By
Kapou Malakar

By—Moonis Ahmad

Can you convey an idea in 60 seconds? That is what 60 filmmakers from India, Pakistan and Britain tried to do in 60x60, a project by Motiroti, an international arts organization based in London.


The James Beveridge media resource center of AJK Mass Communication Research Center (JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA) hosted the screening of these 60 one-minute-films on diasporic identity on 29th September for students, filmmakers and academia. The programme called 360 degree Britain- India- Pakistan aims and attempts to depict the cultural spaces between these three countries.


Ms Sabina Gadihoke, faculty of video and television in Mass Communication Research Center opined on the films breaking the pattern of linearity. “The movies offered variety in its thought and conceptualization. Innovatively named as Grey, Me, Winds Have Changed, Benefits of War, and Importance of Bicycles etc. the movies wanted to go beyond the usual,” she said.


“The aim was to take the issues beyond rhetorical debates around identity and culture. The discourse about multiple identities, memories and abstraction were translated by the contributors,” says Ali Zaidi, Artistic Director for Motiroti.com.


According to him, “the film makers wanted to address the issues of cultural hybridity (synthesis) and migration nostalgia primarily”. He further adds the surfacing of new issues hovering around boundaries, nationality and nationhood will push forward the debate concerning culture and ethnicity.


The contributors in this project were a mix of amateurs, artists, filmmakers and students. The usage of animation and graphics for putting across the message caught the attention of students and filmmakers. For Ali Zaidi the approach was to use different narrative techniques, comical dramas and performance based style while giving creative treatments to their works.


Mr. Pawas Bisht, whose film was part of the project, commented on the inclusion of elements in the films. His film about his native village in Uttaranchal saw mixed reactions.


The screening was followed by discussion involving students and filmmakers. The usage of voices and language (melting pot of English, Urdu, and Punjabi) interested many. Ali Zaidi added that the one minute medium was challenging and testing for the filmmakers. “The project jury while selecting the proposals had to go through rigorous contemplation,” he said.


Earlier the movies were shown in the journalism festival of Kamla Nehru College (Delhi University). These screenings will be carried forward in Alhamra Arts Council in Lahore, Pakistan in the coming week.

By

Akanksha Kukreti

Photo:Jaishree

“Tanushree, my daughter started putting ‘Late’ remark with her father’s name after I got separated with my husband in 1995,” says Swati Pathak, a teacher with Pearl Academy of Fashion. “At that time, even I used to favour her hate for her father. And why not? We both suffered a lot and faced an emotional turmoil.”

In India, a father is considered as the natural guardian of a child. In any application form or document, one has to fill his/her father’s name as guardian. The mother’s name is filled only after the father’s death. But neither Pathak nor her daughter was in favour of such guardianship. “Now the rules have changed a bit,” Pathak adds.

The case of Geeta Hariharan vs Reserve Bank of India is one such case where the petitioner won the case as the bank refused to accept her signature on an application to open relief bonds for her minor son.

Not only this, recently a 19-year-old Mumbai girl also filed a case as she was denied a passport because she refused to write her biological father’s name on the application form.

But what is the legal take on such a case? T V George, a Supreme Court advocate and solicitor explains Section 6 of Hindu Guardian Act. He says that according to the act, father is the natural guardian of a child and after him, the mother. “But under some circumstances the court has given the guardianship to the mother and at times to the grandparents also.” When asked about the gender bias in the law, he added, “A lawyer cannot explain it. It’s a question which needs to be asked in the legislature”

So, how do women deal with this? Pathak says, “the society is biased and I too face such biases but it doesn’t bother me anymore. If ever a male comes to my place people around raise their eyebrows. They doubt you like anything.”

So, it seems like Indian mothers have a long way to go as far as gender equality is concerned. As George says, cases like Hariharan’s need a good fight, “such cases cannot change the law but can make the law flexible to an extent”

By

Nazia Jafri and Sheeba Naaz

Encounter is not an option to tackle with problem of extremism in a civilized society, feel the organisers of Shanti (peace) march held on October 4, 2008 by Sadbhav Mission, a NGO.

Organised in collaboration with Nishant Natya Manch, another NGO, the march started from Lal Quila (Red Fort) at eight in the morning. The participants included 300 students and teachers from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), Delhi University (DU) and Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI). Before culminating at Jamia Nagar for a solidarity meeting, the group traveled via ITO, Pragati Maidan, Mathura Road, Ashram and New Friends Colony.

Demanding a judicial enquiry on the Jamia encounter, the participants felt that certain religious communities are defamed. “We want judicial enquiry on the Jamia encounter. Unless the person is proved guilty, he should be provided legal aid,” said Vipin Tripathi, professor at physics department, IIT Delhi and the president of Sadbhav Mission.

Speaking on the fear psychosis created among the minority religious communities, he said, “There is a lot of fear among minorities. We want to change the perception against particular communities in India. We want people to speak out; an entire community can’t be terrorists. We want to break this myth. Innocent people should not become the target.”

Sukhdeep Kaur is a Ph D student and a core member of Sadbhav Group. She feels terrorist do not belong to one particular community. “This issue is the problem of the entire society, not just Hindus or Muslim. I am in this march because I want to spread harmony.”

Another participant, Anmol Ratan is a student of Masters from Delhi University. “When a Christian Nun is raped by Hindu fanatics, he is termed as a fundamentalist. When a Muslim is involved in any criminal activities, he is called a terrorist! This is hypocrisy of worst form,” he laments.

When asked why does a community get branded as terrorist? Anuj Agarwal, sub inspector, IP estate said, “We do not want to stereotype. Coincidently most of the culprits are Muslims. May be that is the reason why many think that way.”

Speaking on the recent encounter at Jamia Nagar, he said, “If we had not killed Atif Ameen, there could have been more bomb blasts. In fact there has been one encounter in the area before.” When pointed out that the victims of the previous encounter were proven innocent, Agarwal did not have a reply. He added, “If public wants a judicial probe, we don’t have any problem.”

As questions continue to be raised on the Jamia encounter by various sections of the society, the police and government still have a lot to answer.