Support pours in for arrested Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali

Mateen Hafeez, TNN | Apr 21, 2013, 0

Letters of support have been pouring in from all over the world, including countries like France, Canada, UK, Thailand, Portugal and Germany, for the jailed couple  of Kabir Kala Manch, Sheetal Sathe ansd Sachin Mali

MUMBAI: Letters of support have been pouring in from all over the world, including countries like France, Canada, UK, Thailand, Portugal and Germany, for the jailed couple of Kabir Kala Manch, Sheetal Sathe ansd Sachin Mali, written in English and French, request the Arthur Road and the Byculla women’s prison authorities to not torture the two inmates and provide medical aid to the woman, who is six months pregnant.Till date, authorities have received over 30 letters via fax and over 50 from across the world. Home minister R R Patil too has received similar letters. One of the letters, addressed to Vinod Lokhande, inspector general (prisons), stated, “I am writing to you out of concern for theatre activists Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali, who were arrested on April 2 on various charges, including criminal conspiracy and being part of a banned outfit. Their lives are at risk of torture or other ill-treatment.”

Fed up with the continuous letters, jail officials have switched off the fax machine. “We don’t have so much stationery. All letters are almost same, only the senders are different. The fax letters do not show the location or country code, from where they are being sent,” said a source. After Sathe and Mali’s surrender under the stringent Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), activists Prakash Ambedkar, Prakash Reddy, Anand Patwardhan and others said the two are members of Kabir Kala Manch, a cultural outfit.

“In appearing before the police, KKM members state that this act should not be construed to be a “surrender” but as a form of “satyagraha” to clear their names and establish the fact that their goal is to fight for justice within the confines of democratic conduct,” said a statement signed by Ambedkar, Patwardhan and others.

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Kabir Kala Manch- Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali ‘ Satyagrah not Surrender’ #Videos #KKM

Excerpts of interactions with press as Sheetal Sathe and Sachin Mali, poets who speak out against injustice as members of Kabir Kala Manch, surrendered at Marine Drive Police Station. They have been charged of “Naxalite activity” under UAPA but all they do is sing protest poems against casteism, poverty and state injustice. Sheetal Sathe bravely announced “This is not our surrender, this is our Satyagraha.” This brave poet has put her faith in our democrat. Hope we do not fail her faith.

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Protesting against expolitation of poor no crime: Bombay High court

Prabhat Sharan Mumbai, Feb 5, 2013, DHNS

Court orders release of four artistes alleged to be Maoists

Last week, the Bombay High Court granted bail to four street theatre artistes for allegedly having Maoist connections, observing that “speaking about corruption, social inequality, exploitation of the poor etc and desiring a better society should come into existence and is not banned in our country.”

Granting bail to Dhawala Dhengle, Siddarth Bhosale, Mayuri Bhagat and Anuradha Sonule, against a surety of Rs 30,000 each, Justice Abhay Thipsay said: “Highlighting and creating social awareness on corruption, the widening gap between the rich and the poor and exploitation of the poor is commendable and cannot be considered an evidence of being members of a terrorist organisation.”

The artistes, belonging to a street theatre group named “Kabir Kala Manch,” were picked up the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) in 2011 on grounds that they were inciting the people to violence and members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist). Though police had detained seven people initially, four of them were still in jail since the ATS claimed to have found “incriminating documents and books” in their possession.

Going through the evidence submitted by the state, Justice Thipsay said: “Many of the books found are available in the market and there is no denial of that by the state. In any case, the said literature is not banned and reading thereof is not prohibited.”

On charges that the theatre group was advocating violence through street plays, Justice Thipsay told the public prosecutor: “There is nothing wrong in raising social issues and emphasising that a change in social order is required. The same views are expressed by several national and eminent leaders and a person cannot be branded a member of the Communist Party of India (Maoist) for expressing such views.

“On the contrary, such a reasoning would indicate that these issues, which are real and important, are not addressed by anyone else, except the Communist Party of India (Maoist), which in turn would mean that other parties or social organisations are indifferent to these problems.”

Expressing surprise at the evidence based on which the artistes were imprisoned, Justice Thipsay said: “It is surprising that highlighting the wrongs prevalent in the society and insisting that there is a need to change the situation was considered as evidence and used to convince the court of them being members of the Communist Party of India (Maoist).”

The judge further observed that even the expression of views “to the effect that a change in social order can be brought about only by a revolution” would not amount to any offence. Those who advocate the teachings of Karl Marx are certainly not committing any crime.

DOWNLOAD FULL JUDGEMENT HERE

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Will sheetal sathe ever be exonerated by the Maharashtra Police ?

Sandhya Sathe, mother of Sheetal Sathe speaks her ordeals and atroocities by the Maharahstra State and ATS

शीतलला पोलिस दोषमुक्त करतील का?

The Best Songs and Poems of Kabir Kala Manch #mustread

 THE BEST SONGS OF KABIR KALA MANCH 

Kamayani Bali Mahabal 

http://www.mumbaitheatreguide.com/dramas/features/

Advocate Kamayani Bali Mahabal, a lawyer and activist selects the five best of Kabir Kala Manch’s songs and poems: 1. Sheetal Sathe sings about her mother in MAJHI MAYE. Before she starts to sing, she says: ‘Everyone wants women to join protests against discrimination, but they dont want their own wives to’. Watch the song on: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r7JRWE64CEw 2. Deepak Dengle writes his his poem KISS KISS KO KAID KAROGEY. This heart-wrenching poem was penned in the jail. जेल से कविता: किस किस को कैद करोगे? किस किस को कैद करोगे? लाखों हैं मुक्ति के पंछी, कैद करोगे किसको लेकर पिंजरा उड़ जाएंगे खबर न होगी तुझको इस पिंजरे की सलाखों का लोहा हमने ही निकाला है ये लोहा पिघलाने हमने अपना खून उबाला है लोहा लोहे को पहचानेगा, फिर क्या होगा समझो लेकर पिंजरा उड़ जाएंगे खबर न होगी तुझको इस पिंजरे की दीवारों में हमने पसीना बहाया है ईंट बनाने, सीमेंट बनाने मिट्टी को भी भिगोया है मिट्टी कभी गद्दार न होगी, क्या बतलायें तुझको लेकर पिंजरा उड़ जाएंगे खबर न होगी तुझको इस पिंजरे के पुर्जे पुर्जे हमें बताते अपने किस्से कितने मज़दूर दफन हुए हैं इस पिंजरे के नींव के नीचे वो मज़दूर हैं साथ हमारे, कौन रोकेगा हमको लेकर पिंजरा उड़ जाएंगे खबर न होगी तुझको कैद में डालो, फांसी लगा दो, हंटर से चमड़ी भी निकालो न्याय के रस्ते चल पड़े हैं, बाँध लगा लो, कांटे बिछा लो कितना ज़ुल्म करेगा ज़ालिम, थक जाना है तुझको लेकर पिंजरा उड़ जाएंगे खबर न होगी तुझको 3. Sheetal Sathe sings a song penned by her-EK MAITRA RAANGADYA. Another Sheetal Sathe song which gives me goose bumps has been translated by Ashutosh, a member of the Kabir Kala Manch.   Ek Maitra Raangadya The nausea is served in the plate , the untouchable nausea The disgust is  growing in the belly, the untouchable disgust its there even in  buds of flowers, its there even in  sweet songs that man should drink man’s blood , which is the land where this happens which is the land of this hellish nausea So it goes , my  dear friend, so it goes in the villages so it goes my friend  from the harsh lands,  so it goes in remote places Listen to this my friend , listen to the story of humans Hear out the torment my friend, the torment of our lands there is but one blood in humans there is but one The bones are made the same the bones are but one Juts like the water ust like the flowers ust like the wind this body , natural,  is the same Then how come is this difference? how come this division by caste then how come this division ? how come human are valued differently by this yardstick of caste So it goes , my dear friend, so it goes in the villages so it goes my friend from the harsh lands, so it goes in remote places Listen to this my friend , listen to the story of humans Hear out the torment my friend, the torment of our lands and if we  are  the same humans then why are we ouside the village? The outsider cleans up the waste then why do we have to  bow and beg “curtsy oh my lord, I am passing through Cursty oh my  master , I bow to you curtsy oh my lord, I am passing through Cursty oh my master , I bow to you” Our  shadow is untouchable , our touch nauseating this  disgust in you faces, this shit  in your thoughts this nausea of your beliefs is hanging from our necks , from our  settlements necks So it goes , my dear friend, so it goes in the with Peshawai so it goes my friend , so it goes with feudal lords Listen to this my friend , listen to the story of brahminical Peshwai Hear out the torment my friend, the torment of the untouchables You burned the mothers on  the pyres you  burnt her anger to ashes you sacrificed her on the altar of the caste restrictions told her ” go and become a Sati” A living body, with the dead one, was made to die what kind of religion you protected by killing and cutting down living people ? So it goes , my dear friend, so goes the story of Sati’s so it goes my friend , so it goes with lives of my mothers Listen to this my friend , listen to the story of Sati Hear out the torment my friend, the torment of the Mother You killed  our Shambuk, ourTuka you send heavenwards on  our heart you struck ,  wounds  after wounds and soe one was killed for water someone for the temple and someone was killed for the voice and someone for the touch So it goes , my dear friend, so goes the story Khairlainji so it goes even now my friend , so goes the story Khairlainji Listen to this my friend , listen to this ongoing story Hear out the torment my friend, the torment of the Ramabai But now you mass murderers its time for you to stop we are coming out , with our  dignity as our flag and standard we are ready to fight , to figght back  at each step those who sell their dignity , would no longer stand with us So it goes , my dear friend, so it goes with the fight so it goes even now my friend , so goes with teh true fight Listen to this my friend , listen to this story of true struggle come with me my friend from harsh lands, lets strat the decisive struggle of life and death Listen to the song: http://soundcloud.com/kractivist/ek-maitra-rangdya-singer-and 4. Another KKM song which I find stirring; in true Ambedkar form is: We are sweeping aside the temples, we are sweeping them aside my Bhima has reaffirmed the Buddha the legion of 330 millon gods cant find a single one, we find it a bit odd in short thats what Bhima has found We are sweeping aside the temples, we are sweeping them aside my Bhima has reaffirmed the Buddha This so called incarnate holy man, that so called incarnate holy woman incarnations, miracles , their claims of divination its gullible’s congregation We are sweeping aside the temples, we are sweeping them aside my Bhima has reaffirmed the Buddha Sun signs moon signs, astrological chart Mars and Saturn are acting smart and these priests are versed in the cheating art So We are sweeping aside the temples here we are sweeping them aside my Bhima has reaffirmed the Buddha Pandhari, Shirdi-Tirupati, all are snares The trustees of temples are now billionaires its a buisness , its one all right all Matha are making black money white So We are sweeping aside the temples here we are sweeping them aside my Bhima has reaffirmed the Buddha they made the religion , the opium of masses poltics of religion, the gangs of asses these gangs arecommitting genocide behind the religions , they all hide So We are sweeping aside the temples here we are sweeping them aside my Bhima has reaffirmed the Buddha Let s kick this stupidity away lets kick them away from us lets take the scientific thoughts and keep our heads about us So We are sweeping aside the temples here we are sweeping them aside my Bhima has reaffirmed the Buddha Listen to the song here http://soundcloud.com/kractivist/devhar-bajula-sarle-poet 5. Finally there is VAAT PAHWAA says Deepak Dengle. It is a song of hope and struggle. Below is the Marathi poem by him from jail, which echos the same sentiments. The English translation is by Umesh Soman Wait and watch, I come! I shall come because there’s justice… Sans justice can this world exist? I am coming, my time has to come … The song of the downtrodden has to be sung! My coming has a meaning… Its the selfishness of sharing a morsel with those who starve… I shall come… But not alone… My intention is not small… Wait and watch! Wait and watch It is small paths that turn into roads… Thousands of trickling streams, Turn into a powerful river! My coming will neither be simple nor tame… A stormy wind or thunder it shall be! Like the waves of a tumultous sea with my arms spread; That love of yours like a mighty mountain; I want to embrace… You just wait and watch! Here are two journalistic articles about Kabir Kala Manch; and why two members are in prison. http://www.tehelka.com/story_main53.asp?filename=hub010912LOST.asp http://www.theatreforum.in/m/e-rang/ Petition for Kabir Kala Manch:–http://petitions.halabol.com/2013/04/05/ensure-safety-sheetal-sathe-and-sachin-mali-kkm Click here to read about the press conference and the release of Kabir Kala Manch’s music CD. Kamyani Bali Mahabal is a lawyer-activist and a member of the Kabir Kala Manch Defence Committee.

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Listen to song penned by Deepak Dengle, sung by Sagar Gorkhe -झोपड़ पट्टी रे

Kabir Kala Manch Members, have been born and bought up in slums, and this song reverberates their experience and understanding on the issue of  labour, poverty and politics.

Poet- Deepak Dengle

Singer- Sagar Gorkhe

झोपड़ पट्टी रे -२
हे अँगरेज़ आया मशीन लाया
मिल बनाया –झोपड़ पट्टी
चमार, गुनकर ,लोहार ,मेह्कार
सब समाया — झोपड़  पट्टी

सारी  दुनिया को ऊंचा उठा के
मजदूर रह लिया —झोपड़  पट्टी

झोपड़ पट्टी रे -२
बाम्बू , चटाई ,पत्र ,लकड़ी ,ऊपर प्लास्टिक
बन गयी झोपड़ी
रेलवे लाइन , बाजू  में वाइन
कैसे भी तो ढक गयी खोपड़ी
अपनी भाषा , कल्चर बनईके
बढ़ती  चल रही ,– झोपड़  पट्टी
झोपड़ पट्टी रे -२

सब है  दादा , सब है  भाई
लफड़ा, झगडा , यह मार कुटाई
दारू, गांजा , पनी मास्टर
भूखे बच्चे , रोती लुघाई
घर घर मान्य देसी शहर में
डूबती चल रही झोपड़ पट्टी

कामगार और किसानों के दम पर
आज़ादी के उड़े कबूतर
वोह राजा  के आया  काला
टूटा वोह सपनों का मंज़र
पांच  सालों में चुना लगा गए
देखती रह गयी झोपड़ पट्टी

झोपड़ पट्टी रे -२

LISTEN BELOW THE THUNDERING SONG

Kabir Kala Manch members sing a slum dweller song

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Sheetal Sathe- Kabir Kala Manch sings for Mothers of India (English Subtitles)

 

Sheetal Sathe is the Backbone  of the Kabir Kala Manch, a spirited  musical troupe which emerged in 2002 after the Gujarat Riots.This leftist cultural group, with students and professionals as its members, drew its  inspiration from Kabir’s poetry, and conveys its social message—of denouncing injustice and oppression—through public performances. Sheetal married outside her caste against  her  family wishes , but convinced her mother. The state doesn’t like  their music. Maharashtra’s Anti-Terrorism Squad is after  all memebrs of Kabir Kala Manch , and  they are underground  because they have been accused of being in contact with Maoists. Her songs are about   feminism, casteism, equality and unbridled capitalism. Two members are behind bars Deepak Dengle and Sidharth Bhonsale .

This song is dedicated to all Mothers of India, penned and sung by Shettal Sathe, this clip has been taken from Anand Patwardhan‘s

Jai Bhim Comrade

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