Black Friday

Friday's incident is once again a tight slap on the law and order and security agencies of our country. The nation is ashamed to hear the horrific act of gang rape of a woman photojournalist in the Central Mumbai. It is more shocking that such immoral offence took place in the state which is known as a safe and secured place for the fairer sex.

Also the ordeal of the foreign student Michael Cross in her 3 months education tour to India has depressed me and I have nothing to say.... Her statement "India is heaven for tourists and hell for women" speaks volume of sufferings she had to bear in her 3 months' stay in India. What is happening to our boys and men? Why there is a constant erosion of moral values in our testosterone group these days? Are our Indian men a sexually starved community? Why despite so much noise this beastly act is not declining? Where does the problem lies? Why men are doing this constantly? These type of innumerable questions run into my mind turning me red with anger with the feeling of knocking down those morons and breaking them into pieces.

These people have made life miserable and scary for every girl breathing in this part of the world. What is eating up the psyche, moral and ethics of the people that young, old, educated, uneducated, relatives, strangers, all are found plunged into this heart wrenching act? Why Indian men cannot get over with the thought of 'women is meant only for gratifying their physical hunger'? Why they can't see a woman beyond their skin?

The mind doesn't find consonance on any of the talks, assurances or guarantees. It seems a covert crusade has been launched by a section of male community to shake the soul of feminism like never before.

Surely, the string of similar incidents have impacted me enormously and for now just speechless.....

  

Film screening at ILCC

Realizing the exigency of making people aware, active, sensitive and responsible towards the Mother Earth, Ranchi Film Club has come up with a welcome initiative.

Ranchi Film Club, a wing of ILCC (International Library and Cultural Centre) shall hold a session on 26^th April, 2013 from 10:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the ILCC itself where two films related to issue of water will be screened followed by a panel discussion.

Every year April, 22 is celebrated as Earth Day. This Earth Day is observed to remind each of us not to take the nature, natural resources for granted. Time and again natural disasters and mishaps happen to warn the human beings of worst consequences, if, immediate steps are not taken soon. Growing urbanization, industrialization has severely affected the environment in which we live. Water is the core of all living beings’ survival, hence needs to be used carefully.

However, putting his own interest and need at the first place, man has been constantly playing and exploiting the nature since a long time. Digging of multitude of wells has resulted in lower level of aquifer in most of the places. The reckless and greedy attitude of man has given the issues like Global Warming, which serves as a global warning to stop the apathy towards the most perilous situation which is very much imminent, if the same attitude continues.

 Also, the most important thing, to save the nature, to save the earth, there’s a greater need of common people to overcome their chalta hai attitude and jump into the required action. The government has the power and privilege to make, amend and enforce certain guidelines and laws regarding any issue but the real power vests in the people. Hence, this step is to stimulate the people to come out of their comfort zone and become a bit responsible towards their deeds. This initiative is to awaken the people from their slumber and start executing what they should.

The films that will be screened are, “Blue Gold”, 45 mins., Director Sam Bozzo , U.S.A. and “Water Business is a good business” Director: Sanjay Barnela, Vasant Saberwal
English (subtitled), 27 min, 2004, India.

The Panel discussion shall see renowned geologist Mr. Nitish Priyadarshi and Gulab Chand (Damodar Bachao Andolan) as the panelists. There will also be an interactive session with the audience.

Ranchi's Chapter concludes at ILCC

The International Travelling Uranium Film Festival arrived to the final destination of the Ranchi Chapter- ILCC (International Library and Cultural Centre) on the third and final day of the three day event. The festival started around 11 a.m. in the library. The dignitaries like Festival director Mr. Norbert, his wife Ms. Marcia, Indian coordinator Mr. Shri Prakash, eminent film maker Mr. Meghnath , Mrs. Mahua Manjhi and Mr. Rituraj Sapkota, Asst. Director at Lievens Film Academy were present on the occasion.  The whole event was moderated by Ms. Rekha, the trustee of ILCC.

 In the first slot two short movies were shown. They were Toxic Neglect (9 mins.), a film made on Jadugoda mines by Indian Director Ms. Moushumi Basu. The second film screened before the audience was Uranium Thirst whose running time is 27 mins. The directors of this film are the directors of this Film Festival- Mr. Norbert G. Shuchanek and his better half Ms. Marcia. The screening of these films was followed by a panel discussion in which eminent personalities from different fields shared their version on the subject. The speakers were- Dr. Ramesh Sharan, eminent economist in today’s time and professor of Economics in Ranchi University, Mr. Meghnath, famous film maker from Jharkhand, Ms. Dayamani Barla, social activist and tribal journalist, Mr. Shishir Soren, an activist from Chapri village, East Singhbhum, and lastly Mr. Dumka Murmu , secretary of JOAR  (Jharkhandi Organization Against Radiation). They all touched the crux of the topic and enlightened the public with their ideas, suggestions and views.

 In his speech Dr. Sharan revealed the reality pertaining to the uranium mining in India. He said that if anybody protests against uranium extraction they are labeled anti- development and anti -national. Mr. Meghnath stressed on the matter that cinema is not only meant for entertainment and the film makers should become audacious and responsible to present issues that affects the people at large. He also raised the question why we need Uranium for generating electricity and other energy. Why we can’t rely on alternative options like Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Gobar Gas and Micro Hydel Energy.  He criticized the government who says they are against wars but wants to use uranium peacefully asking at the cost of people how can one utilize uranium in a peaceful manner?

However the speaker who stole the show was Mr. Dumka Murmu, President of JOAR who honestly spoke about the plight and atrocities of his people suffering since ages from the terror of Uranium Mining and its radiation. He said that no one listens to and looks at the sufferings and grief of poor however the whole country shakes when a girl from Delhi gets raped by few insane beings.

  Ms. Dayamani Barla said in her speech that she is not against the development and setting up of Institutions like IIM and Law College; however the development should not be at the cost of the local people. After the experts, the house was open to the general public to come on dais and put forth their views and thoughts on the subject. The final day saw good response from the Ranchiites as a good no. of people turned up for it.

 In the second and third slot films like The Secret and the Sacred, Two World at Los Alamos (52 mins.), Australian Atomic Confessions( 49 mins.), The Third Nuclear Bomb, After the Day After, and the most prolific film ‘The Red Button’ were screened before the public.

Mr. Shri Prakash heartily thanked the following people for lending their helping hands in making the endeavour success in Ranchi- Mr. Vikash, Ms. Swati Verma Mr. Pawan Kumar, and Mr. Rajiv Ranjan all three from CUJ, Mr. Ashish Beruli (Jadugoda), Mr. Bidit Roy from BIT Mesra, Mr. Rajiv Ranjan of SPIC MACAY and Mr. Tapan,  Mr.Aashish ,Mr. Anish,  Mr.Vidyacharan and Ms. Bani from RIMS.

The festival’s next stop is Hyderabad.

International Film Festival comes to India

The battle between science and nature has been as old as the formation of the universe and the living beings. History is evident that whenever over-ambitious mortals transcended their limit and turned avarice in terms of power, authority and moolah they have always been awarded with heavy reprimand and mass destruction not only for the present genesis but also for the unborn generations. In spite of past lessons human beings have always and continue to challenge the nature and follow their own greed. The recent Chernobyl fire, Fukushima disaster and the ill effects of uranium mining all over the globe proves the above maxim. The people staying nearby comes in direct contact with the particles through polluted water, air and soil ensuing getting affected with harmful health issues like breathing problem, lungs’ malfunctioning to deadly diseases like cancer. In Navajo Nations multitude of bread earners of the family lost their lives during the mining boom period of 60s-80s as they used to hold the uranium ore with their bare hands and work there sans any protective kit. 

In an effort to make the masses aware of this growing menace an international film festival titled “International Travelling Uranium Film Festival” is being organized across eight cities of India starting from New Delhi’s Siri Fort Auditorium from 4^th January, 2013. The organizers of the festival include Mr. Norbert- Director of Rio film festival held last year and Mr. Shri Prakash, National Award Winner documentary film-maker hailing from humble surroundings of Jharkhand. It will be a three day festival in each of the cities excluding Shillong, where it will be of two days. After Delhi, the festival will travel to Shillong, Ranchi, Hyderabad, Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore and Thrissur (Kerala) chronologically. In Shillong, the festival will be held on 10^th and 11^th January after which it will straightaway move to Shri Prakash’s home town Ranchi. Here, the festival will be on the floors from 15^th to 17^th January. The inaugurating day will be organized in the serene campus of Central University of Jharkhand. After this it will move to RIIMS and conclude at ILCC. The festival will include screening of some of the world’s best movies on the subject followed by interactive sessions and panel discussions.

Whether the festival would be a success and whether it will garner the response as expected by the people is a thing to watch. But it is certainly a welcome step by the duo towards making the masses more vigil and cognizant pertaining to the growing menace of over-exploitation of nature and exhorting them to act accordingly. Also, the festival is expected to prove much beneficial for the budding film –makers as they will be exposed to the art of film making and best usage of cinematic language in a motion picture.