Debate on freedom of expression turns into battleground for Anupam Kher
Debate on freedom of expression turns into battleground for Anupam Kher
The sixth edition of the Tata Literature Live at NCPA on late Thursday night saw a debate on ‘Freedom of expression is in imminent danger’ where five eminent personalities spoke on the topic. While author Shobhaa De and head of Observer Research Foundation Sudheendra Kulkarni were for the motion, opposing it were actor Anupam Kher and political personality Nalin Kohli. The debate was chaired by British television journalist Nik Gowing.
Mr Kulkarni opened the debate supporting the motion, addressing the recent spate of instances of intolerance in the country. He was followed by Mr Kohli, who said that the power of the constitution was the last word on freedom of speech in a democracy, thus claiming that there was no threat to it. Ms De took over to raise a point that the fact that they were having the debate hinted to a threat of the mentioned freedom. She added that there were talks to give extra ‘bandobast’ to this particular session because there were two troublemakers in the house (referring to herself and Kulkarni) and that, that should speak for how much freedom one really enjoys. “I am proud to be a troublemaker,” she concluded.
Mr Kher, the most controversial speaker at the debate started by questioning the credibility of the artistes who were returning their awards as a mark of protest against intolerance in society today. After condemning Shiv Sena’s attack on Mr Kulkarni he posed a question to him — if you had a neighbour who has abused your family, would you still invite him over for tea at your place (Referring to Kulkarni’s invitation to Pakistan former minister Khurshid Mahmud Kasuri).
“Where were these people when Kashmiri pandits were being thrown out of their own country Did they have amnesia when women were raped and butchered in Kashmir or Sardars were killed on the streets of Delhi Why didn’t they return their awards at that time You mean that intolerance has only happened in the last 14 months ” When some members of the audience shouted ‘yes’, he added, “it means that some people can’t tolerate a chaiwala becoming the PM of this country.”
Reacting to a resounding “boo” from the audience he added, “These boos don’t bother me, I am a theatre guy. Except that in theatre, I have never got this, I am a brilliant actor. I am an eternal optimist, I am not a criticiser. I have faith in my country. I have grown up with the prayer saare jahaan se acha and it’s the thought I carry still.”
He added that his freedom in fact was curbed when festival director Anil Dharker asked him to speak only in English, a tongue he is admittedly not the most comfortable in). Also, that the motion was a positive statement and not a question, was a point of contention for the actor who considered the debate manufactured. At one point, he accused Mr Dharker of getting in ‘paid audience’ since most people in the audience were ‘for’ the motion, as was gauged by a show of hands before the debate began. A visibly upset Mr Dharker got up from the audience to say, “We have all sorts of people coming here. I do not control who comes here and what they say.”
Mr Kher later went on to read the exchange of messages he had with Mr Dharker in an attempt to reassert that his request to rephrase the motion was not taken into account (even though he admitted that Mr Dharker gave him the green signal to state the exchange as was). Mr Kher’s wife Kirron rose from the audience to support his stance that was also greeted with much booing from the audience. A few people also walked out in protest.
