CURTAILMENT OF SECTION 66A: A VICTORY FOR ‘FREE EXPRESSION’

Chennai, March 24: Many people welcomed the Supreme Court’s decision to declare section 66A of the IT Act as unconstitutional.

Most of the people who were approached to give their comments were not aware of 66A. Many of them also said that they are not quite aware what internet censorship means since they have been posting ‘anything’ online, without fearing repercussions.

Recently a class ninth student was arrested for writing ‘derogatory comments’ about politician Azam Khan in Uttar Pradesh. We also cannot forget the incident that occurred right after Bal Thackeray’s death in Mumbai when two girls were arrested for condemning the ‘bandh call’ by ‘Shiv Sainiks’.

There are plenty of reasons to fear about expression one’s opinion on social media, even after the curtailment of 66A.There are various other sections under which one can be arrested.

The curtailment of 66A is definitely a good decision and people across the section welcomed it.

“The Section 66A of the IT Act is unconstitutional as it violates the Fundamental Right concerning Freedom of Expression. It is harmful for democracy too” says Suhrith Parthasarthy, a lawyer in the High Court. If the concern here is ‘malicious content’ like hate speech then there are various other laws under which a person can be prosecuted so we really do not need section 66 A”.

Parthasarthy adds that the law did not clearly defined what constitutes ‘offensive, menacing and annoying’ content. This vagueness was also a reason of concern.

The Supreme Court has quashed section 66A of the Information Technology (IT) Act by terming it unconstitutional. The Act curtailed freedom to post any content online which is of menacing character; or false, but for the purpose of causing annoyance, inconvenience, danger, obstruction, insult injury, criminal intimidation, enmity, hatred or ill will.

Sathish Kumar, who is involved in the Non-Government Organisation (NGO) ‘Give the life’, believes that to some extent restrictions are required. He says “pornographic contents are harmful for youngsters and so we need to block those. I feel the same about ‘hate speeches’. But this decision of the Supreme Court is good as 66A was misused.

There were a host of cases filed under the 66A IT Act. One of the famous cases was that of Aseem Trivedi for drawing ‘derogatory’ cartoons depicting the Parliament and some national symbols. He did it to show his anger about corruption is politics.

Mithuna C S. and Abhinaya are Information Technology professionals who also expressed some concerns. Mithuna says that, she thinks hundred times before posting anything online. “Most of the time, my posts are intended only for fun but I get scared that these posts can arrest me. I do support the curtailment of 66A, although I have not read about it much”.

Abhinaya says that freedom should be limited and freedom does not mean freedom to do anything. “I think we do not need 66A as I believe in self restrain and control, that is, knowing what to post and what not to” she says.

The youths resent any sort of censorship on social media since it has become a tool, not just to express themselves but also a vent to bring out their frustration of the government and the bureaucracy.

A HOME FOR THE ‘SPECIAL CHILDREN’

Chennai, March, 26: It is a humid Thursday afternoon and the Swabhimaan is abuzz with activities. There is a small room where the kids are engrossed with their paintings and games. Light music can be heard from another room. This is the way these ‘special children’ are taught in Swabhimaan, a Non-governmental Organisation (NGO) committed towards the holistic development of children with Autism.

The World Autism Week is around the corner, that is, 2^nd April and Swabhimaan plans a lot of events and awareness camps in this month. “We are planning to release a few books in the end of April”, informs Dr. P.K. Partheeban.

The director/founder of Swabhimaan Dr. P.K. Partheeban (also a doctor) appears very passionate to talk about the problems faced by the children and the kind of education given to them.

He says that he has seen just 2-3 cases where an autistic adult has found a partner and most of them are ‘near normal’ when it comes to the intensity of Autism. “Finding a partner is difficult as they cannot relate and express themselves. When it comes to sexuality, there is not much participation and the other partner has to engage more”, he says.

“It is not a very good idea to meet the children now or to see them work as they are very sensitive to new situations and faces and it might make them stressful” says Dr.Partheevan.

He is quite committed to the welfare of the children and he informs that he went to do his Masters in the Scotland University to study this specific course on Autism and mental health.

He says that, “People look at disability in terms of physical incapability but an autistic person is physically ‘normal’, so it is invisible and hence the common man is seldom aware of it Swabhimaan runs a school for ‘special children’ and incorporates different strategies to educate them. They also conduct awareness programmes for the autistic children and train their teachers.

According to Ms. Kumari, teacher and administrator, says that the children have mood swings, inner upheavals, sensitivity towards new situations and socialisation. As each child is different the ways to engage them will vary, she says.

Just outside the NGO, there are many colourful cycles, tables and a swing for the children. 

“Extracurricular activities are emphasized and incorporated in into the methods of teaching and it is required for an all round development”, says Kumari.

Partheeban says that, “these children lack social skills like communication, organisation and socialisation. Hence they are often misunderstood and neglected. Empathy is more important rather than sympathy”. 

He informs that inclusive education is still a dream in our country. In western countries the school is the same for the ‘normal and the special’ children. The filtering is done only at the level of course designing or syllabus but the classroom is one.

Autistic persons remained absorbed in their own world as their central processing activity in the brain is delayed. Awareness and empathy are important factors which can make them a part of our society. 

A temple saved form drowning unifies 33 villages

Malali: “Culture is important largely because it keeps us connected to our old life and is a reminder of our roots”, says Devraj, the ex-chairman of Malali gram panchayat. Malali is a village in H.D. Kote in Mysore District and is only one and half an hour from Mysore.

Malali is a resettled village just like 32 other villages in the area which was submerged after the construction of Kabini dam in 1974. However, the Mahadeshwara temple, a famous temple in the area was spared. The cultural life of the all the villages still revolve around this sacred Shiva temple. “It is our ancestral temple and we all pray there on every occasion”, says Satish, a resident of Malali.

Devraj sat on the portico, putting the invitation cards in the brown envelope. “These are invitations to each and every household in all the 33 villages who look forward to this ‘yatra’, he said. He showed a lot of enthusiasm as he spoke about their colorful annual temple festival.

“It is a three day annual festival and all of us go to the temple by crossing the river.  Since the temple did not get submerged we are able to carry out all our traditional rituals “, he says.

But the temple festival that all the villages look forward to each year is more than just a religious ‘ritual or pilgrimage’. It is festival which brings together people cutting across religion and caste affiliations. A resident of Malali, Puttetappa said that the Mahadeshwara temple festival is not exclusive to upper caste Hindus; it includes all the 33 villagers.

Devraj says, “It is a festival which is completely organised and sponsored by villagers”. The Muslims and Christians even donate more than the Hindus and show equal zest in participating in all the events. The Schedule Caste and Schedule Tribes also participate.

Devraj gave a few photos from his personal album and these photos speak a lot about the vibrancy, colorfulness and euphoria associated with the Madeshwara Temple festival every February. The interior of the temple is spacious and the structure is largely supported by many pillars. It is coloured in yellow and there are shades of white and blue in the walls and roof.

The ‘inner temple’. Photo credits: Guru Studio, H D Kote

The three day festival initiates with the ritualistic bath of Lord Mahadeshwara (Shiva) as the idol is decorated and taken for a boat ride. The lord is worshipped in a traditional fashion accompanied with the sound of drums and conch shells. Then the idol of Shiva is taken in a chariot with a procession. The procession is carried out with the sound of traditional musical instruments and bells.

Lord Shiva taken on a boat ride and the ritual bath. Photo credits: Guru Studio, H D Kote

The chariot is a very important part of the festival. The chariot seems to be around 12 feet in height and is a riot of colours. It is vertical and triangular in shape and made up of bamboos, tied together in jute ropes and nuts. Then the chariot is covered with colourful and glittering clothes of different colours.  The villagers then sit together for lunch beside the river bank and the ‘prasadam’ is distributed.

The chariot. Photo credits; Guru Studio, H D Kote.

Another attraction of the festival is the ‘cattle exhibition’. The cows and bullocks are taken to the fair decorated with flowers of myriad hues and their horns painted or wrapped with red cloth. The cattle are taken to the festival as a part of the tradition and there is no selling or buying of cattle in the fair.

One of the photographs shows people from different communities and tribes gathered together to witness the cultural programs of dance, drama and music performed by children in the late evening. Devraj says, “It is through this festival that we go back to our old life for a while and stay in touch with our people”.

Festivals like this prove that religion can also bring communities closer and is not always a source of clash and conflicts.