[blog update - audio 1]

Now you can listen to some of the audio from the film.
slogans of azadi 

 If you want to read a translation of these slogans (and hear some more) click here.
You can also sample some of the poetry with Zarif Ahmed ’Zarif’ and Piarey ‘Hatash’ reading their poems

[ blog flash 7 - guwahati surreal ]

if the surreal is the criterion, guwahati would be memorable. Bar of Hotel Blue Moon converted into screening chamber. The screen which was showing music videos had Kashmir replace them. But that was it- a surreal location with not much publicity resulting in a small crowd and tepid discussion. It was sad because, guwahati has a very astute political culture and a whole conflict resolution industry in overdrive with peace talks between United Liberation Front of Axom and India going through the usual process of – non talk, army punctuation, mysterious bomb blasts. Sad, real sad this non screening. Guwahati, we will be back.

[ blog flash 6 - shillong ]

blogmistri will be biased- he is from shillong.

the mysterious screening journey of the film continues. technically, the first preview of the film should have been at Gorakhpur, but hindu right intervened in the city with their favourite festival- riot and to our unhappiness-delhiwallahs got the first official taste of the film not the gorakhpuris. then the film travelled to Srinagar’s truly inspirational screening followed by an exciting and very political screening at Patna- and then Shillong on saturday, 26th May 2007, 3pm.

Shillong- capital of Meghalaya-56 kms north of Cherrapunjee (wettest place on earth) is known more for its hill station charm than its cultural/political life. as in all places cursed with the discourse of tourism – Shillongites struggle between the cunning despair of tourist guide and the banal excitements of everyday life. alt-space of the freedom project which hosted the film, is one of those groups which in a very small town way has been trying to create critical/dissenting spaces through films, music, conversations, politics, etc. They were thrown out of the small place they had been functioning from, and thus had hired the 108 year old Assam Club, opposite the old Presbyterian Church in Laban,with wooden floors and colonial charm for the screening.

Apart from the fact that we had a full house (around 130 people), thanks to Julius Basaiawmoit – an SRFTII graduate- great sound too. For the first time outside the studio setting, we could enjoy the elaborate sound design of Madhu Apsara.

Although Shillong screening was blogmistri/editor’s way of telling his town folk his reason for his regular vanishing acts to Delhi, people chose to read deep political significance in the choice of location. Their reading was to do with the usual discomfort which the societies of ‘North east’ India feel with the idea/geography of India. Historically most of the states/communities which reside here, have one time or the other challenged the territorial integrity of India. It was not that we were not aware of this connection, but we wanted to go beyond the facile similarity into the specificities of various different nationality movements. The profile of the audience was mixed- students, activists, relatives, academics… the usual. Questions- pandits, violence, islamicism, form, etc. One thing which is becoming quite exciting for us is the reaction of the ‘progressive/secular/liberal’ crowd to the religious tonality of the Azadi Movement in Kashmir. From an initial discomfort- the conversation moves on to the false dichotomies between religion/secular which the liberal discourse draws out.

Some of the reactions which we would classify as NGO/Conflict resolution industry type which blights any place where movements challenging the idea of India exists, is best exemplified by this piece which appeared in the North East Telegraph two days after the Shillong screening . Reactions of this type try to dehistoricise and reduce any struggle to a ‘conflict’ and attempts to manage and control the ‘conflict’ on behalf of the state. So the usual questions about the Peace Process, Human cost of the conflict etc.

But then an engagement which made the screening come alive for us was this short poem by Robin S Ngangom, sent to us via sms few hours after the screening.

[ blog redesign 1 ]

• blogmistri’s long pending re-working of the site has begun. he has been consolidating the newspaper reviews on the site itself, as many links have gone cold and even the google cache has failed to retrieve those lost words… so bear with us, all the reviews are now linked on this page and interviews on this page. obviously, you can go directly to the review page from the menubar on top, or the sidebar on the right.

• and those curious souls who wanted to sample all the comments, debates, acrimony, vitriol etc. have patience with this shillong based blogmistri, who has a bad internet connection, and cooking for the family to take care of…

[ blog flash 4 - blogosphere ]

blog mistri <spliendsmediaATyahoo.co.in> writes

After being without a net connection for a few days–unseasonal rain and storm in Shillong–I am trawling the net, and encounter a curious controversy.

Mr. Inam Ul Rehman, who reviewed the film for Greater Kashmir, also posted the review on ‘Meri’ News, a news portal purportedly providing a platform for unfiltered citizen’s journalism. The censors at the portal managed to not only mangle the review but also preface it with an introduction which turned the meaning of Mr. Rehman’s review upside down! Mr. Rehman, one of ‘Meri’ News’s top Citizen Journalists of 2006, is naturally angry, but his anger remains unacknowledged by the portal and his review continues to be defaced.

So you would be comforted to know that our blog is not the only one attracting slanderous, threatening, $#%^* comments. It seems to me that anyone who tries to swim against the Indian nationalist consensus on Kashmir cannot escape $#%^*.

An instructive episode that allows us a peep into the Indian media’s Kashmir strategy:
compare the original review in Greater Kashmir below, with the Meri News version which follows. Especially instructive is the introduction which the site editors tagged to the review, and adjectives like “jehadis” which they interpolated into Inam ul Rehman’s writing.

Jashn-e-Azadi: We the slaves | Inam ul Rehman | Greater Kashmir | April 5, 2007

On 15th August Indian army unfurls the tricolour at historic Lal-chowk to celebrate their Independence Day and on this occasion only two things are visible on the streets of Srinagar: Indian army and stray dogs, this is the most telling scene of Jashne-e-Azadi directed by Sanjay Kak. Jashne-e-Azadi made by the son of the soil Sanjay Kak left me numb. Here is film which mocks at the India’s sham democracy in Kashmir without sermonise or patronising anyone. There is no linear narration. And he has defined Azadi not by himself but by the concerned people. It can range from metaphysical fight to revenge. He has brilliantly assembled collage of scenes and let people speak themselves. And in between-you blink and you miss the scene: has first time ever highlighted that the death toll of Kashmir Pandits killed is 200 only. Then, the symbolism, metaphors and similes used by the director are very telling. The documentary moves to and fro again and again. And in the prevailing confusion one thing that is unanimous throughout the film despite chaos and confusion people lounge for Azadi.

It may jar the pristine filmmakers but this is not made for them. One can find thousand faults with the film and it may be criticised for not ‘balancing’ but does TRUTH need to be balanced. Yes there is no mention of Kunanposh Pora gang-rapes by the army. Yes he is silent of Gawkadal and Bijbehra massacres and other such details. But let us give him a benefit of doubt. Because Sanjay talks of those actions where media (read Hindu media) was involved yet nothing came to limelight. He deserves more than bouquets and patting on the back.

He has also shown that intellectualism is not only about writing articles, delivering lectures, attending world conferences but visual intellectualism can be most telling—without sermonising, without boring and without catering to few intelligentsia classes; visual intellectualism is today the most potent weapon to defeat the forces of evil.

I am the one who is guilty of relishing Indian movies, enjoying songs, loving its actors when the same country has sent my one hundred thousand brethrens in graves. Jashne-e-Azadi reminds of Paul Valery who in ‘History and Politics’ writes: history is the most dangerous product evolved from the chemistry of the intellect. Its properties are well known. It causes dreams; it intoxicates whole people; gives false memories; quickens their reflexes; keeps their old wounds open; torments them in their repose; leads them into delusions, either of grandeur or persecution; and makes nations bitter, arrogant, insufferable and vain.

We have the knack of dismissing brilliant works; “we already know it”! There is nothing which we haven’t seen, nothing which we haven’t gone through, nothing which we haven’t experienced but there is everything which we have forgotten. It’s a film which must be watched by every Kashmiri. I cannot express the gratitude, but to say, I salute you Sanjay Kak for deifying odds. Your film reminded me slavery, the sacrifices, the sufferings of mothers and sisters! Prune it a little and sent it to every nook and corner of the Kashmir so that we can once again reinvigorate our sapping spirits. And yes it must be talked and circulated to other parts of India as well.

Placed below is its mangled version, with the interpolations marked in bold, as it appeared on ‘Meri’ News

Jashne-e-Azadi: The untold tragedy | Inam Ul Rehman | 07 April 2007, Saturday

Sanjay Kak’s Jashne-e-Azadi visually captures the fright and terror that reigns the bloodstained Valley. It’s a tragic collage that conveys how Azadi-driven jehadis have ruined the paradise.

ON MARCH 31, Sanjay Kak screened the much-awaited film, Jashne-e-Azadi, in Tagore Hall, Srinagar. The film, despite obvious flaws, is a treat in visual intellectualism and poignantly brings out the Kashmiri pain and pathos. It’s a film that will leave you numb. The deserted streets, dotted only by troops and stray dogs on the most revered national day, August 15, metaphorically drives home how much devastation has the Pak-imported concept of Azadi wreaked in the paradise. In Kak’s realism comes out the neighbour’s nefariousness and the title, Jashne-e-Azadi, acquires a different, ironical ring. It’s anything but jashne (celebration), anything but azadi (freedom) in defiled Kashmir.

The strong point of the movie is that it says it all without explicitly sermonizing or wailing over the wrongs in Kashmir. There is no linear narration. The film itself doesn’t attempt to give Azadi any sense but instead allows the grim situations to bring out the sham sense of Azadi among the Kashmiris.

The film’s raw energy flows the ground situations that range from metaphysical fight to venedetta to jehadi terror to revenge. He has brilliantly assembled collage of scenes that capture people’s torment. The director uses symbolism, metaphors and similes to elucidate the Kashmir tragedy.

The documentary moves to and fro in time again and again. But it keeps coming back from reels of chaos and confusion to the central theme or the fountainhead of the people problems — Azadi. It may jar the pristine filmmakers, but this is not made for them. One can find a thousand faults with the film and it may be criticized for not balancing the theme, but does reality need to be balanced. It only depicts reality. The interpretation is left to the audience.

Kak has also shown that intellectualism is not only about writing articles, delivering lectures or attending world conferences. Visual intellectualism can be most telling — without sermonizing, without boring and without catering to few intelligentsia classes. How potent can visual intellectualism be this film stands out as an example.

Jashne-e-Azadi reminds me of Paul Valery who in History and Politics writes: “History is the most dangerous product evolved from the chemistry of the intellect. Its properties are well known. It causes dreams; it intoxicates whole people; gives false memories; quickens their reflexes; keeps their old wounds open; torments them in their repose; leads them into delusions, either of grandeur or persecution; and makes nations bitter, arrogant, insufferable and vain.”

[blog breather 1]

For all those friends who use clunky browsers (like the old Internet Explorer) and see the sidebar load at the bottom of the page, and not at the side, we are providing all the links for the Reports, reviews and interviews. We are also working on a redesign of the site, so you can read all the comments (with all their provocations and insults!) in a single consolidated page, and place the reviews on the blog itself.

But for now here are all the links for all the Reports, reviews and interviews -

David Lepeska interviews Sanjay Kak in Kashmir Observer
David Lepeska’s review in Kashmir Observer
Shivam Vij interviews Sanjay Kak in Tehelka
Shahnaz Bashir interviews Sanjay Kak in Greater Kashmir
Ishfaq-ul-Hassan’s report in DNA
Inam ul Rehman’s review in Greater Kashmir
David Lepeska’s report in Kashmir Observer
Showkat Motta’s report in Greater Kashmir
Sheen Meem Ahmed’s review in the Urdu Kashmir Uzma
Amitava Kumar’s comments on his blog
Jeremy Seabrook’s review in The Statesman
Mukul Kesavan’s review in The Telegraph
Azera Rahman’s review for India Abroad News Service
Jeebesh Bagchi’s comments on Sarai reader-list
Mohamad Junaid’s comments on bluekashmir
Amit Bhan’s review in Pioneer
Paramita Ghosh’s review in Tehelka
Vidhi Upadhyay’s report for Press Trust of India

[ blog flash 3 - srinagar ]

5/04/07 | 9.20 am

Kashmir Times report (a cached view)

4/04/07 | 2.21 pm

David Lepeska in Kashmir Observer- an evocative report, on the film and its Srinagar screening.
And Amitava Kumar’s celebration of the film.

1/04/07 | 7.03 am

First review of the film and its ‘celebratory’ screening at Srinagar in Greater Kashmir and a urdu review in Kashmir Uzma
also a recently published review in The Statesman (it unearths almost every theme in the film)

31/03/07 | 6.03 pm

>> if you were at srinagar screening post your comments/experiences here. if you have images from the screening email them to us at jashneazadifilmATgmail.com.

31/03/07 | 5.00 pm

a long interview with Sanjay Kak, a version of which also appears in Tehelka.

31/03/07 | 1.54 pm

in about half an hour, srinagar preview is on. all technical problems sorted. managed even a camera which will play large DVCAM tapes. unlike Habitat screening in Delhi, we will have stereo sound and yes, a bright new projector.

we will keep you posted.

[ blog flash 2 ]

We had hoped our blog would attract some serious reactions to the film, but unfortunately *** vitriol seems to have taken the place of real criticism. So it was not surprising that our blog got scooped out by the good old print media.
The first serious review appears today by Mukul Kesavan, The Telegraph, Calcutta (15 March 2007).

And google yielded this short review carried by IANS.

And Mohamad Junaid’s review

[ screening news 1 ]

We just finished a preview screening today at the Habitat Centre, Delhi. It had everything – a full house of more than 400 viewers, a passionate discussion, and even a small and strident group of protesters. Your reactions could be posted here

[ blog life 4 ]

There has been nothing from us at the Jashn-e-Azadi blog for a while…
One reason is that we have been working to finish the film for the first preview on March 13th. And it seemed appropriate to observe a discreet silence before the film first appeared before its audience. But the more serious reason is that we have been waiting and watching, reading and soaking in, wondering what direction this blog would take. There have admittedly been moments of quiet despair when it seemed to have disintegrated into an ugly, abusive, damaging brawl. At other times there were moments of lucidity that held out the kind of promise that the blog set out in search of –

>>Manash Bhattacharjee
Mar 9th, 2007 at 9:28 pm

Some Kashmiri Pandits are showcasing their intolerance. They would like a Kashmir without Kashmiri Muslims. There would be Kashmiri Muslims who would also like the opposite to be true. Either we ask for permission for both communities to wage a war to decide the issue, or we also listen to those who might like to take a different route to freedom. If every Kashmiri Pandit and Muslim is “equally” entitled to speak on behalf of themselves both individually as well as in their idea of the collective, we should have the civilized sense to hear them before we decide to throw stones at them. I am amazed at the brutality of people’s opinions which seek to divide between those voices which have suffered but still manage to be critical and those voices which have suffered and ended with hatred. If suffering isn’t as banal as vegetables weighed on a scale to find out who suffered more, then every human being has to be granted his and her own view of suffering. No civilized community or individual can create a gulag to exterminate the critical voices of human suffering. Though we all would regretfully bow down our heads before those who suffered, we also cannot fail to point out that suffering alone, alas, cannot become a justified condition for war and hatred. Both Kashmiri Pandits and Muslims have suffered, and it is about time they respected each other’s suffering. But respect for suffering doesn’t mean that one has to behave like a butcher and the other has to behave like a lamb. The list of mutual grievances would surely be long and a contested one. But war and hatred will not allow the grievances to be put on the table. We are no longer in the Medieval Era where we would expect our local warlords and chieftains to fight battles and our respective Kings to win the wars for us. If we respect ourselves as thinking, democratic citizens we have to show it when it is most easy to succumb to medieval mindsets. We have to resist this barbarism of abusing those who would like to add their own story to this larger story of suffering Kashmiris. Your history comes in the way of Sanjay Kak’s memory; Kak’s memory comes in the way of your history – don’t brutalize this Aga Shahid-ian entanglement with vulgar retorts. You can elivate your own sense of suffering only by respecting his story. Or else, we have known suffering to be not always successful in humanizing people. Or else the Jews should have treated the Palestinians the way they would have liked the Germans to treat them. I remember an RSS rumour-story from my father where Gandhi was painted during partition as a Muslim in disguise. The same mentality seems to be working against Kak’s credentials. Kak’s film on Kashmir cannot get a verdict before it has been shown. You cannot turn so restless and timid about someone’s imagination. All those who are calling Kak names are Hindu Ayatollah’s. People are ready to turn sick for the sake of a diesase they love. The name of that disease is hatred. Those who are mediocre become the bussinessmen of hatred in any society. I have mixed pleas with harshness because I don’t think people are going to change overnight. So I thought I should better take them on from all fronts. I am not very sure whether this blog on the film should have been started before the film was screened once, but it has all the legitimacy in the world to promote and gather a wave of interest and opinions. I hope the film gets a civilized response from the people of this country. I hope Indian civilians do not behave like the Indian army.