[Reader-list] The practice of poetry

[Ujwala Samarth]

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*Illustrated Talk by Shabnam Virmani*

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*“The Practice of Poetry – Making Peace Possible”*

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*Keeping The Peace lecture presented by Open Space (CCDS)*

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The communal violence that convulsed Gujarat in 2002 led filmmaker Shabnam
Virmani to set off on a series of journeys exploring the 15th century mystic
poet Kabir. What began as a personal quest led to a deeper uncovering of the
diverse meanings and resonances of Kabir’s poetry  in our contemporary
worlds. Today these journeys continue into diverse spaces in Indian society
touched by mystic poetry and song.  Shabnam will share through songs, video
clips and conversations her reflections on poems as agents of social change,
the capacity of music and poetry to alter our identities, the importance of
unearthing and highlighting multiplicities in cultural traditions and
upsetting linear narratives of history, the sacred, the secular and
watertight notions of self and the world.



*Date: May 5 2011*

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*Time: 6-8 pm.*

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*Venue: Moolgaonkar hall (MCCIA), ‘A’ Wing, ICC Towers, Off Senapati Bapat
Road, Near Chaturshrungi, Pune.*

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*Entry **FREE** on a first-come-first-served basis*






*Shabnam Virmani* is a filmmaker and artist in residence at the Srishti
School of Art, Design and Technology in Bangalore, India. In 2003 she
started travelling with Kabir-devotee folk singers in Malwa, Rajasthan and
also Pakistan. Among the tangible outcomes of these journeys were a series
of four musical documentary films, several music CDs and books of the poetry
in translation. Currently she is working on co-creating a web-museum of
Kabir poetry & music with folk singer communities in India and developing
ideas for taking mystic poetry and folk music to school classrooms. She
continues to journey and draw inspiration not only from Kabir, but also
other mystic poets of the sub-continent and the oral folk traditions that
carry them to us (www.kabirproject.org).  Her earlier work consisted of
several video and radio programs created in close partnership with
grassroots women’s groups in India. She has directed several award-winning
documentaries and radio programs in close partnership with grassroots
women’s groups in India. In 1990, she co-founded the Drishti Media, Arts and
Human Rights collective in Ahmedabad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shabnam_Virmani



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*Keeping the Peace* is a lecture series in continuation of Open Space’s
efforts to encourage discussion and dialogue on issues that are dividing and
polarising society and public opinion.



*Centre for Communication and Development Studies (CCDS)*

CCDS is a social change resource centre working to strengthen civil society
and citizens’ action for social justice, human rights, sustainable
development and accountable governance. *Open Space* is the youth and civil
society outreach initiative of CCDS. Open Space uses various forms of
communication – literature, cinema, theatre, music, publications and
Internet – to reach out to citizens. www.infochangeindia.org

www.openspaceindia.org



*For details contact: Rakesh – 9921090931 or Ujwala Samarth – 020-25457371*




-- 
Ujwala Samarth
(Programme Coordinator, Open Space)

www.openspaceindia.org
www.infochangeindia.org
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Open-Space/116557125037041

B-301, Kanchanjunga Building,
Kanchan Lane, Off Law College Rd,,
Pune 411004
(020-25457371)