Film Festival and Panel Discussion on Conflict and Resolution- Perceptions and Perspectives October 19, 2008

PERCEPTIONS and PERSPECTIVES
Dispute and Resolution In Cinema
A week long festival of films and discussions

To celebrate Conflict Resolution Day, October 16th, Meta-Culture Dialogics, Center for Dispute Transformation and Dialogue, in collaboration with Bangalore Film Society, and Alliance Francaise de Bangalore, and with the generous support of Arghyam , Citizen Matters and Visthar , are presenting a week long Festival of Films on Conflict and Resolution.

Schedule for the last day of the festival:

Sunday 19:

Theme of the Movie: Indian Mirrors

3:00 pm: Bombay, Our City; Anand Patwardhan

Bombay: Our City tells the story of the daily battle for survival of the 4 million slum dwellers of Bombay who make up half the city's population. Although they are Bombay's workforce - industrial laborers, construction workers, domestic servants - they are denied city utilities like electricity, sanitation, and water. Many slumdwellers must also face the constant threat of eviction as city authorities carry out campaigns to "beautify" Bombay. This film is an indictment of injustice and misery, and a call to action on the side of the slumdwellers.

4:15 pm: Panel of discussion

“Conflict and the Future of Bangaloreans" co-hosted by Citizen Matters - In a city broken along language, ethnic, religious, and economic lines, what does the future hold for Bangaloreans? What will you recommend to foster inter-community ties?

Citizen Matters and Meta-Culture Dialogics are facilitating a panel discussion on Conflict and the future for Bangaloreans. A key vantage point is what citizens must do or not do to ensure that the city is kept together during times of tensions and conflict.

The Panel is composed of community and NGO leaders from Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Kannada, Tamil communities in the city who will share their experiences of conflicts in the city and their recommendations for strengthening inter-community ties.

The discussion will be slightly different from the usual "panel" discussions. This is NOT A DEBATE. It is a DIALOGUE. What this means is that the focus will be on trying to understand and help others understand rather than to persuade, condemn or convince. The goal is for everyone to be able to listen to each other and learn about the 'other's' experiences, perceptions and perspectives.

6:30 pm: Fishers of Men; Ranjan Kamath

For over a century, a substantial number of Adivasis, or tribals of the Chottanagpur plateau, have been converting to Christianity in order to free themselves from bonded labour and feudal oppression still prevalent in rural India. A combination of education and Christianity have helped the Adivasis establish an alternative identity outside the Hindu caste system, undermining feudal and Hindu authority. While the demand for a tribal homeland called Jharkand has been gaining momentum from a number of sources since independence, Hindu fundamentalist organisations such as the Rashitriya Swayamsevak Sangh and the Vishwa Hindu Parishad have held the Christian missionaries singularly responsible for encouraging the Jharkand movement. In the absence of dialogue between Hindu revivalists and Christian tribals, this feature length documentary represents an effort to understand how the two communities will co-exist within a secular Indian fabric.

8:30 pm: Discussion with Ranjan Kamath

9:30 pm: Closing

Venue:

Free admission

Alliance Francaise de Bangalore. No 108, Thimmaiah Road, Vasanth Nagar, Bangalore

For information:,

Please contact: Rafael: 9945207719