Open Space - Ranchi

Values of Communal Harmony in Youth

2010-05-25T11:57:00.002+05:30

Work amongst the youth on the issue of youth health and fertility has been identified as an important one, as still the age of marriage amongst rural population lies at 15 years. But how do we make the issue a public one? The Jharkhand Youth Policy comprising of focus on livelihood, skill, sports hence was the focus of the Exposure Workshop at Krishi Gram Vikas Kendra, held on 4th to 6th May 2010. Approx 70 youth from Pakur, Deoghar and Ranchi participated.

Various livelihood programs were visited, this was followed by sharings. Evenings were culturally rich -songs and videos. Kishore Kumar's 'Jeevan Se Na Haar Jeene Wale' and KP Sasi's 'Gaon Chhodab Nahi'. This was followed by 'Kora Rajee', a documetary on the plight of adivasis now living as tea tribes, with no scheduled tribe status. More

Responses

The conflict in Assam continues betwee the tribes -Bodo and Santhal. And adivasi girl was beaten and clothes teared off. We know of the incident when the discussion was in the newspaper and in our college hostel.
While mainstream Bollywood cinema has too much fantasy, there is also some good movies and songs which depict human lives in a different untold way, and those which are also very relevant to our lives, whether youth from urban or rural backdground. Hence there are many relevant songs which inspire us, and can be used in popular ways to communicate to the society, for inspiring change.
Let us feel pride in our cultural uniqueness, but resist the fundamentalist forces which divide / discriminate on the grounds of caste, race, religion, language and region. Hence let us sing songs of communal harmony and humanity, and promote cross learning / opportunities for cultural exchange.
Values are very important, these show us the path for collective, sustainable, equity based lifestyles. During young ages these require focus, yet in informal, creative ways which help to educate.

Also check You Tube responses on this Youth Exposure Program at Ranchi here and Channel.

Black Pamphlets ..On Campus Democracy

2010-05-20T05:27:00.000+05:30

The screening of Black Pamphlet took place on 13th March 2010 at Satyabharati Auditorium, due to the non-availability of Raam Ke Naam. This was suggested to us as pertaining to the issues of youth policy and leadership. And it did generate quite a discussion!

Almost everybody felt that youth's involvement in politics is vital, but also focused on the dangers depicted in the documentary of corruption, bad practices, hooliganism, etc. Discussions moved on to the role of political parties and how student's movement need to be independent.
Whether right or left affiliated student bodies, it was felt that brain washing of youngsters is an exercise which goes around all the corners. This also happens in Ranchi when young people dive into movements and they are guided by various interest groups.
The youth needs to interact at various spheres and also have opportunities to get engaged in social movements and get exposed to larger societal questions. For this various programmatic support is required to promote such youth development processes.
Youth Policy of Jharkhand has been passed by the Cabinet in Jharkhand, and very few people know about it. It is time that more and more discussions are brought into the forefront, and systems are demanded for implementation of the same. (Akay Minz).

Identity, Fascism and Peace Movement

2010-03-09T23:02:00.003+05:30

All are Invited

RANG DE BASANTI - Video Festival on Diversity and Aspirations

At SATYA BHARATI (Purulia Road) - 13^th March 2010 Saturday - 12.30 to 5.30

Documentary Screenings

America

(4 min) - Against Imperialism

Gaon Chhodab Nahi (4 min) - People’s Movement

Prayers for New Gods (29 min) - Tribal Religion and Identity

Ram Ke Naam (75 min) - Communal Fascism

Mann Ke Manjeere (4 min) - Women’s Liberation

Redefining Peace (58 min) - Women’s Movement

Discussion Topics

Youth Policy of Jharkhand / Role of Youth in Communal Harmony / Youth and Gender Equality

Organised by Open Space

In Collaboration with

Solidarity Centre, Ranchi and

Student Christian Movement of India (Jharkhand).

Contact – On 9430367949 (Praveer Peter) and 9709076151 (Paulus Topno)

or email solidarity.centre.ranchi@gmail.com

www.openspace-ranchi.blogspot.com

Change for the Youth of Jharkhand

Tu Zinda Hai, Zindagi Ki Jeet Pe Yakeen Kar

2010-02-17T22:11:00.000+05:30

On 13th February (Saturday) , it is 8 pm and .... Shabnam Virmani's 'Tu Zinda Hai' (Check here and here) was screened amongst a rural health activist audience (approx 80) engaged under the NRHM in 3 districts of Jharkhand. They were basically educated and gave training to the Sahiyas (village level health activists). The documentary proved to be an inspiring piece for these activist with 1-3 years of engagement at the community level.

The story is about women activists who worked to organise the community aganist alcoholism and land grabbing by external forces. It is a documentation of their journey as an activist and how the change is being felt by them and the community. It is a powerful statement against patriarchy !!

In the background the Shailendra's song ....Tu zinda hai, tu zindagi ki jeet pe yakeen kar ,

Agar kahin hai swarg to utar la zameen par, Ye gam ke aur char din situm ke aur char din

Ye din bhi jaenge guzar, guzar gaye hazaar din .. is immensely powerful and motivating. About lyricist Shailendra here

The documentary was followed by Gaon Chhodab Nahi and Kora Rajee, which helped the audience re-live the plight of livelihood scarcity, and the only way to struggle with a belief in life.

Standing in Defence of Human Rights - Support to Irom Sharmila

2009-12-19T23:57:00.001+05:30

During the fortnight to end gender based violence various events took place in Ranchi in support of Irom Sharmila's struggle against Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) in Manipur.

Some of the events were

Screening of Sharmila - The Iron Lady in Student Christian Movement's workshop on Human Rights organised in Don Bosco on 29th Nov 2009.
Screening of Kavita Joshi's Tales from the Margins amongst the Education students of St Xavier's College on 4th Dec 2009.
Signature Campaign amongst students of rural management in XISS Ranchi during the Quiz-Elocution organised on the issue of violence against women on 5th Dec 2009.
Film Screenings on Human Rights Day in HPDC Bahu Bazar during the Women's Rights Convention organised by Mahila Hinsa Pratirodh Pakhwara Aayojan Samiti (Speakers - Prof Rose Kerketta and Malancha Ghosh) and in International Library organised by the Ranchi Film Club (Speakers - Stan Lourdswamy and Dayamani Barla) on 10th Dec 2009.

Fragrance of Peace - Irom Sharmila

When life comes to its end
You, please transport, My lifeless body
Place it on the soil of Father Koubru
To reduce my dead body, To cinders amidst the flames
Chopping it with axe and spade, Fills my mind with revulsion
The outer cover is sure to dry out, Let it rot under the ground
Let it be of some use to future generations
Let it transform into ore in the mine
I'll spread the fragrance of peace
From Kanglei, my birthplace, In the ages to come
It will spread all over the world.

How many more rapes, how many more killings, how much more suffering would it take? And more importantly, how much more patience are the people of the northeast expected to have? “I must be patient”, says Irom Sharmila , “For the time being, I must endure.” Already in her tenth year of fast, she displays the endurance and patience of a true yogi. In her poems she writes in an almost mystical vein of a “place with no birth and death"; a “place where truth is lucid and pure.”Engaging an immoral State in moral battle, Irom Sharmila has today become a symbol of hope not only for the people of Manipur but for people everywhere suffering State tyranny.

(Please go to www.manipurfreedom.org to know more about the movement against AFSPA)

Redefining Peace - Young Women and Men Countering VAW / GBV

2009-12-06T12:12:00.003+05:30

The 16 Days Fortnight event at Xavier's institute of Social Sciences (XISS) on 5th Dec 2009 comprised of Film Screening, Quiz and Elocution.

KP Sasi's Redefining Peace a documentary was screened on Indian women leaders who were nominated for Nobel Peace Prize in 2005- Medha Patkar, Teesta Seetalwad, CK Janu, Irom Sharmila etc

The inaugural Address was given by Shravani and Dr Rose Kerketta, who have been part of the women's movement in Jharkhand and bring out a women magazine 'Adhi Duniya'.

Quiz Contest on Women and Violence Issues. There were five teams - Peace, Justice, Freedom, Equality, and Development. The Peace team comprising of Aastha Singh and Abhishek Chakravorty won.

Elocution Contest on the issue of 'My Perspective and Strategy for Countering Violence against Women' had 12 speakers, belonging to different streams of the Institute like rural management, marketing, personnel management and information management. The winners were Soumya Rani Gouda (first), Soumyojjwal Dutta (second), Reeti, Isha and Anupam.

The guests who also judged during the competitions were Dr Usha (Psychologist), Dr Kiran (Sambhava Women magazine) and Sarjeet Singh.The program was organised under the banner of Mahila Hinsa Pratirodh Pakhwara Aayojan Samiti which is collective of many women organisation and networks (GLRF, NAWO, Mahila Garima Abhiyan, etc)

Dr Kiran said it is very much wrong to say that domestic violence is promoted by women, as it is the patriarchal attitudes in which the society has been cultured. We need to hit at patriarchy, which might be present in women too, not solely a men issue.
Students expressed various opinions ...

It is time for men and women to act beyond just talking about it. Boman Irani's (Bell Bajao) video spot which showed how people in one neighbourhood knock the door of someone engaging in domestic violence, need to be implemented.
Men have looked at women just with eyes (concentrating on her beauty aspect) but now they have to use brains to look at women's other mental qualities too, which has been shown by Kiran Bedi and Arundhati Roy.
Women should have the freedom to choose what they want to do as an individual, she should get dignity as a human being.
There should be a policy of 'zero tolerance'. At least we students should feel it from our hearts and hope this effort kindles a new ray of hope amongst women.
To counter violence against women, men need to be sensitised. Young men need to stand for women's human rights.
The film has helped asserted and help us realise that women issues are beyond 'reproduction', to contribution in production and efforts to create peace.

The Quiz involved questions related to Syeda Hameed, Smita Patil, Mother Teresa, Sarojini Naidu, Meerabai, Roop Kanwar (Sati), film Provoked (on Kiranjeet Ahluwalia case in England), Seema Biswas (Bandit Queen), Arundhati Roy, Aruna Roy, Pandita Ramabai, Simone De Beauvoir, Deepa Mehta film Water (on widows), Mahasweta Devi, Kalpana Lajmi's Rudaali, Aung San Suu Kyi (Burma), PCPNDT Act, Vishakha Sexual Harassment Guidelines, Tasleema Nasreen's book Lajja, Jharkhand Archer Dola Banerjee, etc

The event was coordinated by Elina Horo, Vandana Tete, Sweta Kujur, Praveer Peter, Anima Baa, Shravani and Prabha Lakra. INTREND, the XISS club of students with Anupam, Anupriya, Rajat, Tuhin and Khushboo expressed that they would like to have more of such student activities and be in touch through blogs www.lifeatxiss.blogspot.com and www.openspace-ranchi.blogspot.com.

Using Media Tools for Strengthening the 16 Days International Campaign Against Gender Based Violence

2009-12-01T09:49:00.000+05:30

Open Space has joined the 16 days fortnight being celebrated collectively by women organisation and groups working on gender issues, with its inputs on media & communications. The collective Mahila Hinsa Pratirodh Pakhwara Aayojan Samiti, comprises of various groups like National Alliance of Women (NAWO), Gender Livelihoods and Resources Forum (GLRF), Adivasi Women's Network, etc. There will be hosting of various events in Ranchi and nearby districts in Jharkhand, in communities, schools and colleges.

The use of following media packs will be done ..

Buru Gara - A PSBT documentary by Sriprakash, based on the lives of two tribal women writers of Jharkhand, Dayamani Barla and Nirmala Putul.Check news
Video Spots on Women, prepared by Jagori and Breakthrough like Mann ke Manjeere, Babul, Bell Bajao (Milk), Don't Suffer in Silence and Beauty Myth. Check site
Sharmila - The Iron Lady - A 30 minutes CNN-IBN production on the struggle of Irom Sharmila against the Armed Forces Special Protection Act (AFSPA) in Manipur, which has turned the civilian life havoc, with human rights violations by the armed forces (catching youth in the name of extremism, and rape of women). Check site
Redefining Peace - This 58 minutes documentary by KP Sasi is about the Indian women leaders whose names were sent as a group of 1000 women to the Nobel Peace prize committee in 2005. Amongst those depicted are feminist Kamla Bhasin, anti-displacement activist Medha Patkar and adivasi woman of Kerela CK Janu, fighting for land rights. Check site

Some of the screening and discussion events are scheduled with ..

Graduation and Inter students in Nirmala College on 30th Nov 2009.
Education students in St Xavier's College on 4th Dec 2009.
Rural Management students in Xavier's Institute of Social Sciences (XISS) on 5th Dec 2009.
Matriculate muslim students in City Public School on 8th Dec 2009.
Civil society representatives in HRDC on 10th Dec 2009.

Screening of Mahua Memoirs

2009-11-29T08:42:00.006+05:30

In a seminar focused on 21st November 2009, on the theme of pollution and environment, with Rural Management and Mass Communication students, the documentary Mahua Memoirs seemed very 'out of the context' at the first instance.

Later there was a realisation that the issue of impact of mining on the rural environment is very much, part of the larger debate on environment sustainability (climate change debate).

Vinod Raja’s Mahua Memoirs , a documentary film featuring Saloo, the bard and Thirku Baiga takes us on a journey through the lives of the Adivasi’s, living in the mountain tracts of the Eastern Ghats across Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, Chattisgarh and Jharkhand. The regions being rich in natural resources including minerals; the same resources have become the source of their greatest insecurities consuming their lands and their lives.

Iron is Hot .. Or Even Climate

2009-11-08T12:07:00.002+05:30

On 31st October, under the hosting of Vriksh, Openspace (Ranchi) organized a seminar on Fire in Coal Mines and Human Settlement. About 100 youngsters from Xavier’s Institute of Social Sciences and Xavier’s College, participated. The discussions highlighted issues of climate change in the context of people inhabiting near mining areas.

Stan Lourdswamy (Human Rights Activist)

While on one hand the whole world is talking about climate change and how to counter it, the Indian State is ramping over the land and forests of the adivasis who have the history of coexistence with nature, and infact contribute through their lifestyles, in making the eco-system balanced.

There is people’s movement against displacement which is building up. And people are saying ‘We won’t give away our lands’. The intellectuals need to take position to stand in favour of the thousands of Adivasis.

Nitish Priyadarshi (Environmentalist)

The issue of climate change is not a new one. It has even been in our Tribal history, when the Asurs were making iron, and there are narrations that this will lead to more and more heat and the streams drying up.

Towards a Consensus View

The issues of climate change though a macro one, has to be tacked through sustainable practices at the grassroots with the communities. And the accountability with the Corporates needs to be defined, by the State.

Films like ‘Iron is Hot’ have to be screened more and more amongst the youth.

Social Networking Sites .. Worthwhile ?

2009-11-04T20:55:00.008+05:30

Social Networking sites like Facebook and Orkut have a lot of easy chatting spaces. And many of the times a user might not like to see everything come as feeds. This can be controlled by setting ones privacy settings etc. But rarely anybody does it, and these sites too keep on changing their settings.

The sites have been mis-used and there is a big campaign in Delhi University where the sites were used for sexually harassing the student or academic colleagues with the ‘Let’s have tea at 5 pm at the canteen’, ‘Let’s meet at ..’ comments.

While internet has crossed barriers like age and caste in facilitating communication there are certain norms in communications which need to be learnt through personal endeavour, so that the personal borders are not crossed and rights are not violated.

Some of my friends are using social networking sites for the best of their social messages and sharing of their work. Surya Shankar Dash is sharing on ‘Save Niyamgiri Campaign’ (check site )Kamayani Bali Mahabal is sharing on human rights fronts ‘Repeal AFSPA & Irom Sharmila’ and likewise. Thus it is possible to create a community of your own and use the site for social purposes.

Check 'Irom’s iron in the soul' interview article on Tehelka site.

YouTube has been well used in these campaigns and the movement has been captured through small digital cameras. This has become easier with the improvement in internet technology, its access and expansion of bandwidths.

In this manner advancement in communication technology has created new opportunities for the social movements. These opportunities need to be grabbed.

Discussion rolled on as to how the Pink Chaddi Campaign (check Blog) against the Mangalore Pub incident created a large public support.

Blogs can be use to express your opinions on certain issues and these can be linked to your social networking sites so that postings in the blog are automatically fed in the network profiles. This helps to create a community of friends who are ready to receive and respond to your feeds. But for Blogs to be read by more and more people, 'aggregators' should be used.

Workshop on Digital Communication Tools

2009-10-26T08:29:00.002+05:30

Dear Friends,

We are organizing a 2 day Workshop on Digital Communication Tools.
The workshop will focus on the various softwares / programs / applications through which youngsters are communicating and expressing – You Tube, Facebook, Yahoo/ Google Group, Blogs, Photo Sharing, etc.

Seems exciting? Wanna join?
All are invited in the workshop with a nominal registration fee of Rs 30.
The 2 days affair will take place in Satyabharati Auditorium. This is situated opposite Ursuline Convent on the Purulia Road now also called Camil Bulcke Path.
Dates – 28th October (Wednesday) and 31st October (Saturday) 2009.
Timing – 1.00 pm to 5.30 pm

Please get back to us, with the following details for your registration to participate..
1. Name
2. Age and sex
3. Education and college
4. Present Occupation
5. Email and Mobile Number
6. Areas of Interest

The event will be co-hosted by Openspace (Ranchi), a communication initiative amongst youth (www.openspace-ranchi.blogspot.com) and Solidarity for Peace, an organization committed to social justice and human rights (www.solidaritycentre-ranchi.blogspot.com).
The aim is to create a vibrant group of youngsters who would take the new communication tools in the best interest of mankind. And for this, initiate with sharing / cross-learning processes.
Please spread the message. We intend to enlarge this digital community, through many such events.

Best Regards
Praveer Peter
Mobile – 9430367949
Email – praveer.peter@gmail.com

Notes on Man Capture

2009-09-11T11:08:00.006+05:30

Single mothers also qualify for man capture

To capture a man, then immediately marry him, you need a chicken.

When the cotton is in bloom, it is the season for man capture. Men from one village capture men from another for marriage to their unmarried sisters, cousins and nieces. If a man accepts the marriage, he moves into the village of his wife and shares her property. And if he doesn't?

Producers synopsis

In South Asia, men take most decisions, even about women's lives. Ratmi, a young, single mother in a village in Northeast India wants to get married. Marriage happens by 'man capture' during the cotton harvest. Her male relatives attempt to capture a man for her although she has had lovers. A very dominant idea about India is that it's a land of hierarchies… of every single kind. This film about the India that we don't see; reverses some of the dominant images we see all the time about caste, gender and class differences. What does India look like as it is in some types of 'unseen fringes', where power shifts back and forth from individual to group, man to woman, the person behind the camera and the people in front of it? The narrative structure of the film observes Ratmi, the players behind her marriage, and the role of the filmmaker in 2000/2001 and again in 2006.

Screening was done amongst the Bachelor of education Students of St Xavier's College. Their responses were of diverse variety ...

The gender roles amongst the tribal society are very difficult to understand. They vary so much according to tribes. In mainstream communities it is typically patrilineal and has ingredients of patriarchy and the tribal communities which are coming in close contact are also witnessing a change towards these characteristics.
The custom of capture is bad...it is against the will of an individual. Even marriages by capture of tribal girls from the local market and forcible putting of sindur in the forehead, prevalent in many tribes of peninsular belt are being done away with.
As educators one should keep in mind that the modern day education is also laden with values of the mainstream society. These need to be modified to suit/ give space to their cultural contexts. The overburdening of ‘our’ values to ‘them’ should be avoided.
Any cultural practices which violate the human rights of an individual should be modified / rectified. This should be through proper dialogue otherwise the implementation of the ‘reform processes’ will not see its success.
The beauty of the tribal community depicted is immense. Although the girl is not married and has children, the children are getting a space / acceptance in the community. Even the unmarried girl is not ‘in guilt’, and she is able to live her life.
But still the questions are how long this acceptance from the community remains. What are the rights of the children with regard to property?
The concept of marriage has a variety. There are number of forms in which one can marry. The live-in relationship converting into marriage is also one of the forms that have been prevalent for a long time in some of the tribes (it is a new phenomenon in mainstream communities).
But the rights of individuals engaging in such informal relationships are still ‘not yet defined’. And there are quite many situations when such human rights issues do come up... Isn’t there a need to move towards formal marriages where there are more formal ways of coming together and also of separation, and the rights in such situations are more defined?
Anthropological reflections as given in the documentary are very difficult to document unless you are accepted as an insider. The filmmaker stayed / visited there for quite some years before she could complete the film.
Earlier such documentation was very difficult as the communication mediums had not developed and hand writing was the only option. Great work still was done and many books have been written by such anthropologists which are very valuable in documenting there customary practices. Now the digital tools help in making this documentation easier. But and insider / outsider, we / them... positions in such documentation still remains big challenge.

Will there be a time when more tribal youth will get empowered to handle / control the new digital communication tools to tell their story with their analysis?

We are the World

2009-09-09T09:31:00.005+05:30

Closing Remarks - Rang De Basanti

On 30th July, a tribute was paid to Michael Jackson during the Video Festival on Diversity and Aspirations – Rang De Basanti at Satyabharati Hall in Ranchi.
Two of his songs “We are the World” and “Heal the World” were played. "We Are the World" is a song and charity single recorded by the super group USA for Africa. It was written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie. The last recording session for the song was held on January 28, 1985. The historic event brought together some of the biggest artists in the music industry at the time.
"We Are the World" has been recognized as a politically important song, which "effected an international focus on Africa that was simply unprecedented".The anthem has been credited with creating a climate in which musicians from around the world felt inclined to follow. Since the release of "We Are the World", it has been noted that movement has been made within popular music to create songs that address humane concerns."We Are the World" was also influential in subverting the way music and meaning were produced, showing that musically and racially diverse musicians could work together both productively and creatively.
The audience approximately 120 in number at the Video festival was basically youth from the various mass communication and journalism courses in Xavier’s College, Ranchi University, and Satyabharati. Young women from Nirmala College also watched the documentaries keenly.
Karuna Kerketta of Nirmala College said that ‘Unlimited Girls’ has shown her newer dimensions of Feminism, and the realization that it is contextual in different manners. Check more at Culture Unplugged and at Infochange websites.
Arun Kumar said that Feminism depicted in the video is very different from the matriarchal society depicted in Nandini Bedi's ‘Notes on Man Capture’ about a tribal community in Meghalaya .. this discussion should be enhanced with the men too.
As a part of Openspace further initiatives the discussion to remain in contact through emails and phone was decided. Fr Tigga from Education deptt of Xavier’s College wanted films on North East to be shown to their students, while Sr Gabriela expressed such programs in her Hindpiri area amongst the locals. Rajeev Thepra, a blogger (Baat Purani Hai) will be putting a short feedback report for sharing to larger audience on the net. Umesh of IPTA expressed the need to hold a one-day seminar on ‘Relevance of Communication towards building a Human Society’.

Naata - On Practising Communal Harmony

2009-08-11T20:36:00.008+05:30

Naata directed by Anjali Monteiro and KP Jayashankar was screened during the video festival on diversity and aspirations - Rang De Basanti on 29-30th July 2009. It is a wonderful documentary on communal harmony.

Naata is about Bhau Korde and Waqar Khan, two activists and friends, who have been involved in conflict resolution, working with neighbourhood peace committees in Dharavi, Mumbai, reputedly, the largest 'slum' in Asia. This film explores their work, which has included the collective production and use of visual media for ethnic amity.
Waqar and Bhau's work raises several uncomfortable questions for the filmmakers, so-called modern, middle-class, secular, urban beings. Naata juxtaposes the multi-layered narrative on Dharavi and the 'stories' of the filmmakers, thereby attempting to foreground a critical and active viewership.

Read more

http://infochangeindia.org/200408106250/Film-Forum/Documentary/Naata-/Ektaa-Sandesh.html

http://naata2003.tripod.com/

Director’s Statement
We felt that this story of how Waqar, Bhau and the people of Dharavi have, on their own accord, produced and used various media materials for communal amity (ranging from posters to videos and audio cassettes) had an important lesson for all of us, in these troubled times. We feel that in our present fractured world, it is crucial to share stories of hope and struggle, stories that give us the courage to go on.

Responses from the Audience

I have studied in Jamia Millia Islamia, a Muslim University and hence my Urdu is very good. When people see my beard the question ‘Why are you keeping a beard? You look like a Musalman’.
I had my best friend Shakeel was killed during the communal riots in 1992. It has been very saddening.
It was wonderful to watch the community men, women and children engage in making a documentary. With little expertise but only the motivation, there must have been an immense learning process, both about the process of film making and about each other’s community and living in harmony.
It is very true said, that most of such documentaries are made by seculars to reach out to seculars (kind of convincing the convinced). It is required to involve the common men man, and work on his prejudices and presumptions.
Making Muslims friends has been very common for only some of us, this is not a common practice. We have prejudices towards each other. It starts with differences in food habits and extends further.. to social insecurities, mistrust and suspicion.
We live on rent in a Muslim neighbourhood and our 5 year son while playing with the Muslims girls has also started calling them ‘Aapi’and watches them during the ‘Namaz’.

RANG DE BASANTI

2009-07-27T13:28:00.008+05:30

Video Festival on Diversity and Aspirations

At SATYA BHARATI (Purulia Road)

29^th July 2009 (2.00pm to 6.30 pm) – Wednesday

America America (4 min) - Against Imperialism
Gaon Chhodab Nahi (4 min) - People’s Movement
Prayers for New Gods (29 min) - Tribal Religion in Arunachal Pradesh
Guru Gomke (43 min) - Tribal Cultural Movement of Jharkhand
Naata (47 min) - Secularism in slums of Mumbai
Buru Gara (30 min) - Tribal Women Writers of Jharkhand

30^th July 2009 (2.00 to 6.30 pm) – Thursday

Mann Ke Manjeere (4 min) - Women’s Liberation
Kora Rajee (51 min) - Tribal Migration to Tea Gardens
Notes on Man Capture (43 min) - Tribal Custom in Garo’s of North East
Unlimited Girls (97 min) - Discovering Women’s Movement
Babul (4 min) - Domestic Violence

Modern Art Forms and the Tribal World

2009-06-10T20:15:00.010+05:30

The International Library and Cultural Centre (ILCC) at Ranchi is trying to reach out to more and more youngsters through its dance, theatre and language classes, besides seminars.

Sriprakash, film maker facilitating the discussion with Bishu Nandi. Bishu has always worked on his fascination with Jharkhand and wildlife. Never into commercial photography, he has put all his energies to pursue this hobby of his, few desires or ambitions.

Mahadev Toppo .. We saw Nanook of the North during the Pune days and the documentary and later Mrigya and Aakrosh. They opened our eyes as how indigenous people like us are portrayed in the media. And has constantly helped me in thinking and analysing the media for the same. Even now, when I am in Banking job, I read and express about adivasi issues and this especially when in the North East and elsewhere the issues of getting critical.

Meghnath, film maker cum activist narrates as to how the first batch of Jharkhand youngsters who did film course from FTII (Film and Television Institute of India, Pune) were contributing to the society .. of which Mahadev Toppo, Biju Toppo, Sriprakash, were a part.

INVITE LETTER

You are invited for a workshop

Modern art form and the Tribal world

on 3^rd May at 2.30 p.m. to 9 p.m.

by Mahadev Toppo

Venue-International Library and Cultural Center, Club Road, Ranchi

The main theme of workshop is, how tribal world has been portrayed in various art forms, and how the meaning would be changed when the subject itself becomes the author of the art and the art form, as for instance the great documentary master piece ‘Nanook of the North’- what if Nanook would have done this film by himself…. ?

Now Dalit and tribal literature are emerging very forcefully challenging the casteist and racist paradigm. Thanks to contradiction in capitalism in the age of globalization at least--- digital technology is some how available to common people. In this scenario, is there any possibility of emergence of a new language of cinema?

Better cinema – Better world - Mahadev Toppo,

Sri Toppo is a well known tribal thinker, poet and actor from Jharkhand. In this work shop he is going to read two feature film – ( Mrigaya- 1976 Director: Mrinal Sen and Aakrosh -1980 Director - Govind Nihalani) besides a documentary film- 'In the Forest hangs a Bridge' 1999, Directed by Sanjay kak . He is also going to talk on the photographs of Bishu Nandi and poetry of Nirmala Putul (Santhali poetess)

Ranchi Film Club

Film Appreciation wing of International library and Cultural Center, Ranchi

Schedule (2.30 p.m. To 9 p.m)

Exhibition of photographs by Sri Bishu Nandi

On theme - Still Camera and Tribal Life

Mrigaya (1976)

Director: Mrinal Sen

Music -Salil Chowdhury

Story- Bhagabati Charan Panigrahi

Screenplay- Mohit Chatterjee, Mrinal Sen

Cinematography- KK Mahajan

Cast: Mithun Chakraborty and Mamta Shanker, Sadhu Meher, ,

Language: Hindi

Duration: 1hours 45 min

Awards: National awards plus a lot of international awards

To both Ghinua and the commissioner, a big ‘Shikar’ is a game; this is probably why Ghinua reacts like a terrible ‘hunter’ when the Mahajan tries to steal his wife. He slays him; an avenged man, he brings his ‘trophy’, to the only man who will understand him, the English ‘Bare Raja Babu’. But Ghinua’s trust is betrayed and he is handed over to the court by the Commissioner. Ghinua asks the Commissioner why Dora gets five hundred rupees as a ‘prize’ for killing Shalpu, a person liked by all the villagers and he gets death sentence for killing the Mahajan, who is ‘sabse khatarnak, khun-khar janwar’. Even the villagers fail to understand why Imperial Justice sentences Ghinua to be hanged to death.

'In the Forest hangs a Bridge'

Dir Sanjay kak

India, 1999, 16 mm, 39 min

'In the Forest hangs a Bridge' is a film about the building of a thousand foot suspension bridge by the people of an Adi village, an evocation of the tribal community that makes it possible, and a reflection on the strength and fragility of the idea of community. Located deep in the forest hills of the Siang valley of Arunachal Pradesh, at the north-eastern extremity of India, these elegant structures of cane and bamboo are the distinctive mark of the Adi tribe. Nearly six months of incessant rain in the Siang valley means that the cane and bamboo will eventually rot and fall away, and the bridge needs to be rebuilt every year. In less than three days, a bridge more than a thousand feet long is finished. A day later, we see several hundred men from the village cross to the other side for the annual ritual, as they have for several hundred years.

Aakrosh 1980 Hindi

Director - Govind Nihalani,

Written - Vijay Tendulkar(Screenplay)

Starring - Naseeruddin Shah, Smita Patil Om Puri and Amrish Puri

Award - National Film Award for Best Feature Film in Hindi 1980 & several Filmfare Awards', Golden Peacock' for the Best Film at the International Film Festival of India

Durattion - 144 min

Lahanya Bhiku (Om Puri) a tribal is arrested for killing his wife Nagi(smita patil)and he is tried in the court for it.Bhaskar Kulkarni(Naseeruddin Shah) takes this first case as the govt appointed lawyer.bhaskar kulkarni with all dreams and aspirations to take his first case finds to his frustration that Lahanya does not want to co operate with him. Slowly bhaskar investigates the case which leads to stark ling revelations and the movies comes to a shattering climax.

One of the Narrations in "In the Forests .." was about how inputs from the State in the bridge building process has brought / will bring about change in the collective community efforts and values. Is it not reflective of all external supports, financial or technical, and also unavoidable while the world moves towards global village / globalised community ? (!!)

Poster for the Event ... It was a wonderful experience on the part of the designers. From internet research on the film, grabbing images of the past actors .. great physique of Mithun Chakravorty, anger of Om Puri, the memoirs of Smita Patil .

Collective Expressions ..

2009-04-29T23:54:00.007+05:30

The event on ‘Identity in Metroplex’ took place on 27-28^th April 2009 in Vikas Maitri. Singing song of liberation तुम्हारे हाथ पत्थरो की तरह संगीन है, जेल में गाये गए गीतों की तरह उदास है ‘Tumhare haath paththaro ki tarah sangeen hai, jail mein gaaye gaye geeto ki tarah udaas hai’ (Your hand are strong and can cause a change) the mood of the topic was set. The song of Nazim Hikmat the turkish poet inspired to take efforts for freedom from bondage, exploited labour and lack of dignity. About Nazim Hikmat

Sriprakash, film maker - Art form is basically of two types in the context of present discussion, one of those who practice collective singing and music, and are not into profit making. The other art form is guided and controlled by capital interests. Mainstream art forms are in the dominated by the latter, capital interests.

There is need to work on how the collective singing and dancing amongst the adivasi communities are represented and given opportunity in the mainstream media and culture. Most of the mainstream cultural traditions are based in individual creativity and performance and hence when the adivasi cultural expressions are performed the hosts / producers overlook this collective endeavour.

In Jharkhand the traditional songs reached Akhra / Jatra, becoming a political voice in the Jharkhand movement and then now they have been taken over by Music casssette producers of Daily Market (in Ranchi). Now we have come to the stage of स्कूल के टाइम पे आजा गोरी डैम पे School ke time pe aaja gori Dam pe ..The song like कहाँ से लाऊँ मै छापा साडी Kahan se mai laoon Chhapa sari (From where should I bring printed Sari ..boy expressing to girl) reflects the aspirations developing in tribal youth.

Sunil Minj, freelance journalist said that it is very important to protect the tribal language otherwise the language will be die off. Only those languages have survived which have been used by people and has been scripted well. While it is difficult to maintain the dress and lifestyle as prevalent in the tribal rural forest heartlands from where we come, we all should make an effort to keep our language alive.

Efforts are required to interpret tribal identity on the basis of the commonality and the basic feature that our life values depict. This is what will be the distinctive feature which will bring us together.

Other opinions that were expressed were...

1. With focus on trying to retain identity let us not forget that we have to make space in the mainstream world, hence we should equip our children in such a manner through education and socialization that they are able to compete equally with other people.

2. Land is the basic identity of the adivasis. When land will be taken away by multinationals then how can we talk of separate tribal identity? Another New York will come up over the land of indigenous people.

3. Working on identity could be tricky idea too with the fascist interpretations being given by right wing forces. Sarna tradition is claimed by both the Church and Hindu forces to be close to the respective religious traditions. The topic is very vital to be discussed in the present context when the fundamentalist forces are on the rise.

Please CHECK Video Recordings on You Tube here and here. And send your responses.

Identity in Metroplex

2009-04-22T12:43:00.004+05:30

Identity in Metroplex - Efforts to Rejuvenate New Energy

Venue - Vikas Maitri, PN Bose Compund, Near KK Memorial Hospital, Dangra Toli, Ranchi.

Where walking seems like dance, and talking seems like a song – this is how the artistic expression has been described in Jharkhand where the reflection of adivasi community lifestyle is also seen amongst the other ‘Sadan’. And this cohesiveness of the communities is reflected in all fields ranging from politics to social life.
We have five major tribal communities – Santhal, Munda, Ho, Oraon and Kharia; plus there are number of other tribal groups - the questions of identity, survival and development are very vital for each of them. And then we have Muslim, Kurmi, Koeri, and Bengali and... This diverse range of community life is what the beauty of Jharkhand is all about. This integration is witnessed in urban areas with languages like Nagpuri, Khortha and others.
The characteristics of adivasi identity - community living, language, etc are being challenged with the phenomenon of metroplex (with its market dynamics and competition). This is evident in the lifestyles of the first, second or third generation adivasi youth residing in Ranchi in different forms. They are now living a very different life, of what was written about their ancestors. How has this change impacted upon the tribal identity question?
Culture is not static; it changes with time, and other societal phenomenon. What are newer forms of cultural phenomenon that are now evident in adivasis living in Ranchi with their interaction / sanskritisation with other populations? How can new spaces, with justice, equity and dignity for the adivasis and all other culturally marginalized communities, be created in this metroplex phenomenon?

Workshop on Songs of Change
Time - 11am to 5 pm on 27th April and 10am to 2pm on 28th April.
We have booked the space for the workshop and participants are expected to contribute towards their tea / snacks expenses.
The thrust will on presentation, discussion and learning of the progressive songs in Hindi. Most of these songs will be from people’s movements since Independence, and from mainstream cinema. It is expected that during this exercise participants will discover cultural movement (beyond just cultural expression) and will be able to relate it to the personal and political struggles they are involved in. The youth energies will be rejuvenated.

Film Screening and Appreciation
Time - 3.30 pm to 7.30 pm on 28th April 2009
• Gadi Lohardaga Mail – Songs reflecting aspects (identity, migration, displacement) of the Jharkhand movement are sung during a train journey to Lohardaga More
• School Ke Time Pe Aaja Gori Dam Pe – Musical romantic hit amongst the youth More
• Baha - The Tale of a Wild Flower (Clippings) – Nagpuri feature film made by Sriprakash More
• Guru Gomke – Documentary on cultural movement of Jharkhand with special focus on the life and work of Pandit Raghunath Murmu More
The screenings will be interrupted with discussions on the theme Identity in Metroplex which will be facilitated by prominent resource persons and media artists.

Organisers
Openspace – Ranchi in association with CCDS (Pune) and Solidarity for Peace (Ranchi)
Contact – 09430367949 or praveer.peter@gmail.com

Screening of Film - Nanook of the North

2009-04-16T10:59:00.004+05:30

On 19th April 2009 at 5.30p.m at Mini hall (ILCC), Club road, Ranchi.
Nanook of the North (The first feature length documentary - most popular and commercially successful) By Robert Flaherty (know as father of documentary films) 11 June 1922 (USA) - 79 minutes

Director: Robert J. Flaherty
Writers: Frances H. Flaherty (idea)/ Robert J. Flaherty (writer)
Music: Rudolf Schramm (1947) and Stanley Silverman (1976)
Producer: Robert Flaherty
Editing : Robert Flaherty, Herbert Edwards and Charles Geib

Tagline:
A story of life and love in the actual Arctic. Documents one year in the life of Nanook, an Eskimo (Inuit) and his family.
This film is the age old tale of the battle between man and nature. As the first nonfiction work of its scale, Nanook of the North was ground-breaking cinema. It captured an exotic culture in a distant location, rather than a facsimile of reality using actors and props on a studio set. Traditional Inuit methods of hunting, fishing, igloo-building, and other customs were shown with accuracy, and the compelling story of a man and his family struggling against nature met with great success in North America and abroad.

Background
Nanook of the North is regarded as the first significant nonfiction feature, made in the days before the term "documentary" had even been coined. Filmmaker Robert Flaherty had lived among the Eskimos in Canada for many years as a prospector and explorer, and he had shot some footage of them on an informal basis before he decided to make a more formal record of their daily lives. Filming took place between August 1920, and August 1921, mostly on the Ungava Peninsula of Hudson Bay. Rather than simply record events as they happened, Flaherty staged scenes -- fishing, hunting, building an igloo -- to carry along his narrative. The film's tremendous success confirmed Flaherty's status as a first-rate storyteller and keen observer of man's fragile relationship with the harshest environmental conditions.

this film also remind that documentary film is just as manipulative as fiction !!!!!
please forward message it to any one who might be interested to come and participate

Shriprakash
wish for film "BAHA" in berlin film festival
http://www.black-international-cinema.com/BIC09/bic_09.htm

Images - Thousand Days and a Dream

2009-04-10T13:16:00.006+05:30

Following are some of the photos of the screening in Ranchi, on 28th March 2009, in the presence of C Saratchandran, one of the co-directors of the film.

Plachimada is a tiny village in the Chittoor area of Palakkad district. Since April of 2002, villagers have been waging a battle against Hindustan Coca Cola Private Limited, a subsidiary of the global soft drink giant. The struggle has been partially successful, since the plant has been off-line since 2004. But the company continues to re-apply for a license to operate, and has been getting favorable rulings from the Kerala State High Court......

Gaon Chhodab Nahi - A Political Statement

2009-04-10T10:33:00.013+05:30

On 28th March 2009, 'Gaon Chhodab Nahin' a musical video directed by KP Sasi was screened amongst a committed audience in Ranchi.

With inputs from Meghnath, filmmaker and voice of Jharkhandi singer Madhu Mansuri Hasmukh the song is another statement (after KP Sasi's earlier work America, America http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JeZ5oeAEyU ) on the current politics impacting Indians.
It depicts the situation of the adivasi and dalits population and their struggle against the development projects and corporates induced displacement. They voice - Gaon Chhodab Nahi, Jungal Chhodab Nahi, Maayer Mati Chhodab Nahi, Zameen Chhodab Nahi (We will not leave village, will not leave forests, will not leave motherly soil, will not leave our Lands!!). And finally Ladai Chhodab Nahi, that is we will not abandon our fight, our struggle.

With the elections around the audience discussed as to how these vital issues of displacement and secured land rights need to come up in the national agenda. The music video could be great tool to conscientise the people about the real issues and take stand.
****** ******* ****** ****** ****** ****** ******* ******
The 5 minutes video was followed by the screening of 'Thousand Days and a Dream' in the presence of C. Saratchandran, one of the co-directors of the film made on the struggle against Coca Cola in Plachimada in Pallakad district in Kerela.
After opening to great acclaim for bringing jobs and development to rural Kerala, local community members began to see a darker side of the neighboring Coca-Cola bottling plant as their water supply began to show signs of contamination and depletion. Despite ridicule and dismissive attitudes, local citizens organized and fought to bring their message to the outside world. Directors P. Baburaj and C. Saratchandran follow these groups as they go up against politicians, state police and corporations in hope of protecting their lands and children from the dangers brought by the plant. (http://indianfilmfestival.org/movies07/1000daysandadream.html)
The screening was facilitated by inputs from Meghnath, Dayamani Barla (anti-displacement tribal activist), Sandeep Pandey (Magsaysay Awardee activist), Sriprakash (filmaker), C Saratchandran and others. The young media students from Xavier's college, took an interest in the interactions with the film makers and activists.

Women & Media Event sings 'Mann Ke Manjeere'

2009-03-19T08:53:00.021+05:30

This is about the Film Screening and Discussion organised at the Nirmala College in Ranchi, organised by Open Space with the support from Centre for Communication and Development Studies (CCDS) Pune and National Service Scheme (NSS) wing of the college, on 16th March. The half day event was attended by 150 girl students and resource inputs were given in the form of facilitation of response from the students by Sister Sushma, Elina Horo and Dr Sunita Kumari.
Two video productions were utilised. First, 'Strength in Action' training package prepared by Breakthrough on domestic violence. And second, Shabnam Virmani's 'Tu Zinda Hai' based on the grassroot women activists engaged in land rights struggle in Madhya Pradesh.

Response 1 - We liked the song 'Mann Ke Manjeere' (मन के मंजीरे) based on the true life story of Shameem Pathan of Gujarat. In the video she is depicted as truck driver, who fights life pains and earns independently for her daughter. Especially the words like 'Sathi hoon apni mai' (साथी हूँ अपनी मै). These words were very inspiring for us.
More is said at http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm?aid=991.

The video found its inspiration in the true story of Shameem Pathan, a single woman from Ahmedabad, India, who escaped from domestic abuse, braved discrimination and embarked on a career driving a mini-van taxi to support herself and her child. In the video, a woman steers down a dusty road in a heavy-duty truck, stopping to pick up women passengers on the way to a roadside celebration.

Response 2 - In the film clipping of 'Bend it like Beckham', the sikh girl is very good in football, but her parents discourage her because of her other boy mates. Such thing happens in our daily lives, we are always warned to keep off from certain areas of work because of more men involvement over there.

About this film - http://www.imdb.com/title/tt02864 99/plotsummary

The daughter of orthodox Sikh rebels against her parents' traditionalism by running off to Germany with a football team. Who wants to cook Aloo Gobi when you can bend a ball like Beckham?

Response 3 - "The program needs to be done for boys too, so that they get sensitised. Now even boys are changing and they are accepting girls who are working. Such a change process will come through rigorous sensitisation on gender issues."

The response from the media was appreciable. When the television channels like Sahara, Focus and Etv came, this opportunity was also utilised for on-camera responses. The speaking of responses by a few girls motivated others to speak too. And this whole act was in front of the participants to make the processes of media expression transparent and creation of a learning atmosphere.

The understanding of gender and discrimination was constantly facilitated. It was expressed that in the film 'Chak De India' (चक दे इंडिया) the Jharkhandi adivasi girl's story pointed out as to how they face discimination (beyond gender to racial). But it is the fight and courage of the girls of this area that many of them are finding place in the Indian Hockey team. More at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chak_De!_India

Many expressed their opinion that films sell more because of the kind of 'exposure' done by heroines in it, this should be stopped. Others expressed that it is the public demand. In the film 'Mai Madhuri Dikshit Ban Na Chahti Hoon' (मै माधुरी दीक्षित बनना चाहती हूँ) such a portrayal has been done. Such a change has also come up in real life where girls who are more 'outwardly' and confident (in their body language) get more opportunities to grow in jobs
Film scenes from 'Dilwale Dulhaniya Le Jayenge' (दिलवाले दुल्हनिया ले जायेंगे), mainstream cinema caught the spirits and emotions of young girls. They smiled and hushed the story analysis to their fellowmate sitting besides.

The spots of Jagori - one on perfection of body and the other on physical abuse 'provoked' the right responses. "Yes, women are socialised from there childhood to curb there desires, and develop strength within, to face all forms of subjugation, not to respond to it. Young girls should be trained to respond to such situations - both mentally and physically".

The participants filled up an evaluation form regarding what they saw, their opinion about the importance of the issue and how such an educational activity can be further taken up.

At the end, a 'Strength in Action' training kit was presented to the NSS Nirmala college for taking ahead the cause to stop domestic violence and all forms of violence against women (VAW), through such sensitisation amongst the young girls.

To understand more about Strength in Action toolkit comprising of 'Mann Ke Manjeere', please look into http://www.br ea kthrough.tv/hrough.tv/ or www.bellbajao.org

See videos on YouTube by searching for videos titled Young women's response to "Mann Ke Manjeere". Also see link on this blog www.openspace-ranchi.blogspot.com

Screening of Adivasi focused Films

2009-03-18T21:44:00.020+05:30

On 20th February, two documentaries were shown amongst the students of Class IX, in Sarna Adivasi Madhya Vidyalaya in Pisca, a suburb area of Ranchi. It was a tribal area, with almost ninety percent Oraon students.

When they saw 'Kora Rajee' (The Land of the Diggers) on the adivasi brothers / sisters of their's who have migrated to Assam and North Bengal, they were very much touched. The story narration by Kurdula Kujur travelling with her son, tracing the same paths which was taken was interesting. From the labour depot of Dipugarh (Hazaribagh) to crossing the Ganges towards Siliguri and further very near to Bhutan, the scenes of the tea garden filled the young students with enthusiasm.

The second movie 'Loha Garam Hai' (Iron is Hot) was about the sponge iron plant in Orissa, its pollution and the people's resistance building up. This was an edited version meant especially for school children (abusive language censored).

The film screening was followed by a response session. What was shown in the film? Was it something near to heart or to reality situations? This on-camera responses made the students 'enthu'. First they were afraid of coming in front of the camera and later when encouraged 3-4 friends came together, to respond collectively. This exercise was carried in front of the 150 odd students. It was explained that this fear towards camera needs to break, with new technology coming so close to everybody, and the use of digital camera, mobile etc increasing.
In their responses Sushil Tirkey and Amita Kachchap said that there is regular migration from the area, though not as in the British times, when the labourers were booked from a depot. The government schemes like NREGA (National Rural Employment Guarantee Act) do not in any considerable manner reduce the out migration. Students said that men and women are constantly going to Delhi, UP and Gujarat. Many of them are outside Jharkhand for many years. Young boys and girls said that they have heard that some even do not come back. Concern for tribal unity on the basis of language was felt (though question was raised that many adivasis of the urban areas are forgetting their language and culture).

Opinions were expressed that such reality documentation (away from the Shahrukh Khan - Aishwarya Rai Cinema) about life of the Adivasis and its screening is an extremely good educational tool and such initiatives should be included in school curriculum.

Kora Rajee (The land of the diggers )

2009-03-07T22:03:00.004+05:30

This film in tribal language 'Kurukh' (language of Oraon tribe) has some mix of Hindi. It is on the issue of adivasi labourers in the tea gardens of Assam and North Bengal. These adivasis, originally belonging to Chotanagpur (Jharkhand and nearby), are mostly Santhal and Oraon tribe. They do not have rights as a scheduled tribe, and have little ownership to land. As labourers they enjoy a second category status, and are struggling to make their life better in as residents of the area.

An interesting dimension of migration has been explored and with it the whole ranges of issues like culture. This film is very powerful in making the adivasi viewers emotionally attached and searching for ‘something similar’ of what they see in their own daily lives. The tea industry and its processes are also covered well.
While the film tries to explore their linkages to their parental land and culture in an interesting story telling narration and interviews, the struggle for rights and better lives continues .. The film received a Silver Conch in MIFF 2006. It has been produced by Akhra, a Ranchi based media group. Quite, a green movie !!

Dialogue on Modernisation and Tribal Culture

2008-12-22T11:22:00.000+05:30

17^th to 19^th Dec 2008 – Vikas Maitri, Ranchi

OPEN SPACE in Collaboration with Gender, Livelihoods and Resources Forum (GLRF)

Elina Horo

All communities are based on certain values and any sustainable change can only come about if these societal and human values are impacted upon. This can be done by addressing the proper functioning and reform of the various institutions of this societal structure – family, religion, schools, media and State.

Most of the tribal communities are patriarchal with lineage depending on the male, and only few amongst north eastern tribes are matriarchal. But even within them men have most control in decision making.

The tribal culture is progressive in manners compared to other communities. Gender equity is defined amongst them with the description of men and women and dancing together, and together earning for the families.

Kalyani Meena

Modernisation has brought in new values where tribal families based in cities are striving to sustain their value systems – those of community living and gender equity. There is trend for apartment living with nuclear families.

The tribes which have high education rate are having the maximum level of migration. The rural tribal population is filled with anger towards this ‘displacement’. But the solution does not lie in stopping girls to go outside the State in search of work. With the development of education and modern technology in the lives of Ranchi tribals, there is need for information and protective justice system, sensitive to the issues and lives of tribal community.

The impact of Christianity is evident in many forms with the acceptance of education as a development tool. The religious / spiritual values have also undergone a change, with less belief in spirits. Other positive social outcomes have been the restraint from marrying more than once and drinking liquor.

Vandana Tete

But one needs to be cautious of any action of cultural fascism like the incidents that happened in Kandhamal (Orissa). Jharkhand has to bridge the gap between Sarna and Christian tribals which emerged in the recent ‘Nemha’ Bible incident.

HIV, Sex Workers and Human Rights

2008-12-19T08:25:00.000+05:30

Discussions

Program and Mechanics of the workshop

Anup Hore shared as to how he and his friends were engaged with sex workers in 1995 in Mumbai, when the harrassment by police was taking place. They had got sympathetic to few sex workers and had gheraod the Madhuadih police station. Anup is not able to guess as to what inspired them? Was it for ‘taking favour’? They were all youngsters and their energetic spirits motivated them. Now VAMP is working over there and his memories came fresh when he met Meena Seshu in a recent meeting.

Sandip shared that Ranchi has sex workers but they are not identifiable, as there are no red light areas or brothels. It was in 2003 when the first targeted intervention (TI) by JSACS (AIDS Control Society) was being planned that they got involved in working on the issue. The team used to hang around Firayalal Chowk 9 to 5. It was extremely nonsensical. Just looking at each woman and trying to wonder whether she is of ‘that type’. It seemed very foolish at times. ‘Were we just doing this to fulfill project requirements?’ Friends used to tease us.

And when interacting with the sex workers they were always cautious about their own senses and desires, controlling them. The issues of confidentiality were there, how to protect the rights of the sex workers and still fulfill the objective of the project on HIV, not being harassed by the police.

The strategy to tell them that there are better options of work available doesn’t works. They have gone through all stages of work be fore getting into this work. We feel that it is an ‘easy way of earning’ for them, but for them it can a different version of story, they have ‘undergone whole journey’ through it.

Sony, still pursuing her postgraduate studies expressed that normally HIV as an issue is taken up, not prostitution. People are not ready to talk of these issues in public.

Some come out openly for ‘moral policing’, but it is to be realized that this is one of the oldest profession. There are questions before us. Will banning prostitution, reform the sexual behaviour of people at large. This might come up in different form. ‘Sexual desires need fulfillment in some manner’. The best that can be done is the process of empowerment, to empower to negotiate for rights.

Sandip said that once a sex worker said had they not been selling sex the girls of middle class would be sexually assaulted / raped on the streets. Thus they help in keeping the sexual energies balanced (who so ever wants can be helped in satisfying the sexual desires).

Anup shared as to how the adolescent education module for the high school and intermediate students is being prevented to being introduced in the schools. Sandip shared his work as Red Ribbon Alliance partner, where they are forming committees in schools and colleges. Ajay shared his HIV work amongst the municipal areas of Ranchi.

Invite Letter
Program and Mechanics of the workshop

Program and Mechanics of the workshop

Program and Mechanics of the workshop Event – Be Positive -Film Screening and Discussions on HIV (A Human Rights Perspective)

Venue – Human Potential Development Centre (HPDC), Bahu Bazar, Ranchi

Date – 6^th December 2008

Time – 1.30 pm to 6.00 pm

This is part of Open Space Initiative to reach out to CSOs and youth of urban areas. We are going to screen the same in 20 more spots, and are looking for collaborations that could help us reach out to more audience. Please come for the event and if the issue sounds interesting to you, please help us in organising more screenings.

For any queries for confirmations please feel free to contact me at 9430367949 or email at praveer.peter@gmail.com. In the evening join us for a discussion over tea.

Be Positive – HIV / AIDS Films Screening and Discussions

2008-12-08T18:26:00.000+05:30

‘Be Positive’ - A festival of films exploring the issue of HIV/AIDS.

Quite different from the usual public service advertisements and preachy documentaries about HIV, this package of films is curated for a young, urban middle class audience. These films are not about the struggling sex worker or the helpless drug addict. They are addressed at a squarely middle class audience, and they are about how HIV can and does affect you and me.

The package includes short films by popular and accomplished filmmakers Mira Nair, Farhan Akhtar, Santosh Sivan and Vishal Bhardwaj (made with support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation). Superstars Prabhudeva, Irrfan Khan, Shabana Azmi, Shiney Ahuja, Ayesha Takia, Boman Irani and others put their heavyweight audience draw behind the project, hoping to change minds and save lives.

Each film examines a different aspect of HIV and AIDS, the two strongest themes being unsafe sexual behavior, the feminization of HIV/AIDS and the hopelessness and fear that the social stigma associated with HIV breeds.

Fleshing out the short fiction films are three recent documentaries made in India which deal with transmission and prevention of HIV/AIDS and access to treatment.

List of Films

Migration
Starring: Sameera Reddy, Shiney Ahuja, Raima Sen, Irfan Khan

Using AIDS as the great class leveler, Mira Nair directs a powerful story linking urban and rural India.

Prarambha (The Beginning)

Starring: Prabhu Deva

Renowned director Santosh Sivan expertly deals with society's prejudices against people with AIDS through the journey of a young boy's search for his mother.

Blood Brothers

Starring: Siddharth Suryanarayan, Ayesha Takia, Pankaj Kapoor

Award-winning director Vishal Bhardwaj follows the journey of a young man from a positive HIV diagnosis to the eye-opening conclusion.

Positive
Starring: Shabana Azmi, Boman Irani

One of India's most prominent young directors Farhan Akhtar shows a family coping with AIDS and reveals the courage they bring to overcome the tragedy.

Some Burning Questions

30 min, DVD, 2006

Directed by: Abhijit Dasgupta

Through candid interviews with HIV+ patients in Kolkata, we get an insight into their lives and their struggle against social stigma and discrimination.

+Ve Living

30 mins, DVD, 2007

Director: C Vanaja

The story of HIV+ women who battle social ostracism and an uncertain future with dignity and hope.

Unheard Voices

27 mins, DVD, English, 2006

Directors: KP Jayasankar and Anjali Monteiro

Co-produced by Tata Institute of Social Sciences and Norwegian Church Aid, this film looks at multiple ways of transmission of the HIV virus, including unsafe medical and cosmetic practices.

STOP Violence Against Women Fortnight

2008-12-08T16:48:00.000+05:30

Students of St Margaret participated in a drawing cum debate event on the theme of Violence against Women. The Mahila Utpidan Virodhi Evam Vikas Samiti gave away the prizes, after the 5 hours event. Tasneem Fatima was a star performer.

Expressions of Peace

2008-12-08T15:03:00.000+05:30

Taj, Oberoi and Trident are the icons of power that the terrorists chose to strike. The terrorists understood after several efforts that the Aam Aadmi will never break-down even if you bomb the markets and trains. Resilience is the only way, we (Aam Aadmi) can survive. And the public expression was clear on the roads of Ranchi.

About OPEN SPACE at Ranchi

2008-12-08T14:43:00.000+05:30

Citizens, particularly young citizens need to be involved in creation of new dreams (a society based on love, peace, tolerance, equity, diversity and justice). The mediums of expressions are of vital importance in this process. Events like films screenings, theatre performances, literary readings, music concerts, art exhibitions, storytelling, can be utilised. Also, activity-based workshops where participants can learn new communication skills, discussion and study forums, public lectures, festivals and campaigns etc. Such strategies will ensure creation of new spaces for youth to volunteer, learn, share ideas, and express themselves.