[Reader-list] Bengaluru Talkies: Screening of Egyptian Movie- Al Massir (Destiny) @ Paradigm Shift, Date- 26th April, 2015, Time: 18:30

[Kabir Khan]

Bengaluru Talkies: Screening of Egyptian Movie- Al Massir (Destiny) @
Paradigm Shift, Date- 26th April, 2015, Time: 18:30

Islamophobia and resurgent anti antisemitism are becoming new traits of
European "modernity" and that is being replicated in other societies as
well. Let us take a moment -ask ourselves and history two questions: what
is modernity in narrowest political frameworks and who do Europeans owe
their modernity to?

It is the separation of state and church which becomes the criteria to
declare one's state or society modern.

Answer to the second question is Ibn Rushd (Averroes), Muslim by faith and
Musa ibn Maimoun (Rabbi Moshe ben Mainmon), Jew by faith.

Sometimes it becomes important to remind ourselves about histories and
remember where the process of reformation began. That will help us to find
relevance of past in our day to day lives.

Close reading of Ibn Rushd and Musa Ibn Maimoun's life is more important
than ever before. Their arguments on secularism and secular state authority
are not just important to Europeans, they are relevant to countries
including India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka who all are on the path of
modernity. They have past, strong red lines of faith. There are many in
these nation-states who have aspirations to construct plural and inclusive
societies placed on firm pillar of secularism.

To flame those aspirations this time we will be visiting 12th century
Andalusia (in Spain) and learn about the adventures of Ibn Rushd and the
challenges he faced in his times by watching the Egyptian movie "Al Massir"
-Destiny.

About Al Massir (135 minutes): Al Massir directed by Youssef Chahine is set
in the 12th century in Arab-ruled Spanish province Andalusia, where famed
philosopher Averroes is appointed grand judge by the caliph and his liberal
court judgments are not liked by everyone. The caliph's political rivals,
centered around the leader of a fanatical Islamic sect, force the caliph to
send Averroes into exile, but his ideas keep on living thanks to his
students.

The movie also gives the glance of intolerance and censorship faced by
those who challenge the existing norms which is no different from present
times of ours where bloggers, writers, painters are murdered, placed behind
bars or sent in exile for showing dissent.

To build up for the movie, we will be reading a chapter from Githa
Hariharan's new book "Almost Home" where she has highlighted the role
played by Ibn Rushd and Musa Ibn Maimoun in European Renaissance.
Date: 26th April, 2015

Time: 18:30

Venue: Paradigm Shift, 8, 3rd-4th Floor, Above GKB Opticals, 80 Feet Road,
Koramangala 4th Block, Near Sony SIgnal, Bangalore.

Vegan cookies and lemon tea are in the menu. The screening is open for all
and yes, it is U-rated. :-)
For more details you can either write to us- email:
paradigmshiftbangalore at gmail.com, or call +919663427315 and visit our
website: www.paradigmshift.org.in