Jain Spirit 2002 10 No 12

Author(s): Jain Spirit UK
Publisher: UK Young Jains

Page 14

GLOBAL NEWS
RIOTING VOICI
The sectarian violence that flared up in Gujarat earlier this year fundamentally shocked Indians and non-Indians alike. It struck a harsh blow to the principle of secularism, to the ideal of communal harmony. Yet many of us refused to bow to fundamentalist assertions that such discord and raging malaise is inevitable and without resolution. Amongst those who sought a constructive response to Gujarat's Hindu-Muslim conflict was the IndoAmerican Arts Council, which addressed the fall-out from the riots through the voice of theatre.
On 21 May 2002 in New York, the Indo-American Arts Council - in association with the World Policy Institute and Saja - presented a staged reading of Shashi Tharoor's novel "Riot'. The novel is based on events surrounding the Ram Janmabhoomi - Babri Masjid riots, and was formally adapted for the theatre stage. Aroon Shivdasani, Executive Director of the Indo-American Arts Council explained: "Early this year, in the flaming aftermath of the awful Godra torching, I realised we had to make people here aware that we ARE a secular country,
that the various distinct 'voices' add to the mosaic of India and ensure its secularism even while presuming to be different. I asked Shashi whether could adapt his novel to a staged reading. He was excited and agreed. I then requested Michael Johnson Chase from the Lark Theatre to take on this project. Michael, in conjunction with Shashi and myself, adapted Shashi's novel to a formal staged reading. I deliberately cut out the love story and concentrated solely on the issue of the actual 'riot'. I wanted the voices to be articulated - to clearly present the Hindu, Muslim, Sikh and the 'voice of reason' perspectives."
The staged reading was performed by Shabana Azmi, Madhur Jaffrey, Shashi Tharoor and Tunku Vardarajan, with the actors deliberately cast as characters of a different faith to their own. Thus, in an attempt to ensure that the audience did not take sides, Shabana Azmi played a Hindu, Madhur Jaffrey a Muslim, and Shashi Tharoor a Sikh. In Riot, Tharoor gives each perspective a passionate yet lucid voice, and this evidently captured the audience's attention during the performance.
Shivdasani observed that the audience was spellbound and LISTENED to each articulated perspective - however extreme, however passionate."
Prior to the staged reading of Riot, a medley of a Hindu bhajan and a Muslim devotional song was played. The evening ended with the diverse cast saying: "We are beautiful." Notions of harmony and beauty set the tone for the evening and the multi-cultural audience sat side by side peacefully, focusing intently upon the clearly voiced opinions of the different faces of India. Those who came to listen ignored the rioters and protestors clamouring outside the auditorium. Instead they went home cradling the hope that India could indeed stay secular, and understanding that each passionate point of view they had heard should be given due respect and consideration.
The Indo-American Arts Council is a registered not-for-profit service and resource organisation, charged with the mission of promoting the awareness, creation, production, exhibition, publication and performance of Indian and cross cultural art forms in North America.
Indo-American Arts Council Inc., 27 Holly Dr., New Rochelle, NY 10801
Ahimsa year farce
The Jain community in India has expressed serious concern over the revelation that the export of meat from the country doubled during the year 2001 that was officially designated "Ahimsa Year'. The number of slaugh- terhouses, including those that are illegally operated, increased. It is reported that presently, more than 4.000 slaughterhouses operate illegally all over the country. For a long time, various institutions opposed to cruelty to animals have been pressing the
Indian government to put a total ban on the export of meat from the country, but such efforts have thus far proved futile. Although it is argued that meat export is in India's economic interest, statistics show that real earning from the export of meat is a mere 0.71% of the total revenue, which could be made up from other sources if there was the political will to put ahimsa into practice. India's environment is devastated by meat production and export.
NEW CASSETTES ON PILGRIMAGE
SHATRUNJAY An excellent series of four new audio cassettes on the pilgrimage to Shatrunjaya have been released in Mumbai by Triratna Foundation. The hymns are in a mixture of Gujarati, Hindi and Prakrit, with professional singers and compositions by Parthiv Gohil and Dipali Somaiya. In terms of quality, this set stands out as a beautiful contribution to Jain music. The packaging is also excellent and the music helps the listener to experience the spirit of pilgrimage. On 23rd June, the cassettes were launched at a special event in Mumbai by Muniraj Vimalsagarji. For details, email Meera Shah madhumatishah@hotmail.com or see the advertisement in this issue.
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Jain Spirit . September - November 2002