What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
What TV doesn't, print can't; we deliver.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The political aftermath and left party opposition in India, particularly from Kerala, following the Ayodhya consecration ceremony, show no signs of abating. The District Youth Federation of India (DYFI) has announced its intention to screen the controversial documentary ‘Ram Ke Naam’ in film institutes and public spaces in the coming days, alleging that the BJP is attempting to blend religion and politics.
The youth wing of the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI (M)] declared its plans to screen the documentary to educate the public about what they perceive as the RSS and BJP’s attempt to intertwine religion and politics for hidden motives. As part of this initiative, the youth organisation initially screened the documentary at the ‘Manaveeyam’ cultural space in Thiruvananthapuram.
Directed by award-winning filmmaker Anand Patwardhan, the 1992 documentary delves into the campaign led by the Vishva Hindu Parishad to construct a Ram temple at the then-disputed site in Ayodhya, along with the communal violence it incited.
DYFI State President VK Sanoj told The New Indian, “We have decided to screen the documentary in more public spaces so that people, especially youngsters, are aware of the real intentions of the RSS and the Sangh Parivar forces. We want to make people aware of the danger of mixing religion and politics in society. We will conduct seminars and meetings at all levels so that people realise the facts.”
Dramatic scenes unfolded when students from the KR Narayanan National Institute of Visual Science and Arts in Kottayam attempted to screen the documentary in front of their college on Monday. Facing protests from local BJP functionaries and right-wing activists, the students were compelled to relocate the screening inside the campus.
The students’ union of the institute aimed to begin the documentary screening at 9:30 pm on Monday, with over 40 students, including girls, present to watch. However, BJP functionaries reportedly intervened and threatened the students, prompting police intervention. To ease tensions, the police requested the students to move the screening inside the campus, to which they agreed.
