Vaishakh Krushna Chaturthi
Opposition of Hindu Janjagruti Samiti till putting an end to the drama!
Updates
- Objectionable part in the Drama praising M.F. Hussain deleted! (28 Apr 09)
- Police issue notice to manager of Theatre about play on Hussain (25 Apr 09)
- Hindu deities denigrated in a play glorifying M F Hussain (21 Apr 09)
Objectionable part in the Drama praising M.F. Hussain deleted!
April 28, 2009
Vaishakh Krushna Chaturthi
O, Hindus! Join the agitation of the Hindu Janjagruti Samiti (HJS) instead of being happy over a small success, till its presentation is stopped!
Mumbai: The Producer was forced to delete the part that was hurting feelings of Hindus in the drama, ‘Pencil to brush’ (Pencil se brushtak) praising M.F. Hussain, due to strong opposition of HJS. (A small institution like HJS compels the producer to delete the part denigrating the Hindu Deities from the drama based on anti-Hindu painter M.F. Hussain by following constitutional methods. Then why are the strong Hindutvawadi organizations and political parties not getting greater success than this in opposing Hussain? – Editor)
HJS is not going to stop the opposition due to this minor success, it would continue its agitation till the drama is removed from presentation. It is also thinking of going to the court of Justice, said the associates of HJS. This drama was produced by ‘Ekjut’ Sanstha of producer Nadira Babbar produced the drama which was strongly opposed by HJS. The Samiti complained to Home Minister, Additional Commissioner of Police, K.L. Prasad, Nariman point Police Station in the area of NCPA theatre where the drama was presented and Juhu Police Station. I shall take cognizance of the complaint myself said the Additional Commissioner of Police to the Coordinator of HJS representing Mumbai, Thane and Raigad districts, Shri. Shivaji Vatkar and member Sou. Varsha Thakar. A meeting was conducted by the police calling the delegates of HJS and the producer of the drama.
Thereafter a revised version of the drama was presented before the audience in Pruthvi Theatre. Sou. Varsha Thakar, Shri. Mahesh Pednekar, a member, members of ‘Natyaparishad Mandal’ and renowned artists from the film industry were in the audience. It was held under strict police protection. The objectionable part was deleted. The main feature in the drama is to glorify Hussain presenting him as a nationalist and having good character. This is a conspiracy by M.F. Hussain with the help of Nadira Babbar to create rift between 2 communities by hurting Hindus’ religious feelings. So the Samiti is not going to stop the agitation. The drama had the following before opposition namely Srikrushna and Gopis in nude form, Hanuman with severed head and vulgar form, Sita also in vulgar form and M.F. Hussain looking at the bathing women secretively.
Police issue notice to manager of Theatre about play on Hussain
April 25, 2009
Chaitra Amawasya
Mumbai: A complaint has been lodged by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) with Juhu Police Station against a Hindi play based on the life of anti-Hindu and anti-national painter M F Husain titled ‘Pencil se brush tak’. After receiving the complaint, police issued a notice to the producer, Nadira Babbar of the play and manager of Pruthvi Theatres, Lalit Sathe that legal action would be taken against them if there was any scene or dialogue or action in the play that could hurt religious sentiments of Hindus.
HJS has already given a protest letter to the management of Pruthvi Theatres. On registration of a complaint by HJS, Deepak Katkade, senior police inspector attached to Juhu Police Station held meetings with the producer of the play, manager of Pruthvi Theatres and HJS members independently. He told HJS members, “Since the play had clearance of Censor Board, police can not stop its shows (One has never heard of such reply from the police in this country when the matter concerned hurting religious sentiments of Muslims. Of course, Muslims do not go to the police if their religious sentiments are hurt. They directly take law in their hands and get done whatever they want. Police are in fact, making Hindus follow the same path as Muslims by giving such kind of replies! – Editor)
He further said, "You can stop the show in a lawful manner. If anything objectionable is found in this play, we shall take legal action. You can send your representatives, if you feel it is necessary, to watch the play. Legal action will be taken against you if you do something to break the law as presently clause 144 is implemented to follow the election code of conduct (Anti-Hindus hurt religious sentiments of Hindus and when Hindus oppose, police put restrictions on them showing the code of conduct! – Editor)”
The Assistant Police Commissioner has also called HJS members for discussions and the show of the play is likely to be held under tight police security (That means denigration of Hindu deities is going to take place under police security. How long Hindus are going to tolerate such kind of insult? – Editor) Devout Hindus are registering their protest for cancellation of the show by calling Pruthvi Theatres at (022) 2614 9546.
Hindu deities denigrated in a play glorifying M F Hussain
April 21, 2009
Chaitra Krushna Ekadashi
Mumbai: A complaint has been lodged by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti (HJS) with Marine Lines police station against a play based on the life of anti-Hindu and anti-national painter M F Husain.
A play titled ‘Pencil se brush tak’ produced by an organization called ‘Ekjut’ is based on the life-story of Husain. The organization was to stage show of this play at N.C.P.A theatre, Nariman Point on Sunday evening. On hearing the news, a letter registering protest against the play was submitted by HJS to the manager of the theatre and local police station. Since the office of the theatre was closed, it being a Sunday and there is a ban on staging demonstrations in that area, the show of the play was staged as per the schedule. The play was seen by a member of HJS when he observed that there was denigration of Hindu deities in the said play. In the beginning of the play, the screen in the background of stage shows picture of Sree Krushna in nude, playing flute riding a cow and he is surrounded by nude ‘gopis’ (You can not be a Hindu if your blood has not started boiling reading the above. Are Hindus going to take some action to punish anti-Hindu painter M F Husain for drawing such indecent pictures of their deities ? – Editor)
In an incident based on ‘Ram-leela’, role of Seeta was played by Sumit Irani. He was shown addressing Sree Rama as Swami in a very sardonic manner. The members of audience were just laughing at this mockery. Lord Hanuman is also shown, with his head cut, tail burning and almost in nude, disgraceful manner. The actor Anup Soni enacting the character of Husain is shown clandestinely watching few women bathing in river. During this scene, the above mentioned back screen was prominently displayed.
The purpose of staging this play seems to be to rub salt into the wounds of Hindus, glorify Husain and hurt religious sentiments of thousands of Hindus. At the end of the play, Nadira Babbar, the director of the play declared that the shows of this play will go on despite opposition from some people. It is learnt that the next shows of the play are scheduled on 25th and 26th April at Pruthvi Theatre in Juhu.
Mrs. Varsha Thakar and Shri. Shivaji Vatkar from HJS had gone to the police station to lodge a complaint against the play but initially, police tried to avoid registering the complaint (Would the police dare to show similar apathy if the concerned play was based on objects of worship of Muslims? It is only because Hindus are tolerant, anyone and everyone indulges in such despicable denigration of their objects of worship – Editor). Thereafter, few members of Maharashtra Navanirman Sena (MNS) reached the police station and had discussions with senior Police Inspector and Shri. Bajpayee, Asst. Police Commissioner.
Shri. Bajpayee said that the play has been cleared by the Censor Board so the police can not stop the play. Later, Addl. Police Commissioner K L Prasad was contacted when he advised to submit a complaint cum application in this regard. Accordingly, under the guidance of legal adviser of HJS, Advocate Rajendra Bindra, a complaint has been lodged with Home Ministry, Addl. Chief Secretary, Jt. Police Commissioner (Law and Order) and senior police inspector at Juhu and Marine Drive police stations. It has been mentioned in the complaint that the purpose of the play is to create hatred between two groups, deliberately create antagonism and hurt religious sentiments leading to unrest. It is demanded to take immediate action against Husain, Nadira Babbar along with the producer, director and artists of the play. It has been decided by HJS to take the matter to court if no action is taken on the complaint.
Contact Numbers
NCPA theatre – 022-66223737, 66588997
Ekjut Organization – 022- 26701212, 26282819, fax- 022- 26248868, web site – www.ekjut.com , email – [email protected] , [email protected]
Pruthvi Theatres – 022- 26149546
Complaint letter by Hindu Janajagruti Samiti
20th April, 2009
To
1. The Addnl. Chief Secretary,
Home Department, Mantralaya,
Mumbai.
2. The Joint Commissioner of Police,
(Law and order),
Mumbai Police Headquarters,
Crawford Market, Mumbai.
3. The Senior Inspector of Police,
Marine Drive Police Station,
Churchgate, Mumbai.
4. The Senior Inspector of Police,
Juhu Police Station,
Andheri, Mumbai.
Sub: Complaint against Nadira Zaheer Babbar and others for promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and wantonly giving provocation with the intent to cause riots.
Sir,
1. That Hindu Janjagruti Samiti is an NGO engaged in nation building, educating people, about Dharma and Dharmacharan, awaking and uniting Hindus.
2. That you are very well aware that Maqbool Fida Hussain is booked under different Sections of the Indian Penal Code at different Police Stations all over India and in some cases has obtained Bail and in some cases he is being declared as absconding. At present as per our information he has taken shelter in United Kingdom.
3. That all the above cases are mostly related with hurting the religious sentiments of the Hindus as well as endangering national integrity and religious harmony.
4. That after leaving the country, now he teams up with Nadira babbar and others and continues the aforesaid activities with his criminal intention by organising a play known as “Pencil Se Brush Tak” wherein again purposely they have through various insulting scenes and dialogues have hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindus.
5. The said play constitutes, amongst others, the following scenes and dialogues:
a. Initially when no actors are present before the start of the play, many paintings are put up on the stage backdrop. One of the pictures is of lord Shri Krishna in the nude on a cow playing the flute with naked Gopis all around him.
b. At one point of time in the play, during the Ram Leela Act, Goddess Sita’s role is being enacted by a male actor (Sumit Irani) and whenever the actor delivers the word “Swami” in order to address or call Lord Rama in a feminine voice, it is done in a very derogatory manner with the consequence that the audience erupts into fits of laughter directed at Lord Rama and Sita.
c. During the same scene, Shri Hanuman’s headless picture is shown in the backdrop wearing only a loincloth with his tail on fire with the demon Ravana in the background. The entire scene is vulgar and antagonising and appears to planted with the intend to provoke the religious feelings and sentiments of the Hindus.
d. Finally, a scene is shown where Maqbool (Anup Soni) is seeing a woman bathing in the river and at the same time the picture mentioned in point a (nude Shri Krishna) is shown in the backdrop.
6. That in an interview to the DNA correspondent Sujata Chakrabarty published in the 7/4/2009 issue, it is confirmed that the said play is based on the autobiography of M. F. Hussain named, “M. F. Hussain Ki Kahani Apni Jubani” and it is further confirmed that the said play is the story of M. F. Hussain’s journey through struggle to his becoming patriarch.
7. That thus, it is confirmed the M. F. Hussain, Nadira Babbar and others have complete knowledge of the above referred scenes in the play and are aware as to how the sentiments / feelings of the Hindus are going to be hurt.
8. That the statement of M. F. Hussain in the very same interview that, “I totally trust Nadira to do a great job…” speaks volumes about the real intentions of M. F. Hussain, Nadira Babbar and others.
9. That M. F. Hussain is very well aware that his actions are going to hurt the religious sentiments of the Hindu community and this is further confirmed in the very same interview by his statement stating that, “…it is an adaptation of my autobiography, so obviously not everyone will be interested. The play is for a discerning audience.”
10. That it is a matter of record that M. F. Hussain is absconding in several cases. On the contrary the very same news article clearly reports that Nadira Babbar is meeting the fugitive in London. As per the provisions of Criminal Procedure Code, it is the duty of every Indian citizen to report the whereabouts about the fugitives to the enforcement agencies. Nadira Babbar has intentionally not performed her duties as a law abiding citizen.
11. From the above circumstances it is abundantly clear that M. F. Hussain, Nadira Babbar and others have committed violations of several legal provisions of several enactments. As such you are requested to initiate appropriate legal action against M. F. Hussain, Nadira Babbar and others, whose names are mentioned in the enclosures. Further, in the interest of peace and harmony in the city, the said play be banned.
Yours truly,
Varsha Thakar
4/1, Brady Flats,
Sorab Bharucha Road,
Colaba, Mumbai- 400005.
Mo: 9969608096
Enclr : 1. Newspaper cutting of daily DNA dt: 7/4/2009.
2. Pamphlet of the play “Pencil Se Brush Tak” including the names of all those involved.
