Protests against CAA, NRC organic: Nandita Das
Bollywood actor, director Nandita Das who is well-known for her efforts on behalf of humanitarian causes and organizations says that people do not want another partition to happen. The wonderful students and women who have taken to the streets against the very divisive Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) are giving us the courage to speak up. They are now finding their voice to speak against the current climate of fear.
Nandita Das was seen attending the 13th edition of the Jaipur Literature Festival. She also launched her book on the author titled “Manto and I”
The ‘Manto’ director also asserted that, “The protests are important as they expose people to many realities. All these wonderful students and women, the many Shaheen Baghs springing up around the country, they are giving us a lot of courage to speak up. It is important to come out sometimes on the streets not just to expand the protests but for your own conscience. Sometimes, we need these reminders and reaffirmations that we are not alone.
There are ways in which they threaten you. They want us to be scared and we have to overcome that. I always feel that if you focus on your convictions, the courage will automatically follow. We don’t need to seek courage. Just as fear begets fear, courage also begets courage, she said.”
Talking about her film ‘Manto’, Nandita said, “The reason I made a movie on Pakistani short story writer and playwright Saadat Hasan Manto was that I wanted people to respond to what was happening today. Another reason was to invoke the ”Mantoiyat” in us. ”Mantoiyat” means the will to be pursuing truth, the will to be more courageous and the will to be freer spirited. That’s what Manto represents to me. It’s not just the man, but Manto, the idea.”
According to the CAA, members of Hindu, Sikh, Buddhist, Jain, Parsi and Christian communities who have come from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan till December 31, 2014, following religious persecution there will get Indian citizenship.
The CAA, enacted by Parliament, has caused countrywide anguish and social unrest with widespread protests all over the country.
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