Haider- an untold story of Kashmir Vale

And the trilogy is complete betwixt much brawling and mixed reaction from the audience across the country. Vishal Bhradwaj’s Haider completed his literature guru’s Shakespeare trilogy along with Maqbool and Omkara. Haider is an adaptation of Hamlet while Maqbool and Omkara were inspired by Macbeth and Othello respectively. Haider- a well drafted film framed in Kashmir is beyond the scenic beauty, snow, hills, Jhelum and honeymoon locale like rest of the movies has portrayed earlier. The movie revolves around the bloodshed Kashmir of mid 90s struggling to get out of the curfews, Kashmiri pundits and Muslims walking on drop dead streets protesting and setting each other’s house on fire and the dark side of Indian Army. The Kashmir never seen before!

Haider aka hamlet has turned out to be a hot cake for politician, socialists and pseudo-patriot advocating to boycott the movie #boycottHaider on social networking sites. For some the movie is Anti- Indian Army, for some Anti- Indian and for some (quite baseless) Anti- Modi. A post read on FB- “#BoycottHaider - why show that Muslims were victims in Kashmir in 90s, when it was actually the Kashmiri Pundits who suffered bcoz of them?” So my stand is- why a film when made in India should always revolve around the victimization of Hindus?” Both the communities had suffered and still struggling to get into normal talking terms. Cleaving a state on the basis of community will never change the situation.

Moreover, India is a secular country and every Indian has got right of expression as one of his fundamental rights.  Getting biased on behavior of Indian army towards Kasmhiris, be it Hindu or Muslim, will never unmasked the other side of the coin. “Hum hain, ki hum nahi?” – The most powerful lines delivered by Haider aka Shahid Kapoor clearly reveals the exasperation, pain and discontent of the kashmiris. The film approximately has earned over 20 crore in first three days also revealed the fake encounters and the behavior of Indian Army at the detention centers.

The movie should have been boycott for the more- than- reality blood shedding scenes. The bomb- blast, blood brimming out of the pieces of the body part, the blown blooded legs of Irfaan and red blood prevailed can give nightmares to many audiences. Amazed the way the whole film was dragged on to political and religious platform. The too-much of violence sometimes can provoke the religious sentiments. Like every movie of Vishal, including Kaminey, Maqbool and Omkara- the violence is the factor that should have been edited. It was not protested earlier, then why should it be now?

‘Defamation’ of Indian Army is not new! So wasn’t Indian Army pushed into sadistic light when - Indian army Captain Basant Kumar Chaudhary of Rajputana Rifels sexually harassed a women travelling in the same AC coach (2013), Indian Army trooper molested and misbehaved with tourists at Islamabad (2011), Major Chandra Pratap Singh and Captain Mahesh, as well as that of Lieutenant Colonel Pratap Singh and Major Kavi trashed the cops and misbehaved with women Kolkata (2007), Indian Army officers sold army’s weapons illegally (2014)?

The truth gets bitter if unveiled. Why didn’t the politicians, socialist and Pseudo- patriots advocated for boycotting Indian Army then? Of course, boycotting earlier would not swipe them into lime light. Boycotting against critical and big name Vishal Bhardwaj will turn them into god among the political and religious thekedaars.

Getting back to the movie, Basharat Peer, former editor India Ink- who dared to pen down the truth is the Villain of the Valley. Giving story telling a new dimension, he has set a perfect example of how to convert novel into a well framed script of the film.

Critics have raved about the visual poetry of the movie. But at the end of the film, it is the prose that stays. Tabbu as Ghazala has made a strong come back and is drop dead beautiful as before. The effortless acting by Shahid (haider), K. K Menon (Khurram) and Irrfan Khan (roohdaar) was hard hitting. The passionate relationship between Shahid and Tabu onscreen, revealing the Oedipus complex was something Indian audience will never relate to.

What really makes Vishal Bhardwaj’s movie infinite time watchable is the strong female protagonist. Haider should have been named ‘Ghazala’, Ishiqiya should be replaced by “krishna’ and “7 khoon maaf” as Susanna. Ghazal as Tabbu was torn between her own sexual desire, principled husband and her moody son. Her puffy eyes, dark smoky make up, her voice made the character strong and vulnerable. Ghazala – the lady showed her strong side from a perfect home maker to mother consoling her blood drenched son to surrender to lady all set to fly looking at sky after she pulls the pins of the bombs. Ghazala is an extension of the women in Vishal’s film- strong and Independent, with ability to string men along.

Krishna of Ishqiya is sexually liberated and unafraid to manipulate man and too straight forward to handle. While Susanna holding revolver and killing each man after marrying showed the unputdownable attitude. And though Kareena Kapoor’s Bolly may have has the chunkier presence as Desdemona in this Othello remake; it is Konkana SenSharma’s Indu- a woman who sees her man committing atrocity after another, but not afraid to step in when it comes to making him pay for his actions. The lady with sickle in her hand, slashing her husband’s throat, her husband all blood drenched – is another woman from Vishal’s world.  

Martand Temple, the location of the Bismil song is another reason of boycotting the movie. Shahid Kapoor dancing in shoes inside the temple premise got a roaring protest. So why Goliyon ki Rassleel: Ramleela- Ranveer Singh starrer movie was not boycott when Hindu god Hanuman, ram and goddess Sita are dancing on the electric music? It didn’t hurt the hindu sentiments or the so called hindu facebook users enjoyed the show? I guess, the box office collection of 1.13 billion is an answer to it.

Why to entangle a pre-complicated issue?  

The one who has read “hamlet” can figure out that Shakespeare suggested that- there is no point in blindly following the king. Vishal has replaced the king with the leadership of separatists. While Claudius killed his brother for the throne, here Khurram colludes with State to eliminate his brother to get political mileage. The film is more about the trauma faced by the family, jingoism and the dirty political games involving the Indian Army. Though, the movie has sustained well. The total approximate domestic collection of the movie is approx Rs 26.78 crore.

Vishal  Bhardwaj ended the movie at a strong note “Revenge begets revenge”. Or in Gandhiji’s words- “An eye for an eye will make the whole world blind”.  Shahid Kapoor lost his loved one in the race of revenge. Blood shedding will worsen the situation while bonding will build a new azad Kashmir.

The democratic tale of Women in Bihar

Woman, in India is synonym of Durga, Saraswati, Laxmi- and if by any chance she is outspoken or a rebellion she gets transform into Kali. Encircled by adjectives and overburden by the expectations- within their limit the women of India have set their own world.

Laxmi- This word every Indian, whether male or female- must have heard or probably have used for girl with, what I say have ‘S’ factors- Sabhya, Sushil aur Sundar. This form of girl quintessentially is the most sober and adorable girl of your colony. And male’s terminology define it as the one who is quite easy to victimized, to rule on and to dictate on. The best better half male looks for.

Saraswati is one with extra factor- ‘Education’ but still should have each and every possible qualities of Laxmi as well. Sounds bit burdensome. Kudos to the ladies who have managed to play the dual roles in single yet small life.

After the years of slavery, the women in India has fought incessantly and wrested among the beeline of men to get the tenable position in society. They actually know what nudging means!

Moreover, women got the right to vote in the year 1930 but they are still not seen as a coveted constituency. The Election Commission of India’s website proudly unveiled the statistical data of general election of 2014- out of 814 million voters; the commission has successfully enrolled 38 million (47.6 %) women to participate in the greatest festival of democracy.

Let me now give an overall view of the virtual participation of women in the democracy of India-something beyond facts and statistical data. The voters, undoubtedly resides in the rural India. They actually and truly vote for their better future- be under the influence of money or power!

While my tour to Maner, 28 Kms west to Patna, Capital of Bihar- for General Election (Pataliputra Constituency) was a journey towards the walkway of the undemocratic power of women of the state. The Yadav dominated Maner constitutes of 24 per cent of the voters. Singhwara, a small village of not more than 80 houses seems to be progressive before I had words with the women of the village. The women helping their husbands in fields, girls riding bi-cycle, women carrying loads of harvested crops- a village where women were enjoying the liberty of roving around with half-aanchal on their head. While my cameraman was busy capturing the independent rural women, I decided to stroll inside the narrow kacchi sadak. I saw an old wrinkled lady making food on chulha. Anyways I approached her and asked – “Aap vote karengi iss bar?” The shocked lady gave me a murderous look. I again interrupted her from making her meal and repeated the question. “Haan denge”- she retorted.

Me: “accha ye bataiye, aapko kaun si party acchi lagti hai?”

Lady: “utna party ka naam nahi pata” . The lady actually didn’t expect that even after her ignorance I would put up further question.

Me: “Thik hai. Kaun sa candidate accha lagta hai?”

Lady: “Lagta hai sehar se aayi ho. Tabhi itna sawal karti ho,” Here came the much expected comment. “utna naam nahi pata. Ab kuch mat poochna, bahut kaam hai. Jao”

And I was literally thrown out of the house. But the bottom line was why she didn’t know the party or candidate name even after she must have voted for more than 20 times.

I proceeded further. Saroja Devi, 29 year old lady was cuddling her one and a half year son. She noticed me and gave me a stranger look. We started chatting and she unveiled the voting behavior of the women of the village. “We are not allowed to participate in any political chit chat. So we don’t know the name of the candidates fielding for the election. On the polling day, my father-in-law comes with a paper- on which the symbol of the party is made, on which we are supposed to vote. Sometimes they even say the chronological order of the party symbol on EVM machine to avoid any mistake,” said Saroja Devi, whose husband works as a labor in Delhi.

Samphoola Devi, who was listening to our conversation added to my information and mumbled- “In our village our husband or the male members decide whom to cast vote. The situation in neighboring villages is pitiful. The Bahubali or the local hooligan decides for the village where to vote.”

The women of Singhwara village were victims of Patriarchal society and upbringing. They are ’Laxmi’.

After a set of short interactions with the rest of the women in the village I along  with my cameraman headed towards the busiest chowk of Maner- Gauraiyasthan, which was the lone market of the nearby villages and  was claimed to be pretty ‘advance’ as per the villagers.

Nilkanth Tola, the village opposite to the market had much female population but was not as much independent and liberal as Singhwara. In search of women to talk about democratic drama I walked about half a kilometer. Finally I found a femme brigade sitting beneath the tree to beat the scorching heat.  I tried to get mix in their group and we started our conversation. The women here also followed the patriarchal trend of voting.

I saw a girl in black suit struggling with comb to get a tidy hairdo hiding her behind the women from me. I asked her if she will vote or not and came an odious reply- “Vote? Ladikyan vote nahi deti. Sirf aurat, mard or ladke vote dete hain”

Reena further complained- “This year I tried to get my name enrolled in the voter identity card list. But the officer sitting at the camp office said that only married girl of the village will get the voter ID cards. All the newlywed girls in my village have got their voter identity card.”

Reena turned 18 last year and is voter of Nilkanth Tola, Goraiya Sthan, Ward no. 5, Maner.

Like Reena, there are almost 40 girls in the village who are deprived of their Rights. Many of them are not even aware of the polling dates.

Kushum, a twenty two year old girl round the clock was watching my activity. She was more impressed with the camera I was carrying than me. In order to get into her comfy zone, I clicked her and ask her about the voting dates. She reverted embarrassingly - “ Pata nahi kab vote dalna hai. Meri shaddi hogi to hum bhi dalenge. Bhaiya log kabhi kabhi Misa Bharti ka naam leta hai.” Kushum unaware of the candidates and the election symbols still has note casted vote.

Sharing her experience she said-  “The officers do not consider us to be the member of the village. We are supposed to get married to get our voter EPIC. I have not seen how the polling booth and machine looks like. I am eagerly waiting to get married to get my voter ID card.”

Jitendra- brother of Kusum interrupted in between- “Madam, the unmarried girls are not allowed to go to polling booth to cast vote even if have their EPIC. The senior male members of the village do not allow girl to step out of house and show their faces to more than 1000 men present on the polling day. I know few girls from neighboring village who vote, but they are considered to be bad by character,” added Jitendra.

Kusum and Reena and many several girls are deprived of their constitutional right, waiting to get married for their EPIC. They are ‘Durga’– they tried, struggled for their rights- but were shown their limitation very next moment.

During my tour I visited the outskirts of the constituencies including Nalanda, Patna Sahib and Muzaffarpur. The patriarchal voting trend rules!

I came back to my place, filed my report. The way of participation of women in democratic festival revealed the much claimed fake women empowerment of the state and the country.

I called up my Granny who is an eye witness to Independence, Emergency and JP movement. She was married at the tender age of 12 and started voting at the age of 20. She is 86 now. “The women at my time were never asked about our choices. I was bit privileged since my husband was an active politician. The women were not allowed to vote. But gradually when the politician understood the importance of vote, they allowed women to step out to vote. But only women, no girls. And the men got another chance to rule us. They decided where to vote for their better half. I think any reformation to empower women has given one more chance to men to victimize women.”

Granny’s words were bitter but true!

My mother saw the polling booth after she was married. “When you get married to any boy, willing or unwilling you have to adopt their culture, tradition and even their voting behavior. I have voted for the party which my in-laws said. We need a revolution- a woman should decide whom to cast their individual votes.”      

Like Saroja, Jawanti and Samphoola there are more than thousand females who enjoy their right of casting vote, unaware of the fact that they are being deprived of their decisive power. We are actually celebrating the half naked truth of democracy.   

Change is an understatement- we need revolution. This is the time when we need palpable empowered Durga and kali. The namby-pamby attitude won’t work anymore. A total revolution is call of an hour, where women can roar back on men and enjoy the real feeling of casting vote.