Writers, artists, cultural activists, and politicians will join hands with students, labourers, and every other person from different walks of life to celebrate freedom during a three-day Festival of Democracy to be held here from August 12.
“We have this habit of observing freedom and democracy. Instead, they should be celebrated. It is going to be a festival of freedom,” A.K. Abdul Hakkeem, programme coordinator, said here on Saturday. What is unique about the event is that it will not have a formal inaugural function or a valedictory ceremony, but sessions discussing multiple topics.
“The plan is to celebrate life with all its differences. Things such as food, culture, dress, lifestyle, language, and gender don’t matter. We want to convey a political message,” he added.
In a press release, the organisers said: “We are passing through a phase in history where anyone could be termed anti-national or criminal. We need not, however, be pessimistic. People have always questioned power structures that impede their qualitative progress. For that, we don’t need corporate-sponsored extravaganza, but rustic festivals celebrating freedom.” Writer N.S. Madhavan will open a session on ‘writing in a democracy’ on the first day at Comtrust ground, in which K.P. Ramanunni, Asokan Cheruvil, P.K. Parakkadavu, S. Joseph, Sithara S., and Vinoy Thomas will be present, among others. Gujarat, a novel written by Lijeesh Kumar, will be released on the occasion.
Veteran journalist Shashi Kumar will open the afternoon session on ‘Journalism in the time of fascism’. There will be a musical programme in the evening.
Drawing of paintings, presentation of one-act plays and drama songs are the programmes planned at the second venue at the Lalithakala Akademi Art Gallery on Saturday. There will be sessions on ‘poetry and politics’ and cow politics. Anti-fascist films will be screened on all three days, and there will be song-and-dance performances by various folk, ethnic, and rock bands.
Actors Allen Sier Lopez and Mamukkoya will attend a session on ‘freedom’ on August 13.
Writers Narayan and Shatrughnan will attend a programme on ‘freedom to write’, and trade union leaders affiliated to different political ideologies will attend a session on ‘fascism and the working class’.
Simultaneously, there will be sessions on gender justice and democracy; politics of pluralism, and democracy in the cyberspace.
Writers Sara Joseph and Anand, transgender activist Sheetal Shyam, and M.B. Rajesh, MP, will attend the programmes.
The highlight of the concluding day’s events on August 14 will be a debate on the ‘cultural constructs of fascism’ in which award-winning journalist Akshaya Mukul will be the main speaker.