In Search Of The ‘Chutzpah’: Haider, AFSPA, Manipur, Irom Sharmila, Indian Army And The Unconnected Dots
By Shamim Zakaria
30 October, 2014
Countercurrents.org
On 2nd November, 2000- with the rising sun, chirping of birds, the serene valley of the northeast India, one perhaps saw the day to be mere usual. Unlikely, the day remained a black spot in the history of Manipur forever- Malom, a town situated in Manipur’s Imphal Valley became witness to the Malom Massacre. Assam Rifles, one of the Indian Paramilitary forces operating in the state, brutally shot dead ten innocent civilians waiting at a bus stop. The deceased included, women, senior citizens and minors. The shrieks, the cries of those ten innocent souls washed away in the gruesome bloodshed. May be it was only the deadly silence of the street, that became evident of the monstrous encounter. The obvious license to this devilish aura was and is, Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act (AFSPA).
Along with the sufferers, the Malom Massacre changed the life of another young lady forever. Irom Chanu Sharmila fasted as part of her regular Thursday chores, which had been continuing from childhood. However, unlike every other Thursday, her fast never ended and continues till date stretching to 14 years now. Arrest, release, re-arrest, judicial custody has become her regular routine. While handsome money pertaining to numerous national and international awards including enlistment in the Limca Book of Records, is her only ornament. Amidst offers from various political parties to contest elections, her crusade for humanity still continues. But, this isn’t for what she staked her hopes, aspirations, dreams. Yet today, hefty percentage of Indians barely has heard about her or her crusade. Even after 14 years of relentless struggle, confused faces pop up, when mentioned about AFSPA. Organizations and big wigs have tried to spread the word, but perhaps the voice was not loud enough. And even today, brutality, human rights violations, pang and tears continue in the name of AFSPA.
Now, a stalwart of film making, Vishal Bharadwaj comes with his yet another masterpiece, ‘Haider’. Here, the location and people change, but the pang and sufferings remains similar. Ebbing everyday under the purview of this draconian law is the ‘heaven on earth’- Kashmir. An adaptation of William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, the director flawlessly and brilliantly carves it out onto celluloid. Thus, he gifted the audience a platter of pensive reality. The film depicts the pursuit of Haider-a Kashmiri boy portrayed by Shahid Kapoor, who returns to his valley in search of his lost father, once detained by the Indian Army in a crackdown. In his odyssey Haider is acquainted to a numerous shocking reality about his closed ones including his mother.
The film starts on a serious note and perorates into a similar dreadful one. Though Haider upholds a horrendous face of the Indian Army, yet these inhuman stories are not untold. Even after coming at par, with these tales we blatantly snub it. Or may be sometimes a bunch of more concerned Indians tend to shower words of pity, while reading the morning newspaper along with a sip of tea.
The film ends with some grim images of death and bloodshed, but it augments a flame of numerous unanswered questions. Returning to the ground reality, is it Manipur, Kashmir or other areas where AFSPA prevails, who’s to blame? Or as Shahid Kapoor mentions in the film, who’s the actual chutzpa? Chutzpa- is a Hebrew word meaning, the quality of audacity for good or for bad.
Apparently the Indian Army is the most disciplined force in the world. However, sometimes fact says it is ostensible. The recent Operation Hilltop, by Tehelka, showing this very same Assam Rifles being corroded by mammoth corruption is an example of that. With the massive relief efforts initiated by the Indian Army in the recent Kashmir flood, they tried to show yet again that they aren’t enemy but protector and guardian of civilians. But, the image turns murky as many claim it to be a more PR activity than ground reality.
The one with guns demand freedom, but from whom? The people, the land and the country are their own. Certainly the government and our leaders too want this bloodbath to end, but is that really so?? As per Wikileaks diplomatic cables have recently disclosed that Indian government employees agree to acts of human rights violations on part of the Indian armed forces and various paramilitary forces deployed in the north east parts of India especially Manipur!! And AFSPA continues to be the greatest enemy of humanity causing disgrace to the people under its purview. So where’s the real chutzpa?
In the midst of a ferocious collusion between huge elephants when things are politicking, it’s always the forage which lay crumbled- it’s always the common innocent souls that bear the pain.
Shamim Zakaria is a student of BJMC at Sharda University; hails from Guwahati
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