Friends, I recently watched the movie “The Trial of The Chicago 7” and would encourage you all to do so whenever time permits. Below are my thoughts on the movie and the message it delivers.
This movie is a wonderful adaptation of the events which unfolded in America during the year 1968. A close watch will suggest that the circumstances depicted in the movie, are strikingly similar to what we are witnessing today when all kind of protests and dissent is treated as sedition and anti-national.
In the movie, the case built against the individuals, allegedly accused of protesting and rioting, had no legal standing and still state decided to charge them with most stringent of laws. In spite of all evidence to the contrary, a pliant judge decided to convict. However, the presence of strong institutions ensured that the conviction was knocked down during appeal process
If you look at current situation in our country, with an open mind, bereft of any political ideologies, you are likely to concur that today all institutions to protect common citizens from this blatant abuse of power by state have collapsed. There are number of such examples around you and if you have not yet realised this, you are all living in a fool’s paradise, and will realise this only when this raging fire will engulf us all.
As long as it is happening to category of people like urban naxals, tukde tukde, “Other” communities and recently coined category Andolan jivi’s / parjivi’s, we are OK with that, without realising that this categorisation will continue to expand with new terms and very soon we too will find ourselves classified as anti-national.
For me, the best dialogue exchange in the movie was when the public prosecutor questions Abbie Hoffman :
Prosecutor – While you were on your way to Chicago to take part in the protests, did you think that there will be confrontation with Police and violence during your protests?
Abbie delays the answer and prosecutor tells him, that your silence says it all
Abbie then answers
Abbie – Give me some time my friend. This is the first time that I am being tried for what I think.
As we see in case of Munawar Faruqui, we have already reached a situation where alleged thought is also a crime. George Orwell must be ROFL in his grave saying that I already told you all in 1948 itself. He predicted this to happen in 1984 but thanks to our constitution it has taken some more years.
Once all opponents are marginalised, what will remain, shall be ardent devotees. But do remember that once all opponents are taken care of, attention will turn to the devotees with some progressive thinking and this wheel of hate will continue to churn until there is nothing left to churn. Point to add that Disha Ravi’s family too was an ardent supporter but since her views were contrary to the establishment, that qualification did not count.
Seriously friends, do you really agree with current state of affairs ! Please think about this, while the wheel of hate continues to churn and, please do watch this movie. It is indeed an excellent watch.
Happy binging!