170 academics, writers, film makers, journalists, activists, and other public intellectuals drawn from several countries have expressed their strong protest against the charges of criminal offence brought against political psychologist and sociologist Ashis Nandy over an editorial page article written by him in The Times of India in January this year, in the aftermath of Narendra Modi‘s victory in the Gujarat elections.
“This is the latest case of harassment of intellectuals, journalists, artists, and public figures by anti-democratic forces that claim to speak on behalf of Hindu values sometimes and patriotism at other times, especially in Gujarat, but who have little understanding of either.
“What is pernicious in this case is that the charge of criminal offence against Nandy levied under Section 153 (A) and (B) for his newspaper article “Blame the Middle Classes,” was brought by the head of the Gujarat Branch of the National Council of Civil Liberties.
“The State Government of Gujarat, by giving its permission for filing the case, has shown its own complicity in the case.
“It seems part of the strategy of the most intolerant sections of Indian society today to make a cynical use the language of civil liberties to achieve ends that are the opposite of what the aspirations to civil liberties and the struggles over them represent… We demand that all the charges against Professor Nandy be immediately dropped.
“We understand that there is a great deal of anxiety in Gujarat today about its lost honour. It might help to remind ourselves that this honour or asmita will not be gained by acts of violence and intimidation but by recovering or discovering the humanity of each other. Gujarat can and will regain its own destiny by remembering the politics of nonviolence, as one of its sons by the name of Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi once taught the nation and the world.”
Also read: ‘A disgraceful assault on media freedom’
“Why the Indian media doesn’t take on Ambanis”, because he is not Modi!
I dont understand this Ashish Nandy case. The Govt of Gujarath had a problem with a particular news article. So, they took the next step in filing a case against the said writer in the court of law.
Can someone tell me, what else the Govt had to do if they realized they have been harmed (or the sense they have been harmed).
If tomorrow I file a case against SM Krishna saying that he cheated me for 100Rs. Is that a threat in itself? Let the courts decide who is wrong or who is right. How does filing a suit against an individual constitute an attack on the media or media freedom?
Can someone explain me?
Is anybody observing the kind of coverage ToI is giving to the MLA wife suicide case? The “newspaper” seems to be having orgasms over an unfortunate death. Frontpage, regional page, every page it’s Padmapriya. The paper’s voyeuristic streak apart, another calculation here seems to be that she is the wife of a BJP MLA anyway, and dead on top of it, so has no right to privacy. Families be damned.
Anybody knows what happened to Delhi school MMS case? The editor and publisher of ToI were ordered to appear in court, but we don’t know what happened next, because they seem to have successfully blocked coverage of the event. The New Indian Express is running an ad campaign: “If I wanted sleaze, I’d just go online”. So very apt.
Are “170 academics, writers, film makers, journalists, activists, and other public intellectuals” in favor of porn in newspapers and of violation of individuals’ right to privacy and dignity? As long as they get good press, I guess, and as long as the abusive outpourings of the likes of Nandy are published, perhaps.
Ironically, Gandhi was also tried for sedition, once upon a time.
Not a Witty Nick Says: Ironically, Gandhi was also tried for sedition, once upon a time
Hahahahaha. So the connection is ….?
This is just like the following statement:
Apparently even Albert Einstein “also” used to eat food through his mouth.
Even I do. So, I must be Albert Einstein.
for i=2002:every_other_day:till_time_ends
Psiculars = Keep barking;
end
If the Ambanis were not that bothered why did they have “The Polyester Prince” banned in India.