Goa Film Festival newspaper rejects ex-BJP MLA’s poem on caste discrimination
text_fieldsThe International Film Festival of India in Goa has become the centre of debate after The Peacock, the daily newspaper associated with the festival, decided not to publish a poem addressing caste discrimination.
The poem, titled ‘Secular,’ was penned by Vishnu Surya Wagh, a Goan writer and former Bharatiya Janata Party MLA, and was slated to appear in the Sunday edition along with a two-page illustration by artist Siddhesh Gautam.
Gautam, expressing disappointment, shared his illustration and a translated version of the poem on Instagram, emphasizing its significance in shedding light on daily instances of caste discrimination in both urban and rural areas. He revealed his personal connection to the theme, recounting experiences of discrimination throughout his life, both as a student and a well-known artist.
Wagh's nephew, Kaustubh Naik, disclosed that The Peacock team had initially approached him to translate the poem. However, on Saturday, Naik was informed that the poem would not be printed, while the illustration would still be included in the publication.
The Entertainment Society of Goa, the organizing body behind the film festival, defended the decision, asserting that it was made for creative reasons. Ankita Mishra, the Chief Executive Officer of the Entertainment Society of Goa, clarified that choosing not to include the poem was an editorial decision unrelated to the content itself.
She emphasized the commitment of The Peacock to artistic freedom and assured that it would continue to uphold this principle.
The controversy has sparked debates on social media, with many questioning the transparency of the decision-making process and expressing concerns about potential censorship of artistic expression. Some argue that the festival's commitment to artistic freedom should extend to all forms of expression, including poetry that addresses sensitive societal issues.