Literati, artists missing among CAA protesters

SHILLONG: Meghalaya, unlike other states including neighbouring Assam, has seen less participation by artists, musicians, literary figures and intellectuals in the anti-CAA protests in different parts of the state.
A senior citizen said on Saturday on condition of anonymity that the creative people who believe in freedom of expression can “freely air” their views for or against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, which has led to violent protests not only in the North East but also in other parts of the country.
“However, the prominent citizens in our state are silent on the issue,” said the septuagenarian.
The pressure groups, government, opposition and various non-tribal bodies have already aired their views on CAA and the ILP resolution adopted by the Assembly but hardly any voice from the creative quarters could be heard.
When pointed out, documentary filmmaker and activist Tarun Bhartiya said many of the local intellectuals were part of the protests though there was no separate protest by the fraternity.
“There were protests last year in the North East, including Shillong… if you look at the protests organised in Shillong, then (you would see) there were singers, hip hop performers. There may not be a separate protest,” he added.
In the past too, whenever there were critical issues concerning the state, there were hardly any comments from the creative people.
“It is not that we want them to be social activists but they can express their views for or against an issue and nobody is going to harm them,” a city resident said.
According to some critics, creativity with a social message in the form of drama, music and other art forms is missing in Meghalaya as art “is now for art’s sake” in the hill state, which in reality, is confronted with varied problems.
When asked why prominent faces are absent among the protesting crowd on the street, painter Raphael Warjri said, “It is difficult to say but without reading the law of CAA how can we come to a conclusion… we have to understand (the law). But of course we are concerned about social issues.”