Some student volunteers take time off to shake a leg on stage in between events at St. Xavier’s auditorium during Malhar on the 30th of August, 2009.

&the rationale: political &commercial insecurities.

&at concerts too. Cameras are not allowed into gigs at MMRDA Grounds unlike Wembley &Madison Square Garden.

&the auditorium too. NCPA etc.

&the rationale: political &commercial insecurities.

I spent a Sunday at Malhar in the midst of some 2000 odd juveniles.

Every now &again Malhar volunteers sporting Malhar Tees &chuddies expressed concern:

Are you press?
You are not allowed to make pictures from here.
Only the PRESS is allowed to photograph this event.
No taking photos from the audience area.

Such restrictions coming from the organisers of a popular youth festival are disturbing.

In 1964, Mario Savio &his contemporaries led fellow students at the University of California against universities in America, demanding their right to free speech on campus &this free speech movement is the most significant &successful youth protest in all of history.

&fables about student organisers imposing such restrictions at cultural festivals in as far ahead as 2009 must make poor old Mario roll in his grave.

It is the age of Social media. Of blogs &facebook. Access to photo equipment is less of a hassle. &photography is my right. &yours too.

Cultural youth festivals &the government must encourage the Social media.

Political &commercial insecurities have ruined Bombay’s ancient &contemporary cultural heritage.

&blog posts tagged bombay &mumbai have been on the decline.

&just the odd post about Malhar in 2009.

FIN

“..stay indoors if you can. Stay back at the office, should things get out of control. Avoid outings during the 23rd, 24th and 25th, of July, 2009.”

“WOW! High tides! Waves! Let’s go!”

Crowds of people assembled, in anticipation, along Marine Drive. Numbers grew. Bombayites, old &young, fat &thin, healthy &unhealthy and uncle &aunty. Some 5,000 of them.

Close to 13:00 hours, the tides got taller and stronger. Strong winds blowing.

“Do not stand along the edges. Step down. Down, sir, not along the edge.. Yes, you.. you too.. and you.. don’t you understand Marathi?”, pleaded the cops via public announcement arrangements from their Toyota Qualis. Nobody bothered. Hooligans. Someone is going to die.

Soon, these waves – strong and over ten meters tall hit the coast hard and some distance into shore! Bombayites, old &young, fat &thin, healthy &unhealthy and uncle &aunty availed of the free entertainment that the polluted seas had to offer. Some 5,000 of them.

“HA HA HA HA HA HA AAAAAAAAAA HA HA HA”

Big smiles. It was an awesome feeling. Crowds of Bombayites along the western waterfront, drenched and smiling and having a great time. Some 5,000 of them.

It takes a tragedy to bring the people of this city together. This was different. Joyous festivities not affiliated to history or religion.

Also see the high-resolution scan.

FIN