Letters in support of Malika Sarabhai [Last Updated on November 21, 2003]
#1.
From: Asad Ahmed
To: Mr Robert O. Blake
Cc: Mr Angus T. Simmons ; Robin Black
Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 2:58 AM
Subject: Mallika Sarbhai's PredicamentDear Mr Blake:
During the last two weeks, the present Government of Gujarat has launched a massive campaign of harassment and intimidation against the famous classical Indian dancer Ms Mallika Sarabhai and her dance company called Darpana. The charge against her is "smuggling of illegal aliens (people trafficking) into the United States". The local Hindu extremist media have joined the bandwagon by labelling her a desh-drohi ("traitress against the nation") since her alleged activities could affect legal entry of thousands of Gujaratis into the US. She is free on anticipatory bail now, but was hauled to the local police station earlier today. The most recent rumor from Sandesh ( a news agency?) is that "she has bribed the US consulate for 3 lakhs (300,000) Rupees!!" How absurd can it get? This is clearly a well-planned campaign to malign and vilify her by rumors and misrepresentations.
I am sending this message to assure you that these charges are totally false, malicious, and inaccurate.Their real purpose is to intimidate her into withdrawing the Supreme Court petition she has initiated against the present Government of Gujarat to seek justice for the hundreds of thousands of Muslims who were affected by the recent disturbances in Gujarat. You must be aware that, during the last 2 or 3 years, over 2000 people (mainly Muslims) were savagely butchered in Gujarat -- with no protection provided by the Government. One simply has to watch the live reports of Jill McGivering on BBC World to see how people were being slaughtered with swords and tridents, homes being destroyed, cars being burnt while the police stood by doing nothing. Not even one of these criminals is behind bars today. Several criminals who were subsequently charged for burning Muslims alive were released by the local court for "insufficient evidence" (witnesses turning hostile under threats). A claim to democracy does not come by conferring voting rights alone -- there is also a need for an independent judiciary, rule of law, protection of minorities etc, none of which exists at present in the State of Gujarat.
Mallika is a dancer and a social activist fighting for the rights of the weaker segments of society. She is descended from an illustrious Indian family that include Vikram Sarabhai (the famous Indian nuclear physicist), Anand Sarabhai (a reputed molecular biologist), and Mridula Sarabhai (who, I believe, was an MP in the 50's known for her liberal views). In the absence of any credible Muslim leadership in India, Mallika took up the cause of the Gujarati Muslims and sued the Government of Gujarat for its failure to protect the minorities and to pay compensation for the atrocities committed. The case has just recently opened in the Supreme Court of India and it has taken a hard position against the Gujarat Government. Naturally, the Government is a bit worried.
The timing of these bogus charges against Mallika Sarabhai suggests that they are designed to harass her into withdrawing the case from the Supreme Court. She is too much of an idealist to do that. All in all, we are witnessing a revival of the fascist practices that took place in the 1930's in Europe and which were brought to an end by the US and its allies. In India, everything boils down to religion! She is not a "traitress" as the local media are putting it; she is a noble citizen who is fighting for justice for all its citizens regardless of their religious backgrounds. As Camus wrote (and these words were often repeated by Bobby Kennedy) "I should like to be able to love my country and still love justice". This is what Mallika is trying to accomplish with a great personal sacrifice.
This alleged case of "people smuggling" is being investigated (or has been investigated) by Mr John Larrea of your Mumbai Consulate. I shall be very grateful if this letter is forwarded to him. It would be especially helpful if the US Consulate could make a statement to the press about their findings, whatever they may be, to clear the air. By doing so, you would be defending a very fine person from grave injustice. After all, justice is the summary of all virtue.
I thank you for your attention.
Sincerely
Asad Ahmed, Ph.D. (Yale '64)
Professor of Biological Sciences, Emeritus
University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------#2.
Mr Robert O. Blake
Charge d'Affaires
US Embassy
New DelhiDear Mr. Blake
I am writing to express my concern over media reports and allegations against Mallika Sarabhai. Since the allegations centre around her involvement in a US visa scam, I take this opportunity to write to you.
Ms. Sarabhai is a distinguished Indian citizen, artist and human rights activist, who has stood up for the rights of the oppressed during last year's communal riots in the state of Gujarat. This is an attempt to harass her and to deter her from a public interest litigation she has filed with the Honorable Supreme Court of India, in support of the victims of the Gujarat riots.
This is also an attempt by vested interests to use the US Embassy in New Delhi to persecute Ms. Sarabhai. With its strong interest in human rights, the US government should see through this and keep itself free from these designs.
Thank you for your time.
---
Shahid Jameel
New Delhi, India.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------#3.
November 5, 2003
By Fax to 011-91-11-2419-0017
By Email to <newdelhi@pd.state.gov>
The Honorable Robert D. Blackwill
American Ambassador to India
United States Embassy
Shanti Path, Chanakyapuri
New Delhi 110021
India
Dear Mr. Ambassador:
We are writing in support of Mallika Sarabhai, a uniquely distinguished dancer, choreographer, actor, and teacher in Ahmedabad, India. Ms. Sarabhai is a well known artist and educator whose contributions to Indian art, culture, and society are legendary, both within the country and around the world. In addition, she is a passionate and dedicated advocate for social justice and human rights.
At her home base in Ahmedabad, Mallika Sarabhai is co-director of the Darpana Academy for Performing Arts, a prominent institution founded in 1949 by her mother, the esteemed Mrinalini Sarabhai. Darpana has trained approximately 25,000 students in dance, drama, music, and puppetry arts, and performance ensembles from Darpana have presented thousands of programs in 94 countries. Darpana is indeed one of the foremost research, training, and performance institutions in Asia, with a remarkable history that also includes work with the underprivileged, free training for needy students, and numerous arts programs in schools. The educational and performance activities of Darpana have always been conducted with the utmost professionalism under the leadership of Mrinalini Sarabhai, Mallika Sarabhai, and their staff.
We were shocked and deeply distressed to learn that Mallika Sarabhai has been accused of improprieties in the administration of touring programs from Darpana to the United States. We are familiar with the details of these touring programs through our long collaboration with both Darpana and with the American organizer of the tours. Mallika Sarabhai is a person of impeccable integrity and dignity. In addition to being false, there are credible indications that these baseless charges have been leveled against Ms. Sarabhai for political purposes, to persecute and silence her in response to her courageous leadership on human rights issues in Gujarat.
The ACC is a foundation established by John D. Rockefeller 3rd that supports cultural exchange in the arts between the United States and the countries of Asia. Mallika Sarabhai is one of our most distinguished fellows, who has inspired countless audiences worldwide-from heads of state to ordinary people-with her extraordinary talent, her brilliant intellect, and her devoted concern for the well-being of men, women, and children everywhere. It is our understanding that she has appropriately answered all inquiries put before her and has cooperated fully with the authorities in Gujarat. Any assistance which you can offer to clear her name, including a public statement of support, will be most appreciated.
This brings gratitude in advance for your kind and urgent attention.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth J. McCormack
Chairman
Richard S. Lanier
President
Ralph Samuelson
Director
_____
#4.This below letter has been addressed to :
New York Times
India Times
Indian Ambassador in
Washington DC
Dear Editor,
Dr. Mallika Sarabhai, dancer/ actress/ teacher/ scholar/ humanitarian is one of India's greatest cultural and intellectual living treasures. She is also one of the foremost ambassadors of Indian culture worldwide. Her historic performing arts school, Darpana, is a world famous facility for the promotion of both traditional and innovative dance, and she and her mother Mrinalini have trained generations of performers. Mallika's and Darpana's performances and lectures have promoted India and translated directly into both tourism and greater visibility and understanding of Indians living abroad. Yet Mallika Sarabhai, this treasure of India, is currently the victim of an outrageous persecution that threatens her with jail.
Those of us who have worked with Mallika know her to be of impeccable reputation as an educator, performer, and human being. We also believe that she is not being given due protection under the law. We are infinitely distressed that the world's largest democracy could permit such harassment, especially against a great artist who has done so much for her country at home and abroad. We urge readers who values India's culture, art, and freedom to speak out for Mallika Sarabhai.
Sincerely,
Dr. Vishakha Desai
Senior Vice President
and Gallery Director
The Asia Society, New York
Dr. Shridhar Andhare
Former Director
Lalbhai Dalpatbhai Museum
Ahmedabad
Dr. Catherine B. Asher
Professor, Department of Art History
University of Minnesota.
Dr. Aditya Behl
Associate Professor and
Undergraduate Chair
Department of South Asia Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Dr. Alvin O. Bellak
Philadelphia
Dr. Darielle Mason
The Stella Kramrisch Curator
of Indian and Himalayan Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
John and Berthe Ford
Baltimore, MD
Dr. Santosh Gupta
President GRAM, Inc.
Dr. Katherine Hacker
Department of Art History,
Visual Art and Theory
University of British Columbia
Vancouver, Canada
Laura Henrich
Producer, Evening Programs
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Jonathan Hollander
Artistic Director & Fulbright Lecturer
Battery Dance Company, New York
Dr. Glen Johnson
Acting President and
Professor Emeritus of Political Science
Vassar College
Lavanya Joshi
New York
Judi Kilachand
New York
Dr. Janice Leoshko
Associate Professor
Department of Art and Art History
The University of Texas at Austin
Dr. Christian Luczanits
Research Associate
Institute for Tibetan and Buddhist Studies
University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
Dr. Lillian Mason
Founding Director
International House of Rhode Island
Dr. Michael W. Meister
W. Norman Brown Professor and
Chair, Department of South Asian Studies
University of Pennsylvania
Katherine Anne Paul
Assistant Curator of Indian and Himalayan Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
Sukanya Rahman
Writer/ Artist//Dancer
New York
Safia K. Rizvi
Executive Director
ELIT---empowerment through
Learning Information technology
Philadelphia
Shahzia Sikander
Visual Artist
New York
Aroon Shivdasani
New York
Dr. Ajay J. Sinha
Associate Professor, Art Department and Chair, Film Studies Program
Mount Holyoke College
Preeti Vasudevan
New York_____
#5.Mr. Robert O. Blake
Charge d'Affaires
US Embassy
New Delhi
Honorable Mr. Blake:
I am taking the liberty of writing to you in support of Ms. Malika Sarabhai, who is being harassed by the Government of Gujrat. It is regrettable that a person, like Ms. Sarabhai, is being subjected to harassments by a Government, which has already tarnished the image of India through its pogroms against the minorities. And when someone as courageous as Ms. Sarabhai, speaks against the tragedy of Gujrat riots, she is being subjected to inquisition and harassments. I fully oppose these "McCarthy-style" actions taken against Ms. Sarabhai by the Government of Gujrat and urge you to kindly do whatever is necessary to save her from this extreme hardship.
It is very painful to watch the erosion of freedom of speech, and secular/democratic ideals in a country that boasts itself as the bastion of democracy. I do hope that in the end, the standards set by statesmen like Gandhi and Nehru will prevail.
Thank you for your consideration.
____________________________
Sohaib Khan, Ph.D.
Professor of Cell Biology
Director, NCI Training Program in Cancer
Department of Cell Biology UC College of Medicine
Vontz Center for Molecular Studies
3125 Eden Ave. Cincinnati, Ohio 45267-0521_____
#6.----- Original Message -----
From: Akkisetti Ramprasad
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 8:40 AM
Subject: Fw: Support to Mallika Sarabhai
Dear Friends,
Mallika Sarabhai, one of the few voices speaking out against the terror rought on the minority community in Gujarat continues her battle.
All freedom loving people will unite to help this couraegeous women. All cowards will back the rascals through their carfeful silence. This is a situation not unlike
the late 1930's in Europe when good middle class people kept their silence hoping not to be noticed. It is similar to a time when the American government burried it's head in the sands while millions of
people were murdered. Today there is a double talk in the international press from people who claim to fight for freedom and at the same time quietly nurture oppression.
This is a time for introsepction and deep thought.
Cristophere C. Benninger
Pune, India
______
#7.From: Narayana N. R. Murthy
Sent: Tuesday, November 13, 2003 7:30 PM
To: Mrinalini V. Sarabhai
Dear Mallika,
Just as your great father built the foundation for advancement of space re4search in India, you are building the foundation for moral advancement for future generations. Please keep it up. We are all with you.
Narayana Murthy
E-mail : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Tel : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Fax : xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
______
#8.----- Original Message -----
From: Swami
To: Ms Mrinalini V Sarabhai
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2003 11:17 AM
MSS/DB/
11 November 2003
Dear Mrinalini Behn,
We are all disturbed about the prosecution of Mallika. Our admiration for Mallika has grown with the dignified manner in which she is responding to the challenge of character assassination. Our prayers and good wishes are with Mallika and all of you.
Yours affectionately,
M S Swaminathan
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Prof M S Swaminathan
Chairman, MS Swaminathan Research Foundation
3rd Cross Road, Taramani Institutional Area
Chennai 600 113, INDIA
Tel: 91-44-22542790; Fax: 91-44-22541319
Other Email: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Web: www.mssrf.org______
#9.November 13, 2003
Dear Mallika,
I am saddened and outraged to hear of your ongoing troubles with the media
and court systems of your country. Please know that you have my love and
support as well as that of the entire National Dance Institute (NDI) family. I am
sending you several copies of a ten-minute promotional video of NDI's Chakra,
which includes a few moments of your brilliant performance as the emcee and
thread that held our show together. I send it so that you may be able to add it
to your files as well as share copies with anyone you wish, including
press/media. We still hold close to our hearts the memory of how marvelously you
represented the best of the great culture of India to the rest of the world,
particularly to New York City and its children.
My love and admiration,
Your,
Jacques d'Amboise
Founder
National Dance Institute______
#10.Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2003 11:28:06 +0530
Henry Boston and Annie Thomson
Cultural Pursuits Australia
PO Box 202
North Perth WA 6906
Tel: +61 8 9444 3633
Fax: +61 8 9201 0588
Mob: 0412 387 257
Dear Editor
I have been following with some trepidation the case in Gujarat against
Mallika Sarabhai over purported visa irregularities. This feeling has
not arisen from any thought that Ms Sarabhai and Darpana Academy might
be guilty as accused. More it is the sad and depressing thought that
India, a land that prides itself on the rule of law and democracy, is
shown on the international stage as permitting the persecution of a
champion of cultural diversity and religious inclusivity.
That this persecution should take place in Gujarat under the guise of
hypocritical rectitude and 'creative' legality is to be regretted even
more. Over a number of years the city of Perth in Western Australia has
had the pleasure of discovering the rich and diverse hegemony of India
through the visits of the Darpana Academy. The thought of Mallika
Sarabhai, a great and tireless ambassador of Indian culture, being
involved in visa fraud is seen here and the rest of Australia as
risible.
The Spirit of Mother India abroad has been betrayed by this vexatious
and politically motivated accusation. A sad day indeed.
Yours faithfully
Henry Boston
PO Box 202
North Perth WA 6906
Tel: +61 8 9444 3633
Fax: +61 8 9201 0588
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