Communal hatred and marginalisation themes dominate Goa arts and literature festival (GALF) inauguration

Goa Khabar: Communal hatred and marginalisation in India were the themes that dominated both the keynote addresses at the inauguration function of the 14^th Goa arts and literature festival held at the International Centre Goa (ICG) on Thursday evening.

Speaking on behalf of the Muslim community in India, noted Delhi based author and translator, Rakhshanda Jalil rued the fact that even 75 years of Independence, Muslims in India still felt insecure and unsafe.

Focusing on present-day India, Jalil said, “ I spot hatred against my community being spewed across social media, in the middle-class neighbourhoods, public gardens, schools and colleges.”

According to Jalil, the illiterate Muslims were doubly victimised and she quoted the examples of meat sellers in Northern India who have been asked to shut shop by Hindutva activists, the imams of small mosques in Hindu dominated areas being threatened etc.

She also quoted the horrific incident a few years ago, when a railway constable shot dead three Muslim men because they were offering namaz in a moving train. She also mentioned how a present-day chief minister in India was encouraging Hindus to openly hate Muslims in his state.

Naga poet and award winning author, Easterine Kire who spoke next put the spotlight on the theme of marginalisation by saying, “For too long, the people of the North East have been made to feel marginalised.”

According to Kire, marginalisation was a result of an ultra-centrist policy adopted by governments in the country. “The moment, undue importance is granted to a central power, it often becomes dictatorial and people on the margins are made to conform compulsorily,” she said.

“People often ask me, what should the people in the North East do to become more mainstream? What is this supposed to mean,” Kire questioned.

Kire urged writers and poets to create their own style and language. “You must not allow people to dictate to you. You must not allow anyone to water you down, by labelling you,” she said emphatically.

The inauguration function also saw the launch of the book, “Forest Recipes of Goa: stories of tribal food.” by photographer Assavri Kulkarni at the hands of musician Remo Fernandes, the unveiling of the GALF artwork created by cartoonist Alexyz, poetry reading by Singaporean poet Joshua Ip and a dance performance by the Sattari Bal Vikas Kala manch.