A Holy Conspiracy (2022) Movie Script

A Bengali Christian Song
called 'JISHU KIRTAN'
All was dark at the beginning
of Creation
Everywhere there was nothing
Only the Lord was there
God Almighty!
He created the Sky and the Earth
The world was totally dark
With emptiness all around
The God said,
let there be light!
And the Light came
The God said, beautiful!
And God created Day
from Darkness
He named the light as Day
And the Darkness as Night
And thus was created
the First Day
But if there was nothing at all
Where did the Lord came from?
How was He created?
The answer to this question
is there in the Bible
You must read the Bible
Realize it
We have our intelligence
And our hearts as well
You can't know Him by
intelligence
Can't understand Him
You can realize Him
only through your hearts
Let My beloved presence
pervade, Let us not tarry
I come to call you,
we have to hurry.
Wipe your tears,
all you sick of heart.
After a long wait we
shall no longer be apart.
What Divine Harmony rings in
the sky today!
The Earth bedecked in joy
is graceful and blissful
In this blessed world
we shall at last unite
In my heart His loving face
shines bright
Bring me tea
Biscuits too!
Tell me, Bibhash!
Yes, I can hear you
I'm here at Palash Danga.
How far should I proceed?
Straight? Okay, then.
Muri?
But that's in Jharkhand!
A right turn?
Okay. Let me see
If I get someone, will see
Bye.
Madhab insisted we must
attend this trial date
Two months have gone
after arraignment
the boy is still in jail
The local Panchayat is
putting pressure
They can't keep him in custody!
My God!
But we didn't imprison him?
We suspended him on
the Panchayet's advice
We didn't demand...
...to imprison or hang him!
You do understand, Pastor!
This is all vote-bank politics!
Babu Soren
He was Christian but
switched side
to became a disciple of
Lord Rama.
So he could be
the Panchayat chief.
Elections are coming up.
He's trying to make us
scapegoats.
They claim Kunal is a Hindu.
And we've sent him to
custody for this!
Strange!
He was a Christian
Not a Hindu. The Santhal tribe!
They're politicizing his
suspension.
You do understand that?
But you can't say it publicly.
All this is the Panchayat
Chief's conspiracy
To trap our Christian school
The problem started with
that book!
"Vedic science of India"
The one Kunal refused to teach
Though the Panchayat Chief
recommended...
...we include it in our
science syllabus
Have you got this new book?
Yes, Sir.
Do you have any idea
about the book?
It's written there that...
5000 years ago
in Vedic age of India
The Sage Kanad...
...discovered the 3 Laws
of Motion...
...long before Newton.
It's even says that...
...long before Wright brothers,
Sage Bharadwaj of Vedic India
discovered aeronautics!
You must learn all that
from now on
But...
I can't teach this book
Since science in
the Vedic age...
...is not known to me!
How far is Hillolganj?
Not too far.
Is there a crossroads
ahead at Muri?
Yes, take a left from there
- How long would it take?
- Half an hour's drive.
He'll go there!
- He?
- Yes.
He's waiting for the bus.
Comes here often.
Can I talk to you?
Are you going to Hillolganj?
The boy told me that you are
Wait! The bus will be here soon.
I have a car,
I can give you a lift
We can go together
I'm in a hurry
Not a bad idea
The Chief pressurized me.
If I didn't agree,
he'd cancel...
...the school's government
affiliation.
I requested Kunal many
times but he refused.
The boy is an apostate,
left Christianity.
Doesn't even come to Church.
Disobeys the Holy Bible.
He's become an atheist
My daughter is in love with him.
Today I will show you...
...the pictures of primitive man
Before teaching
Darwin's evolution theory
These pictures will help you
to understand
But the norms of our
school say...
...that before teaching
evolution
I have to teach
Bible's Creation theory
But you know all about that
All of you come from
Christian families, right?
Yes, we know.
Pastor told us in Church
God created this world in
seven days
Good!
Let's do one thing now.
Let's convert this
classroom into a cinema hall
Shut all doors and windows
If there was no tension
about Kunal's suspension
He wouldn't have been arrested
That day it all happened
so suddenly
Who started the trouble?
How the tribal people appeared?
Why the police baton
charged them?
And opened fire!
I was surprised!
Later on I learnt that
the Panchayat Chief...
Babu Soren instigated
the tribal people
Gopal, all this is
dirty politics.
So disgustingly dirty.
Let's go.
You're god sent
Anyway I am Haranath Sinha
Reporter from Morning Post
You must have read Morning Post!
It's very popular all over India
This country has gone mad.
upper cast Hindus VS Dalits...
and Aboriginal people
Pseudo-science VS Science
Majority religion VS Minority
religion
All these for what?
To build a Hindu national
identity
A tribal teacher of
Hillolganj is in jail
Without trial for two months
You know why?
Because he refused to teach
Bible's Genesis theory
before Darwin
Just imagine
Strangely he was suspended
The Santhals in the
locality did not like it
There's unrest in the town
Police came and arrested
the poor chap
I broke the news
The case will come...
Dad is bringing Uncle
Basanta from New Delhi
He'll fight the case against you
Who is he?
Reverend Basanta Kumar
Chatterjee
Member of Parliament
...and a famous lawyer!
Students will receive him at
the station with a procession
He will be felicitated
More such plans...
Only I know how my days pass!
Are you eating regularly?
No appetite at all
The food they serve is horrible
Bibhash is trying to get you
a good lawyer
Someone called him
from New Delhi
A big shot journalist!
He may come
Let's go
Why don't you appeal to
the Principal?
Say that you have not hurt
any religion
Tell them you haven't
damaged anything
Everything will be okay
Dad will withdraw the case
I never hurt anyone's faith,
Reshmi!
I just wanted to teach
Science to my students
Not pseudo science!
Darwin's evolution theory...
...is part of their syllabus!
Do you know why my father
became a Christian?
Just to educate me...
So I could teach the
youngsters of my village
Now I realize
We tribes also have our
own language
Our own religion!
Our own future!
Tell me what I should do now?
May I speak?
10% discount for unmarried girls
For the Pastor's daughter
it's double discount
Surprised?
Who are you?
A guest in this town
I reached a while ago
Then I thought why not meet...
The Rohit Vemula of Hillolganj
Hello, Kunal!
I'm Haranath Sinha from
'Morning Post'
I broke the news of your
imprisonment
And called Bibhash
from New Delhi
So you've arrived!
The case will be heard...
Only because of media pressure.
So I had to be here!
Special relationship I guess
That's none of your business.
She is Reshmi
So Science and Beauty
are both on our side
Please wait. Why get angry?
How strange! Please read
this article
Published today.
Late city edition
People in Kolkata have read it.
Surely you haven't.
So I brought it along
There is a tone of pathos in
this article
I described him Rohit Vemula!
of Hillolganj!
I should have called him...
...the Romeo of Hillolganj
with a Biology book in hand
Do you know who's Rohit Vemula?
May I keep this paper?
You may be the beautiful Eve...
...but I'm not that serpent
of the Bible
Nor I've the apple of wisdom
from the Garden of Eden
You've written in his favour?
- But you're a very...
- Straightforward and snobbish
When I support the good,
people hate me!
When I'm critical they love me!
Kunal has certainly made
a big mistake
Otherwise such a big
shot like the Reverend...
...would not have come here
unnecessarily
Cool down please
The Reverend is here...
...to play a dirty
political game
I'm sorry this game...
...was initiated by your father!
Christians and Hindus
are both in this game
But it's difficult to
say who stands where!
Politics in our country
is playing...
...a game of religious
polarization
Don't you follow?
Anyway, you will
See, if you accept me as
a friend, fine!
Otherwise what can I do?
Let me go,
Bibhash is waiting outside
See you.
- Take care
- Okay
Why was Kunal refused bail?
Prakash Mahajan's bail
petition was not accepted
But Kunal has no criminal record
Do you know the advocate your
school has chosen to fight its case?
Who is it?
Reverend Basanta Kumar
Chatterjee
A member of the Parliament once!
Even considered once to be
the Prime Ministerial candidate
By the opposition alliance...
Sometime back
That's why the court gave four
consecutive dates for hearing
You'll need a good lawyer
Prakash Mahajan isn't
good enough
We need someone aggressive
We met a lawyer at Singpur
near Muri
But he did not agree
to our earnest request
Who is he?
He was in Delhi earlier
Now retired, he lives in
an old bungalow here.
He's given up
practice, only gives
legal advice to local people.
He was once very well-known.
He used to practice mainly in
the Supreme Court. Anton D'Souza.
Hmm
What did you say?
Anton D'Souza
A Supreme Court lawyer?
- He's Goan.
- Goan?
My God! I just...
Please turn the car around
Where you want to go?
Slow down and turn
around for Singpur.
Why?
We need that man
We will go to Singpur
"A Daniel come to judgment!
Yea, a Daniel!
O wise young judge,
how I do honour thee!"
What's happened to you?
Reciting from the Merchant
of Venice?
Do you know who
Anton D'Souza is?
He is not only an advocate
But a brilliant one
One of the sharpest minds in
India's legal fraternity today.
Lived in Delhi but vanished
suddenly
A human rights activist
Fights for dalits,
tribals and the poor.
He was very active during the...
...Mandal Commission
reservation movement
We want him, at any cost
He lives here.
Where?
There he is
So finally, Anton D'Souza
your Hari here
Oh yes, Hari
How are you?
I'm fine
I'm really surprised to see you!
I'm sorry, could
not recognize you
You disappeared
years ago from Delhi
What are you doing here?
In such a god-forsaken place?
Not that,
with the people.'
Bibhash
So, what are you doing here?
Your Prime Minster
comes to clean that forest
I was trying to
tell you yesterday
But you didn't listen. You
were sleeping in my car
I don't listening much now a day
you know
So little You hear, that...
makes you happy
And in any case no one is
listening to anybody these days
Really don't know
what our country is coming to
We've come for a purpose
and that too is serious
What?
Kunal Baske
a biology teacher of
the Hillolganj school
is in jail. You know that
Yes, somebody mentioned
it to me in the market
So you've come to...
to report on this teacher?
So you know, Bivash
He came to you...
a colleague of Kunal Baske
I don't remember
What?
- Sir.
- I don't remember
Sir I came to meet
you a month ago
Teachers of our school
were also with me
I don't remember
D'Souza, this case is coming
up for the hearing next Tuesday
they badly need a devil like you
to fight for Kunal
This is a ploy
This boy has been targeted by
the fanatics
Christian fanatics?
Yes.
They are too small a community
They have been cornered
themselves
This is not fanaticism
This is protectionism
Whatever. They lodged a complaint
and then Kunal is in jail
Without trial. Two months
Listen Hari
It's been five years since I
turned my back on all that
Courts of law,
corridors power in Delhi
I've retired
Sorry boys
Fight your own battles
Sir don't you think that the very foundation
of India is breaking down?
It's broken down already
An there is only one saviour
Our People
Not me. I've fought this
battle alone for all my life
I've had it enough
This Christian missionary school
is bringing Reverend Chatterjee
Basanta Kumar Chatterjee
To fight this case
I'm sure you know him
Don't you?
Sir...
We pleaded with him but
he declined
Let him go.
And try by ourselves.
What can we do?
It's okay, you tried your best
How would I know the
man had changed so much
Sorry, let's go!
They're city folks. They don't
understand our struggle
Hosanna! Hosanna!
King of Peace has come!
Blessed is He! Open the way
for Him...
...For He will receive
His Kingdom today.
Dear brothers and sisters
Today the Christian people
of Hillolganj are proud...
...that Reverend Basanta
Kumar Chatterjee is with us
He is a crusader for
the Christians
We know he is a Member of
of Parliament
In every corner of India...
Wherever there is any
attack on our religion...
...or dishonour to our faith
He is the first to stand for us
And we're fortunate for that!
Brothers and sisters of
Hillolganj
You know very well why
I'm here today
An atheist...
...A non-believer!
He is trying to prove our
Holy Bible wrong
Kunal is not an atheist!
He has faith in his
SARNA religion.
He has never conspired.
He never said
the Bible is wrong.
Who said that?
Who said that?
I said it. I'm Reshmi
- Do you know that sinner?
- Stop her, take her away!
Yes, we teach in the
same school together.
She is my daughter,
Please forgive her!
Is that so?
Okay, we'll talk to you later
Separately, we'll talk...
...when we meet for sure.
What I was saying is our
Bible can never be wrong...
Excuse me
Remember me?
You spoke up against Rev.
Chatterjee?
Won't that create a problem
for you?
We're friends, aren't we?
To prove the Bible true,
I've come all the way
from Delhi...
...to Hillolganj court...
...to fight without any fees.
Michael,
Michael, are you there?
Is your father at home?
Father is not at home.
Okay, come here!
Give this petition to
your father.
I have prepared it for him.
Ask him to submit it to
the court tomorrow.
Will my father get
back his land?
Of course he will.
Is it Siddo there?
Yes, Sir, I'm Siddo Baske
What are you doing here?
Go home.
Sir, please save my son.
What's happened to him?
They've put him in prison.
He is your son?
Kunal Baske...
My son, my son, Sir!
We asked for signs
The signs were sent
The birth betrayed
The marriage spent
Yeah the widowhood
of every government
Signs for all to see
I can't run no more
With that lawless crowd
While the killers in high places
Say their prayers out loud
But they have summoned
They have summoned up
a thundercloud
And they are going
to hear from me
The weather here is bracing.
It increases the appetite.
I saw that at dinner.
You shouldn't have eaten so much
biriyani for dinner yesterday
Not too much, just a little!
Don't worry, I'm fine!
Without strength and happiness
you can't argue in the courtroom
Got it
But you should be
careful about your age!
What did the doctors advise?
To take care, right?
You suddenly rushed here
Didn't care for my advice!
How long this irregularity of
food will continue, who knows...
Just two days in court
Day after tomorrow the
judgment will come
We shall go back
Why are you hell-bent on
sending the boy to the jail?
What do you mean?
A young boy
just committed a mistake. So!
You see,
as a Christian I'd never want
to punish another Christian
But the political
situation in India today...
So many things are happening
We can't avoid those
I don't even like those
Let's go
Appeal... check the spelling!
The Judge won't understand
the matter with so many errors
Please be careful!
Don't hurry me,
this kind of work takes time
It's all written here,
please check carefully
I'm checking, keep it here!
That's okay!
The Learned Judge will
get it all
Right... no 'W',
'Kunal's right to be different'
Means the rightful claim
Oh My God!
Sorry!
What are you doing?
Do you at all know how to type?
What's going on?
Sir!
What are you looking at?
You asked me to join,
didn't you?
Kill him, kill him, kill him!
Don't do this, please!
Move, move!
IPC 129A, 144, 147
IPC 325 is there?
Obviously it has to be there...
I will emphasis on the religious
sentiment
What else is there in
police report?
Damaged the school property
instigated tribals,
turn on the fire
Principal was hurt you said...
Yes Sir,
then the situation changed
How can a Christian can do this!
Someone must be there behind him
Look, who is here!
How is he here?
There was no trace of
him for the last 5 years
As Defence Counsel?
Move, move, clear the road
Didn't say anything over phone?
How are you?
Your advocate!
Anton D'Souza
Lives in Singpur
We're lucky to have him
We are fortunate
How many days?
Wait, the game has just started
Be patient!
You must stop all these Kunal
What's going on?
Who is this?
She is Reshmi
Pastor's daughter.
Our colleague.
Adam and Eve of Hillolganj!
Can't you understand
what's going on?
They are using you as
their pawn.
They don't bother
about your belief & ideology
They're spreading rumours that
you're a bad person and criminal.
Listen to me my dear
It's not that simple
It's not good or evil
Black or white, day or night
You must be aware that on poles
Twilight lasts for six months
Is that day or night?
We do not stay at the poles Sir
We're still here at Hillolganj
And here after the sun sets,
it's dark
Why do we need to prove
it different?
I don't need to prove
it different
But I need to protect
his right to be different
Kunal
I'm not sure
Now I feel that I'm the
biggest idiot on earth
To the school and the church
I'm an atheist an apostate
To the police I'm a Maoist
And to yourself?
Fine, you...
...did not want to be a headline
or a reason to file a case
Yet, you still choose to
get into this
Not only because of
your students
But because you yourself
believed it
Right?
Kunal, you don't realize
the situation!
Haven't you seen the face
of the crowd?
They are very agitated
They behave as if I'm a murderer
But...
...you are
A murderer of...
...Someone's fairytale notions
you're trying to destroy
a grand political agenda
the is why they want...
the wrath of God and
a political conspiracy...
and the legal prosecutor's
sword...
all to strike you down
And you think this is funny?
No, not at all.
Quite the opposite.
Believe me.
I know exactly what he is
going through
It is the loneliest feeling
in the world.
To walk down an empty street...
listening to your own footsteps
and seeing the windows of
all the houses
shutting one by one
I feel quite same Sir
Don't know what to do
It's simple
Just go and knock on
the doors and
tell the people inside
that if they let you in
You will live and think
exactly as they say
That will be the end to all
your troubles
You won't feel lonely any more
If you say so we can stop
this whole thing right here
But you...
will have...
to make a statement
saying you are a criminal
That you are guilty of not only misleading
your students but the entire community
That you believe what religion says
is right and what science says is wrong
That the agenda of
the majority...
Hindus is acceptable and
not your own...
tribal identity
Just say it
And I can pack my bag
and go back to my village and...
Tell your father not to cry
How could we?
What will happen now, Bibhash?
Something will happen
Have you...
ever been in love?
With the profession, yes.
What's up?
- What did he say?
- Just wait
Keep all affidavits handy
It's all ready Sir,
Here it is...
Please check about
the discharged petition
Okay, checking
Sir, did you submit?
The discharged petition.
Please submit.
Sir, done
Hello Counsel D'Souza
Good to see you here
How are you? I heard
that you had disappeared
What do you think,
guilty or not?
What you plead,
guilty or not guilty?
I don't understand
anything, Sir.
What's there to understand?
You know the charges
against you?
Do you accept them or not?
Sir, while teaching the theory
of evolution in my school...
Just tell us if you are
guilty or not!
No need to explain.
Be short!
Not guilty
Okay, you may leave.
Yes, you may begin
Your honour, I would like to make a plea
before the prosecution begins
The court has approved two
large banners at the entrance
One of it says, read your Bible.
And the other says,
read your Vedas.
I would request the court
to grant me permission
to put another banner
besides these two
Which will say,
read your Darwin.
The court has not approved
any banner
Whatever it is should be
taken down immediately
Just look at it, be quick!
Hello, pull down all
the banners. Go! Go!
Yes, you may begin
Your honour, before I begin,
I would like to express my
happiness
to find my old friend
Anton D'Souza
back in the court room again
He is a great lawyer
and I have had the fortune
to work with him in the past
Our fraternity was really sad
when we heard
about five years ago...
that he has vanished
into the blue.
He was an important member
of the Supreme Court Bar Council
And I hope he will renew
his membership soon
It is being renewed every
year Reverend
Thank you very much
That's good...
That's good.
Your honour
I will speak in English
for the benefit of my
learned friend
Though it may be difficult for
some in this room to understand.
I understand Bengali well...
But if the honourable counsel wishes
to speak in English I've no objection
Your honour,
this court is not in
motion today...
Just to hear...
my client.
But to protect
a more serious
and the holy rights
that is presently under threat
The rights in...
...our Constitution...
...in Articles 25, 26,
27 and 28...
...has given my client
that is...
in India...
...he has the right to protect
& practice...
...his own religion...
...independently and
uninterruptedly!
Right to protect
and perform.
My client
is a school
Run by the Hillolganj Church
It is affiliated by the state
government
The Pastor of the Church
Robert Heramba Chandra Mal
is respected and loved by all
in Hillolganj
Your honour
The ideals of Gandhi
and Nehru...
have been desecrated
I object
This court is not a
place for political lectures
I request the honourable
prosecutor to...
kindly come to the main point
Objection sustained
Make it short counsel
The Charges against the Accused
Kunal Joseph Baske are
He objected to the
School's right to religion
And damaged school property...
...attacked & injured...
...the Principal of the school
Mr. Gopal Soren
I object
My client has not conspired
against anybody's right to religion
Nor has he damaged any property
Or attacked the principal
of the school
He dishonoured our Holy Bible
Tried to prove it wrong
Dishonoured...
our Christian community
and became an apostate
He is an atheist
He tried to instigate
the tribal
to attack the Principal
He damaged the school property
I have already submitted
photographs as evidence
Police and media have also
endorsed it
Your honour,
It's the regulation of
the Hillolganj Christian High School...
...that without teaching the
Genesis chapters of the Bible...
...one can't teach Darwin's
theory of evolution.
Which he always disobeyed.
He insisted on teaching science
and nothing else
Objection
Your honour, teaching science
is not unlawful in our country
Objection overruled
Please continue
Your honour,
Every Indian has the right to
believe in his own religion
The Indian constitution
has given him this right
And if any emotion
develops from that faith...
...there is nothing
wrong in that!
That is his fundamental right!
If my client propagates that faith
among the students of the school
Which law can prevent him?
Christianity is
the religion of love
If that could be reached to
the tender hearts of youngsters
What's the harm in that?
The Court will judge that!
That's my argument for today
in this court
Your honour,
I want to make it clear
right from the start that
Neither I nor...
my client Kunal Joseph Baske has
any thing against the Christian faith
And I am not here to
argue against it
I am also in
complete
concurrence with the
prosecution's observation that
Minority religions
are truly under threat in our
country today
But there is a flaw
In the state counsel's
argument which...
he himself has not noticed
Rev. Chatterjee referred to
the right to religion,
culture,
language
and other things being
guaranteed by the constitution
But there is another right
which he forgot to mention.
Which is equally guaranteed
by the same article of the constitution
The right to education.
And that right is under threat
because of...
the accusation against
my client.
It's the same mistake...
The majority religion group
commits when they try to replace
modern education with
the pseudo science.
Fortunately our...
constitution does not say that the only
acceptable form of education in our country
is religious education
Your honour, my client...
has neither attacked nor tried
to influence
anybody's right to religion.
All he has tried to do...
is to teach his students
a lesson of modern science.
A lesson that is
specified in their syllabus.
Darwin's theory of evolution
has been accepted by civil societies...
all over the world.
All my client has tried...
What?
What the hell?
The court is adjourned
till tomorrow.
Everything is falling down!
We will speak about article 28.
I mentioned it in the Parliament too...
- Biscuits?
- It's okay!
- Now it's spreading.
- The boy has gone mad
Look who is here
You can't disobey school rules
Basanta
True, I opposed his
bail petition
The teacher instigated
the tribal...
- D'Souza!
- Hmm
- Anton D'Souza
- Oh!
Hi!
Bijoya!
We meet again
- How are you?
- I am fine
So, where are you stay
these days?
Nearby, in a village
Village!
Really? Good God, why?
Hi!
So my dear D'Souza
How are you?
After long long time
Why did you ran away from Delhi?
Good to see you Reverend.
How are you?
Fine, as much as you can
expect in this age
Not completely.
Lots of restrictions advised by the doctor.
But do we care? We don't.
Come on, let's not talk about
restrictions.
What are you doing here?
You know, Sir...
...my job is to provoke
the politicians
Ah! Are we growing old?
Yes, we are.
That is why restrictions are
so much important for you
Come on dear.
Don't talk about restrictions
They make me sick
And in any case I've to...
stay healthy
for a war going to begin,
isn't that so D'Souza?
Let me introduce Heramba
The Pastor of
the Hillolganj Church
Sir...
if you ever need anything here
If you face any problem
- Please let me know
- Thank you
And, he is Madhav.
My assistant and a very
brilliant lawyer.
He practices in the
Hillolganj District Court.
Hello
And of course
the District Magistrate
- Rajinder
- Good to see you here
I know him
Sir, I never dreamt I
would fight a case with you
Please forgive me if I go wrong
Why would anything go wrong?
You have such a great mentor
by your side
How many times time we have
fought together
How many times we have stood
for each other
for the sake of this country
Wonderful times! Weren't they?
Absolutely
But now today we are...
standing to fight each other.
Is this what you call fate?
That's evolution for
you Reverend
Thank you
See you in court tomorrow.
Mr. Kunal!
It's in the rules of the
Hillolganj Christian High School
In Biology class
Before you teach theory
of evolution
You must teach Genesis
chapters of the Bible
Have you taught that?
I asked the students...
Answer Yes or No?
Have you taught that or not?
Respond please!
No.
The Police report says that after you
were suspended from the school...
You joined the protest of
the teachers
Is that true?
Right, but we...
Just say yes or no,
nothing else!
In that case everything
was not told
Leave that to the learned Judge
The police reports that you rose
slogans against the school authorities
Not just me alone,
everyone was there
The Principal tried to
convince you?
Did he try?
Yes!
You became agitated...
...and misbehaved with him.
Then you called some
tribal people on the phone
They attacked the school
with weapons
The Principal was injured
Then all of you rushed
into the school to destroy...
No, it's wrong.
We did not destroy anything.
- Outsiders intruded?
- Yes or no?
Yes or No?
Did this take place or not?
Yes, but not in that way
Do you want to say the Police
submitted false reports?
Are the media reports fake?
Yes!
It's a lie
Michael, tell us
What did your science
teacher say in your class?
I mean,
Michael just tell us...
what exactly your...
Please continue in
your own language
Reverend, I am sure
it will help the witness
Oh Yes,
After all India is a
country of many languages
And beliefs
And thoughts
You may reply in Bengali
He told us the Earth
was very hot initially.
No life could survive there.
When it cooled down...
...life began from
a single-celled organism
Please explain what's a
single-celled organism
Very small species
living in water
Then they grew up
Their limbs were formed
And they began crawling
onto the Earth.
How long did it take for
this to happen?
What did your teacher say?
Millions of years,
may be more...
Then came the fishes...
Then the reptiles...
Then the mammals!
Human beings are mammals
Dog, sheep, goats
Did he not tell you about them?
Yes Sir
From these insects and
reptiles...
How did Man evolve
according to your teacher?
From the apes of the ancient
world, through evolution.
Did you hear that?
According to Kunal...
...all of us are descendants
of monkeys.
Monkeys of the ancient world
And not from
any higher supreme consciousness
which we call God
Michael, by the way...
...has your teacher ever...
... along all these lowly
creatures,...
...mention God?
No Sir
Or about the supernatural
events mentioned...
...in the Book of Genesis
in the Bible?
Your school is
a Christian School?
Studying Bible is
compulsory there,
- isn't it?
- Yes Sir.
- Ladies and gentleman
- Objection
This is not your jury trial
Whatever you have to say must be
addressed directly to the bench
Your honour
I've no intention
of making any speech. In
fact there is no need of it
Everyone present in this
courtroom now
must have listened to this child
And have realized
that how confused he is
The teacher who guides his
students in this manner...
...is not only anti-religion...
...he's an apostate!
He is a devil.
A Maoist!
I'm telling your honour...
...they're against all religious
books not only the Bible!
They hate all religious books
They are not competent to
be teachers
They are polluting young
minds in the name of science...
...so he was suspended
from the school
And then he was arrested.
Throughout India...
...a conspiracy is being hatched
against minority religions
He is part of that conspiracy
If my client's
right to religion is not
protected by this court,
then very soon...
Christianity
will seize to exist in
this country
And a Christian child
like Michael
will represent a Godless
generation
by giving the accused
severe punishment
...and avoid this dreadful
danger...
...members of all minority
religions of India...
...will bless this court!
This court...
must set an example.
Your turn now
Basanta, your medicine
Basanta!
Your medicine
Drink some water at least
Counsel
Michael!
May I speak in Hindi?
(Speaking in Santali)
Okay, Sir.
(Speaks in Hindi)
Your honour
I'm
relieved that Rev. Chatterjee
did not make a political speech
Some years ago there were...
several very personal
reasons because of which I...
abandoned my legal
practice but...
today...
the rise of fanaticism...
A unique and frightening
phenomenon never before seen
in free India
has impelled me to return.
I will try to prove that my client
Kunal Joseph Baske did not violate
or infringed upon the
religious rights of any person.
On the contrary what
he tried to do by imparting
modern education is
to raise the hopes of
his tribal students.
For better employment
and a brighter future.
Yes Michael
You just said that...
(Speaking in Hindi)
...long ago the Earth
was very hot
Yes, Sir.
I mean, that's what
Kunal Sir told us
It's also very hot here
today, right?
What do you think?
Long ago on Earth...
...was the temperature higher?
Maybe Kunal Sir read
it out from our text book
Text book?
Which book? This one?
Yes Sir
Your honour, this is
the very text book from
which my client read
out a lesson in the class
What do you think?
(Speaks in Hindi)
All that's written in this
book is true or false?
Is it right or wrong?
I'm not sure
Sir, what's he saying?
Yes, objection.
A thirteen year old boy is
being questioned on ethics!
Your honour,
all I'm trying to prove is
that Michael
or Rev. Chatterjee or
Charles Darwin or even a
politician or a minister
or even a prime minister
has the right to think.
But the right to think
is not on trial here
counsel D'Souza
With all due respect
to the bench your honour I hold
that the right to think
is very much on trial
A man is on trial.
A thinking man!
And he is been threaten with
fines
and imprisonment just because
he chose to speak his mind
That is his only crime
your honour!
Could you please rephrase
the question?
All right let me put this way
Michael, this issue of
evolution... (Speaks in Hindi)
Evolution!
Does it affect your life?
Sir?
Has it done you any harm?
Did any problems occur for it?
Your health is fine as before?
Yes, Sir.
Whatever Kunal Sir said...
Did that create any
problem for you?
No, Sir.
And you are not angry
with your parents, I hope?
And you still love them?
Yes Sir, very much.
What do you want to
be when you grow up?
Pastor or scientist?
Scientist
Scientist?
You didn't kill anyone today,
did you?
Objection
Objection sustained
Why don't you...
ask him whether he still
respects the Holy Bible?
When I need your help Rev. Chatterjee
I will humbly ask for it
Michael, whatever Kunal Sir had
told you (Speaks in Hindi)
You think it's all
true or false?
I don't know Sir,
I need to think
Your father is a farmer, right?
- Yes. Sir.
- Does he have a tractor?
Yes, he does!
But there's no mention
of tractors in the Bible, eh?
Is it a sin then to drive
a tractor?
Never thought of that!
There weren't any cell
phones in Moses's times?
Does it then belong to
the devil?
Sir, I've never thought
about it!
Nobody does either
Your honour,
the defense counsel is making the same
mistake that most non-believers will do
He is confusing the material
things with spiritual realism
D'Souza,
why are you confusing this
poor child?
Isn't there a word called
Right in your dictionary?
Your honour I realize I may
prejudice the case of my client
But I must say the word Right
has no meaning for me whatsoever
What?
But the word Truth has.
It shows us the way
Today everyone being viewed
through the religious
prism is the most dangerous
thing that has ever
happened in our country
Every step we take is
judged by how the
rights and wrongs as
given in the religious books
Is interpreted
by the caretakers of
every religion
Did you understand what I said?
No, Sir.
Doesn't matter!
Someday you'll understand
You may leave now
Go on!
I know what your intention is
You're trying to...
twist the very subject
of the trial
You do this quite often.
You confuse the judges
But don't think
you can get away doing that here
I'm not trying to get away
with anything
I'm only trying to
prevent these clock stoppers
who are hell-bent on changing
the very foundation of our
education system and secular
nature of our constitution
By dumping this medieval
nonsense on us.
This is not
a constitutional bench
Whatever it maybe this
has to be stopped to
be somewhere
Your honour,
it is evident what he
intends to do
He wants to put
the constitution on trial
and not the criminal
But I have an answer to this.
My next witness...
will answer this
precisely
I hereby call
Reshmi Merry Mal
as my next witness.
What did you tell them?
Reshmi
Be patient!
Be patient! You'll get to
know it all!
We should have guessed!
Reshmi!
I want you to repeat in this court
what you told me earlier...
...What you told me last night!
I can't!
Please let me go!
You told me...
...that you want...
...people to know
how it all started.
Yes or no?
Yes.
Speak loudly so
the Learned Judge can hear!
Yes!
Then answer me
You are Kunal's fianc
You're about to get
married. Right?
Yes!
Do you both pray at
the same church?
Yes
Does he go to church now?
No.
But he used to go once?
Does he go now?
No!
Why not?
He stopped going after the
incident with Uncle Sen's son...
...Two years ago
Uncle Sen's son Toton
was 11 years old then
They were Kunal's neighbours.
The boy came home for extra
science lessons
He'd work on his microscope
Kunal said the boy
was very intelligent
One day he'd be a big scientist
Then?
Toton went to swim in the
river with his friends
There he had muscle cramps...
...and he was drowned!
Kunal was very upset by that
Carry on, don't stop...
Was the boy a Hindu?
No, he was Christian
At his burial my father said...
He wasn't baptized, so...
...he died in an accident
Tell them exactly what your
father said.
Tell them!
He said he'd be thrown out of Heaven
into hell-fire for that crime
Shut up! Shut up! You sinner!
What do you know about that?
Please sit down now!
What's the role of religion?
Religion consoles people
Holds society together
It brings peace, doesn't it?
No religion was created
to terrify people
But you always intimidated us
with religion.
We refuse to be terrified
any more.
Kunal thought it was inhuman...
...that an innocent child would
be deprived of Heaven
He had an argument
with Dad about the issue
After that he became an apostate
And stopped going to church
Since then Dad couldn't
tolerate him
So it is clear, my Lord,
how Kunal became an apostate
You've not said
anything wrong, my dear
We can realize how gradually...
...a young man is diverted and
becomes a Maoist
Objection.
Whether my client lost
his way and became a
Maoist or not needs
to be proved your honour
I request this statement
be struck from the record
Objection sustained
Don't put this on the record
okay
So...
Now you tell the court...
...what Kunal told you
about religion!
Objection. Word of mouth cannot
be accepted as the testimony your honour
Objection overruled
You may continue
Don't tell them, Reshmi, please
Those were private conversations
about our tribal narrative
They...
Which they'll misinterpret!
Listen!
I won't do him any harm
I won't do it
- This is for his own good
- But I told you privately
I can't!
You promised me you wouldn't
disclose it
They'll misinterpret it
Now we need to protect
the truth.
Don't you realize?
Your truth, your faith!
Everything... is in danger
Please speak out!
- No, don't tell them!
- I can't remember
Suppression of facts is
a legal offence
You must say what you know
He was reading about
tribal origins
And he shared those
ideas with me
Weren't you surprised
to hear him?
Tell the court what you
thought...
When your friend told you
that God had not created Man
That Man had created God!
He never said that
He said the upper classes...
...because of their
arrogant efforts
...to oppress the lower
classes and tribal people
created an angry vindictive God
The idea of Satan came from
the dark corners of their mind
In which religion?
Which religion did he mention?
Whose God is vindictive?
I don't know
- Yes you do know
- No I don't.
You told me that you know
No!
When you were outdoors
at night...
...what did he tell you
looking at the moon?
What did he say?
Didn't he say that the
other side of the moon...
...which we couldn't see...
What was there?
He never spoke about God?
Or about Heaven?
Never ever?
He only said...
...the sky was just the moon
and stars, the Milky way...
...and nothing else!
It was filled only
with particles
Throughout the universe there
was only the storm of particles
He said that in their
tribal religion
He said...
...their religion judged
everyone equal
They believe life is
present in everything
Do you want to protect him?
Why?
Why?
Don't you want...
...everyone to know how he
was distracted from his faith?
Don't you want that him to
come back to his senses?
Open up!
- Speak! Speak up!
- Basanta
Basanta please! Basanta.
Oh, yes!
The witness may be excused
Bring him please
Come here
Come
Sit here please
Don't tire yourself
Please drink some water
Mr. D'Souza,
do you have any objection if
we excuse the witness for now?
We can call her later
I have
no questions to ask,
your honour.
Who?
I've been waiting for you
This is Anton D'Souza
Why are you here?
What do you want?
Panchayet Pradhan (Chief)
Babu Soren
I've to talk to you about him
I know nothing about him
I know nothing, nothing!
No, no, no I believe you do.
I believe you have
an insight story to share
Jai Sri Ram!
Who's there?
The police report states that on the day the accused
Kunal Joseph Baske was suspended
The teachers of the school
protested
Why?
Because Kunal was...
is a good teacher
And he was loved by all
in the school
Specially the students
Even students were surprised
when they were informed
Who informed them?
A notice was circulated to
all the classes
The accusation was that the accused
disobeyed the statute of the school
To teach...
the Genesis chapter of
the Bible in the biology class
Now is it a norm in
your school that in...
every science class
the Bible must be taught?
No, only in Biology class
Before Darwin's theory
of evolution
And the governing council
is very strict about it?
Not really.
Not really?
Yes, because...
before Kunal joined our school
I used to teach Biology
And I never taught Genesis
chapter before teaching evolution
And you were never
warned by the authorities?
Never.
Your honour, I would
like this to be noted please
So Mr. Mitra,
why do you think that
Kunal was accused of violating
the statute
While the others were not?
Exactly
We said the same thing
In fact what I think
it's because
he was isolated and
targeted by the authority
- Objection your honour
- Why?
It's the prerogative of
the governing council to...
accuse or not to accuse
any teacher of the school
Objection overruled
What is your opinion?
I think Kunal was suspended not
because he didn't teach Genesis.
- But he...
- Objection your honour
Objection to what?
The witness has not even
made a statement yet!
Overruled
In my opinion it's not the Bible
It's the new book introduced
to our school
That Kunal refused to teach
The new book on what?
Vedic scientists of
ancient India
Vedic scientists of
ancient India
Your honour I would like this
information on the record please
Is this the book?
Yes
That book was optional
your honour
It wasn't
Here is a copy for the record
your honour
Need to stop him...
Now, Mr. Mitra...
its also been reported by
the police that
On the day of the suspension the teachers
of the Hillolganj Christian school
Damaged school property
They...
attacked the Principal and went
on a rampage through the town. Now...
- Why did you do that?
- We didn't
We never attacked the Principal
But the Principal was attacked
And the rampage did happen
In fact
it is reported that the police
had to resort to baton charge,
tear gas cells, even...
bullets were fired
To quell the angry mob
No,
it wasn't us
We were also beaten up
We were injured
Then we were pushed
into a police van
Later on, we were released.
Except Kunal
he was not released.
So, who was responsible?
Outsiders...
I mean, outsiders!
Thank you, you can go
Your honour,
I would like to call the
Principal of the Hillolganj
Christian High school
Mr. Gopal Soren
Objection you honour
Why?
We do not consider him
as a competent witness
Besides your honour I wish
to know what is the relevance
of testimony of the
Principal with this case
What is the relevance?
Your honour,
the relevance is obvious
My client has been suspended
for refusing to teach
Genesis chapter...
in his biology class,
for damaging school property
and for attacking the Principal
The suspension order was signed
by the Principal himself, so surely
his testimony is highly
relevant.
It's immaterial, inadmissible
Your honour I demand
an explanation
Rev. Chatterjee
Sir, Gopal knows nothing.
When the incident took place
then the members of
governing council saw everything
Now if the call Gopal
then it may go against us
But Gopal should have
inform the council
when he himself was attacked
Sir, Gopal suffers from
hyper-tension
Pass it on to the Learned Judge
"STOP HIM SIR - BABU SOREN"
Gopal suffered heart
attack twice
He may collapsed in
the witness box
But is there any medical
certificate?
No Sir, but believe me,
it will be a great loss
if something happen.
He didn't complain. He
was scared, believe me
Your honour
The
Prosecution side's opinion is
Testimony of the
Testimony of the Principal
of the Hillolganj High school
is
irrelevant because
because...
the decision to
suspend the accused was
taken by the
governing council of the school
The principal
had no role in it.
How can the governing
council can take a decision
unless the proposal has been
forwarded by the principal?
Your honour I only wish
the principal himself to testify
whether my client attacked
him or not.
The bench considers
that there is nothing
new to learn
from the witness.
Since everything is...
written
in the police report.
So the principal of
the Hillolganj School is...
irrelevant as a witness.
Irrelevant?
Then...
Your honour if I...
request the court to give me permission
to get an expert witness on
Charles Darwin and the theory
of evolution
I hope that will not be
irrelevant
Objection your honour.
There is no relevance
of the testimony
of such expert witness
Because neither
the scientific content
of evolution
nor Darwin's theory
is in question in this trial.
Objection sustained.
Counsel D'Souza,
May I remind you that no one
has questioned
the truth
behind these
proven scientific facts.
So...
there is nothing to be gained.
Since I'm not being allowed to
produce witnesses on science
with my client
is accused of teaching.
I'm left with no option
but to pursue local politics
your honour.
I would like the permission
to call the...
Hillolganj Pancahyet
Pradhan (Chief)
Sri Babu Soren.
Objection your honour.
Objection sustained.
Your honour
The defence is of the opinion
that the accused has not been suspended
for disobeying the statute of the school
or for his apostasy.
Or...
for damaging the school
property.
Or for injuring the Principal
We believe...
there is much more sinister plan
behind this.
Sinister plan?
This is ridiculous.
I've no idea about it.
I'm defending...
our right to religion from
an agnostic,
nothing else.
Reverend you are in fact
shielding your actual predator.
By accusing an innocent man,
a visionary teacher who is much
loved by students.
This is an insult to the entire
Christian community of Hillolganj.
And what you are doing...
is an insult to
the entire nation
You also...
want to make India great
again in the light of its
ancient knowledge,
as if the last two thousand
years did not happen!
Doesn't it matter to you people?
The fact that as embodied
in this book
can not be considered on
per with scientific findings.
Your honour I request your permission
to withdraw from this case.
- Sir what are doing?
- On what grounds?
Do you wish to withdraw?
Because my client has
already been found guilty.
Does the defence attorney
means...
that the expressions of the
honest emotions of the minority
will influence an impartial
judgement?
What I mean is that with a
fundamentalist mindset
no law can be applied
impartially
And a fundamentalist mindset
only knows how to punish
and destroy.
And I warn you...
like a virus it will destroyed
all of you, everyone.
Those who applied and those
who protect it.
Counsel D'Souza
may I remind you that
this amounts
to a disruption of the
proceedings of this court?
Your honour,
if my client is pronounced
guilty and punished
for teaching
Darwin's law of evolution
in class
then believe me that
the day is not far
when Darwin will be struck off of the syllabus
of every school in this country.
Preparation for that has
already began.
And when that catches steam,
believe me...
every book on science
will be banned
and replaced
by books on mythology
like this one.
Which talks about the...
so called 'Golden Age' of
upper cast religions in
ancient India.
Fanaticism and ignorance
are ever hungry my lord
It's only a matter of time...
before the rules of the majority
get imposed upon every one.
And then,
we will be marching backwards
in history
Backward until we reach
the glorious age where we
fly up our aeroplanes with
herbal fuel.
Cure cancers with cow's urine
and imprison any body
who dares to enlighten
Indian society.
I hope that the defence
council does not imply
that this court is
part of that plan.
Your honour has the right
to hope
I only witness that plan
in action in this room
I've other rights as as well.
Yes you have.
So please apply them
I hear by exercise that right.
And I order you to appear
before this court
at 10 AM sharp tomorrow morning.
For violating IPC 186
for obstructing
the proceedings of this court.
Bail is set at two lakhs
(two hundred thousand).
Two lakhs!
Why not make it four lakhs
(four hundred thousand)?
It is four lakhs.
My Lord,
I'm ready to pay for the bail
right now.
You'll have to pay cash.
I'll pay cash!
Okay, settle with
the Court Clerk
- Who is he?
- Uncle Sen!
Who are you?
I am Dr. Sabyasachi Sen.
Reshmi and Kunal's uncle Sen.
Excuse me.
I'll be back in 2 minutes
Come, let's go.
I feel your presence pervade me
in the everlasting
blissful light
in life or death, come what may,
I know I am not forsaken.
Why are we beset with
doubt and fear?
Amidst this wilderness
of the world
Why the hurt, the pain,
the fear...
In this your kingdom, O Lord
I'm not going to accept it
But it happens.
Babu Soren is a don here in
Hillolganj.
He is behind everything
that happened.
People, police, prosecutors
all under his control
Nobody dares to speak.
Just imagine, a few people like
Babu Soren are at the
driving seat our nation.
This is Indian democracy, ah!
And as far as I know Reverend is
completely clueless about it all.
You mean he was not
fully briefed by the Pastor?
Could have been!
They had to succumb for their
own survival.
The principal confessed
it to me.
Your honour,
I wish to apologise
for my behaviour yesterday.
I realize
you are conducting the trial
with absolute impartiality and I...
deeply regret what I said.
You are a distinguished
gentleman counsel D'Souza
But the temperature at
your head is a little higher
I accept your apology
and I relieve you
of the charge
of obstructing the
proceedings of this court.
Thank you your honour.
Your honour,
I wish to say
that I do have
no hurt feelings towards my
learned friend.
And I praise him
as he has realized
His words...
"Come on to me,
and I will give you light."
That's why He has no enemies,
only His friends hate Him
Your honour I realize
that there is a great deal
to learn from
the honourable counsel for
the prosecution.
I take back all my words
and
I request permission to
resume the defence of my client.
- I don't have any objection.
- Thank you your honour.
The bench has
refused to
let me question three witnesses.
Two of whose testimony could
have helped me to establish my
client's innocence and the third
an authority on a book called
'Origin of the Species'.
I would like to know
if the court has any
objection to
testimony provided by
an authority on a book
called the Holy Bible?
Any objections?
That will make things
easy for us.
Why should we object?
Good.
Your honour,
I...
call upon one of India's
foremost
authorities on the Holy Bible.
Sri Basanta Kumar Chatterjee.
It's impossible
Is this child's play?
Strange, there should be
an end to this craziness
Below the belt! Something
lethal is coming.
This is quite unprecedented.
I've never heard
of a defence attorney
calling the prosecuting attorney
to testify!
Reverend,
do you have any objections
to testify?
Your honour, this whole case is
unprecedented.
But in the interest of
justice
and truth
I agree to testify.
If you don't agree to
be a witness
The bench will accept that.
But there is no such scope
in the CRPC
Moreover how can you
testify against yourself?
Your honour,
I'll not testify against
anything.
The Sacred Book which I have
followed through my life
I will speak only in
favour of that Bible
You may summon me!
Give him a chair.
Hey, get him a chair!
Wait Sir,
I am giving you a chair
It's okay, don't bother.
Quick, quick.
Yes, it is here
Place it properly
Rev. If I say you are
an authority
on the Bible, would I be wrong?
I don't want to boast.
But I've read my Bible
like all good Christians.
I assume
you can quote chapter
and verse from the
King James version.
There are many sections of
the Holy Bible
that I can quote from memory.
But can you quote me any section
from Darwin's 'Origin of the Species'
or the 'Descent of Man'?
I am not interested in that
anti-religious hypothesis of the book.
Your honour, I would like this
anti-religious hypothesis
on the record please.
Now as far as I know you are
not only a student of
science in college but
you were a brilliant student.
Yes,
in Biology.
I stood first in all my exams.
But you said...
you are not interested in
any anti-religious hypothesis.
Christians were never
against science.
Long before your Darwin
talked about evolution,
Jean Baptiste Lamarck
a French naturalist
talked about evolution
in the year 1800.
Really?
Then...
on what ground have you
disqualified
Darwin and waged a holy war
against him?
Lamarck was a devout Christian.
For him God was
sublime author of nature
he was a Deist.
But how do you that Darwin's
theory contradicts the Bible?
Or for that matter the Genesis
stories of other religions?
Darwin defies God in his
natural selection theory.
So you have read Darwin?
Yes.
As you said I was a...
brilliant student of science.
Then you must also reject
any anti-scientific hypothesis?
Can you rephrase your question?
In Hillolganj Christian School
a new book has been
introduced into the syllabus.
This book
talks about the contributions
of the ancient India's
to scientific discoveries,
long before the modern
science evolved.
It credits
Indian sages
with among other things
Pioneering
electricity production,
inventing batteries,
aviation,
maritime Engineering
and even
with the discovery of the
phenomenon of gravity.
I think you are wrong.
This sort of a book can
not be in the syllabus of a
Christian school.
But it is Reverend,
it is.
And this is the book not
the Bible,
that Kunal refused to teach on
the grounds of its obscurantism.
Objection your honour.
Your honour,
Rev. Basanta Kumar
Chatterjee has been called
as an expert on the Bible.
Defence counsel should not ask
any question that needs evidence.
Your honour, we have already
submitted the police report
and the charge sheet to
the court.
If necessary
he can always refer to them
and my humble submission is
your honour
let all the questions
of the defence counsel,
be restricted only to the Bible.
Mr. D'Souza,
please confine your questions
only to the Bible.
Very well, I play in
your court since I have
no other option.
But first let us be satisfied
This is the very same book on
which you are an authority.
Yah.
So please tell me is
it necessary
to believe everything
that is written in this book
Line by line,
word for word?
It is always advised to accept
all that is written in the Bible
in the
a way they are intended.
Right, so
just take a look here.
Where it says
'Jonah was swallowed
by a whale.'
Do you
think that actually happened?
Bible did not say
whale,
it said a big fish.
As a matter of fact it says
'A great fish'
But in any way, what
do you feel about it?
I feel that since
the whale and the man
both created by God,
its His wish
that happens on Earth.
Your honour I want this word
Amen on the record please.
I recall
another story from the Bible
It says that
Joshua
made the Sun
stands still.
Now please tell me,
as an authority of the Bible
do you think that this too happened?
Just like Jonah and the whale?
Yes.
Magic, isn't it?
Just like
the great tricks of some great
magician. Don't you think?
I don't doubt in
the miracles of God
like you non believers.
But...
as a student of science
have you ever thought what would
have happened to the Earth
ff the Sun had actually
stood still as a natural course?
You can testify that
if I get you in this box.
So...
if the Sun stood still
that means
the Sun moves around the Earth.
Do you also believe that
or do you believe that
the Earth rotates
around the Sun?
I believe in the Bible.
Don't you believe in
the Solar system?
The Sun stood still.
Right.
So if that actually did happen
if as you say
Jesus made the Sun stands
still that means
the Earth stopped revolving
on its axis.
So in that case didn't
continents and oceans
spill over each other? Didn't...
mountains go flying off
into space and
didn't the Earth turned into
a burning lump of coal and
and crash into the Sun?
How come the Bible forgot
to mention all these things?
They did not write it because
nothing of that sort happened.
But that is what would have happened
according to the law of nature.
Or you discard the law
of nature too, Reverend?
Would you like to banish
Copernicus
from the classroom along
with Darwin Or should we
ban all scientific knowledge
since Joshua
since it contradicts God!
It is God who created
the law of nature
If needed
He will change it.
Listen to this
Genesis Chapter 4 Verse 16
And Cain went forth
from the presence of the LORD,
and dwelt in the land of Nod,
on the east of Eden
and Cain
knew his wife.
Where the hell did she
come from?
Who?
Cain's wife, Mrs. Cain
Even in the beginning there were
only Adam and Eve or Cain and Able
Where did these extra
women spring out from?
Did you ever think about
that Reverend?
No Sir
I leave to the agnostics
like you
to think about that.
Never thought about it?
Never thought about it.
Never curious?
No.
Even if
someone
spoke of another theory of creation
from some other religion perhaps?
I'm concerned about the Bible.
And only the Bible.
Scary!
To what the state of education
would be if
everybody thought like you.
Anyway, let's a...
take a look here.
Talks a lot about
begetting,
human reproduction, you see
Arphaxad
begat Salah
Salah begat Eber
Eber begat... and so on
and so forth
Now all these are
very important people
aren't they?
I beg your pardon
I mean, did they beget in
the same way as it
happens today?
The process is the same
I don't think your
scientists have invented
any better process by now.
So all these
holy men and women
conceived
through a biological
process known as
sex?
What is your opinion of
sex Reverend?
In what spirit this question
is asked?
I am not asking you to
answer as a husband or as a
father or as a
Prime Ministerial candidate
As an expert on the Bible
I'm asking you to enlighten
us on sex
Sex...
in Bible is considered as
the original sin
So all these holy men
made the women conceived
through the original sin?
Does that make them any
less holy?
Objection your honour.
What does this mean?
How is all this related
to the trial?
Counsel D'Souza,
The court needs to be satisfied
that this line of
questioning has
a bearing with this case.
Your honour, you have
ruled out all my witnesses.
Kindly let me examine
the only one I left with
in my own way.
Your honour,
I am ready to sit and withstand
all the mockery and the
disrespect by Mr. D'Souza
because he is trying to
defend his client
by fowling all that is holy!
Now I object,
I object,
I object your honour.
On what ground?
Is there anything holy
for an atheist?
Yes, there is.
The Human Mind
There is more purity
In a child's attempt to learn the alphabets
or memorise the tables than there is
in a room full of people chanting
Amen
or Hari Om,
or Allah ho Akbar.
Human imagination is a
greater monument than any
Cathedral or Temple or Mosque.
And the advancement of
human knowledge
is more of a miracle
than a stick
turning into a snake or
a child dancing on
the head of it.
But we must give up all this,
advancement
Because Rev. Chatterjee
is fighting us with a fable.
Progress does not come for free
My Lord, we have to pay for it
Darwin took us to the
top of a hill from where
we could look back and
see where we came from
And that is exactly what
Kunal Joseph Baske tried to do.
But for closer look
and for deeper knowledge
we must abandon our faith
in the poetry of the Book
of God.
We can not abandon faith.
For faith
is the biggest and the
costliest object in
a Man's life.
Then why did the ascent
of man occur?
Why did God let us think?
Can you deny Reverend
that is the only difference
between man and an animal.
I don't know. I'm a man,
I'm not a spineless sponge.
Can a sponge think?
If He wishes, it will think.
Does the sponge have
a right to think?
Of course.
Your honour
this man demands the
same right as a sponge.
He wants to think.
He thinks.
And he has thought.
But your client has
lost his way.
He is wrong.
I'm sorry but I disagree with your learned
opinion of right and wrong.
Objection your honour.
This is not only
irrelevant, this is illegal.
I want to know the intention
of the defence counsel.
What exactly he wants to do?
I'm telling you what he
wants to do.
He wants to destroy our
faith on Bible.
I think he will not spare
the Vedas, Gita, Koran.
No, no, no.
That is incorrect.
And you know it.
You honour, the Bible,
the Gita, the Koran
they are all great books
but they are not the
only books.
How dare you question the Bible?
I'm not questioning the Bible.
I only trying to save the education system
of this country from...
...begets like you.
You are a fool.
The Bible carries the word
of God.
God himself spoke it
to the men who wrote it.
How do you know that the God
did not speak to Charles Darwin
or to Kunal Joseph Baske?
I know.
Because God told me to stop
those evil men.
We have done that time
and again, against them
God told me I...
Rev. Basanta Kumar Chatterjee
And this is a holy task for me.
Sir!
This is true. This is true.
I know, he speaks with God!
He is our Messiah!
Messiah.
God speaks to you?
Yes.
And he tells you
what is right and what is wrong?
Yes.
And you follow him accordingly?
Yes, I do.
Reverend,
you sound exactly like
Babu Soren.
Doesn't matter.
So any person of your stature
through speeches
Or through legislation
in parliament can pass on
God's order to the rest of
the country
Your honour
Meet the prophet from New Delhi
listen,
listen, listen,
Please listen to me.
Please...
So this is how it happens.
This is how it happens.
God speaks
to the powerful and the mighty.
And they pass on His message
to the rest of the country
To be against them is to be
against God.
No, we Christians believe
each man is an agent of God.
Then what is Kunal Joseph Baske
doing in the Hillolganj jail?
If you had your power,
your influence, your voice
he could have passed a legislation
that only Darwin will be taught
in schools.
Ludicrous
There is only one great truth
in the world.
Yes,
and that is
the gospel according to Basanta
Kumar Chatterjee or Babu Soren.
Because god speaks to them.
God is my strength,
my spirit,
my power,
my inspiration
Your honour,
if any one
Charles Darwin or Kunal Joseph
Baske had the audacity to say
that God speaks to him,
what would happen?
Could he be locked in
jail because
he is at odds with the
self appointed prophet
Reverend let me tell you about
the sinister plan
I spoke of earlier
My client has been framed
for disobeying
an injunction
of the self appointed prophet
of Hillolganj Babu Soren
to teach an unscientific
hypothesis in his class.
Political clout was used
To pressurize the Pastor.
And
the principal of the minority school
to include this nonsense in their syllabus.
And when Kunal refused
to teach it,
it was Babu Soren who instigated
the tribal population.
Made plans to attack the school.
Forced the police to
arrest Kunal.
Made him go through
a 'Gharwapsi'
So that all the Hindu votes
could be consolidated in his favour.
And...
here is
a copy
of the police report that
was tampered with.
Everything is written in this
your honour.
Testimony is complete.
The witness may be excused.
Heramba!
What's all this?
You...
You never informed me
of anything
Reverend you may be excused.
What am I fighting against?
You never told me
the whole truth.
Reshmi!
- Did anything happen?
- Where is he?
Call him, I want to talk!
Whom do you want?
Reverend Chatterjee!
He is unwell, lying down...
...Please Reshmi, not now
Yes, right now!
He must tell Kunal I did
no wrong
Silence! Don't shout,
he's asleep!
Why must I be silent?
He is a cheat, a fraud!
Don't!
I'm sorry,
I shouldn't have done that
I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Reshmi
I was sleeping...
...And dreamt I'm chained
to the witness stand...
...While the Reverend bombards
me with questions...
...While I plead with him
to let me go!
I beg him! But he's
relentless...
It's like a bad dream.
It's a nightmare for us all
But for me it is real!
I came to him with my problems
To ask for his help
And what did he do?
He distorted and revealed
all I said
Why did he do that?
I don't know!
I don't know why he did it
May be he was under the wrong
impression
May be
He wasn't properly briefed
about the case
I don't know
I told my students...
...Rev Chatterjee is
a great soul!
He's like God to us!
What should I tell them now?
He's still the same man
He was, not any more!
He is dishonest,
a follower of Satan!
Shut up.
Shut up.
How much do you know him?
What have you seen of his life?
How easily you youngsters talk
Just look at you,
Just look at you.
I saw him betrayed me
He framed the tribal Christians
By trying to prove Kunal is
a criminal!
Kunal is innocent!
He has been framed
He is misunderstood
He is misled!
This is a conspiracy My
father is...
Who's there? Who're you
talking to?
It's okay
It's Reshmi.
Please Reshmi
Please try and understand
my child.
I'm not your child!
Not even his.
Why did she come?
She is hurt!
Basanta, you're always a
simple man, a good soul!
But you know what people
are saying now?
They say you're a Follower
of Satan!
What?
You never compromised on
your ethics!
But today you did!
You failed to identify
your enemy!
Kunal is not your enemy.
He is not your enemy!
What're you saying?
Have I done a wrong?
A wrong?
You know
the victory in this case...
...will be a milestone for
all local Christians
to cherish for thousands
of years
Winning this case is important
for your credentials only
Not for the tribal Christians
of Hillolganj
- Basanta!
- No, no.
They don't understand
I'll convince them, I will
What are you saying?
Where is my speech?
What happened?
Why you doing this?
I must make them realize
To whom?
Where's my speech?
What the matter? What
are you talking about?
They'll realize from my speech
okay, don't get so agitated,
tell me!
Here!
Okay, calm down, and sit here!
Here! Got it!
Listen!
We're under attack, that's
what I've written.
I already said that in
this speech!
In this country...
...every 40 hours...
...one Christian is killed...
This is Mahatma Gandhi's nation!
Tagore and Mirza Ghalib's India!
We must save this country!
From this will they
understand...
...who you are speaking about?
Who are they?
Why did they mislead me?
Shame on me!
No
Never
Listen to me Basanta
D'Souza came
He said the Panchayat
forced them
They'd harm the school
if anything was disclosed!
The tribal people here
are also under threat!
Just like us!
Call the accused to the stand!
Hey, bring him to the stand!
Hurry up.
Move.
Tell your client to speak
Let hear what he has to say
Sir, I'm just a school
teacher...
You were, not any more!
The school too will not be there
I... a school teacher...
I mean... I was
I think...
...as a teacher
...my responsibility
...was to enlighten the students
...to help them become
good human beings
In my school and in my
village...
I tried to do so...
In my class...
I didn't teach the
Genesis chapter of the Bible...
...because...
...all of my students are
Christians.
And they are taught this chapter
in their Bible class
And...
the book about scientists
of the Vedic era?
I refused to teach that
Because that subject
is unknown to me!
I...
...was a Christian
I am...
not a Hindu!
I am a Santhal!
A tribe!
My religion is called 'SARNA'
In my childhood...
...at home...
I never have heard about Lord
Brahma, Vishnu or Shiva
Never heard about the
Jesus or Muhammad
I came to know about them...
...only after I came to school.
But in school...
...never...
...were we told about our
Gods 'Marang Buru'...
...or Bonga...
After I was suspended...
...trouble broke out in
Hillolganj.
Neither my colleagues nor I...
...were associated in any way.
We did protest but
damaged nothing
On the contrary,
the police beat us up.
They filed false charges
against me
I was jailed illegally.
For the recognition of
our language!
Our religion,
our tribal culture...
of the tribal people
...I have dedicated my life!
But...
...I'm not connected to
the Maoists.
Given the opportunity...
I'll continue doing this
work in future
In educating my tribal people
I will continue my struggle
Wait, where are you going?
The accused has been prosecuted
for having committed offence
punishable under sections
295A
153A
120B
and 34
of the Indian Penal Code.
The prosecution case in brief
is that the accused
a teacher of the Hillolganj
Christian High School
instigated local tribals
to attack
and damage school property
to assault the principle
and insult the Christian
religion
The charge was read and
explained to the accused
He has pleaded
Not guilty to the charge
and claimed to be tried.
The Court if the opinion that
the theory of evolution
as described by Charles Darwin
is as important to the students
as the Theory of Creation
as described in the Bible.
Just to the Christian religion
has its own theory of Creation
other religions have there
own theories.
But the theory of evolution
is not a matter of belief,
it is a scientifically
proven fact.
Do send my fees
and must abide by its rules
Thus the court pronounces
the accused
Not Guilty.
And is releasing him of
all charges.
"Final Judgement"
"Triumph of Beauty and Biology"
Forgive me...
if you can!
- You're leaving?
- Yah.
- Rev. Chatterjee is dead.
- What?
Yah, devoured by God.
They are taking him, I
mean his body to Kolkata.
When? How did this happen?
He died of a busted belly.
You know?
He had stored his speeches
inside it.
Now all the illiterates would
cry for him.
No, why should I?
You know what I feel for him.
- He cried enough for hims...
- Shut up.
What?
Who do you think you are,
the savoir of the people?
You've no right to mock
anyone's faith.
Come on, look at you!
Anton D'Souza?
Ha!
The brightest mind
in the Indian judiciary,
fighting for his opponent, what a surprise!
There was much greatness in the man.
Ah! Can I put this in his obituary?
I mean all these you have said?
Write whatever you want.
But how do you write an obituary for a man
who has been dead since Independence!
In the memory of Rev. Basanta
Kumar Chatterjee, then?
Then what? Let's say, ten
years twenty years from now
A tourist comes and ask,
who died here?
Basanta,
Who is Basanta? Who's that?
Remember what he said to
the Pastor?
That day... in the church?
Something from the Bible?
"He that troubleth his own
house shall inherit the wind:"
"And the fool shall be
servant to the wise in heart."
God!
You seems you too are
down with old rusted sermons
I am fade up with you Hari
Thank you but why?
Because you never talk straight.
That's the trick of a lawyer
Accuse the accuser.
What am I accused of?
I accuse you of disrespecting
conscience
The fake expression of
your kindness
Being too sentimental
about nothing
Why?
Because I refuse to erase
everything
about a man? Listen to me Hari
Basanta Kumar Chatterjee
had the same right as Kunal
The right to think differently
The right to be wrong.
So kind you're about all
the intolerant bigots of this country
And since he is dead we
all have to be kind to him
This whole bloody nation
is rotting with kindness
Hari,
a great man lived in that body
He died in the service of
his community
abandoned by his own people
That is the tragedy.
You know what? You are fake
Hypocrite
You are more religious
than he was.
I'm going to go back to
my office.
And will write the story on an
atheist who believed in God
Hey stop, stop!
- Hey stop
- Sir
Sir, please tell him to
stop the bus! Please!
Sir
I've left home
Kunal and I'll get married soon
That's wonderful
Congratulations.
Thank you.
I've been reading Darwin and
it's very complicated.
I haven't been...
able to understand most
of the parts
Actually most people haven't.
And I did not like that
part where they say that
we have originated from apes!
But I don't think that's
the moral of the story.
You are right.
That's not the moral
of the story
I used to be scared of
thinking and criticizing things
But now I realize that the
human mind is like
an unborn child
And if it...
if it is not allowed to be born
then and a part of us dies too
And that power of my tells me...
that there is a crack.
every where around us
'Ring the bells that
still can ring'
'Forget your perfect offering'
'There is a crack,
a crack in everything'
'That's how the light gets in'
Its 'ANTHEM'
The birds they sang
Leonard Cohen
At the break of day
Start again
I heard them say
Don't dwell
on what has passed away
Or what is yet to be.
Ring the bells that
still can ring
Forget your perfect offering
There is a crack,
a crack in everything
That's how the light gets in.