-----Original Message-----
From: Alpana B. Sarangapani [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 1:13 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: from The Washington PostDoesn't she (Shabana Azmi) still look the same, like she did 20 years ago? We sort of grew up seeing her acting, but now seeing her, people will think she is younger than us! :)While on the topic :), did anyone see the movie 'Dil Hai Tumhara', where Rekha (and Preity Zinta et el) acted? Didn't Rekha look just gorgeous - so graceful and beautiful at the same time!One of these days I will let y'll know the names of my role models - both public and "private" figures. :)----------------------------An Indian Muslim, in the Spotlight for Her Liberal Stands
By Nora Boustany
Shabana Azmi, an actress, activist and lawmaker who considers herself a secular liberal, argues that India's strength is in its composite identity. (Family Photo)
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Friday, November 8, 2002; Page A24
When a leading Muslim cleric in New Delhi called on Indian Muslims to join the jihad in Afghanistan last year, Indian actress and activist Shabana Azmi, a Muslim and an appointed senator, suggested in a nationally televised interview that it would be no problem to air-drop the robed cleric into Kandahar to wage his holy war there.
No less sensational was the fiery response of the shahi imam of Jama Masjid, one of the leading imams of New Delhi: "I won't respond to singing, dancing whores."
The exchange produced a "a six-foot high pile of mail, 80 percent of it from Muslims relieved that I had spoken out for moderate liberals," Azmi said in an interview Monday.
She was in Washington over the weekend to perform an Indian play inspired by A.R. Gurney's "Love Letters" and adapted by Javed Siddiqui into Hindustani, the commonly spoken Urdu vernacular. In the latest stop on their fourth U.S. tour in 10 years, Azmi and her counterpart Farooque Shaikh performed "Tumhari Amrita" at the Ronald Reagan Building amphitheater Sunday to a full house.
The staying power of the funny and poignant chronicle of two people who would not come together, and yet could not stay apart, is due not only to the script but also to the relevance of what is happening in India today, with religious tensions tearing at a social fabric interwoven with a common heritage and traditions.
Both actors come from the scarred western state of Gujarat, where 14 people were wounded in Hindu-Muslim riots yesterday and more than 1,000 perished earlier this year in inter-communal violence.
"We have to make sure that in the process of healing, justice is done," Azmi said on her last day here. "Tolerant people should stop acting as cannon fodder for wily politicians. The mistake the liberal seculars made [in India] was that by not occupying any religious space, they allowed the religious extremists to occupy it all. It is too dangerous to leave religion in the hands of zealots, particularly after September 11."
Often referred to as the Vanessa Redgrave of India because of her activism on behalf of the poor and the rights of women, Azmi was born to Kaifi Azmi, the late leftist Urdu poet and union sympathizer, and Shaukat Kaifi, a famous stage actress. As a little girl she accompanied her mother on tours, appearing in group sequences in costumes made especially for her. Her father took her to trade union meetings and instilled in her respect and sympathy for working people.
In the play, Azmi is a married Hindu painter who exchanges passionate letters over more than three decades with her lover, a married Muslim politician. Though having opposing temperaments and coming from different religions, the two, reared in an identical cultural milieu, had been attracted to each other since childhood.
Azmi's hallmark roles have been characters who gain new self-awareness despite their suffering and end up rejecting the rigid dictates of gender, caste and class.
While shooting a film about a shantytown, Azmi decided to observe a slum dweller for her role, and the two women became friends. A visit by Azmi to her friend's grim tenement shocked her into activism.
Upon her return to Bombay, she went on a five-day hunger strike to stop government demolition of slums, in the absence of an alternative.
"I have been the butt of Hindu and Muslim threats and intimidation," said Azmi, recalling the furor her film "Fire" sparked in 1996 with a story about two sisters-in-law who fall in love and seek erotic solace to escape their unhappiness. Mobs attacked the theater, tearing out the furniture, and the actress was accused of being "wicked" and "criminal" by extremist Hindu parties such as Shiv Sena.
The film was withdrawn, which created a backlash. Spontaneous street demonstrations brought the return of "Fire" after three months "without a single cut," the actress noted.
When Azmi shaved her head for a film about the plight of India's widows, right-wing groups blocked the filming and Muslim clerics issued a decree against her because of her bare head. Azmi said she is not a very devout Muslim, but positive about what she wants to hold on to.
"I am a Muslim culturally, I celebrate Eid [a Muslim holy feast] and I like biryani," she said, referring to a rice and lamb dish eaten by Muslims as opposed to strictly vegetarian Hindus. She argues that India's strength is in its composite identity, and not the narrower view of extremists.
"Who am I? I am a woman, I am an Indian, I am an actress, a member of Parliament, a Muslim, a daughter, a wife, all of that. . . . I am not going to be put on the defensive."
The 1992 Bombay riots sparked by the demolition of a mosque awakened some defiance in Azmi, who thinks of herself as a secular liberal. "It came as a complete shock. It made me dig my heels and say: 'Yes, I am a Muslim. What are you going to do about it?' "
Azmi is not one to surrender her individuality or humanity for membership in any group, and her Muslim identity remains a discerning one. "It is extremely important to distance yourself from extremism and questionable goals," she said.
"I think the time has come for the silent majority to come forward and say, 'Enough.' Stop watching from the sidelines. We too can carry a stick."
Azmi is a five-time winner of India's National Award, its Oscar equivalent, and she has acted in Hollywood productions such as John Schlesinger's "Madame Sousatzka" and Roland Joffe's "City of Joy." She has given talks at Wellesley College and the University of California at Berkeley.
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Hi
Alpana,
She
did look the same to me. All i can say is that she is very beautiful,
eloquent and knowledgeable. I went to hear her lecture hosted by the Asia
society, there was a house packed audience and she addressed the issues very
well. There were lot of youngsters of Indian origin and it was good to see
them.I saw many of her movies which were shown in the New York film festival.
there too there was packed house.
I
really like her and am happy that she is honored as an Actress and as an
Activist.
Kamna
- from the washington post Alpana Sarangapani
- from The Washington Post Alpana B. Sarangapani
- RE: from The Washington Post Kamna Das
- RE: from The Washington Post Alpana B. Sarangapani
- Re: from The Washington Post KJDeka
