Defiling Art & Artist

Rising Kashmir, February 28^th, 2015.

It was year 2010 when a world renowned  cardiologist  tried to setup a healthcare facility in Srinagar but because of unnecessary bureaucratic hassles, he abandoned his proposal. Five years later we did it again. This time an enthusiastic  artist, a young entrepreneur is at receiving end. On 23rd February, 2015 Department of Tourism,  without any notice forcibly took over the kashmir's sole art  gallery "Gallerie One" which housed the artwork of about thirty leading and emerging artists worth millions at Tourist Reception Center and shut it down. If sources are to be believed some art work was also mishandled and damaged.

Such intolerance  towards  art and artists has been reported from every corner of the world in all times.  Damaging an artwork or silencing an artist has been associated with some motives. Blowing- off the statues of Buddah in Bamiyan, incineration of some of the paintings of Piccaso in Romania, forcing Hussain to live in exile; all such incidents have clear motives behind them. Sometimes it is the content and the expression itself which scares off the state and sometimes it is for the apprehension of  collective feeling of a particular sect getting hurt and sometimes just because of the verdicts passed by someone who claims to be the protector of faiths of whole nation that artwork and other form of expression is targeted.(Judgement to remain with reader's perceptive)

Having visited the "Gallerie One" few times, none of the issues discussed above seems to be the reason behind shutting down of art gallery and  If mere expiration of lease period, as claimed by the authorities of Tourism department (though no such clause can be found in the official document), is the only reason for the  shutting down of art gallery that too in such an unprofessional way, then this is again very unfortunate and calls for condemnation.

At the time when some countries are justifying their offensive, insulting and provocative art work in the name of satire and freedom of expression, our own people are mishandling the decent and justified artwork which was put to exhibition just to portray and promote our culture and heritage.

Instead of shutting down the art gallery in an uncivilized way and shrinking the space of our own artists, concerned authorities are expected to extend more support and let this sole art gallery of Kashmir to emerge as a huge platform for artists which can inturn attract tourists from all over the world. We have already lost a lot of artifacts to the recent floods, authorities at the department of tourism can grab this opportunity and if needed relax the regulations and accommodate the art gallery in their premises.

This fact is hidden to no one that kashmiri art is dying at alarming rate, we should be thinking of protecting and preserving even the graffiti on the walls of our streets not to talk of sophisticated artwork which "Gallerie One" is housing. Protection and promotion of art is need of an hour especially when we want ourselves to be heard for one reason or the other. An artist posses soft and fragile soul, who deserves to be respected and given due value. At the same time an action should be taken against the official who forcibly evacuated the gallery without any written orders. 

Afaq Alam Khan

afaqalamkhan@gmail.com

Note: Views expressed are those of Author's and do not in any way represent the views of the organization he works for.

Haider*: The story of Love and Revenge

* A film directed by Vishal Bharadwaj and co-written by Basharat Peer and Bhardwaj, released on 2nd Oct.,  2014.

As they say  "Wronged by someone close- hurts you the most". Same is the story of Haider, a youth of kashmir who has returned from Aligarh only to find out the fate, his father has just met. He was sent to Aligarh by his parents for studies; actually to protect him from the turmoil of early 90's in kashmir.  Haider is grief-stricken by the forced disappearance of his father from the custody  of security forces and at the same time he is angry and frustrated with his real uncle who betrayed his brother  to win over Haider's beautiful mother.

The story is about a boy who is caught in the  conflict  and  fight between two ideologies; the one for which his father gave his life and another one of his uncle's who can do anything to come to the power. First he conspires against his brother, marries his widow, gets a sympathy vote by exploiting the disappearance of his brother and wins an election, following the guidelines of security forces forms "Ikhwan-ul-Mukhbireen" and use them to crush everyone who is not aligned with his ideology.

This film may not do that well in terms of business as it has left certain things  unresolved and vague as the things are in kashmir. But this film has certainly hit some strings of an instrument, the music of which must have reached the sensitive  ears all over.

Although not new to Bollywood movies, this film has also made references to the promise of plebiscite made by J. L. Nehru, Demilitarization,  UN Resolutions, Geneva convention, Article 370, AFSPA albeit in a different way and deeper feel.

The film showcases the ordeal a kashmiri in general and children of a militant in particular is facing. Curfew, crackdown, frisking and ID checking by security forces have made every kashmiri a refugee   in his own land. Militant outfits supported by Pakistan and their version of truth and audacity  on one hand and Indian security forces assisted by some local elements with their claims and "chutzpah"  on the other hand have sandwiched a common kashmiri.  All this has resulted in identity crises which Haider conveys in this film from Ghantaghar in lalchowk.

For the first time in the history of Indian cinema, this film tried to show the double standard of  security forces from  the worst ever torture done inside the camps in the name of interrogation and   cool face shown to media. To escape the wrath of sensor board and other fanatic groups, due care has been taken and the character namely "Ruhdar" a militant, resembling the ghost  of Shakespeare's Hamlet, is made to narrate all the happenings within the camps. The authenticity of events is left to the audience to believe or not.

Though the movie has targeted a serious and sensitive issue and there is no place for songs and other typical  bollywood like stuff, but for a film to do the business particularly in the country where even courts keep the taste of people in consideration, few songs and couple of obscene shots have been added to the film to spice it up.

In an attempt to create down-town of 1995 in one of its scenes, the film maker seems to have met success to some extent but actually not much has changed in down-down since then. When it comes to the use of actual videos of that era, the film lags way behind when compared with movies like "Pearl Harbour"  and  "Argo" in which similar attempts were made. Some research  done by film makers in terms of accent, culture etc can also be noticed but one cannot miss the stereotyping in various scenes of the film.

Revenge takes the central stage in the film.  Brainwashed and encouraged by militants, Haider plots  to avenge the death of his father. On seeing this, Haider's mother fears that she may loose her son, She tries to stop her son and exchanges a dialogue with Haider which seems to be a massage, the film maker intends to send to the Haider-like audience and that is "Jab Tak Tum apany Itiqam say aazad nahi ho javo gay tab tak koyi azadi tumhay aazad nahi kar payay gee".

Afaq Alam Khan

afaqalamkhan@gmail.com

Note: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of author's and not the organization he works for.