Dear Mr. Srinivsasan
I agree with your views on the cartoons. However, I would like to highlight two points here:
1. In the last year, the government has had knee jerk reactions on virtually every issue. Be it the initial arrest of Anna Hazare (thereby fuelling further his methods to fight against corruption that came dangerously close to questioning the foundations of democracy) or response to the NE rumours in Bangalore (the move to run extra trains and coaches to help students from North East living in Bangalore to "go home" was downright immature. They had to later amend this folly by running special trains from Guwahati last week to Bangalore in a move to change public perception that they were indirectly promoting these large scale migrations). I can cite a lot more examples, but I don't want to digress from the main topic of discussion here.
2. The person who attacked the Amar Jawan Jyoti in Mumbai is untouched even though his picture was floating around in every website possible, only for him to become the reason for thugs like Raj Thackerey to take advantage of government inaction and give a communal, regional flavor to what really is a national issue. So are the people who were found to initiate the rumours about North East students being unsafe in Bangalore even though it created a near civil crisis in the country.
3. Scams of unimaginable magnitude showing rampant and large scale corruption are being unearthed everyday and the government is busy either making senseless arguments in its defence or fending an irresponsible opposition who are visibly taking advantage of the situation to force a mid-term poll and between them, unfortunately the Parliament and the country is reduced to what Aseem Trivedi has tried to communicate in his cartoon.
The cartoon are distasteful, but they have found an audience because there are millions who feel they identify with the message especially because they find themselves to be helpless onlookers to this dirty game of politics and corruption being showcased everyday. Having Aseem apologise would have been a much more mature option, forcing him to take cognizance of the fact that he cant really mess with national symbols of sovereignty, however strongly he feels about any national issue but what can one expect out of a government that in its second term has taken India so many steps backwards impacting not just the economy but also dangerously, the social fabric of our country.
The anger in people like me who aren't big fans of the four cartoons made by Aseem but still support him come as much from inaction of the government on so many fronts where quick action and decisioning (the likes of Suresh Kalmadi, IPS officer Rathore are still out on bail; the likes of Sonali Mukherjee, Kshama Chopra and the unfortunate girl in Guwahati molested by a gang in camera still have no justice meted out to them after years of them and their loved ones fighting on their behalf) would have prevented this rapid deterioration of our national fabric as it is about charging our man with a serious crime like sedition. Until such a time when there is a visible action seen against those who are mortgaging India's honour and sovereignty for petty personal and political gains, the only way people will feel their voice will be heard is through such drastic expression of their thoughts.
Being the eternal optimist that I am, the only hope is that if not this government, this whole episode is a good lesson for all future governing bodies.
Regards
m.
Meena Vaidyanathan
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| --- On Tue, 9/11/12, Prime Point Srinivasan <prpoint@gmail.com> wrote:
Hi all Mr Aseem Triuvedi (28), a Kanpur based freelance cartoonist, published few cartoons in his website www.cartoonsagainstcorruption.com in support of IAC movement during the end of 2011. Since the cartoons were alleged to have been drawn defacing and denigrating the National Institutions like Parliament, the site was blocked by the Government. At that time, a case was registered against him. My meeting with Aseem Trivedi At that time, Aseem Trivedi visited major centres to get support from the media persons and opinion makers to defend freedom of expression in the internet. In the process, he also met me few weeks back at my office, on the reference of some seniors. During my short meeting with him I observed a fire in his belly about the happenings in our country and he was passionate about using his cartoon skills to create awareness about anti corruption movement. At that time, I knew only about one of his cartoons, replacing the four lions of national emblem with wolves. Though I agreed with him on the responsible use of freedom of expression, i did not agree on his cartoon. Aseem arrested under sedition charges A couple of days back, when I saw him on TV channels, i was surprised to find that he has been charged with 'sedition charges'. Only persons like Kasab can be charged with sedition charges. Recently, few people were arrested at Bangalore for sending objectionable SMS messages which triggered exodus of NE people from South. I am told that those 'anti national' elements have not been charged with 'sedition charges'. Though the cartoons of Aseem Trivedi are not published in any traditional print or visual media, they are in circulation in the internet. Since those cartoons are alleged to be objectionable, I am also not sharing the links of those cartoons with our members / readers. I also caution members not to share the link with others, to avoid legal implications. Disputed four cartoons Mr Aseem Trivedi is arrested mainly for drawing four cartoons. I saw all the four cartoons. Cartoon 1: Four venomous wolves stand in place of King Asoka's Sarnath lions. Further, the inscription on the emblem reads "Bhrashtamev Jayate" (Long Live Corruption) instead of "Satyamev Jayate" (Long Live Truth). Dharma Chakra is replaced with a skull. Blood comes out of the mouth of wolves. Cartoon 2: Another cartoon depicts the Indian Parliament building as a toilet commode. At the right end of the cartoon, a little above the halfway line, there is a roller with toilet paper. To the left, there is a pink flush, attached to a commode below with three flies hovering over it. The commode looks like the Indian Parliament. 'National Toilet,' says the cartoon's title, with this line beneath the sketch: 'Isme istamal hone wale toilet paper ko ballot paper bhi kehte hain' (the toilet paper used here is also called Ballot paper). Cartoon 3: Another cartoon features the "Mother India," wearing a tri-color sari. The cartoon depicts politicians and bureaucrats holding the hands of 'Mother India' tightly to be raped by a character labeled "Corruption." The title of the cartoon is "Gang Rape of Mother India." Cartoon 4: Another cartoon shows politics and corruption in a sexual position to expose their immoral relationship. The line beneath the cartoon reads, "The immoral relationships are always harmful for a house hold." Cartoon 1 and 2 disgrace the national emblems. Cartoon 3 and 4 are highly 'disgusting'. Personally, I am pained by these four cartoons. Since distribution of such cartoons are not legal, I am not sharing the link. The members who respond to this mail also are requested not to share the link, to avoid any legal implications. I strongly hold the view that all the above cartoons are bad in taste, though the message he wants to communicate is right. Aseem Trivedi made an International Hero Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950, and Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act, 1971 ,talk about insult to the National Flag, emblems and Constitution. The Government is in order if they take action against Aseen Trivedi under the above acts, In addition to this, they have charged him with 'sedition' under IPC. There is no sedition involved in his act. Aseem could have been asked to apologise for denigrating the national emblem and institution. Or the Court could have warned him with an imprisonment of one day, till the raise of the Court. By this knee jerk reaction, the Government has made Aseem Trivedi an International Hero as a crusader of freedom of expression. By adding 'sedition' charges, the Government has created more support for him, even from the Chairman of Press Council of India. When Aseem Trivedi was discussing with me, I could see that he was highly passionate and worried over the corruption in the system. Probably, I think, he reflects the mood of many angry youth. Since he was uploading his cartoons directly to his site and blog, he did not realise the implications. If he were to submit these cartoons to a magazine, the Editor would have cautioned him. Lack of good leadership Very sadly, India Against Corruption (IAC) seems to have exhibited all the above cartoons in public at Mumbai. I do not understand as to how eminent lawyers in IAC allowed such cartoons in public display. They should have educated Aseem Trivedi, instead of exposing him for legal risks for their emotional advantage. It clearly indicates the lack of good leadership to guide the angry youngsters like Aseem Trivedi. These angry youngsters commit some actions with genuine intention in emotions and get caught. Parliament is like a temple Imagine a similar situation. When the administration is bad in a temple, 'deity or idol' in the sanctum or the temple have no role in the poor administration. The administrators are to be blamed. Same way, when there is a corruption in the governance, we cannot disrespect national emblems and national institutions. Parliament and Constitution are like temple and deity. Disgracing them amounts to disgracing the deity and the temple for the fault of administrators. If all the activists are fighting to safeguard the Institutions like Parliament and Constitution, they have to be more careful and cautious. Freedom of expression is not absolute As the Supreme Court cautions repeatedly, freedom of expression is not absolute and is subject to restrictions. In the name of anti corruption movement, I find many youngsters indulge in disgracing the national institutions and emblems. There is an urgent need for creating awareness about this. Srinivasan Prime Point |
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