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Journalism of Courage
By Ananya Bhatia
When conceptual artiste Inder Salim, wearing a tattered school uniform, suddenly started smashing watermelons, the audience forgot all about the rains and the hovering dark clouds. Out poured olives with bits of paper carrying Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish’s poetry. Salim’s act was a part of a cultural protest, “Artist Action for Gaza”, organised on Thursday at the Ferozshah Road office of Sahmat (Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust). “I want everyone to taste Palestine. Olives are the chief crop of Gaza that is being hacked to pieces,” said Salim, wiping off watermelon juice that poignantly reminded one of the blood that it acted substitute for.
Kaffiyehs and photos from Gaza formed the backdrop against which artists, theatre personalities and musicians came together to voice their support for Gaza. “We stand together to protest against the horrors being committed. If the state does not do something, the artists can and will,” said MK Raina, founder member of Sahmat. The event was a collaboration with activist organisations including Janam, Janwadi Lekhak Sangh, Progressive Writers Association, Act One, Indian Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, Palestine Solidarity Campaign and Parcham.
Actor Sharmila Tagore supported the cause by reading out Darwish’s poetry. UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Tagore said “How many more children will have to die before we do something?” Rahul Ram of Indian Ocean enthused the audience with their song Gar ho sake from their latest album Tandanu.
Theatre personality Sanjana Kapoor, poet Nirmala Garg, academic Sohail Hashmi and Dr Brijesh of Jana Natya Macha also read out poetry in support. Marxist scholar Aijaz Ahmad, artist Ram Rahman and artist Subodh Gupta were also among the audience.
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