Urdu organisations condemn deferment of Javed Akhtar event in Kolkata after protests
New Delhi: The West Bengal Urdu Academy’s decision to defer a programme featuring noted poet, lyricist and screenwriter Javed Akhtar has drawn sharp criticism from Urdu cultural organisations in the United Kingdom. According to a report by The Wire, the cancellation followed opposition from Islamic groups in Kolkata, who objected to Akhtar’s participation on grounds that he had “mocked” religion and religious figures.
Two UK-based groups, Urdu Culture London and Anjuman Taraqqi Urdu UK, issued a joint statement condemning the move as “undemocratic” and “an attempt to silence literary and artistic expression.” They said, “While difference of opinion ought to be respected, coercion, intimidation and censorship have no place in a democratic society.” The organisations stressed that the deferment was especially troubling coming from Kolkata, a city historically regarded as a hub of pluralism and intellectual freedom.
As The Wire reported, the three-day festival titled ‘Hindi filmon mein Urdu ka kirdaar’ (The Role of Urdu in Hindi Cinema) was to include poetry readings and a discussion session with Akhtar. However, following objections by at least two Islamic organisations, including the Jamiat Ulama Kolkata, the Academy postponed the event without citing official reasons.
The UK-based Urdu organisations argued that Akhtar’s atheist views, even if regarded by some as irreverent, “can never justify the erasure of a voice.” They further warned that conflating Urdu with any one religion has already harmed the language’s growth in India. “For those of us committed to sustaining Urdu culture in the United Kingdom, it is profoundly disheartening to witness efforts to dismantle that culture in the very land of its birth,” their statement read.
Signatories Hilal Fareed, Annie Zaidi and Saif Mahmood urged the West Bengal government and cultural bodies to ensure that artists and writers are able to engage with audiences without fear of coercion. They emphasised that cancel culture is “the antithesis of democracy.”
Meanwhile, Javed Akhtar told The Hindu that he was “pained” by the protests. “Hindu groups tell me I should go to Pakistan, Muslim groups tell me I should change my name to a Hindu name. All of this is very familiar to me,” he said, adding that he “never imagined” such opposition would come from a city like Kolkata.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
4 held for sexually assaulting woman, girl on moving bus after social media alert in UP's Agra
Agra (UP) (PTI): Four people were arrested, after a prompt response by police following a social media alert, for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman and a girl inside a moving bus here, officials said on Tuesday.
According to an official police statement, at 12:27 am on April 27, information was received on the social media platform X about an incident of sexual assault on a bus travelling from Kanpur to Ahmedabad, which was approaching Namner crossing in Agra.
Acting under the direction of Police Commissioner Deepak Kumar, the Agra Police social media team immediately alerted the Rakabganj police station within minutes and coordinated with the victims to confirm the incident and obtain the exact location, it stated.
Police teams launched intensive checking at Namner crossing and intercepted the bus as it reached the spot. The four accused involved in the incident were apprehended on the spot, and legal action was initiated against them, the statement said.
The police said the swift response and coordination between the social media team and field units ensured timely action, bringing relief to the victims and other passengers, who expressed gratitude towards the police, it added.
