National
CBFC chief Prasoon Joshi to skip JLF, sends out strong message to citizens (Lead)
By Saket Suman
Jaipur, Jan 27 (IANS) Even as Central Board of Film Certification Chairperson Prasoon Joshi has decided to skip the ongoing Zee Jaipur Literature Festival in the wake of repeated threats to him by the Sri Rajput Karni Sena, he has sent out a strong message to the fringe group, preventing it from receiving the publicity it hoped for during a planned protest against his presence at the event.
At the same time, Joshi has also iterrated that the festival should focus on “creativity and not controversy”.
Joshi’s announcement comes at a time when the Sri Rajput Karni Sena, in gross defiance of the law, has gone on a rampage after the censor board cleared Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s “Padmaavat” for release. Joshi was scheduled to participate in a session titled “Main aur Woh: Conversations with Myself” on Sunday.
“Will not be attending JLF this year and must say will miss sharing great moments with literature and poetry lovers,” Joshi said in the statement, before highlighting that the reason he was “doing this” was to protect “the dignity of the event” and to ensure that the annual literary gathering “does not get compromised”. Joshi also said that his absence will protect “the organisers, fellow writers or the attendees” from any “discomfort caused” to them. “And also so that the lovers of literature get to focus on creativity and not controversy,” he said.
The Sri Rajput Karni Sena had earlier said it would not allow Joshi to attend the Jaipur Literature Festival.
In the statement, Joshi also expressed his views on the controversy around “Padmaavat,” contending that he did his his job sincerely and took a sensitive as well as a balanced call. He also highlighted that the “due process” was followed and “valid suggestions” were “incorporated” before giving a go-ahead to the Deepika Padukone starrer.
“The issue around the film “Padmaavat” — I did my job and sincerely took a sensitive and balanced call. As I have said earlier, certification was done with due processes, incorporating valid suggestions whilst staying mindful to the concerns of the society as well as to the canvas of cinema,” he contended.
Joshi lamented that “we are not relying on genuine peaceful dialogue” and impressed upon the importance to “keep mutual trust and faith in each other and our institutions so that the issues don’t reach this far”.
A noted lyricist, screenwriter and poet, Joshi has received the Filmfare Best Lyricist Award three times, in 2007 and 2008 and again in 2014 (“Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”). He has also received the National Film Award for Best Lyrics twice, for his work in “Taare Zameen Par”(2007), and “Chittagong” (2013). He was awarded the Padma Shri, India’s fourth highest civilian award, in 2015, for his contribution in the field of Arts, Literature and Advertising.
This is not the first time that a speaker has decided to stay away from the festival in view of threats by fringe groups. In 2012, acclaimed novelist Salman Rushdie had not attended the festival in view of security threats against him as hundreds of Muslim activists appeared in Diggi Palace, stating that they would not let Rushdie appear nor allow any video footage to be played.
The organisers as well as the Jaipur police had made appropriate arrangements for security and had earlier assured that nothing untoward would take place at the festival.
(Saket Suman is in Jaipur at the invitation of the organisers of Zee Jaipur Literature Festival. He can be contacted at [email protected])
–IANS
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Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.
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