Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
Himendra-da,You rightly said that those who do nothing but criticize are degenerate people. How much doing is good enough. Someone might say that he spent $1000 per year to fund a non profit for women - and it gives him or her a right to criticize everyone else (never mind he or she earns millions of dollars a year). Or someone who gave a beggar on an Indian street two rupees - and declare that he or she has done his bit for the cause.How much is good enough? Is Deep Mehta right in protraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression.In a hypothetical case - Would you recommend to your daughter or daughter-in-law that she become a lesbian (as per Deep Nehta movie) to escape for her societal problems of male oppression and house-wifery drudgery?Umesh PS: I haven't seen "water" but I have seen "Fire" and "earth" by Deepa Mehta at Harvard library. Himendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Dear Ram,I congratulate you for your open views. There are 33 million widows in India. Majority of them live below animal level. My cousin Mamoni (Dr.Mamoni Goswami) told me about the observations she made in Brindaban. What about the property rights of a widow in her marital home /or in her natal home?Peoplewho criticise Deepa Mehta's movie, but do not come forward to help stop the suffering, cannot call themselves Hindus. These are degenerated people.In violation of the ancient Indian scriptures, the evil of the gender oppression, hereditary caste system, dowry system, and many other evil practices appear to have well-trenched in India due to degenerations. After independence, the Constitution has been amended and laws have been strengthened to control these social evils. However, law alone cannot eradicate a deep-rooted malaise. The tragedy is enhanced by the fact that even educated people in India fail to join the movement to stop these evils. When I started the movement to stop dowry bride-burning in India, some Indian intellectuals strangely connected it to neo-colonialism of western powers. Any effort to help widows or to stop dowry/bride-burning/female-feticide are ignored as an outcry of feminists. Confusion prevails. An amendment of the Hindu Succession Act by the Parliament in December 2004 to guaranty equal inheritance of a daughter [which would have helped the hapless widows] remains ineffective due to the lack of enforcement. In spite of strict laws against it, selective female feticide (for the fear of future dowry) by using ultrasonic embryo test is proliferating leaps and bounds in the dowry infested areas of India. There is not a single political party in India with a clear agenda to eradicate suffering of the widows, or to stop dowry, bride-burning, female feticide or hereditary caste system. Nonetheless, there are exceptions. We see the rays of light through these exceptions. In an October 9, 2003 Judgment against a case of female feticide, Justice M.B. Shah and Justice Ashok Bhan of the Supreme Court of India observed that It is also known that number of persons condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, and agree to pursue, by appropriate means, a policy of eliminating discrimination against women, still however, we are not in a position to change mental set-up It is wonderful that these points are being discussed in the assam-net.The next step is to come forward to help the work. With love to everybody, Himendra- Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: Rajen Barua Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Deepa Mehta's love for Hinduism--or otherwiseI just read the write-up on "Water" and Deepa Mehta in the NYT. I think Umesh you are being way too sensitive. Film produces/directors and authors usually have the leeway in portraying as they see the world. They often make us see things that a community or a country does not or just ignores. In that aspect, I think Mehta has actually done a great service to the cause of Hinduism. This aspect of widows being shunned by society and even by family members is very real and is shameful to say the least. The NYT article mentions villages etc where these practices still exist. I for one am not willing to blame the villagers, as they may be too steeped in traditions and customs - but do find fault with the supposedly educated class of Indian society which seems to ignore such faultlines. Progressive Hindus ought to be able to take their messages across India and educate people on the evils of casteism, ill-treatment of widows, or other evils that haven't necessarily been mandated by Hinduism. So, IMHO, Hindu fundamentalists ought to be thankful to a Deepa Mehta for opening their eyes to such problems instead of creating havoc.One last thing I would like to state is that generally, you will find mainstream Hindus peg
Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
Thank you Himen da for your kind words. But I do think most (if not all) Assamnetters are as open minded as you can get anywhere else. That is the reason such issues are discussed frequently on the net. --Ram da On 5/3/06, Himendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Ram, I congratulate you for your open views. There are 33 million widows in India. Majority of them live below animal level. My cousin Mamoni (Dr.Mamoni Goswami) told me about the observations she made in Brindaban. What about the property rights of a widow in her marital home /or in her natal home? Peoplewho criticise Deepa Mehta's movie, but do not come forward to help stop the suffering, cannot call themselves Hindus. These are degenerated people. In violation of the ancient Indian scriptures, the evil of the gender oppression, hereditary caste system, dowry system, and many other evil practices appear to have well-trenched in India due to degenerations. After independence, the Constitution has been amended and laws have been strengthened to control these social evils. However, law alone cannot eradicate a deep-rooted malaise. The tragedy is enhanced by the fact that even educated people in India fail to join the movement to stop these evils. When I started the movement to stop dowry bride-burning in India, some Indian intellectuals strangely connected it to "neo-colonialism" of western powers. Any effort to help widows or to stop dowry/bride-burning/female-feticide are ignored as an outcry of feminists. Confusion prevails. An amendment of the "Hindu Succession Act" by the Parliament in December 2004 to guaranty equal inheritance of a daughter [which would have helped the hapless widows] remains ineffective due to the lack of enforcement. In spite of strict laws against it, selective female feticide (for the fear of future dowry) by using ultrasonic embryo test is proliferating leaps and bounds in the dowry infested areas of India. There is not a single political party in India with a clear agenda to eradicate suffering of the widows, or to stop dowry, bride-burning, female feticide or hereditary caste system. Nonetheless, there are exceptions. We see the rays of light through these exceptions. In an October 9, 2003 Judgment against a case of female feticide, Justice M.B. Shah and Justice Ashok Bhan of the Supreme Court of India observed that "It is also known that number of persons condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, and agree to pursue, by appropriate means, a policy of eliminating discrimination against women, still however, we are not in a position to change mental set-up …" It is wonderful that these points are being discussed in the assam-net.The next step is to come forward to help the work. With love to everybody, Himendra - Original Message - From: Ram Sarangapani To: Rajen Barua Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; assam@assamnet.org Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 8:16 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Deepa Mehta's love for Hinduism--or otherwise I just read the write-up on Water and Deepa Mehta in the NYT. I think Umesh you are being way too sensitive. Film produces/directors and authors usually have the leeway in portraying as they see the world. They often make us see things that a community or a country does not or just ignores. In that aspect, I think Mehta has actually done a great service to the cause of Hinduism. This aspect of widows being shunned by society and even by family members is very real and is shameful to say the least. The NYT article mentions villages etc where these practices still exist. I for one am not willing to blame the villagers, as they may be too steeped in traditions and customs - but do find fault with the supposedly educated class of Indian society which seems to ignore such faultlines. Progressive Hindus ought to be able to take their messages across India and educate people on the evils of casteism, ill-treatment of widows, or other evils that haven't necessarily been mandated by Hinduism. So, IMHO, Hindu fundamentalists ought to be thankful to a Deepa Mehta for opening their eyes to such problems instead of creating havoc. One last thing I would like to state is that generally, you will find mainstream Hindus peg themselves to varying viewpoints on this and other issues regarding criticisms of their own religion, and thats a great thing. At least one won't see a Salman Rushdie like dikat on Deepa Mehta from a majority of Hindus. -- Ram On 5/3/06, Rajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I haven't seen any effforts by Deepa Mehta to highlight any good points about Hindusim at all. Why you have to depend on Deepa Mehta to high light the goods of Hinduism. Are there no other Hindus who can do that? Or Deepa mehta have some special; power? RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 3:14 PM Subject: [Assam] Deepa Mehta's love for Hinduism--or otherwise Just like I haven't
Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
Is Deep Mehta right in portraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression. An artist normally donot portray something as a solution, she may portray what may be the realty in her eyes. Everybody has a right to portray life the way they see it. Showing a solution is not necessarily an artist's duty. It is the duty of a social worker. I don't understand why this anger against the artist Deepa Mehta. Is it because that realty she projected shocked you? Or is it because you donot agree with that realty? Mamony Roysom Goswami also had been portraying such realty through her various novels, either the plights of Hindu widows in Brindaban or Assamese Vaishnava Upper class widow in Assam. We should be grateful to these artists for bringing to focus these realty in our societies. Similarly we need more artist to portray the realty of Suttee that is still going on in Bihar and other places. Let us hope Deepa Mehta will pick up a such a story for her next movie and call it AIR. RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Himendra Thakur ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 12:56 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows Himendra-da, You rightly said that those who do nothing but criticize are degenerate people. How much doing is good enough. Someone might say that he spent $1000 per year to fund a non profit for women - and it gives him or her a right to criticize everyone else (never mind he or she earns millions of dollars a year). Or someone who gave a beggar on an Indian street two rupees - and declare that he or she has done his bit for the cause. How much is good enough? Is Deep Mehta right in protraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression. In a hypothetical case - Would you recommend to your daughter or daughter-in-law that she become a lesbian (as per Deep Nehta movie) to escape for her societal problems of male oppression and house-wifery drudgery? Umesh PS: I haven't seen "water" but I have seen "Fire" and "earth" by Deepa Mehta at Harvard library. Himendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Ram, I congratulate you for your open views. There are 33 million widows in India. Majority of them live below animal level. My cousin Mamoni (Dr.Mamoni Goswami) told me about the observations she made in Brindaban. What about the property rights of a widow in her marital home /or in her natal home? Peoplewho criticise Deepa Mehta's movie, but do not come forward to help stop the suffering, cannot call themselves Hindus. These are degenerated people. In violation of the ancient Indian scriptures, the evil of the gender oppression, hereditary caste system, dowry system, and many other evil practices appear to have well-trenched in India due to degenerations. After independence, the Constitution has been amended and laws have been strengthened to control these social evils. However, law alone cannot eradicate a deep-rooted malaise. The tragedy is enhanced by the fact that even educated people in India fail to join the movement to stop these evils. When I started the movement to stop dowry bride-burning in India, some Indian intellectuals strangely connected it to neo-colonialism of western powers. Any effort to help widows or to stop dowry/bride-burning/female-feticide are ignored as an outcry of feminists. Confusion prevails. An amendment of the Hindu Succession Act by the Parliament in December 2004 to guaranty equal inheritance of a daughter [which would have helped the hapless widows] remains ineffective due to the lack of enforcement. In spite of strict laws against it, selective female feticide (for the fear of future dowry) by using ultrasonic embryo test is proliferating leaps and bounds in the dowry infested areas of India. There is not a single political party in India with a clear agenda to eradicate suffering of the widows, or to stop dowry, bride-burning, female feticide or hereditary caste system. Nonetheless, there are exceptions. We see the rays of light through these exceptions. In an October 9, 2003 Judgment against a case of female feticide, Justice M.B. Shah and Justice Ashok Bhan of the Supreme Court of India observed that It is also known that number of persons condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, and agree to pursue, by appropriate means, a policy of eliminating discrimination against women, still however, we are not in a position to change mental set-up It is wonderful that these points
Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
AIR would be a good title for her next movie - but it should not suggest solutions like those from a wind bag:)UmeshPS: My suggestion would be a movie on Meera Bai - who was a widow kicked out by her princely in-laws and devoted to Sri Krishna's worship - world famous thru her songsRajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is Deep Mehta right in portraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression.An artist normally donot portray something as a solution, she may portray what may be the realty in her eyes. Everybody has a right to portray life the way they see it. Showing a solution is not necessarily an artist's duty. It is the duty of a social worker.I don't understand why this anger against the artist Deepa Mehta. Is it because that realty she projected shocked you? Or is it because you donot agree with that realty? Mamony Roysom Goswami also had been portraying such realty through her various novels, either the plights of Hindu widows in Brindaban or Assamese Vaishnava Upper class widow in Assam. We should be grateful to these artists for bringing to focus these realty in our societies.Similarly we need more artist to portray the realty of Suttee that is still going on in Bihar and other places. Let us hope Deepa Mehta will pick up a such a story for her next movie and call it AIR.RB- Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Himendra Thakur ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 12:56 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the WidowsHimendra-da,You rightly said that those who do nothing but criticize are degenerate people. How much doing is good enough. Someone might say that he spent $1000 per year to fund a non profit for women - and it gives him or her a right to criticize everyone else (never mind he or she earns millions of dollars a year). Or someone who gave a beggar on an Indian street two rupees - and declare that he or she has done his bit for the cause.How much is good enough? Is Deep Mehta right in protraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression.In a hypothetical case - Would you recommend to your daughter or daughter-in-law that she become a lesbian (as per Deep Nehta movie) to escape for her societal problems of male oppression and house-wifery drudgery?Umesh PS: I haven't seen "water" but I have seen "Fire" and "earth" by Deepa Mehta at Harvard library. Himendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Dear Ram,I congratulate you for your open views. There are 33 million widows in India. Majority of them live below animal level. My cousin Mamoni (Dr.Mamoni Goswami) told me about the observations she made in Brindaban. What about the property rights of a widow in her marital home /or in her natal home?Peoplewho criticise Deepa Mehta's movie, but do not come forward to help stop the suffering, cannot call themselves Hindus. These are degenerated people.In violation of the ancient Indian scriptures, the evil of the gender oppression, hereditary caste system, dowry system, and many other evil practices appear to have well-trenched in India due to degenerations. After independence, the Constitution has been amended and laws have been strengthened to control these social evils. However, law alone cannot eradicate a deep-rooted malaise. The tragedy is enhanced by the fact that even educated people in India fail to join the movement to stop these evils. When I started the movement to stop dowry bride-burning in India, some Indian intellectuals strangely connected it to neo-colonialism of western powers. Any effort to help widows or to stop dowry/bride-burning/female-feticide are ignored as an outcry of feminists. Confusion prevails. An amendment of the Hindu Succession Act by the Parliament in December 2004 to guaranty equal inheritance of a daughter [which would have helped the hapless widows] remains ineffective due to the lack of enforcement. In spite of strict laws against it, selective female feticide (for the fear of future dowry) by using ultrasonic embryo test is proliferating leaps and bounds in the dowry infested areas of India. There is not a single political party in India with a clear agenda to eradicate suffering of the widows, or to stop dowry, bride-burning, female feticide or hereditary caste system. Nonetheless, there are exceptions. We see the rays of light through these exceptions. In an October 9, 2003 Judgment against a case of female feticide, Justice M.B. Shah and Justice Ashok Bhan of the Supreme Court of India observed that It is also known that number of persons condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, and agree to pursue, by appropriate means, a policy of eliminating discrimination against women, still however, we are not in a position to change mental set-up It
Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
I agree withUmesh-Jion the storyline(?) in Fire. As far as I remember, it was a boring andmeaningless picture - caring and affection between two human beings do not have to be anything like that, it canvery wellbe platonic and the audience can still get the message - I mean, the husbands taking overwomen's lives. Two issues were put together without good enough reasons - physical attraction is a different issue altogether, rejection by the husband does not necessarily change a person toturn intoa gay person. Anyway! In order to portray a particular problem, like male dominance etc., in a particular society, it does not need to be connected needlessly with a "current controversial topic" (or it should totally be on that 'hot' topic itself - not with a silly connection between the two). And if that useless connection is made, then it is viewed by many, as a futile attempt to draw attention -from the movie-maker's side. From: umesh sharma [EMAIL PROTECTED]Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]To: Rajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED], Himendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED], Ram Sarangapani [EMAIL PROTECTED]CC: assam@assamnet.orgSubject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the WidowsDate: Thu, 4 May 2006 20:38:58 +0100 (BST) AIR would be a good title for her next movie - but it should not suggest solutions like those from a wind bag:) Umesh PS: My suggestion would be a movie on Meera Bai - who was a widow kicked out by her princely in-laws and devoted to Sri Krishna's worship - world famous thru her songsRajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is Deep Mehta right in portraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression. An artist normally donot portray something as a solution, she may portray what may be the realty in her eyes. Everybody has a right to portray life the way they see it. Showing a solution is not necessarily an artist's duty. It is the duty of a social worker. I don't understand why this anger against the artist Deepa Mehta. Is it because that realty she projected shocked you? Or is it because you donot agree with that realty? Mamony Roysom Goswami also had been portraying such realty through her various novels, either the plights of Hindu widows in Brindaban or Assamese Vaishnava Upper class widow in Assam. We should be grateful to these artists for bringing to focus these realty in our societies. Similarly we need more artist to portray the realty of Suttee that is still going on in Bihar and other places. Let us hope Deepa Mehta will pick up a such a story for her next movie and call it AIR. RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Himendra Thakur ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 12:56 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows Himendra-da, You rightly said that those who do nothing but criticize are degenerate people. How much doing is good enough. Someone might say that he spent $1000 per year to fund a non profit for women - and it gives him or her a right to criticize everyone else (never mind he or she earns millions of dollars a year). Or someone who gave a beggar on an Indian street two rupees - and declare that he or she has done his bit for the cause. How much is good enough? Is Deep Mehta right in protraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression. In a hypothetical case - Would you recommend to your daughter or daughter-in-law that she become a lesbian (as per Deep Nehta movie) to escape for her societal problems of male oppression and house-wifery drudgery? Umesh PS: I haven't seen "water" but I have seen "Fire" and "earth" by Deepa Mehta at Harvard library. Himendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Ram, I congratulate you for your open views. There are 33 million widows in India. Majority of them live below animal level. My cousin Mamoni (Dr.Mamoni Goswami) told me about the observations she made in Brindaban. What about the property rights of a widow in her marital home /or in her natal home? Peoplewho criticise Deepa Mehta's movie, but do not come forward to help stop the suffering, cannot call themselves Hindus. These are degenerated people. In violation of the ancient Indian scriptures, the evil of the gender oppression, hereditary caste system, dowry system, and many other evil practices appear to have well-trenched in India due to degenerations. After independence, the Constitution has been amended and laws have been strengthened to control these social evils. However, law alone cannot eradicate a deep-rooted malaise. The tragedy is enhanced by the fact that even educated people in India fail to join the movement to stop these evils. When I started the movement to stop dowry bride-burning in India, some Indian intellectuals strangely connected it to neo-colonialism of western powers. Any effort to help widows or to stop dowry/bride-burning/female-fetici
Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
Well that will be too much with religeous theme, and the way Deepa Mehta may project Meera Bai, the Hindus may not like it. I think Deepa Mehtamay rather will like to do one Adults movie with the Gopis of Brindaban and Krishna. Both ways, it may do more damage to Hinduism image. I think let these artists do whatver they like. RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Rajen Barua ; Himendra Thakur ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 2:38 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows AIR would be a good title for her next movie - but it should not suggest solutions like those from a wind bag:) Umesh PS: My suggestion would be a movie on Meera Bai - who was a widow kicked out by her princely in-laws and devoted to Sri Krishna's worship - world famous thru her songsRajen Barua [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Is Deep Mehta right in portraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression. An artist normally donot portray something as a solution, she may portray what may be the realty in her eyes. Everybody has a right to portray life the way they see it. Showing a solution is not necessarily an artist's duty. It is the duty of a social worker. I don't understand why this anger against the artist Deepa Mehta. Is it because that realty she projected shocked you? Or is it because you donot agree with that realty? Mamony Roysom Goswami also had been portraying such realty through her various novels, either the plights of Hindu widows in Brindaban or Assamese Vaishnava Upper class widow in Assam. We should be grateful to these artists for bringing to focus these realty in our societies. Similarly we need more artist to portray the realty of Suttee that is still going on in Bihar and other places. Let us hope Deepa Mehta will pick up a such a story for her next movie and call it AIR. RB - Original Message - From: umesh sharma To: Himendra Thakur ; Ram Sarangapani Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 12:56 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows Himendra-da, You rightly said that those who do nothing but criticize are degenerate people. How much doing is good enough. Someone might say that he spent $1000 per year to fund a non profit for women - and it gives him or her a right to criticize everyone else (never mind he or she earns millions of dollars a year). Or someone who gave a beggar on an Indian street two rupees - and declare that he or she has done his bit for the cause. How much is good enough? Is Deep Mehta right in protraying Hindu women as in "Fire" -- as lesbianism being the only solution - to their oppression. In a hypothetical case - Would you recommend to your daughter or daughter-in-law that she become a lesbian (as per Deep Nehta movie) to escape for her societal problems of male oppression and house-wifery drudgery? Umesh PS: I haven't seen "water" but I have seen "Fire" and "earth" by Deepa Mehta at Harvard library. Himendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Dear Ram, I congratulate you for your open views. There are 33 million widows in India. Majority of them live below animal level. My cousin Mamoni (Dr.Mamoni Goswami) told me about the observations she made in Brindaban. What about the property rights of a widow in her marital home /or in her natal home? Peoplewho criticise Deepa Mehta's movie, but do not come forward to help stop the suffering, cannot call themselves Hindus. These are degenerated people. In violation of the ancient Indian scriptures, the evil of the gender oppression, hereditary caste system, dowry system, and many other evil practices appear to have well-trenched in India due to degenerations. After independence, the Constitution has been amended and laws have been strengthened to control these social evils. However, law alone cannot eradicate a deep-rooted malaise. The tragedy is enhanced by the fact that even educated people in India fail to join the movement to stop these evils. When I started the movement to stop dowry bride-burning in India, some Indian intellectuals strangely connected it to neo-colonialism of western powers. Any effort to help widows or to
Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
Dear Alpana, I have not seen Deepa Mehta's movies excepting the "Earth" which I had to watch because I was invited to afunction at Harvard University years ago where Mrs. Bapsi Sidhwa,the writer of the movie "Earth" was presented. I did not like the movie "Earth".With too many Dutch-Angle shots, without enoughestablishing shots, only lighting being flood-lighting all over, without any balance between close-up, medium and reverse-angle --- story line developing intermittently without any balance between conflict-contrast-surprise-resolve ---the movie wasdull and mediocre artistically. The Director was unableto balance her presentation, which is essential when one makes a movie on a social issue. However, she has herfreedom of rights to makea movie anyway she wants, and we have the freedom of rights not to waste out time watching her low quality productions. What I tried to say wasabout the issue of the movie River --- not about the movie, and not about how Deepa Mehta is portraying it. The issue is the suffering of 30 million widows in India. If the so called Hindu Fanatics (which is an oxymoron because a Hindu ceases to remain a Hindu when he becomes a fanatic) want to create a hue and cry against Deepa Mehta, they may also do something to stop the suffering of the 30 million widows. They maytry to stop the practice of dowry which "kills maims" 25,000 brides every year in India. They mayhelp"change of mind-set" to stop female-feticide which has caused a shortage of 70 million females in India. Umesh is asking the question: How much doing is good enough. I request everybody to discuss that question with a positive attitude. Whatever one can do is good enough --- but that should be done with love and care. With love to everybody,Himendra - Original Message - From: Alpana B. Sarangapani To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 4:14 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows I agree withUmesh-Jion the storyline(?) in Fire. As far as I remember, it was a boring andmeaningless picture - caring and affection between two human beings do not have to be anything like that, it canvery wellbe platonic and the audience can still get the message - I mean, the husbands taking overwomen's lives. Two issues were put together without good enough reasons - physical attraction is a different issue altogether, rejection by the husband does not necessarily change a person toturn intoa gay person. Anyway! In order to portray a particular problem, like male dominance etc., in a particular society, it does not need to be connected needlessly with a "current controversial topic" (or it should totally be on that 'hot' topic itself - not with a silly connection between the two). And if that useless connection is made, then it is viewed by many, as a futile attempt to draw attention -from the movie-maker's side. ___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows
http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_1690978,0008.htmHimen-da,What would you advise for the above article ? Indian govt wishes to prosecute artist M F Hussain for making nude pictures of Hindu religous iccons and of Mother India (Bharat-Mata ; Bharat=India, Mata=mother : as you well know) .Regards.UmeshHimendra Thakur [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:Dear Alpana,I have not seen Deepa Mehta's movies excepting the "Earth" which I had to watch because I was invited to afunction at Harvard University years ago where Mrs. Bapsi Sidhwa,the writer of the movie "Earth" was presented.I did not like the movie "Earth".With too many Dutch-Angle shots, without enoughestablishing shots, only lighting being flood-lighting all over, without any balance between close-up, medium and reverse-angle --- story line developing intermittently without any balance between conflict-contrast-surprise-resolve ---the movie wasdull and mediocre artistically. The Director was unableto balance her presentation, which is essential when one makes a movie on a social issue. However, she has herfreedom of rights to makea movie anyway she wants, and we have the freedom of rights not to waste out time watching her low quality productions. What I tried to say wasabout the issue of the movie River --- not about the movie, and not about how Deepa Mehta is portraying it. The issue is the suffering of 30 million widows in India. If the so called Hindu Fanatics (which is an oxymoron because a Hindu ceases to remain a Hindu when he becomes a fanatic) want to create a hue and cry against Deepa Mehta, they may also do something to stop the suffering of the 30 million widows. They maytry to stop the practice of dowry which "kills maims" 25,000 brides every year in India. They mayhelp"change of mind-set" to stop female-feticide which has caused a shortage of 70 million females in India. Umesh is asking the question: How much doing is good enough.I request everybody to discuss that question with a positive attitude. Whatever one can do is good enough --- but that should be done with love and care. With love to everybody,Himendra - Original Message - From: Alpana B. Sarangapani To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] ; [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: assam@assamnet.org Sent: Thursday, May 04, 2006 4:14 PM Subject: Re: [Assam] Suffering of the Widows I agree withUmesh-Jion the storyline(?) in Fire. As far as I remember, it was a boring andmeaningless picture - caring and affection between two human beings do not have to be anything like that, it canvery wellbe platonic and the audience can still get the message - I mean, the husbands taking overwomen's lives. Two issues were put together without good enough reasons - physical attraction is a different issue altogether, rejection by the husband does not necessarily change a person toturn intoa gay person. Anyway! In order to portray a particular problem, like male dominance etc., in a particular society, it does not need to be connected needlessly with a "current controversial topic" (or it should totally be on that 'hot' topic itself - not with a silly connection between the two). And if that useless connection is made, then it is viewed by many, as a futile attempt to draw attention -from the movie-maker's side. ___assam mailing listassam@assamnet.orghttp://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.orgUmesh Sharma5121 Lackawanna STCollege Park, MD 20740 1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]Ed.M. - International Education PolicyHarvard Graduate School of Education,Harvard University,Class of 2005 To help you stay safe and secure online, we've developed the all new Yahoo! Security Centre.___ assam mailing list assam@assamnet.org http://assamnet.org/mailman/listinfo/assam_assamnet.org
