[Reader-list] [Announcements] The Silence of Tsunami - a film by VB Rawat

[shivam]

The Silence of Tsunami

On December 26th 2004 many parts of the world particularly South East Asia
and South Asia became victim of powerful demolishing waves of Tsunami. It
was perhaps one of the biggest challenges that the world witnessed.
Cities, towns, villages became death place and silence became painful.

Three Indian states of Andman Nicobar Islands, Tamilnadu, and Pondicherry
saw the devastation caused by Tsunami while tremors were felt in Kerala
and Andhra Pradesh also.

Visiting to cover the events and human situation on behalf of an
International Human Rights Organisation, activist film maker Vidya Bhushan
Rawat crossed many places in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry, where friends did
not reach. Language was the biggest barrier in his interaction apart from
a dubious effort to keep him off from visiting the Dalit habitats. It was
disgusting to see that the activists and charitable organizations ignoring
the cry of Dalits and women.

Charitable organizations, religious groups, all came to 'help' the 'poor'
people in Tamilnadu and Pondicherry. Temples, mosques, Churches and
sufishrines, all were opened for the 'victims' of Tsunami. The work done
was great but none of them had the capacity to challenge the status quo.
Some denied entry to women while others found their strength in escapism
to address the Dalit issue. Paradoxically, a large number of mediamen
whose colleagues reported a lot on Dalits had inherent anti Dalit bias. A
common refrain was that they were untrue. In the villages all the major
work of picking up dead bodies as well as garbage was done by Dalits, but
they were the last in getting relief and rehabilitation. Therefore it is
supreme irony that in the Periyar's land of social justice Dalits were
denied justice and women thoroughly isolated.

Later many organizations jumped on the issue of Dalits while none of us
could talk about another growing problem of these catastrophes whether
natural or human. That most of the victim of all kind of violence remains
women and children. Here in this Tsunami we did not have time to challenge
the age-old notion of widowhood. Can we challenge and campaign for widow
remarriages and save hundreds of women from insecurity.

And despite this, when the Tsunami's wave became powerful to those mighty
heavenly institution as they could not stop it, people began to take
solace in those rituals which they don't understand, for the salvation of
their nears and dears.

And yet, this Tsunami's wave remained mute to gender and caste
discrimination. Calamities give us opportunity to sink our differences and
work for better future, leave the artificial prejudices based on caste and
gender behind us. This is the biggest challenge before us and we have to
face it.

The film is made from a humanistic perspective and does not have any
commentary. It has graphics and tales of survivors, children, Dalits and
women who have lost their family persons. It has English subtitles for the
dialogues. The film covers district Nagpattinam and Cuddalore of Tamilnadu
and Pondicherry.

Duration : 50 minutes

Concept and Direction: Vidya Bhushan Rawat

Price of VCD : Rs 250/-

Outside India :   15 USD

Contact: vbrawat at vsnl.com
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