Image: Instagram
Fulbright scholar, activist and film actor Chetan Kumar, turns 39 years old today, Thursday February 24. However, unlike most actors who would have been at a glittering party with friends, family and fans, Chetan Ahimsa, as he is also known, will ‘celebrate’ his birthday behind bars under judicial custody at the Parappana Agrahara jail, located on the outskirts of Bangalore city.
On Tuesday, the state police registered a suo motu case against Kumar and arrested him under the Indian Penal Code’s Sections 505 (2) (statements conducing to public mischief) and 504 (intentional insult to provoke breach of the peace). According to news reports, this action came six days after he posted a tweet that made an observation about justice Krishna Dixit, who is hearing the hijab ban case. Chetan Kumar had posted how the judge had allegedly made “disturbing comments” about rape in a 2020 order, where the judge questioned the “behaviour” of the woman who alleged rape.
“The explanation offered by her that after the perpetration of the act she was tired and fell asleep is unbecoming of an Indian woman,” the judge had allegedly observed, adding that it was “not the way our women react when they are ravished.” This comment attributed to the judge is deeply problematic to say the least.
Kumar had merely stated that he was reposting a two year old tweet, where he had written about when “Justice Krishna Dixit made such disturbing comments in a rape case.” He asked if the same judge “determining whether hijabs are acceptable or not in gov’t schools” will have “the clarity required?” According to Kumar, there is no abuse in the tweet, and he has merely asked a question here.
As expected he was trolled by the right wing keyboard warriors, even before the police arrested him.
This is a tweet I wrote nearly two years ago regarding a Karnataka High Court decision
Justice Krishna Dixit made such disturbing comments in a rape case
Now this same judge is determining whether #hijabs are acceptable or not in govt schools
Does he have the clarity required? pic.twitter.com/Vg8VRXmJTW
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 16, 2022
Now arrested by @BlrCityPolice . Stay strong brother. #jaibhim_ChetanAhimsa https://t.co/zKRvGRRAfy
— Dilip Mandal (@Profdilipmandal) February 22, 2022
Chetan Kumar is hailed as a youth icon and activist. He made on-screen debut in 2007 with Aa Dinagalu which won him many Best Actor in a Debut awards; the film itself has gone on to be hailed as a “cult classic”. Kumar is among those rare artists who form small and strong groups in the south Indian films and cultural fraternity, who are vocal on issues of social justice and do not mince words in online and in public interactions. Kumar is also active on ground and was most recently at the massive solidarity rally in Bengaluru on February 19, called to condemn the insult and disrespect shown to Babasaheb Ambedkar by a District Judge on Republic Day.
Watch these 2 minutes from yesterday’s colossal ocean of blue in Bengaluru & pass on your thoughts#equality #justice pic.twitter.com/8ZLaTQxOC3
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 20, 2022
Thanks for the film fraternity solidarity — #JaiBheem https://t.co/YuOE3NDM5Z
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 20, 2022
We are neither Hindu nor Mussalman; we are egalitarians. We are neither BJP nor Congress; we are alternative forces. There’s a big ongoing controversy. We are neither kesari shawls nor hijabs; we are blue shawls. Transformation is alternative. Our call is spreading to all corners pic.twitter.com/dShhhLhga1
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 20, 2022
Chetan Kumar had mobilised support for the rally and himself participated in a the mammoth march organised by Dalit organisations demanding the suspension of then sessions judge Mallikarjuna Gowda, who had allegedly objected to placing B R Ambedkar’s portrait next to that of Mahatma Gandhi at a court function organised by a group of lawyers on Republic Day in Raichur. The judge, after learning that a portrait of Ambedkar was also placed along with Gandhi, on the podium where the program was to be held, allegedly refused to attend the program till the Ambedkar portrait was removed, because the High Court guidelines permit only Gandhi’s portrait. Gowda was later transferred to the Karnataka State Transport Appellate Tribunal.
Kumar, who was born and grew up in the United States, has evolved into a rooted activist back home in Karnataka and has been active in movements seeking justice, equal opportunity and welfare of farmers, workers, Dalits and Adivasis. According to reports, Chetan is a staunch socialist, and has always been anti-establishment and pro-Kannada, pro-people. He has also been associated with movements for the rehabilitation of endosulfan victims (2013), securing homes for tribals evicted from Kodagu (2016) and, more recently, for a separate religion status for Lingayats, as well as Film Industry for Rights and Equality (FIRE), an organisation formed to address the issues of women, writers and workers in the Kannada film industry, stated news reports.
Walking the talk, real and reel!
In 2020, Chetan married partner Megha S at a non religious socialist wedding held at the Vinoba Bhave Ashram, an orphanage, and the ‘ceremony’ was conducted by Akkai Padmashali, the celebrated transgender activist. Kumar had then told the media that “everything is symbolic of what’s necessary in society, we emphasised upon the idea of multiplicity and inclusivity, which we showed through the art forms of the tribal community and including the underprivileged children from the ashram. We also brought in the idea of a Constitution with the book, which was given to everyone to emphasise on it being the holy book and spread awareness on the subject.” The couple also took vows of value, reading from the Constitution, reported The New Indian Express.
Chetan Kumar has continued to walk the talk. He reportedly also came under fire from trolls who were fans of actor Arjun Sarja, who was accused by colleague Sruthi Hariharan, of sexual harassement. Kumar had stood in support of Sruthi Hariharan. According to director KM Chaitanya, who worked with Kumar in his debut movie, Aa Dinagalu, the actor is an activist first. He was quoted in the Indian Express saying Kumar “grew up in a family which is involved in social causes. His brother had contested elections for the Green Party in the United States. You can call it accidental or incidental. Chetan was in India for research work as a Fulbright scholar and worked in conjunction with the National School of Drama, Bengaluru. That was when we came across Chetan and decided to cast him in the movie. Had he not entered the sandalwood industry, I think he would either be an activist or a researcher as he does both with a lot of passion.”
Watch these 2 minutes from yesterday’s colossal ocean of blue in Bengaluru & pass on your thoughts#equality #justice pic.twitter.com/8ZLaTQxOC3
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 20, 2022
Thanks for the film fraternity solidarity — #JaiBheem https://t.co/YuOE3NDM5Z
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 20, 2022
Communal KA politician @CTRavi_BJP says #hijab is religious while kumkuma is ‘decorative’
False
Hijab—not defined in Quran—is Islamic CULTURAL expression
Kumkuma—defined in many Hindu texts & by Shankaracharya—is Hindu RELIGIOUS symbol
Hence, schools must surely ban kumkuma
— Chetan Kumar Ahimsa / ಚೇತನ್ ಅಹಿಂಸಾ (@ChetanAhimsa) February 18, 2022
Now, Chetan Kumar has once again made it to the global news as he was arrested for the first time in the state that has been the hotbed of communal tension in recent times. Chetan Kumar is a US citizen and his arrest as a Dalit rights activist is likely to be taken up at various fora. Kumar’s bail plea will be heard in the court on Friday, February 25.
Related:
First they came for the hijab, then they came for the turban; what is next on the list?
Hijab Ban case: Is it necessary to go into question of essential practice: HC asks AG
How a state suffocated by Saffron got a new breath from Blue
Hijab Ban: Identity politics or body policing?
Karnataka: Bajrang Dal member killed, cops refute links to hijab row