What is wrong with Adipurush?

What happened? 

Adipurush, a film based on the Hindu epic Ramayana, was controversial upon its release. Hindu groups criticised the portrayal of Ram, Lakshman, and Ravana, claiming it mocked their society and religion. The people of Nepal objected to a dialogue regarding Sita's origins, demanding its revision. The film's quality faced scrutiny for its poor special effects, dialogues, and portrayal of Hanuman. Additionally, religious groups and leaders criticized the film's deviations from the original Ramayana story, accusing it of lacking respect and distorting the epic's true meaning.

Why it matters?

The film's release prompted an examination of creative liberty and artistic expression in religious subjects, highlighting the diverse perspectives and sensitivities surrounding faith and culture. Critics cautioned that such films could offend and ignite conflicts over religious heritage in a country steeped in religion. At the same time, supporters of Adipurush argued that such movies offer opportunities to raise awareness and provide fresh perspectives on familiar stories and characters.

What are the arguments from both sides?

Side 1: All subjects are welcome

• Artistic Expression: Movies can be a form of artistic expression that respects the diversity and plurality of interpretations and representations of religious texts and traditions. It's especially true of a great epic like Ramayana, which has more than 300 versions. When the source material lends itself to various interpretations, why mustn't artists feel free while adapting it?

• A retelling of epics: Movies can be a tribute to our country's long tradition of artistic adaptations of religious epics. These epics have been retold in various forms, such as literature, theatre, dance, music, painting, sculpture, etc. For instance, Ramanand Sagar's Ramayan (1987-1988) was a popular television series based on Ramayana that became a cultural phenomenon in India. If we don't allow adaptations of great epics, would we ever have had that in the first place?

• Spreads appreciation: Movies can be a medium to spread awareness and appreciation of the rich heritage and values of different religions, especially among the younger generation. Just because a particular movie didn't do well doesn't mean we should put a blanket ban on subjects that can inspire people to learn more about their own or other faiths.

Side 2: Religious subjects are a no-go

• Distortion of sacred source material: Movies can distort and misrepresent religious texts and traditions' original and authentic sources and meanings. They can also introduce errors and inaccuracies that can mislead or confuse people. This is especially true of a movie like Adipurush, which has bent the original source material to such an extent that it has hurt the sentiments and beliefs of millions of Hindus.

• Commercial exploitation: Movies can be commercial exploitation of religious subjects that are sacred and revered by many people. In the case of Adipurush, this is what the producers have focused on. Writer Manoj Muntashir Shukla and director Om Raut appear to have exploited the sentiments of Hindus to drive profit, something we must avoid at all costs from now on.

What next?

The film was released to shocking reactions from critics and audiences alike. However, it has still made decent money at the box office. The makers have claimed that they have changed the film to address some of the concerns raised by various groups. However, the controversy has not died down completely, as some groups still demand a ban or boycott of the film. The film's fate at the box office will depend on how well it can overcome these challenges and appeal to a broader audience.

Want to support my work? Consider joining my Patreon

Is the BJP stifling opposition and dissent?

What happened?

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Tamil Nadu Electricity, Prohibition, and Excise Minister V. Senthil Balaji last week. The DMK minister is accused of being involved in a money laundering case, part of a more extensive ongoing investigation dating back to Balaji’s term as the state’s transport minister under the 2011-2016 AIADMK government. Following his arrest, he complained of chest pain and was hospitalised.

In the same week, Jack Dorsey, the co-founder and former CEO of Twitter, said in an interview that Twitter got a lot of requests from the Indian government during the 2020-21 farmers’ protest, urging Twitter to take action against journalists critical of the government. He also claimed that the government threatened to shut down Twitter in India and raid the employees’ homes if it refused to follow suit.

Why does it matter?

The DMK and opposition parties have accused the BJP of using the ED to ‘harass’ and ‘intimidate’ those who oppose the ruling government. The same opinion has been voiced by the opposition in the past few years following ED’s action in West Bengal during the 2021 state assembly elections, the arrest of Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut, the arrest of former Union Minister and senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram, and recently the arrest of AAP MLA Manish Sisodia.

News about the government’s crackdown on social media platforms is not uncommon. In 2022, Twitter had to move to court to challenge the IT Ministry’s orders to remove certain content from the platform. Just a few months ago, Elon Musk, the chairman of Twitter, said that it’s difficult to uphold the freedom of speech in India given the country’s stricter laws. The price could be his Indian employees going to jail. If what Dorsey claimed is true, it doesn’t bode well for the spirit of the largest democracy in the world.

What are the arguments from both sides?

Side 1: The BJP-led government is misusing the law:

• Increase in raids: Between 2014 and 2022, the ED carried out 3010 raids compared to 112 searches between 2004 and 2014. That is a 27-fold increase in the figure. It’s alleged that most cases were against opposition leaders nationwide, indicating political vendetta and bias.

• Defamation of the accused: In these 3010 raids, 888 prosecution complaints were filed, and only 23 people were found guilty of the charges. It’s worth noting that these cases stretch for years during investigation and court proceedings. Meanwhile, due to media coverage, a person’s reputation is tainted. If the accused is a political leader, their party or government will be painted as corrupt. This shows how the BJP uses law enforcement agencies like ED to destroy the credibility of a leader, party, or government.

• Suppression of dissent: The government is also trying to suppress dissent and criticism using similar methods. In 2021, Twitter had to block over 80 links, including tweets and accounts, upon receiving legal notices from the government. The blocked content ranged from tweets on farmers’ protests to a report by an American non-profit organisation criticising India’s internet freedom. In another instance, the tax officials raided BBC’s offices in Delhi and Mumbai following the government’s crackdown on a controversial BBC documentary on Prime Minister Modi.

Side 2: The BJP-led government is NOT misusing the law:

• A more brutal crackdown on corruption: The increase in raids indicates the government’s devotion to eradicating corruption from the country. It doesn’t aim to intimidate or harass anyone but only tries to put the criminals behind bars. Law enforcement agencies have also probed BJP leaders like Laxmikant Sharma, Mohit Kamboj, and PVS Sharma.

• Adherence to the law: In 2022, the Supreme Court upheld ED’s power regarding arrest, search, and seizure under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The court was responding to the petitions seeking to change ED’s power provisions under PMLA. The fact that Supreme Court gave the green light to the ED proves that the government’s actions are not extra-judicial. It’s cracking down on money laundering cases while adhering to the law.

• Ruling out threats to national security and public order: The IT Ministry Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that during the farmers’ protests, the government was obligated to remove misinformation and fake news circulating on the platform as they could inflame the situation further, ultimately threatening national security and public order. The survey of the BBC offices was carried out under Section 133A of the Income Tax Act, and the officials gathered evidence of irregularities in tax payments on certain remittances carried out by the broadcaster. The officials adhered to the law. Every company working in India is subjected to Indian laws and must abide by them.

What next?

The minister is in a hospital awaiting an early coronary bypass surgery. However, he remains in judicial custody. CM M.K. Stalin sent a letter to the Governor of Tamil Nadu, R.N Ravi, seeking to reallocate Balaji’s portfolio to other ministers. But the governor refused the plea.

Countering Dorsey, the Indian government has deemed his allegations as ‘outright lies’. On the other hand, Musk had previously stated that Twitter would comply with Indian laws. As there’s no violation of the law, the Indian government currently has no impetus to take any legal action against Twitter.

Was the Gujarat government's response to Cyclone Biparjoy adequate?

What happened?

Tropical cyclone Biparjoy, the second giant storm to hit Gujarat within two years, made landfall in Kutch, Gujarat, on Thursday. Strong winds and heavy rain followed the landfall, which caused widespread damage in the state's Kutch and Saurashtra regions. Government reports recorded, 4500 villages witnessed power outages as the winds uprooted 5120 electricity poles, 47 people were injured, and no deaths. However, the government figures regarding the death only consider the casualties after the cyclone's landfall. Two people died before the landfall. Efforts to restore order in the cyclone-affected areas are underway. In Rajasthan, Biparjoy triggered heavy rainfall and killed nearly 8 people in rain-related incidents, prompting authorities to hasten rescue operations in the state. Consequently, more than 17,000 people were relocated.

Why it matters?

India has a coastline of 9060 km (including the coastlines of inhabited islands). Most coastal areas are prone to witnessing tropical cyclones. According to researchers, warming sea surface temperature, enhanced by the warm climate, has increased the frequency of cyclones in the Arabian Sea. The cyclones can result in colossal damage, massive displacement, and loss of life and livelihood. They can also affect the region's economy by disrupting transportation and communication networks.

What are the arguments from both sides?

Side 1: The government's response was adequate:

• Preparations: While anticipating the landfall of Biparjoy, the Gujarat government relocated around 1 lakh people from the threatful regions to the 1500 shelters created out of school auditoriums and other government buildings. Moreover, the NDRF (National Disaster Rescue Force) team was on its toes and carried out rescue operations during the landfall.

• Measures for restoration: Following the landfall, more than 1000 teams began racing actively to restore power supply and clear roads in eight affected state districts.

• Support from other departments: The Forest Department teams cleared 581 fallen trees from the roads. Moreover, 184 units were deployed in and around the Gir National Forest to protect lions and other wild animals if an emergency arose.

Side 2: The government's response was NOT adequate:

• Our research found no evidence of mismanagement from the Gujarat government's side. The measures taken by the government are commendable.

What's next?

Following the landfall, cyclone Biparjoy turned into a 'deep depression', leading to heavy rainfall in Rajasthan and northeast Pakistan. By Monday evening, the cyclone had subsided and lost its intensity when it entered the low-pressure areas of eastern Rajasthan. People who were shifted to shelters have begun moving to their homes. The state government has announced compensation for them. Restoration work is underway. According to the government, electricity restoration will occur in the cyclone-affected areas by June 20, and life will return to normalcy. In Rajasthan, nearly five districts face flood-like situations due to heavy rainfall. According to the forecast by the Meteorological Department, the rainfall will slow down from Wednesday onwards. However, eastern Rajasthan will witness increased rainfall from June 24 to 25.

NOTE WORTHY 📑

• Bahurupi: A Dying Art of Street Performance.

• Akbar’s Sulh-i-Kul: A Greek Influence?

• Solving the Cube: The Banjara Way of Life.

• How Rum Traveled from Jamaica to Bengal and Beyond.

SHARE THIS VICHAAR 🙌

If you enjoyed reading my newsletter, please do consider sharing it with your loved ones.

Was this forwarded to you? Sign up here.

If you want to give us feedback, Click here.

Read our previous newsletters here