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.
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