People's Democracy

 Safdar Hashmi’s Murderers Convicted

HIS simple yet rousing street theatre, reflecting the aspirations of the toiling masses, sent shivers down the spines of the ruling class goons who decided to murder him. Fourteen years after Safdar Hashmi was brutally murdered while performing a street play Halla Bol at Jhandapur village in Sahibabad, 15 kms away from Delhi, justice was finally done. All the accused in the Safdar Hashmi murder case were found guilty in the judgement delivered by Justice C D Rai, fifth additional sessions judge, at Ghaziabad on November 3. He later sentenced them all to life imprisonment and imposed 25,000 rupees fine on November 5.

Safdar Hashmi, head of Jan Natya Manch (Janam) was a noted theatre activist and a progressive cultural personality who had, through his dedicated and creative work, made a lasting impact on the cultural field. On January 1, 1989 he and other members of Janam were staging its play in Jhandapur as part of their campaign for Ramanath Jha, CPI(M) supported candidate in the Ghaziabad municipal elections.

Mukesh Sharma, the Congress backed “independent” candidate who was unnerved by the impact the play was making on the workers of the area, came with a horde of goons fully armed with firearms, lathis, iron rods and crowbars and attacked the play. The assailants targeted Safdar Hashmi who was brutally beaten with iron rods. Safdar, who had multiple skull fractures and brain hemorrhage succumbed to his injuries on the night of January 2, 1989 at the Ram Manohar Lohia hospital. Ram Bahadur, a labourer and CITU activist was also shot dead by these goons.

The capital and indeed the entire nation erupted in indignation at this brutal murder of a people’s artist. The stirring cries of Comrade Safdar ka paigam, jari rahega yeh sangram rented the air through out the nation. On January 4, in an emphatic show of defiance, Halla Bol was performed amidst thousands of people at the same spot where Safdar was murdered. The courageous performance by Safdar’s widow Moloyashree Hashmi in that play sent out the message that the voice of people’s artists cannot be silenced. The CPI(M) Polit Buro in a statement on January 3, 1989 noted that “the biggest tribute to Safdar Hashmi’s memory would be to carry forward his wish to strengthen the forces of democracy, secularism and progressive cultural values.”

Mukesh Sharma and eleven others were accused of the murder of Safdar Hashmi, and put on trial. It was, however, after 14 long years that the trial finally came to a conclusion. Two of the accused died in this period. The rest ten have been found guilty and sentenced to life imprisonment.

On this occasion, recalling the contribution of the slain artiste, a spokesman of the Safdar Hashmi Memorial Trust (SAHMAT) said, “Safdar Hashmi always defended the right to expression. He worked to strengthen and uphold the pluralistic and composite culture of India. We have been carrying forward the work initiated by him and this verdict will only give us strength to move forward in the right direction and fulfil Safdar Hashmi’s dreams.”

Commenting on the verdict, CPI(M) general secretary Harkishan Singh Surjeet said though the judgement was belated, it was a welcome one.

Reacting to the judgement, theatre personality M K Raina said, “We have to on that is the message. No one can bring back all rounder so well-versed in theatre, painting, poetry and song.”

Madan Gopal Singh, a renowned exponent of Sufi music, said, “Our ‘Making of India’ Project, which began in Chennai, must go on in right earnest. The judgement in a way will indeed pep us on.” He then added that Safdar will be remembered for the massive effort he made in the Delhi Committee for Communal Harmony which had its impact in Delhi.” (INN)