Dear Friends
A fellow film maker proposed the commemoration of the Gujarat Riots on Feb 27th as Anti Hate/ Anti Violence Day
On the same day I was asked if I could conjure up a strategy akin to 'Cellular Silence' to address the issue of widespread communalism.
My immediate response was that there is an increasing de-sensitisation and indifference to terms like communalism, which also results in an immediate polarization of views and opinion thus making most efforts counter-productive.
However, twenty fours later, a strategy did occur to me which could be significantly enhanced by our nationwide community of film makers, photographers, visual artists - professional and amateur - which I now propose to share with you.
In English, it would be "Love Your Neighbour" day and I believe "Padosi Divas" would be an appropriate Hindi translation.
If this is something we could commemorate annually hereafter, then we need a 'clean date' like March 1st. Besides, March 1 is a Sunday in 2009.
While we commemorate and reflect on all conflict, not just anti-Sikh riots, Mumbai 1993, Gujarat 2002 or Kandmal or Mumbai 2008. We employ non-violence as a pro-active strategy to neutralise those that attempt to profess hatred, violence, division, separation and alienation in any form.
We make flowers out of any recycled material be it paper, cloth or plastic. or even edible flowers as an acquaintance suggested.
We choose to make a single flower or a garland.
We might even choose to send a virtual flower or garland by email within India or to anyone anywhere you consider a neighbour.
We choose to give that flower to a neighbour next door, or exchange it with a Pakistani citizen at the Wagah border or a Bangladeshi or Chinese citizen for that matter, at any of our international borders .
We choose to send flowers to Narender Modi, the Bajrang Dal, Raj Thackeray, SIMI, the LeT, Maoists, Ajmal Kasab or to anyone else who supports, professes the language of hatred, violence and alienation through thought word and deed.
For those who have lost loved ones or been at the receiving end of violence, in any form this strategy might be anathema and repugnant but the question is where and when will this escalation of violence and hatred end, unless someone says "NO MORE"
If we film makers, photographers, artists and members of the media work in tandem with individuals, groups, NGO's, who might wish to voluntarily participate in this initiative, we could document this day and provide a sense of security and encouragement to those who wish to participate
Once again, I might be a voice of one but I would like to know if there are others who would want to make this work. If so, I would be only to happy to facilitate the process.
This is an 'open source' strategy, so you are most welcome to 'tweak' it as long as it is pro -actively non-violent, in word and deed.
A fellow film maker proposed the commemoration of the Gujarat Riots on Feb 27th as Anti Hate/ Anti Violence Day
On the same day I was asked if I could conjure up a strategy akin to 'Cellular Silence' to address the issue of widespread communalism.
My immediate response was that there is an increasing de-sensitisation and indifference to terms like communalism, which also results in an immediate polarization of views and opinion thus making most efforts counter-productive.
However, twenty fours later, a strategy did occur to me which could be significantly enhanced by our nationwide community of film makers, photographers, visual artists - professional and amateur - which I now propose to share with you.
In English, it would be "Love Your Neighbour" day and I believe "Padosi Divas" would be an appropriate Hindi translation.
If this is something we could commemorate annually hereafter, then we need a 'clean date' like March 1st. Besides, March 1 is a Sunday in 2009.
While we commemorate and reflect on all conflict, not just anti-Sikh riots, Mumbai 1993, Gujarat 2002 or Kandmal or Mumbai 2008. We employ non-violence as a pro-active strategy to neutralise those that attempt to profess hatred, violence, division, separation and alienation in any form.
We make flowers out of any recycled material be it paper, cloth or plastic. or even edible flowers as an acquaintance suggested.
We choose to make a single flower or a garland.
We might even choose to send a virtual flower or garland by email within India or to anyone anywhere you consider a neighbour.
We choose to give that flower to a neighbour next door, or exchange it with a Pakistani citizen at the Wagah border or a Bangladeshi or Chinese citizen for that matter, at any of our international borders .
We choose to send flowers to Narender Modi, the Bajrang Dal, Raj Thackeray, SIMI, the LeT, Maoists, Ajmal Kasab or to anyone else who supports, professes the language of hatred, violence and alienation through thought word and deed.
For those who have lost loved ones or been at the receiving end of violence, in any form this strategy might be anathema and repugnant but the question is where and when will this escalation of violence and hatred end, unless someone says "NO MORE"
If we film makers, photographers, artists and members of the media work in tandem with individuals, groups, NGO's, who might wish to voluntarily participate in this initiative, we could document this day and provide a sense of security and encouragement to those who wish to participate
Once again, I might be a voice of one but I would like to know if there are others who would want to make this work. If so, I would be only to happy to facilitate the process.
This is an 'open source' strategy, so you are most welcome to 'tweak' it as long as it is pro -actively non-violent, in word and deed.
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