With the Congress-led UPA in power, this should come as no surprise to anybody. Banning books, banning films, trying to suppress truth… the good ol’ days are back but not with the same ruthlessness, thank God for small mercies. The realities are certainly different today than it was back then.

The Emergency–the black spot that it is–is still a touchy issue; more so with the Dynasty still calling the shots. The Stalinist state-owned Doordarshan wants (as usual) “objectionable portions” to be deleted from Jha’s film.

Jha was faxed a copy of the Prasar Bharati letter to the Department of Culture - it had commissioned the film - which called for these specific deletions. [...] The Prasar Bharati letter also points out that the film does not portray a balanced presentation of events of the time, and in view of the sensitivities involved, the programme needs modifications.

The “objections” are laughable, to say the least. It would be interesting to know the meaning of “balanced presentation.” And of course, who can forget the “sensitivities involved?” A definite example of sensitivity will be the thuggish exemplary behaviour of Sanjay Gandhi on the streets of Delhi during the Emergency.

“Modifications?” As in “deletion of objectionable portions.” Whatever the outcome: whether Jha will ultimately yield to Stalinist the Prasar Bharati’s coercions pressures or no, his current stand is welcome:

Jha hit out at Sarma: Does he know what he wants or is it just his political bosses he is trying to please?” It is history we are dealing with. And all that has been stated in the film is factually correct