Anita Dube Accused of Plagiarizing Aamir Aziz's Protest Poem
Artist Anita Dube used lines from Aamir Aziz's poem 'Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega' in her works at Vadehra Art Gallery without permission. Aziz accused her of theft and erasure, noting the irony of embroidering protest poetry on velvet. Dube renamed one work 'After Aamir Aziz' only after a legal notice. The poem was performed during CAA protests and read by Roger Waters. The controversy highlights caste privilege in India's art world: Dube is upper-caste Hindu, Aziz is Muslim. Dube offered compensation, which Aziz called insulting. Similar allegations were made against filmmaker Shalini Vijayakumar by writer Jeyarani.
Key facts
- Anita Dube used lines from Aamir Aziz's poem 'Sab Yaad Rakha Jayega' without permission.
- Aziz alleged theft and erasure, calling Dube's actions extractive consumption.
- Dube's works were exhibited at Vadehra Art Gallery in New Delhi in a show titled 'Three Storey House'.
- The poem was performed during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in India.
- Roger Waters read an English translation of the poem at a London protest for Julian Assange.
- Dube renamed one work 'After Aamir Aziz' after receiving a legal notice.
- Dube offered compensation, which Aziz described as 'insulting'.
- Writer Jeyarani accused filmmaker Shalini Vijayakumar of plagiarizing her story 'Sevvarali Poocharam'.
Entities
Artists
- Anita Dube
- Aamir Aziz
- Roger Waters
- Shalini Vijayakumar
- Jeyarani
Institutions
- Vadehra Art Gallery
- Kochi-Muziris Biennale
- Khoj
- Indian Radical Painters' and Sculptors' Association
- Mumbai Academy of Moving Image (MAMI)
Locations
- New Delhi
- India
- Baroda
- Gujarat
- Mumbai
- London