History has proved that whenever fascism has been on the rise, it has been countered by the writers, poets and artists,
Booker awardee Arundhati Roy and Magsaysay winner Mahashweta Devi, and several prominent intellectuals, have joined hands to expose attacks on secular education and arts by the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during its tenure.
With less than a week to go for the crucial Lok Sabha elections, writers, poets, theatre personalities and artists Monday announced formation of the Cultural Front against the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).
The state unit of the front Monday released its manifesto here in Hindi.
"This is the second time in the history of independent India that democracy is facing a tough challenge. First time it was in the elections of 1977, after emergency was lifted and now it is facing communal dictatorship," the manifesto said.
Writer Rajendra Yadav, poet and lyricist Javed Akhtar, danseuses Mallika Sarabhai, actors Nandita Das and A.K. Hangal, historian K.N. Pannikar and theatre personality Habib Tanvir have extended their support to the manifesto.
"Attack on the art, education, culture and literature was a pre-planned move of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the mentor of the BJP. Hindutva is the hidden agenda of the RSS but it has failed to implement it because the BJP has failed to gain complete majority in Parliament," it added.
NewKerala Apr.16.04
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Fundamentalist dominance overthrown by writers, artists, poets, secular humanists,
and advocates for the poor,
in the largest democracy in the world.
