Letters to THE EDITOR: Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma

Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma

The death of Pandit Shiv Kumar Sharma, a great santoor player, is surprising and sad news for the music world. His death is a tragic loss for the entire country. Panditji was a world-renowned classical santoor player who captivated audiences all over the globe. He was a santoor pioneer, and his contributions were immeasurable. He was awarded the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan awards, among other significant honours. His passing away has left a vacuum in Indian cultural music.

Chandan Kumar Nath,

Tezpur University

Fato Bihu and Kaivartta community

If natural beauty is the heart of Assam, Bihu is its heartbeat. There will hardly be anyone who would not dance to the staccato of dhols and the sweet clanging of taals. The Bohag month since the end of the 17th century has been receiving a fitting farewell from the "land of gentlemen", Dhakuakhana. Fato Bihu is unique for many reasons, especially because no western wear is allowed on Fato Bihu premises where people from different communities meet, greet and make merry. The Fato Bihu organizing committee is so strict that they even didn't allow the then Xahitya Xabha president and chief guest Rongbong Terang to take part in the proceedings as he was clad in a shirt and trousers. I think it is justified to be a little stern when it comes to a culture which is slowly slipping away from our hands. Fato Bihu is taken to be a creation of the Kaivarttas who are in large numbers in Dhakuakhana. The Bihu dance by the Kaivartta community people is raw and close to the earth. The songs that accompany the dance are testimony to the struggle the Kaivartta community had gone through to earn respect in the larger Assamese society. The so-called higher caste people tried to strangle Bihu to death, but it was the Kaivartta community who fought and gave a new life to Bihu.

Noopur Baruah,

Tezpur

Misuse of the Sedition Law

The law of sedition was originally in Section 113 of Macaulay's draft penal code of 1837 but subsequently it was omitted from the Penal Code when the IPC was enacted in 1860. In the year 1870, Section 124 - A was inserted by Sir James Stephen in the statute by IPC (Amendment) Act, 1870 (Act XXVII of 1870) under Chapter VI of the code which deals with offences against the state. Section 124 –A defines Sedition as –"Whoever, by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation, or otherwise, brings or attempts to bring into hatred or contempt, or excites or attempts to excite disaffection towards the Government established by law shall be punished with imprisonment for life to which fine may be added, or with imprisonment which may extend to three years, to which fine may be added, or with fine."

One of the issues with this provision is the misinterpretation/deliberate misuse of the terms a) 'bring into hatred or contempt' and b) 'excites or attempts to excite disaffection', which are vague in character and are subject to the whims and fancies of the investigation officers, which resultantly leads to the misuse of it as a handy tool to stifle the free speech of the dissenting voice of intellectuals, writers and public at large.

Bidyut Kakati

bidyut.kakati42@gmail.com