The first night of the indian activist film festival at the rampART went ahead without hitch and no show from the rightwing Hindu groups that have been trying to get the festival canceled. Over one hundred people turned up but there was no indication that any dissenting Hindus were present. The was a great deal of media attention during the day from Channel 4, BBC Asian Network and many papers, all seemingly finding a story in comparing the resent attacks on the theatre in Birmingham. Many people have been offering to be on call to come down if there is any trouble during the rest of the week and yet another alterative venue offered. Aditionally it looks like quite a few further screenings elsewhere in the country will be spawned from this one.
Despite the no show, it appears the UK VHP have been busy during the day making statements to the press...
Despite the no show, it appears the UK VHP have been busy during the day making statements to the press...
VHP on Behzti warpath in UK
RASHMEE Z AHMED
INDIA IMES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2005
LONDON: Hindu activists in the UK have threatened to copy last month's violent Sikh protests in Birmingham against an allegedly blasphemous play, in an attempt to scupper the screening of films that badmouth Hindu organisations like VHP and RSS.
The films, which include Ram ke Naam and Gujarat, a Laboratory of Hindu Rashtra, have previously been screened in London but have now prompted fears that groups representing the UK's estimated one-million Hindus will find it hard to collect the millions of pounds they plan to raise for the Tsunami rehabilitation effort.
The films are to be screened as part of a six-day ‘Indian film festival', starting Monday, by RampART, a loose collective of artistes and activists here, to raise money for Tsunami victims and "create spaces for debate and discussion on casteism, adivasi rights and communalism."
But on Monday, Hasmukh Shah of VHP (UK) said, the films' screening was part of a long campaign by "habitual false allegators (sic) to spread habitual false allegations about Hindus."
Shah said the Sikh protests in Birmingham, which forced closure of a play, Behzti, set in a gurdwara, were "very encouraging and showed us that Hindus should not always be docile, should not always turn the other cheek."
RASHMEE Z AHMED
INDIA IMES
TUESDAY, JANUARY 11, 2005
LONDON: Hindu activists in the UK have threatened to copy last month's violent Sikh protests in Birmingham against an allegedly blasphemous play, in an attempt to scupper the screening of films that badmouth Hindu organisations like VHP and RSS.
The films, which include Ram ke Naam and Gujarat, a Laboratory of Hindu Rashtra, have previously been screened in London but have now prompted fears that groups representing the UK's estimated one-million Hindus will find it hard to collect the millions of pounds they plan to raise for the Tsunami rehabilitation effort.
The films are to be screened as part of a six-day ‘Indian film festival', starting Monday, by RampART, a loose collective of artistes and activists here, to raise money for Tsunami victims and "create spaces for debate and discussion on casteism, adivasi rights and communalism."
But on Monday, Hasmukh Shah of VHP (UK) said, the films' screening was part of a long campaign by "habitual false allegators (sic) to spread habitual false allegations about Hindus."
Shah said the Sikh protests in Birmingham, which forced closure of a play, Behzti, set in a gurdwara, were "very encouraging and showed us that Hindus should not always be docile, should not always turn the other cheek."
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Tuesday night - Castism theme
12.01.2005 16:33
Tuesdays screening was two films about castism. Again the night was well attended with around 80 people at peak. The first film 'lesser humans' was followed by a discussion about caste and then some food. By the time the final film 'The Die Is Cast' ended alot of people had left as it was getting late so some people continued to talk about the issues raised in small groups but there was no collective discussion. It is a real shame that once again none of those peopl criticising the films festival showed up, had their done so I think their assumptions about the films would have been challenged. The final film for example was about class inspired violence against landowners and farmers etc by the exploited caste and also examined how marxists groups were using them as pawns in a power game that maintained a cycle of violence without any gains in conditions or status.
Anyway, tommorow night the theme is womens struggles in India.
jj