[Reader-list] Documentary on the communal violence in Kandhamal

[Subhash]

On Mon, 5/4/10, debaranjan sarangi <debasar11 at yahoo.co.in> wrote:

Dear friend

I am thankful to Prof. Ram Puniyani for his review of my
film “From Hindu to Hindutva”. His review text is pasted below.

I have traveled to the Kandhamal area several times (with
and without camera). I was surprised, how much hatred human hearts could be
filled with in name of religion. The same thing should not be repeated any
where in this world.

Apart from all other efforts this film should be screened
more and more in all other areas including adivasis areas. I would request
leaders of mass organizations, different political organizations, NGOs,
educational institutions, clubs, proprietor of local channels and individuals
to screen it. If I be informed earlier I will try to be present there. Also I
am trying my best to organize such screenings and your initiatives are most
welcome.    This film was made out of individual contributions from
like minded friends. I am thankful to them. I am planning to do my next film on
a similar way. Your contribution may help me to make another. Language of the
film : Oriya and Oriya with English subtitle. Hindi subtitle will be available
soon. I would welcome voluntary efforts to make it into other regional
languages.

Price:

Individual : Rs 100 per DVD copy (excluding courier)

Institutions : Rs 250 per DVD copy (excluding courier)


Pl add Rs 60/ for courier charges inside India .

Contributions (and price for outside India ) : Rs
500/Rs 1000 per copy (including all charges).

All remittances should be through cash/DD/Money Order in
favor of “Debaranjan Sarangi”. For cheque please add Rs 40. Don’t forget to
write your complete address and phone numbers while ordering for the copy.


Yours,

Debaranjan



Postal Address

DEBARANJAN SARANGI
A/202
SONALI PALACE
SAILASHRI VIHAR
BHUBANESWAR
– 751021
ORISSA

Email : debasar11 at yahoo. co.in
Cell : 09437762272


Reaping the
Harvest of Hate

Ram Puniyani

Film Review

Film: From Hindu to Hindutva

Debaranjan Sarangi, Pedestrian
Pictures <debasar11 at yahoo. co.in>,

Language: Oriya with English
Subtitles

Duration- 44 Minutes


Kandhmal violence has been the most ghastly communal violence in the
Adivasi areas in India . Close
to two years after the violence the tragedy of the area continues, the victims
of violence, the rehabilitation, the justice to victims, most of these are no
where close to what they should be.

Debaranjan Sarangi, a social activist and writer has effectively
caught the Kandhamal carnage in his short
but comprehensive film with great amount of sensitivity and objectivity. He
presents the whole event with the help of field interviews, the shots of
burning of houses and churches and the pathetic condition of the refugee camps.
His subtitling and comments not only make the theme more
understandable to non-Oriya
audience but also connect up different aspects of the material presented by
him. The commentary in the form of text is very coherent making the film a
powerful analysis of the events of Orrisa. The director weaves the picture with
great precision without intruding into the flow of events as told by the
perpetrators of the crime and the victims of the same.

The film begins with the event of murder of Swami Laxmandnand, Maoists
state it has been done by them as he was
spreading Hate in the area. Praveen Togadia of VHP takes out the procession of
his body through sensitive areas of Kandhmal, the rumor is spread that
Christians are behind the murder of Swami, as it is at their behest that
Maoists have murdered him. One striking parallel which emerges from this
account is that even in Gujarat Modi permitted the procession of the victims of
Godhra train burning through Ahmedabad, accompanied by rumor that Muslims have
burnt the train and this in turn incited the feelings of the people leading to
carnage. VHP’s Praveen Togadia does the same. The methods of RSS combine have
so much of a parallel.

The victims of ‘RSS combine’ violence come through the film with their
pain and anguish. Director has taken
care to edit the interviews to the most relevant parts. From amongst victims
many say that those who have killed the Swami should be punished, why are we
and our children being punished. The attacker’s were shouting the slogans of
Jai Bajarang Bali.

The state, since Biju Janata Dal had BJP as an ally, soft peddled
towards the criminals indulging in communal
riots. This is the same story in most of the carnages, be it the anti Sikh
pogrom, Mumbai violence or Gujarat carnage,
state devices kid gloves to deal with the perpetrators of the crime. Also on
the ‘expected’ pattern state gave no protection to victims. The VHP supporters
worsened the situation by asserting that Christianity is a foreign religion,
Christians should leave or they will be killed unless they convert into
Hinduism. The hysterical pitch of the mob has been caught well in the camera.

Krishna Majhi, leader of Kui samaj, Adivasis, points out that Adivasis
are not Hindus and the ‘Home coming’
campaign, conversion of Adivasis into Hinduism, is a forcible one. This home
coming was conducted by Laxmandnand, at big scale. The Christians were tonsured
and given a Hanuman locket. Hanuman has a central role in Hinduising the
Adivasis. Most of the interviewees point out that Christian missionaries were
involved mainly in health and education work. The VHP propaganda that dalits
have grabbed Adivsai land is false as no such complaints were ever filed, nor
do dalits have substantial land holdings. The interesting point is if it was a
land issue, why the campaign for and rights was not taken, and why Hate was
chosen as weapon. Clearly land issue was made a pretext for dividing the
communities.

The violence is done by VHP for its political goals. Laxmananand
indulged in lot of unchecked ‘hate speech’
against Christians. As a matter of fact his and RSS combines ‘Hate other’
speech against Christians laid the foundation of the violence.

Kandhmal was no flash in the pan. It was systematically built up from
1970 since the swami began his activities
there. He had opened Sanskrit schools and Bhajan Mandali (group singing
devotional songs), through which hate campaign was conducted. After the
violence the major sectors of state were apathetic to the plight of Christians.
Currently even their children are looked down in schools. The anti Christian
atmosphere prevails till the day.

Film ends on a sad note, the reality of minorities in Orissa today is
well depicted. Probably the efforts to
get justice and relief done by civil society groups could have been highlighted
by Sarangi. The film is a very good contribution by Pedestrian Pictures to draw
our attention to the phenomenon of Kandhamal. It gives enough hints about the
method of working of VHP, Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram and RSS combine in the Adivasi
areas. Bringing out these linkages with RSS combine’s methods in unleashing
violence in other areas would have enriched the quality of the film. The title
does not much convey the theme of the film. It is a must watch for all social
activists and citizens at large.