FOR AN ART INSTALLATION
TEESTA SETALVAD, MUMBAI AND GUJARAT
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2009
IN 1984 IT WAS THE STORY OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD KHALLA ( MAUSI, MOTHER’S SISTER) WHO, COME WHAT MAY SHEPHERDED THE BASTI’S CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. THOUGH HATRED BLAZED THROUGH HOMES AND STREETS AROUND HER, HER DAILY ROUNDS PERFORMED FOR NO MORE NOBLE A MOTIVE THAN EARNING AN HONEST LIVING, ENSURING LITTLE MUSLIM AND LITTLE HINDU HANDS SAFE PASSAGE DOGGEDLY CONTINUED. HER STOIC COMMITMENT TO THIS NORMAL WAY OF BEING AND LIVING
STOOD OUT TRANSFORMED NOW INTO LASTING HOPE AND MEMORY. THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WAS JOGESHWARI ON THE WESTERN RAIL ROUTE OF BOMBAY. 25 YEARS AGO HATE HAD NOT BECOME FASHIONABLE, INTERNET WAS YET A PIPE DREAM. BOMBAY STILL WORE ITS WORKING CLASS AND PROFESSIONAL CLOAK WITH SOME PRIDE. THE LAXMAN REKHA OF THE HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS WAS MAINTAINED DURING THE BLOOD LETTING, ALL THE VIOLENCE WAS EAST OF THE WESTERN RAILWAYLINE.
THIS FRONT WAS WELL AND TRULY BREACHED BY 1992-1993. MAHIM TO COLABA, TARDEO TO NANA CHOWK TO LOWER PAREL AND WORLI, ANDHERI TO MALAD, THE AGGRESSOR MARKED HIS TERRITORY WELL. THROUGH THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF BOMBAY A MUSLIM WAS A MUSLIM. AS AGAIN THE FIRES RAGED, BLOOD SPLATTERED A CORPSE WAS THROWN IN COLD DISREGARD TO LIE MANGLED MID STREET, STORIES WERE TOLD AND RE-TOLD. ONE AMONG MANY BEARS REMEMBRANCE. A STREET IN KURLA CENTRAL BOMBAY. A SIDE STREET OFF THE MAIN STREET WHERE A SOLITARY SEVEN-STOREY BUILDING WAS MARKED OUT FOR A MIDNIGHT ATTACK. CHILDREN, THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ALL COWERED IN COLD SWEAT WHEN A BLOODTHIRSTY MOB LED BY A LOCAL SHIV SAINIK BAYED FOR THEIR BLOOD. STOUT BUXOM VIMLATAI KHAONEKAR MOTHER OF THE MOB LEADER, DRESSED IN A TRADITIONAL NINE YARD SAREE, CHARGED FORWARD AND AMBUSHED THE AGGRESSORS. IN A MOMENT FIT TO BE IMMORTALIZED IN BOLLYWOOD KITSCH SHE DARED HER SON TO COMMIT HIS MACABRE DEEDS OVER HER DEAD BODY. THE BLOODIED FRENZY WAS BROKEN BY THIS VALIANT RECALL OF THE MATRIARCH. CONFRONTED OBSTRUCTED STARED IN THE EYE, THE MESMERIA OF BLOODLUST BROKE. SHEEPISH AND SULKY SONS SLUNK AWAY.
RAEESA HAS BEEN SCARRED FOR EVER FROM THAT TIME. A WOMAN WITH A NOBLE ATTRACTIVE FACE SHE LOOKS TWENTY YEARS OLDER THAN HER YEARS, ASTHAMA RACKING HER SOUL. A DISTURBED HOME LIFE MADE WORSE BY PERIODIC BATTERING FROM THE TAXI DIVER HUSBAND HASN’T HELPED. THE ELDEST SISTER SHE GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WHERE HER MOTHER AND THEE BROTHERS WERE SLAUGHTERED BIT BY BIT, IN THE HEAT AND BLOOD OF JANUARY 1993. SHE LIVED NOT TOO FAR AWAY. BUT THE FLAMES OF HATRED HAD ENGULFED BOTH ANTOP HILL WHERE SHE LIVES AND BANDRA WHERE HR MOTHER AND BROTHERS WERE SLAUGHTERED. LEENA SHINDE S SON WAS FOURTEEN DAYS OLD WHEN HER HUSBAND WENT TO MALAD TO INVITE RELATIVES FOR THE BARSA (CHRISTENING) CEREMONY, ALSO IN JANUARY 1993. HE NEVER RETURNED. HIS IS AMONG THE LIVES CLASSIFIED AS “MISSING”. A SINGLE MOTHER SHE HAS STRUGGLED TO RAISE AND EDUCATE HER SON. THE STATE PAID HER COMPENSATION FOR THE LIFE LOST ONLY AFTER SEVEN LONG YEARS HAD PASSED.
BOMBAY HAS BECOME MUMBAI SINCE THEN. IT TOOK A GOVERNMENT THAT RODE TO POWER ON THE SPOILS OF 1992-1993 TO EFFECT THE CHANGE. BOMBAY ‘S HAD SO MANY NAMES OVER TIME AND ONE MORE CHANGE NEED NOT MATTER. IT’S THE HOW AND THE WHEREFORE AND WHO MADE IT HAPPEN. JUST LIKE THE HISTORY OF BOMBAY’S SPACE AND GROWTH. A COMPLEX CONSTRUCT, HISTORICALLY NO SINGLE LANGUAGE OR COMMUNITY CLAIMING SOLE HERITAGE. THAT CHANGED WITH THE DE-CLASSED VIOLENCE OF 1992-1993. NOTHING HAS BEEN THE SAME AGAIN. BOMBAY’S REAL ESTATE IS MEAT FOR THE PREDATOR. AMONG THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS ARE THE FISHER FOLK AND THE NARIYALWALLAH, MIGRANTS FROM KERALA WHO SERVED FRESH COCONUT WATER ON JUHU BEACH. IN THE RATHER COLD, COSMETIC BOULEVARD STYLE REDEVELOPMENT EFFECTED ON JUHU CHOWPATTY A CALLOUS CASUALTY HAS BEEN THESE FAMILIES WHO LIVED AND SERVED ON THIS SPACE FOR GENERATIONS.
2002 GUJARAT. IT WAS HORRID TO SEE IT COMING. WAS IT WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SPACE, BOMBAY IN 1992 1993 THAT AFFORDED THIS BURDENSOME PRESCIENCE?
THE CRIES WERE EVEN MORE CHILLING IN 2002. MORE SO BECAUSE THEY HAD TO SCREAM REAL LOUD TO BE HEARD.
IRFAN WHO HAD SEEN UNMENTIONABLES HAPPEN TO HIS MOTHER AND SISTER. NARODA. …WHERE IS HE NOW ??
RESHMA WHO HAD SEEN KAUSERBI’S WOMB SLIT OPEN. SHE HAD FLED TO SAFETY TAKING THREE NEIGHBOURS’ CHILDREN WITH HER. SHE WAS REUNITED WITH HER OWN FAMILY ONLY DAYS LATER. SHE IS A SURVIVOR.
AMEENABIBI, STILL MOURNS FOR HER LOST SON. HER ANGUISH IS SHARPER BECAUSE HIS MORTAL REMAINS HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED TO HER BY THE COURTS. SHE HAS NO COMFORT, NEITHER FROM RITUAL NOR SPACE. NO PLACE TO REST HER FOREHEAD AND WEEP. SHE IS BOTH A VICTIM AND A SURVIVOR. HER PLEA REBUFFED BY THE HIGHEST COURT, SHE BEARS WITNESS STILL…
SALIMBHAI AND SAIRABEN’S ONLY SON WAS ALSO SLAUGHTERED THAT DAY AT GULBERG SOCIETY. A SECOND YEAR LAW STUDENT, HE HAD PLEDGED HIS EYES IN DONATION TO AN EYE BANK. DEATH WAS NOT KIND. HIS END WAS SO BRUTAL AND MACABRE THAT HIS REMAINS WERE UNRECOGNISEABLE. SALIMBHAI AND SAIRABEHN AWAIT THEIR DATE OF TESTIMONY AND JUDGEMENT. IT COULD HAPPEN ANY DAY NOW….
19 OF GUJARAT’S 25 DISTRICTS WERE TAINTED BY THE MACABRE DANCE OF DEATH. FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 2, 2002. SEVENTY TWO HOURS….
58 LIVES BURNT TO DEATH IN THE SABARMATI EXPRESS WERE THE SACRIFICIAL LAMBS ON THE ALTAR OF HATE. MANY OF THE VICTIMS, INNOCENT PASSENGERS TO A WIDER DESIGN, SOME RETURNING FROM A DARSHAN AT AYODHYA. LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THAT THEIR CORPSES WOULD BE THE FODDER FOR AN EDIFICE OF FALSEHOOD THAT HAS COME APART ONLY BIT BY BIT….
THE BATTLE THOUGH IS STILL ON. A REAL LIFE TUG OF WAR, NO HOLES BARRED. BETWEEN PERPETRATOR AND SURVIVOR? GOOD AND EVIL?
MANY QUESTION OUR COLLECTIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO BEAR TRUE WITNESS. DO WE HAVE THE MORAL STRENGTH TO PRONOUNCE THE FINAL JUDGEMENT? A JUDGEMENT THAT IS AS INDICTING AS IT IS UNEQUIVOCAL ?
BEARING WITNESS HAS ITSELF BEEN A CATHARSIS AND A STRANGE LEVELER. IN THE WORDS AND IN THE NAME OF THE VICTIM AND SURVIVOR. WITH THE DEFENDER STANDING BY HER SIDE.
ZAHIRA HABIBULLAH SHAIKH MADE JUDICIAL HISTORY.
THE PERPETRATORS WHO PAID HER HARD CASH TO CHANGE HER TESTIMONY ESCAPED PUNISHMENT THOUGH SHE SERVED TERM FOR PERJURY, BUT ALSO BEING A PAWN IN A SINISTER LARGER GAME.
ZAKIA AHSAN JAFRI HAS TAKEN THE BATTLE TO THE HIGHEST OF PLANES. SHE HAS DARED, WITH ME, TO ACCUSE THE HIGHEST IN MODILAND OF PREMEDITATED MASS MURDER. GENOCIDE. SIXTY TWO MEN AND WOMEN, POLITICIANS, BUREAUCRATS, POLICEMEN. FOR ALLOWING THOSE BLOODTHIRSTY IN POWER TO USE VIOLENCE AS A METHOD AND VALID MEANS. AND GET AWAY WITH IT. LIVING WITH THE DAILY GUILT OF SURVIVING HER HUSBAND HIS BRUTAL FATE, SHE HAS COMMITTED HERSELF TO DO BATTLE. BY ALLOWING HERSELF TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS, THE MOST HISTORIC TUG OF WAR BETWEEN PERPETRATOR AND VICTIM, SHE HAS ALREADY EMERGED AS THE MORAL VICTOR.
TEESTA SETALVAD, MUMBAI AND GUJARAT
SEPTEMBER OCTOBER 2009
IN 1984 IT WAS THE STORY OF A NEIGHBOURHOOD KHALLA ( MAUSI, MOTHER’S SISTER) WHO, COME WHAT MAY SHEPHERDED THE BASTI’S CHILDREN TO SCHOOL. THOUGH HATRED BLAZED THROUGH HOMES AND STREETS AROUND HER, HER DAILY ROUNDS PERFORMED FOR NO MORE NOBLE A MOTIVE THAN EARNING AN HONEST LIVING, ENSURING LITTLE MUSLIM AND LITTLE HINDU HANDS SAFE PASSAGE DOGGEDLY CONTINUED. HER STOIC COMMITMENT TO THIS NORMAL WAY OF BEING AND LIVING
STOOD OUT TRANSFORMED NOW INTO LASTING HOPE AND MEMORY. THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WAS JOGESHWARI ON THE WESTERN RAIL ROUTE OF BOMBAY. 25 YEARS AGO HATE HAD NOT BECOME FASHIONABLE, INTERNET WAS YET A PIPE DREAM. BOMBAY STILL WORE ITS WORKING CLASS AND PROFESSIONAL CLOAK WITH SOME PRIDE. THE LAXMAN REKHA OF THE HAVES AND HAVE-NOTS WAS MAINTAINED DURING THE BLOOD LETTING, ALL THE VIOLENCE WAS EAST OF THE WESTERN RAILWAYLINE.
THIS FRONT WAS WELL AND TRULY BREACHED BY 1992-1993. MAHIM TO COLABA, TARDEO TO NANA CHOWK TO LOWER PAREL AND WORLI, ANDHERI TO MALAD, THE AGGRESSOR MARKED HIS TERRITORY WELL. THROUGH THE LENGTH AND BREADTH OF BOMBAY A MUSLIM WAS A MUSLIM. AS AGAIN THE FIRES RAGED, BLOOD SPLATTERED A CORPSE WAS THROWN IN COLD DISREGARD TO LIE MANGLED MID STREET, STORIES WERE TOLD AND RE-TOLD. ONE AMONG MANY BEARS REMEMBRANCE. A STREET IN KURLA CENTRAL BOMBAY. A SIDE STREET OFF THE MAIN STREET WHERE A SOLITARY SEVEN-STOREY BUILDING WAS MARKED OUT FOR A MIDNIGHT ATTACK. CHILDREN, THEIR MOTHERS AND FATHERS, BROTHERS AND SISTERS, ALL COWERED IN COLD SWEAT WHEN A BLOODTHIRSTY MOB LED BY A LOCAL SHIV SAINIK BAYED FOR THEIR BLOOD. STOUT BUXOM VIMLATAI KHAONEKAR MOTHER OF THE MOB LEADER, DRESSED IN A TRADITIONAL NINE YARD SAREE, CHARGED FORWARD AND AMBUSHED THE AGGRESSORS. IN A MOMENT FIT TO BE IMMORTALIZED IN BOLLYWOOD KITSCH SHE DARED HER SON TO COMMIT HIS MACABRE DEEDS OVER HER DEAD BODY. THE BLOODIED FRENZY WAS BROKEN BY THIS VALIANT RECALL OF THE MATRIARCH. CONFRONTED OBSTRUCTED STARED IN THE EYE, THE MESMERIA OF BLOODLUST BROKE. SHEEPISH AND SULKY SONS SLUNK AWAY.
RAEESA HAS BEEN SCARRED FOR EVER FROM THAT TIME. A WOMAN WITH A NOBLE ATTRACTIVE FACE SHE LOOKS TWENTY YEARS OLDER THAN HER YEARS, ASTHAMA RACKING HER SOUL. A DISTURBED HOME LIFE MADE WORSE BY PERIODIC BATTERING FROM THE TAXI DIVER HUSBAND HASN’T HELPED. THE ELDEST SISTER SHE GREW UP IN THE NEIGHBOURHOOD WHERE HER MOTHER AND THEE BROTHERS WERE SLAUGHTERED BIT BY BIT, IN THE HEAT AND BLOOD OF JANUARY 1993. SHE LIVED NOT TOO FAR AWAY. BUT THE FLAMES OF HATRED HAD ENGULFED BOTH ANTOP HILL WHERE SHE LIVES AND BANDRA WHERE HR MOTHER AND BROTHERS WERE SLAUGHTERED. LEENA SHINDE S SON WAS FOURTEEN DAYS OLD WHEN HER HUSBAND WENT TO MALAD TO INVITE RELATIVES FOR THE BARSA (CHRISTENING) CEREMONY, ALSO IN JANUARY 1993. HE NEVER RETURNED. HIS IS AMONG THE LIVES CLASSIFIED AS “MISSING”. A SINGLE MOTHER SHE HAS STRUGGLED TO RAISE AND EDUCATE HER SON. THE STATE PAID HER COMPENSATION FOR THE LIFE LOST ONLY AFTER SEVEN LONG YEARS HAD PASSED.
BOMBAY HAS BECOME MUMBAI SINCE THEN. IT TOOK A GOVERNMENT THAT RODE TO POWER ON THE SPOILS OF 1992-1993 TO EFFECT THE CHANGE. BOMBAY ‘S HAD SO MANY NAMES OVER TIME AND ONE MORE CHANGE NEED NOT MATTER. IT’S THE HOW AND THE WHEREFORE AND WHO MADE IT HAPPEN. JUST LIKE THE HISTORY OF BOMBAY’S SPACE AND GROWTH. A COMPLEX CONSTRUCT, HISTORICALLY NO SINGLE LANGUAGE OR COMMUNITY CLAIMING SOLE HERITAGE. THAT CHANGED WITH THE DE-CLASSED VIOLENCE OF 1992-1993. NOTHING HAS BEEN THE SAME AGAIN. BOMBAY’S REAL ESTATE IS MEAT FOR THE PREDATOR. AMONG THE ORIGINAL INHABITANTS ARE THE FISHER FOLK AND THE NARIYALWALLAH, MIGRANTS FROM KERALA WHO SERVED FRESH COCONUT WATER ON JUHU BEACH. IN THE RATHER COLD, COSMETIC BOULEVARD STYLE REDEVELOPMENT EFFECTED ON JUHU CHOWPATTY A CALLOUS CASUALTY HAS BEEN THESE FAMILIES WHO LIVED AND SERVED ON THIS SPACE FOR GENERATIONS.
2002 GUJARAT. IT WAS HORRID TO SEE IT COMING. WAS IT WHAT HAPPENED TO MY SPACE, BOMBAY IN 1992 1993 THAT AFFORDED THIS BURDENSOME PRESCIENCE?
THE CRIES WERE EVEN MORE CHILLING IN 2002. MORE SO BECAUSE THEY HAD TO SCREAM REAL LOUD TO BE HEARD.
IRFAN WHO HAD SEEN UNMENTIONABLES HAPPEN TO HIS MOTHER AND SISTER. NARODA. …WHERE IS HE NOW ??
RESHMA WHO HAD SEEN KAUSERBI’S WOMB SLIT OPEN. SHE HAD FLED TO SAFETY TAKING THREE NEIGHBOURS’ CHILDREN WITH HER. SHE WAS REUNITED WITH HER OWN FAMILY ONLY DAYS LATER. SHE IS A SURVIVOR.
AMEENABIBI, STILL MOURNS FOR HER LOST SON. HER ANGUISH IS SHARPER BECAUSE HIS MORTAL REMAINS HAVE NOT BEEN RETURNED TO HER BY THE COURTS. SHE HAS NO COMFORT, NEITHER FROM RITUAL NOR SPACE. NO PLACE TO REST HER FOREHEAD AND WEEP. SHE IS BOTH A VICTIM AND A SURVIVOR. HER PLEA REBUFFED BY THE HIGHEST COURT, SHE BEARS WITNESS STILL…
SALIMBHAI AND SAIRABEN’S ONLY SON WAS ALSO SLAUGHTERED THAT DAY AT GULBERG SOCIETY. A SECOND YEAR LAW STUDENT, HE HAD PLEDGED HIS EYES IN DONATION TO AN EYE BANK. DEATH WAS NOT KIND. HIS END WAS SO BRUTAL AND MACABRE THAT HIS REMAINS WERE UNRECOGNISEABLE. SALIMBHAI AND SAIRABEHN AWAIT THEIR DATE OF TESTIMONY AND JUDGEMENT. IT COULD HAPPEN ANY DAY NOW….
19 OF GUJARAT’S 25 DISTRICTS WERE TAINTED BY THE MACABRE DANCE OF DEATH. FEBRUARY 27-MARCH 2, 2002. SEVENTY TWO HOURS….
58 LIVES BURNT TO DEATH IN THE SABARMATI EXPRESS WERE THE SACRIFICIAL LAMBS ON THE ALTAR OF HATE. MANY OF THE VICTIMS, INNOCENT PASSENGERS TO A WIDER DESIGN, SOME RETURNING FROM A DARSHAN AT AYODHYA. LITTLE DID THEY KNOW THAT THEIR CORPSES WOULD BE THE FODDER FOR AN EDIFICE OF FALSEHOOD THAT HAS COME APART ONLY BIT BY BIT….
THE BATTLE THOUGH IS STILL ON. A REAL LIFE TUG OF WAR, NO HOLES BARRED. BETWEEN PERPETRATOR AND SURVIVOR? GOOD AND EVIL?
MANY QUESTION OUR COLLECTIVE AND INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY TO BEAR TRUE WITNESS. DO WE HAVE THE MORAL STRENGTH TO PRONOUNCE THE FINAL JUDGEMENT? A JUDGEMENT THAT IS AS INDICTING AS IT IS UNEQUIVOCAL ?
BEARING WITNESS HAS ITSELF BEEN A CATHARSIS AND A STRANGE LEVELER. IN THE WORDS AND IN THE NAME OF THE VICTIM AND SURVIVOR. WITH THE DEFENDER STANDING BY HER SIDE.
ZAHIRA HABIBULLAH SHAIKH MADE JUDICIAL HISTORY.
THE PERPETRATORS WHO PAID HER HARD CASH TO CHANGE HER TESTIMONY ESCAPED PUNISHMENT THOUGH SHE SERVED TERM FOR PERJURY, BUT ALSO BEING A PAWN IN A SINISTER LARGER GAME.
ZAKIA AHSAN JAFRI HAS TAKEN THE BATTLE TO THE HIGHEST OF PLANES. SHE HAS DARED, WITH ME, TO ACCUSE THE HIGHEST IN MODILAND OF PREMEDITATED MASS MURDER. GENOCIDE. SIXTY TWO MEN AND WOMEN, POLITICIANS, BUREAUCRATS, POLICEMEN. FOR ALLOWING THOSE BLOODTHIRSTY IN POWER TO USE VIOLENCE AS A METHOD AND VALID MEANS. AND GET AWAY WITH IT. LIVING WITH THE DAILY GUILT OF SURVIVING HER HUSBAND HIS BRUTAL FATE, SHE HAS COMMITTED HERSELF TO DO BATTLE. BY ALLOWING HERSELF TO BE AT THE FOREFRONT OF THIS, THE MOST HISTORIC TUG OF WAR BETWEEN PERPETRATOR AND VICTIM, SHE HAS ALREADY EMERGED AS THE MORAL VICTOR.
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