Artists devise a long-term plan against CAA at Jantar Mantar

December 31, 2019

A group of artists gathered at the Janta Dal United office, Jantar Mantar on Tuesday to methodise an art-driven, long-term plan of action to spread awareness among the people less informed about CAA and NRC. Along with chanting slogans, singing songs, and reciting poems, the artists convinced people to join the protests through various art forms like theatre, writing, and vlogs. Sitting in a large circle, around six organizations and several individuals, brought together by Disha Student Organisation, compiled lists of willing participants in their campaign against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

“Art is a weapon which strengthens people and brings them together. We are witnessing the politics of hate today, artists must be responsible to use their art to reach out to people and spread awareness about the current scenario. We called this artists' meeting to figure out a long-term plan. We need to reach the people who do not have much idea about CAA and NRC through a door-to-door campaign, focusing more on the ground level for the people who are still out of the internet's reach. We plan to draw their attention through pamphlets and wall writing along with social media," said Priyamvada, a Delhi University student running the Disha Student Organisation.

Nikita Chaturvedi working with United Against Hate, an organization working against mob lynchings and spreading awareness against any form of hatred added, “Around 100 organizations from across the country have come together with us to form a single group and organize protests collectively rather than fragmented groups. We are organizing  protests at different places at the same time so that people can conveniently join them.”

Though there were a few people who supported CAA present at the location, they were quickly outshined by the student protesters present at the venue. One of the protesters, Sana Khanum, a medical student from UCMC college said, “I am afraid of my safety and my family’s safety. NRC doesn’t affect me as much because I am from a privileged family where we have all the documents. But that isn’t the case with everyone. Nobody realizes the gravity of the situation until they have to stand in the queue for hours waiting for valid documents. Just like during demonetization.”