India to blur out Tibetan national flag and free Tibet banner from the
much anticipated Bollywood film 'Rockstar' by noted director Imtiaz
Ali, known for his hit films like 'Jab We Met' (Tibetan dancers' hip
shaking moves to 'Yeh Ishq Hai' number alongside Kareena Kapoor) has
sparked off protests by Tibetan exiles here.
Imtiaz Ali, one of Bollywood's young successful directors, has been
asked by the Censor board of India to either blur out the images or
remove them completely from the film that will hit theatres on
November 11, 2011.
The India Chapter of the Students for Free Tibet (SFT) Monday staged a
protest against the Censor Board of India which it accused of
"grotesque violation of free speech".
"It is extremely disturbing that such a grotesque violation of freedom
of speech is happening in the world's largest democracy," said Dorjee
Tseten, director of SFT, India. "By caving in to Chinese pressure, the
Censor Board is allowing China to threaten the freedom and liberties
that Indians enjoy."
However, television promotion of the film and the song "Sadda Haq,
ethey rakh" (put here, my right) with the Tibetan national flag not
blurred out can still be seen on various television channels.
Dorjee said that it is a matter of speech for the Indians and a matter
of survival for the Tibetans. "We won't let the freedom of speech
kowtow to Chinese pressure," said Dorjee, urging the people of India
to join the Tibetans in protecting the freedom of speech and
expression.
Exile Tibetans and supporters protest against Film Certification Board
of India for their decision to blur out Tibetan flags and 'Free Tibet'
banners in the Bollywood film 'Rockstar', Dharamshala, India. November
7, 2011 (Phayul photo/Norbu Wangyal)"Tibetans are dying for freedom.
In the last eight months, eleven Tibetans in Tibet have set themselves
on fire in protest against Chinese rule," said Dorjee. "At this
critical time – when Tibetans are suffering so desperately under
Chinese repression – one would expect India to be promoting and
protecting the Tibetan people's basic human rights, not censuring
their struggle in a free country simply because China demands it be
done."
Activists with Students for a Free Tibet are planning rallies and
actions in several cities, including Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai,
Delhi, Calcutta and Dharamsala, to protest the "controversial"
decision by Censor Board of India.
Members from the SFT will head for Mumbai to meet CEO of the Censor
Board and the filmmaker.
Social networking sites like facebook and twitter are being bombarded
with tweets and posts expressing disappointment at the censor board's
decision. "Outraged that our film censors cut a Bollywood movie's
references to Tibet, violates freedom of speech, reduces us to China's
level. Worse, the censors undermined our Government's standard
explanation to Beijing that in our democracy we cannot
control/restrict our media," tweeted Shashi Tharoor, Member of Indian
Parliament (LokSabha) and Former Under-Secretary General, United
Nations.