule of law, but some vested interests now take our peaceful attitude as a weakness, and Christians become soft targets. Beat up the Christians in a church and they will not react, break up their church and they will forgive you, even burn their church leaders alive and instead of crying for revenge and instigating a riot, the widows will say, “I forgive them in the name of Jesus”. The point is that there comes a breaking point,” says Rajesh Tirkey, a Tribal Catholic youth  from Bodh Gaya, who was one of the several youngsters who actively supported Narendra Modi during the Lok Sabha election campaign. “Several of us voted for change, believing that India needed a strong leader. We didn’t think of caste, religion, or class. We pray that this trust is not broken.”

The meaning of secularism needs to be debated across all forums, says Sylvester, a second year student at St. Xavier's College. A secular government should not lean towards any faith-based organization be it Muslim, Hindu, Christian, Jain, or Buddhist. In the meanwhile, the community leaders are closely watching the shape the discourse takes as the political climate shifts and changes shape in Bihar.

Author: Frank Krishner

Reasons to celebrate ...

Author: Frank Krishner

So October is here with a bang, action packed, what with a national cleanliness campaign being launched on World Non-violence Day (October 2), and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s maiden speech over All India Radio attracting listeners from Harnaut to Hajipur and  later in the evening, the chilling news of a stampede in the heart of Patna.

International day for Older persons (October 1) passed quietly as usual, lost in the Navratra celebrations. October 4, the birthday of St. Francis of Assisi (and my feast day) was World Animal Day.  International teacher’s day is celebrated on the 5^th of October, and that’s when the UN focuses on teacher’s issues. No plans are afoot to observe this day in India. 

The first Monday of October is when the UN celebrates World Habitat Day. The theme  is especially significant for Patna and other cities in Bihar. This year, the United Nations chose the theme ‘Voices from Slums’. The World Habitat Day 2014 campaign aims to recognize life in slums and give a voice to slum dwellers for improving quality of living conditions in existing slums.  

This year, the festival of Bakr Id also falls on October 6-7, and since the festival is also about showing charity to the poor, we could be more conscious of this while offering our prayers, suggested a student who believes that “faith must also reflect twenty first century concerns”. Of course, suggesting that one become vegetarian on a day like this is an apostasy, and it would be wise for publicity seeking PETA activists to think carefully before making brainless appeals.

World Post Day is celebrated each year on October 9, the anniversary of the establishment of the Universal Postal Union. It’s when philatelists look forward to new stamps and products from the General Post Office to add to their collections. October 10 is World Mental Health Day

Yet another reason to celebrate girls comes around on October 11, the international day of the Girl Child. It’s yet another opportunity for us to remind ourselves and our neighbours that we have to keep girls in school, and empower them,  says a resource person from Bihar Mahila Samakhya on whose desk lie numerous case studies of parents who resist educating their girls beyond the fifth grade. October 13 is the International day for Disaster Reduction.

Don’t forget to wash your hands on October 15, because you may be pulled up by schoolchildren, rural women, Panchayat ward members. Bihar will be observing Global Handwashing Day with poster competitions, rallies, and other activities.

Village women have their own day to celebrate themselves and their achievements, and October 15 is when leading NGOs that run Bihar’s self help women’s groups will be looking to organize programmes. “This can be tied in with  World Food Day which is on October 16, especially as several state government programmes are being run to promote women cultivators,” observed a social activist. 

“The festival of lights falls on October 23^rd and that’s an occasion for all of us to celebrate,” says Melvin from Kurji, and of course Chhat will follow six days later, and that’s Bihar’s mega bathing festival.

On October 24, the United Nations celebrates itself, and it is also the World day for Development Information.

On  October 27  call over friends and watch all those classic movies and sing out those really old songs because it is World day for Audiovisual heritage. Audiovisual documents, such as films, radio and television programmes are our common heritage and contain the primary records of the 20th and 21st centuries. They help to maintain our diverse cultural identity; but countless documentary treasures have disappeared since the invention of image and sound technologies that help us to share experiences, creativity and knowledge. All of the world's audiovisual heritage is endangered, and that’s why this day was earmarked in 2005.

October 29 is International Internet day, and October 31 is an excuse to hold fancy dress parties because it is Halloween. Have an eventful October.

Daughter's Day... What's that?

Footloose & Fancy Free: the uncensored version

This weekend the ‘jolly pages’ of a local English daily tried to tell us that the hep and happening creatures were busy planning mega splurges for Daughters’ Day.

And when’s that? This Sunday, of course. Some people dreamed up this idea around the year 2011, to celebrate a new ‘daughters’ day’ in India on the fourth Sunday of September, and of late, the sellers of soaps, shampoos, baubles and Barbie dolls have yet another excuse to pick parents’ pockets.

So what’s this ‘daughters day’ tamasha all about? Who should know better than the women in the NGO sector? So one phoned Bihar’s most prominent women’s organization, the Bihar Mahika Samakhya Society. “Daughters Day on Sunday? You’re not serious? We already have a women’s day, a day for the girl child, the One Billion Rising Campaign, and we initiated the Celebrate your daughter days all over the state. Whose idea was this one? Not the government of India, otherwise there would have been a circular to that effect!” That was their answer.


Thinking that UNICEF would probably be the best place to get an answer, one diligently rang up Nipurnh Gupta, the rights and media point person. If anyone should know about daughters days in the offing, it had to be Nipurnh. Anyway in the past week, she was behind a workshop for kids and cinema, and a two day regional conference that stressed the duty of the media to inform everyone about prompt and regular immunization of babies, especially daughters. Ms Gupta, hemmed and hawed a bit, and then said that if anyone came up with the idea of having a daughter’s day it was a good thing. “The more the idea that one should cherish daughters is brought into the discourse, somewhere it will impact the adverse sex ratio. Let’s ask parents whether they have really made sure that their baby daughters have received all the immunization? Has the child received DPT three times before she reaches 7 years of age? Has she received two doses of immunization for Japanese encephalitis before she reaches two years? What about Hepatitis B vaccine before her first birthday celebration?”



So, I decided to do a quick pop survey. Out popped my phone and I did a bit of screen tapping, and waited for the results.


Professor Muniba Sami what’sapped: “Daughter’s Day- this Sunday? For us every day is our daughter’s day.” Media professional Ann Mary John messaged, “Till date haven’t celebrated it, heard it was on the 28th, and I’m not sure that many of us are aware of this day. Marketing ploy?” Mehraz Haque, currently doing a PHD from Banaras Hindu University messaged: ‘Had no idea about this. Great. Wonderful opportunity to demand something from Daddy dear.”


So now, what's Daughter’s Day about? For the few with expendable incomes, it’s another reason to splurge and party; for those in the social work sector, it is another opportunity to drive home the point that daughters are not expendable, and to combat what they perceive as patriarchy and misogynist traditions; for the businessmen it’s a potential market to be exploited. For the harried middle class urban parents living in boxes called apartments, it’s a beautiful opportunity to stop for a moment and tell their little girls aged 5 to 50… that they are truly special.


Come on ye Fairy Godmothers! Celebrate that hardworking Cinderella. Pull her out of the pantry, wipe her face and give her a pair of glass slippers, take her on a ride to the Mall, waltz her into the food court. Treat her like a princess. Never Mind, she’ll be back among the pots and pans come Monday morning!


Author: Frank Krishner

The beat on the street goes on

Footloose and Fancy Free/ Frank Krishner

He stands with arms held aloft, his face dripping with sweat.  Strewn around him are bodies, still and silent. He cries out in a loud voice, “Main Nahin Chahta Yeh Nafrat Ka Dangal ,Yeh Jalta Shaher, Yeh Maut Ka Mangal… I don’t want this dance of hatred, this burning city, this festival of death…” It’s a pleasant day in February, just following a week of uncertain and inclement weather. The man is a performer, plying his art in the pleasant warmth of a pre-spring afternoon, in front of a cluster of people of all ages on the historic Gandhi Maidan of Patna.

The audience, some sitting on the ground, others standing, are engrossed in the performance. It is a street play about violence fanned by religious bigots, reflecting harsh realities of life. The show is part of a three day festival of street theatre, being held in memory of Jacob Srampickal, a Jesuit who devoted a lot of energy to studying and revival of the ‘theatre of the people’ in Bihar. Twenty five years ago, Srampickal held the first ‘All Bihar Nukkad Natak Festival’ at Ravi Bharati near Sadaquat Ashram.  The festival, an annual event, continues to this day.

“Street theatre is people-friendly. The dynamic and mobile nature of street theatre makes it possible to go to people where theatre is not accessible:  like streets, markets, slums, villages, schools, office complexes, parks, residential areas. It is a free show for everyone:  paan wallah, officer,  labourer, housewife or  student. Therefore, it never has a limited or ‘repeat’ audience. With actors moving at the same level as the audience, there’s no hierarchy . The simple and direct performance gives it power to reach people. There are no tickets as the aim is not to make profits. Rather, the audience is asked for contributions,” explains Prabha, a social activist from Buxar who has used the humble ‘nukkad natak’ (street corner play) to raise awareness among women on issues of income generation.

How has street theatre changed over the years? Birendra Kumar, a trainer with Ravi Bharati points out that television and reality shows have had an impact on the form and content. The format has evolved. Today some street theatre groups use costumes and basic make-up, he says. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because street theatre reflects the situation of the people, and today, the common man is highly influenced by the idiot box. Street Theatre reflects the idiom of the people, and raises contemporary issues.

Some trace the history of street theatre  to the 19th century when labourers and party workers wrote and did plays during the Industrial Revolution in Europe. Women  produced plays like "how the vote was won" during the suffragette movement in London in the 1900’s. The Soviet  Revolution spawned its own kind of street theatre to reach the unwashed masses. During World War II, street theatre played a role in fanning anti-war sentiments.

The history of ‘modern’ street theatre in India can be traced to Indian People's Theatre association (IPTA), formed in 1943, the first organised body to adapt the form to a more political end raising issues of imperialism and inequality. IPTA is regarded as the pioneer of the people's theatre movement in India.

HOW DEEP IS YOUR COMMITTMENT TO REFLECTING LIFE... OR ARE WE JUST PAWNS OF ESTABLISHMENT?

Shamsul Islam, a prominent theatre activist and writer notes that he first of the street theatre troupes came into being around 1967 in Bihar, Andhra Pradesh and Delhi. Many of these troupes are still alive and active. He says that street theatre came into being at a time when India was beset with decline and degeneration in political, economic, social and cultural institutions. Street theatre appeared and  questioned the rot.

Hassan Imam, who needs no introduction to theatre enthusiasts in Bihar once told me that  street theatre as a genre was a reaction to the established theatre of the time. This new theatre emerged as a platform for the anti-establishment forces, providing opportunities to experiment and to express their dissent.  The nukkad is more than mere alternative theatre. It has a political message; to change the world, to encourage plurality, to promote an egalitarian society.

The establishment struck back. Shamsul Islam maintains that in Kerala, Punjab and Andhra Pradesh street theatre was banned; performers like Prabir Dutta, Rajan and Safdar killed while performing.  In the mid ‘80s at Basti in Uttar Pradesh, a woman street theatre activist was picked up by the police from the midst of a performance and raped in order to teach her a lesson. In most of the cases, state repression was let loose in the name of combating Naxalism, he says.

Today, street theatre is a recognised art form and has gained legitimacy. Groups like Asmita and Bihar Art Theatre regularly attract youngsters who enthusiastically take to street theatre as a stepping stone to careers on stage or on television. Some old timers complain that the multinationals and the government have turned this form of protest into a new form of propaganda, but that is a topic for another day.

In the meanwhile, at the Gandhi Maidan, some 150 street theatre artistes and trainees have converged from several districts to raise contemporary issues: rising prices, intolerance, domestic violence, patriarchy, the unequal distribution of wealth, and so on.  The beat of the street goes on and on…

 

Author: Frank Krishner