Latest news with #VeeraSathidar
Time of India
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Elgar Parishad case accused under scrutiny after attending Veera Sathidar memorial
Nagpur: The Elgar Parishad case accused, who are out on bail, had thronged the Veera Sathidar memorial event at Vidarbha Hindi Sahitya Sammelan on May 13, top security sources told TOI. Though the event was organised as a memorial for the acclaimed filmmaker, security agency sources stated it turned into a platform for attacking the Maharashtra govt's efforts to table the proposed Maharashtra Public Security Bill to rein in frontal organisations of alleged urban Maoists. The speakers at the programme incited the audience to vehemently oppose the proposed law before it's tabled in the forthcoming monsoon assembly. "We held demonstrations against the proposed bill at 80 places in 36 districts of Maharashtra," said one of the speakers. Activists like Sudhir Dhawale and former Nagpur University professor Soma Sen, who are out on bail in the Elgar Parishad case, participated in the event, said a top source in the security apparatus that watched participants at the programme. Apart from Koregaon Bhima, Dhawale has other cases against him related to anti-govt activities, said a police official. Sen was present with her husband, Tushar Kant Bhattacharya, a former Maoist who was arrested with a cache of arms from Patna in 2007. Again, he was arrested by Gujarat ATS from Geetanjali Express for a case registered in the state, a decade ago. Senior police officers said they are now trying to zero in on Dhawale, Suvarna Salve, her sister Shrusti, and others who were present at the programme to record statements and initiate other action. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo According to a senior police officer, efforts would now be made to cancel the bail of the Elgar Parishad case accused who attended the programme, where tactics to corner govt were discussed. "We will soon take up the matter with the investigation agency and push for cancellation of their bail," said the senior officer. On Wednesday, Pushpa Sathidar, wife of the acclaimed late leftist filmmaker and actor Veera Sathidar, appeared before Sitabuldi police station on Wednesday to record her statement. She claimed she was an ordinary "anganwadi" worker and did not know about the participants. Police had invoked BNS Section 152 against Pushpa, another woman who rendered Faiz Ahmed Faiz's anti-establishment couplets "Hum Dekhenge" and another orator who had hailed the couplet as an inspiration to overthrow a tyrannical regime. Inspector Rakhi Gedam of Sitabuldi police station said Pushpa was sent back after recording her statement. "We may need to summon her again for questioning," said Gedam. Sources in security agencies present at the memorial programme said an activist from "Samata Kala Manch", Suvarna, rendered the Urdu couplet of Faiz, which was subsequently lauded in his speech by one Siddharth. The complainant, Dattatreya Shirke, stated he was not against Faiz's poem but opposed the comments against govt. Police are now intensifying their probe into the event's organisers and participants, suspecting a coordinated effort to undermine the state. As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on whether the Veera Sathidar memorial was exploited to further an anti-govt agenda instead of focusing on his legacy.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who Was Veera Sathidar: The Rebel Voice of Voiceless
Nagpur: As controversy brews over the case filed against Pushpa Sathidar — wife of late actor-activist Veera Sathidar — over recitation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz 's poem 'Hum Dekhenge' at an event to mark his death anniversary in Nagpur on May 13, many are asking: Who was Veera Sathidar, and why does his memory continue to inspire resistance? Born as Vijay Vairagade in the Joginagar area of Wardha district, Sathidar never used his surname. He believed that surnames reveal caste identities and chose instead to call himself 'Veera Sathidar' - Veera, the comrade of the people's movement. A staunch Ambedkarite, Sathidar was a prominent voice in social justice struggles, known for his fearless journalism, passionate speeches, and activism. He edited the Marathi magazine 'Vidrohi' (The Rebel), which highlighted lives and struggles of the oppressed. Through his work, he advocated for Dalit rights , social equity, and constitutional values. Sathidar was deeply associated with the Republican Panther movement, working for the uplift of the marginalized. He was a frequent speaker at conferences across India, where his lectures on caste, discrimination, and democracy often stirred thought and action. While his activism earned him respect among grassroots movements, it was the critically acclaimed 2014 Marathi film 'Court' that brought him international recognition. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Memperdagangkan CFD Emas dengan salah satu spread terendah? IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Directed by Chaitanya Tamhane, the film scrutinised the judicial system and won the prestigious Golden Lotus (Swarna Kamal) at the National Film Awards. Sathidar played the pivotal role of folk singer Narayan Kamble, a character loosely based on real-life activists targeted by the system. Despite the fame, Sathidar remained grounded in his mission. "Cinema was just one way to tell the truth. I was, and will always be, a part of the people's movement," he said in an interview with TOI then. Veera Sathidar passed away due to Covid-19 during the pandemic in May 2021. For many, his death anniversary is a reaffirmation of his ideals. The recent incident, where some speakers allegedly made anti-national remarks, has now shifted focus from homage to headlines. As legal proceedings unfold against Pushpa Sathidar, activists and artists across the country have voiced concern, calling it an attempt to silence dissent.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Who Sang ‘Hum Dekhenge' at Veera Sathidar Memorial? Nagpur cops don't know
1 2 Nagpur: Even a week after Nagpur police invoked the stringent Section 152 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), akin to sedition under the erstwhile Indian Penal Code, against three persons for recitation of Pakistani poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz 's revolutionary 'nazm', " Hum Dekhenge ", they failed to identify who sang the Urdu couplets at the event in memory of acclaimed filmmaker Veera Sathidar. Though Pushpa Sathidar, wife of the late filmmaker, was charged with endangering national sovereignty and promoting communal disharmony under Section 152 BNS, she did not recite the poem, she was only the organiser. Talking to TOI, senior inspector of Sitabuldi police station, Vitthal Singh Rajput, said, "We are trying to identify the participants of the event, including the woman from 'Samta Kala Manch' who recited Faiz's poem. We have the recording of the event, the probe is ongoing, and statements will be recorded. Those who recited the couplets and raised anti-establishment slogans are likely to have gone underground, but they will be tracked down soon. No arrests have been made yet. A woman inspector, Rakhi Gedam, is leading the probe." The memorial on May 13 under the banner of Veera Sathidar Smruti Samanvay Samiti, was co-organised by Samta Kala Manch, a Leftist cultural outfit. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Sofrendo com varizes? Faça esse truque imediatamente em casa Fim das Varizes Undo Veera Sathidar, who died of Covid in April 2021, was known for his stellar role in the film 'Court', which was India's official entry at the 2016 Academy Awards. The recitation of "Hum Dekhenge", a poem associated with resistance and protest, led to an FIR being filed at Sitabuldi police station against Pushpa Sathidar and two others under Section 152 of BNS. The complaint, lodged by right-wing activist Dattatreya Shirke, was prompted by a YouTube video of the event, which also featured a speaker praising the poem's call for an uprising against what was described as an "intolerant and tyrannical regime". The controversy reignited discussions on Faiz's 'nazm', previously linked to anti-CAA protests, and its perceived anti-establishment undertones. The event also drew attention amid surveillance on socio-cultural groups suspected of indulging in subversive activity. Pushpa Sathidar, who is continuing her husband's legacy of advocating for the oppressed, organised the memorial to honour Veera's contributions as an actor, writer, and political thinker. The event saw over 100 attendees, including members of Left organisations, and allegedly featured a speech critical of the proposed Maharashtra Special Public Security Bill. Nagpur police's inability to identify the singer a week after the FIR has raised questions about the investigation's progress, with critics pointing to broader concerns about freedom of expression and use of stringent laws like Section 152 of BNS, which replaces the colonial-era sedition law.
Hindustan Times
20-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Marathi actor's wife, two others face charges after recitation of Faiz Ahmed Faiz's ‘Hum Dekhenge'
Pushpa Sathidar, the wife of late actor and Dalit rights activist Veera Sathidar, is among three people who reportedly face charges after an attendee recited poet Faiz Ahmed Faiz's 'Hum Dekhenge' poem at a memorial event in Maharashtra's Nagpur. During a memorial programme for Veera Sathidar on May 13, a member of the Samata Kala Manch, recited verses by renowned Pakistani poet Faiz, including lines such as - 'Hum Ahl-e-Safa, Mardrid-e-Haram, Masnad Pe Bithae Jayenge, Sab Taj Uchhale Jayenge, Sab Takht Giraye Jayenge, Hum Dekhenge' - which call for resistance against authoritarianism, according to PTI news agency. Also Read: Who is Nitasha Kaul, Indian-origin professor to lose OCI status for 'anti-India' activity? The video went viral on social media and was aired on Marathi news channels as well. According to a complainant Dattatraya Shirke cited by PTI, the remarks were inflammatory and disturbed communal harmony. An FIR was filed against the organisers and the person who recited the poem on basis of the complaint lodged by Dattatraya Shirke. Also Read: Pune engg student held for 'supporting Pak' on social media The speaker allegedly said during the recitation, 'Jo song ke medium se ye satta hila thi, usi tarah se hamare desh mein bhi takht hilane ki pratha hai. Aaj hum jis daur mein ji rahe hain, ye daur fasciswad ka hai. Ye daur tanasahi ka hai'. An FIR was registered at the Sitabuldi police station against Pushpa Sathidar and two others associated with the memorial programme under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 152 (endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), 196 (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 3 (5), which concerns common intention. Also Read: NIA, IB grill arrested YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra, focus on Pak, China visits According to Shirke, the speech and recitation of the poem, equated India's government with fascist regimes and also called for political upheaval. The police have launched a probe into the event, collecting digital video evidence of the event and recording statements of those who had attended the memorial programme. "We are examining all available footage, witness testimonies and documents. The process of recording statements is crucial to determining individual roles and verifying the allegations," an officer told PTI. Police said they were also looking into the activities and background of the Samata Kala Manch, whose head, Sudhir Dhawale, is currently out on bail in connection with another case related to alleged inflammatory speeches made during the Elgar Parishad event in Pune in 2017.
Time of India
20-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Poetry on trial: When ‘Hum Dekhenge' meets Section 152
As the Business Head for The Times of India, I lead strategic initiatives and drive growth for one of the nation's most influential media organisations. My journalist friends believe I've crossed over to the proverbial dark side. Living on the edges of a dynamic newsroom, I dabble infrequently into these times that we live and believe in the spectatorial axiom – 'distance provides perspective'. LESS ... MORE There's an old newsroom rule: if satire starts feeling like reportage, double-check the dateline. Today's dateline reads Nagpur, May 20 '25 — and yes, the news is real. Three people, including filmmaker Veera Sathidar's widow Pushpa, now stare at 'anti-national' charges because someone recited Faiz Ahmad Faiz's Hum Dekhenge at a memorial service. The FIR leans on the shiny new Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, our fresh-minted successor to sedition. Let that sink in: a poem written in 1979 to needle Zia-ul-Haq's martial law is apparently dangerous for Indian sovereignty in 2025. My inner sub-editor wants to label this Irony, Grade A. My inner citizen just sighs. A couplet, a complaint, a country on edge According to the complaint, Faiz's verses 'raise an anti-establishment chorus' and risk communal disharmony. No arrests yet, the police assure us — they're merely investigating. Translation: the process itself is the punishment. Court dates, lawyer fees, the slow grind of bureaucracy — all for a few lines of Urdu that begin with a Quranic echo and end in goosebumps. Faiz's scaffolding is Islamic, sure — 'Wa-yabqaa wajhu rabbika…' — but the architecture is stubbornly secular. He topples tyrants, not temples; thrones, not theologies. The crown that gets tossed could belong to any despot with a Wi-Fi connection and a fragile ego. The lightning rod, of course, is 'An-al-Haq' — Mansur al-Hallaj's heretical 'I am the Truth.' Read slowly and you'll hear its Sanskrit cousin 'Aham Brahmasmi.' Two languages, one rebellion: the divine spark within every mortal throat. When Faiz smuggles Hallaj into his stanza, he isn't preaching Islam; he's detonating hierarchy. The truth, he suggests, is portable — and intensely personal. The image depicts people protesting with their fists up. (Image credit: AI generated) During the anti-CAA protests, Hum Dekhenge became the unofficial background score, equal parts anthem and lullaby. That resonance clearly spooks those who'd prefer their dissent nicely laminated and out of earshot. So here we are, hauling a 46-year-old poem into the witness box. Spare a thought for Pushpa Sathidar. She gathered friends to remember a husband who once acted in a film literally titled Court — a biting drama about the Indian justice system. Now life imitates cinema with cruel precision. Every time we criminalise a couplet, we shrink the idea of India by a syllable. The Constitution promises the 'freedom of speech and expression.' But freedom with asterisk after asterisk is just parole. Ask yourself: if Hum Dekhenge is communal, what isn't? Kabir's couplets? Amrita Pritam's Aj Aakhaan Waras Shah Nu? If metaphoric thrones are off-limits, our literature syllabus will soon look like a censored WhatsApp forward. Why this matters (Even if you never quote Faiz) Because poetry is a canary. When the state reaches for penal codes to silence a stanza, you can bet tougher tools await the prose. Journalism, cinema, academia — the queue forms quickly. Because conflating dissent with disloyalty is the oldest trick in the authoritarian playbook. Change the act number, rename sedition if you must; the choreography stays the same. Because a republic confident in its own foundations should laugh off a poem, not litigate it. Let's read Faiz aloud — in Urdu, Hindi, Bengla, even Klingon if that helps. Let's pair 'An-al-Haq' with 'Aham Brahmasmi' and watch the borders blur. Let's remind ourselves that metaphors don't carry Molotovs, they carry mirrors. And while we're at it, maybe update that FIR template. Replace 'endangering sovereignty' with 'triggering uncomfortable self-reflection.' At least it'll be honest. Faiz ends with a promise: 'Hum dekhenge, lazim hai ke hum bhi dekhenge.' We will see, it is inevitable that we too shall see. Yes, we will — the verdicts, the backtracking, the memes, the inevitable tumble of overreaching laws. Truth has survived worse regimes than ours. It usually does. The question is whether we'll still recognise ourselves when the curtain falls. Until then, keep the poems handy. They make excellent flashlights. Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer Views expressed above are the author's own.
