"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed" - Gandhi
The film, Living Ghost, takes a hard look at the exploitative face of the paradigm of development that is being thrust upon people in India and other poor countries around the world. The protracted struggle of the Dongria Kondhs, asserting their right to live in the land, hills and forests that nurtured them for centuries, is a living and breathing testimony to how human lives (specially those belonging to indigenous communities) and their lifestyles become dispensable, when they come in the way of the insatiable corporate greed - a monster which in turn is fed and nurtured by our very own unbridled consumerism.
Are we willing to pay the price for our lifestyle choices, with the lives of Bangarus and Singaris? How much resources do we really need? Do we know what the real cost of the aluminum cans that we throw as trash? I hope when we go back from the film-screening, we can fill in the missing characters and place them in the story - all of us are part of the cast, that the film does not explicitly talk about - our lives, our actions and our choices are intimately linked to the lives, lifestyles and dreams of Bangaru and Singari.
I would like to leave you with a quote from Chief Siahl of the Duwamish tribe, the original inhabitants of Seattle: “This we know; The earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This we know, all things are connected like the blood which unites one family. All things are connected”. There is a lesson to be learnt about living sustainably and in harmony with nature from the wisdom of these indigenous civilizations - failing to learn it, will only be at our own peril.
-- Nirveek Bhattacharjee, AID Seattle Volunteer
The Living Ghost
Prashanta Nanda, 2008, India, 35mm, 90min
2:30pm; Sunday June 27, 2010
SIFF Cinema, 321 Mercer Street Seattle WA( Buy Online)
$10
Recepient of the Indian "Silver Lotus Award" for the best film on Environmental Issues.
Along the border of South-West region of Orissa, a hill named Niyamgiri is home to a tribe called the Dongria Kandha. The current plight of the Dongria Kandha tribe is weaved through a love story of a simple villager Bangaru and his love interest Singari. The film depicts how the modern man's mind intrudes into their innocence to exploit the value of the tribe and the natural resources of the hills.
Niyamgiri hills, with its natural beauty of flora and fauna, is also rich of minerals which can be processed and produced as aluminum. The film starts with the controversial government's announcement for the take-over of the mountain, handing it to a multinational company.
The film is directed by the Legendary Oriya director, Prashanta Nanda. Mr. Nanda will be present to do a post film Q&A
Reserve your TICEKTS TODAY! It will sell out!
Here are some links to know more about the people of Niyamgiri.
Orissa tribe to Avatar director: now you watch our film
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R4tuTFZ3wXQ
Vedanta Aluminium (mining company) recognized as Green Leader in mining and metal industry
Sponsored by
The Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs
WASITRAC
Supporters
AID Seattle
Community Event
June 24th, 7pm, Seattle Asian Art Museum
William Darlymple at SAAM (Presented by Gardner Center and Elliott Bay Book Store)
William Darlymple makes this first Seattle appearance for his newest work, Nine Lives: In Search of the Sacred in Modern India (Knopf), a book which has already been a top-ranked bestseller in India and the UK. " Nine Lives is different from his other works; it is not so much about places as about the religious lives of people who live in those places, and is a glorious mixture of journalism, anthropology, history, and history of religions, written in prose worthy of a good novel." - Wendy Doniger, Times Literary Supplement.
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June 22nd, 7pm,
Parkplace Books,
348 Parkplace Center,
Kirkland
Shahana Dattagupta reading from her latest book " Ten Avatars"
Seattle-based writer, artist, classical vocalist and designer Shahana Dattagupta has published her first book of fiction, Ten Avatars. She will be discussing as well as signing copies of her book at this book reading. This collection of short stories weaves together intimate cross-cultural experiences unique to the Indian-American expatriate experience in contemporary times, yet revealing the universal essence of being female.
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June 26th, 6pm, 6 pm at Brechemin Auditorium, UW Music Dept, Seattle
Pratidhwani presents Jhilmil – Hasya Kavi Sammelan, an evening filled with laughter and Hindi poetry. It features two guest poets from New York and Cincinnati and various writers from the Seattle area. The event is guaranteed to be entertaining and will tickle your funny bone, even if you don’t have one!
More information and Advance tickets available at www.pratidhwani.org/jhilmil
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