The Witch Within Us
Palash Biswas
Contact: Palash C Biswas, C/O Mrs Arati Roy, Gosto Kanan, Sodepur, Kolkata- 700110, India. Phone: 91-033-25659551
Email: palashbiswaskl@gmail.com
I met Meena Devburman in Tumkur. She was feciliated with other Peace workers working remote areas of south asia in situation of intense struggle, war,civil war and strife. She belongs to aboriginal Tripuri tribe residing in Tripura. Meena is a beautiful, pleasant Actress, a youth Icon in Tripura who has dedicated her life for her people. Since I have been always interested in North East, aboriginal tribes and Nationality movements, I talked to her. I was very impressed with her pleasant personality and warmth. Then I came to know about the film MATHIA, in which she played the lead role. She introduced me to Father Joseph, the director of the film.Incidentally he turned out to be a friend of our Joshy Joseph, the most energetic young Film director from Kolkata. We talked many things. In fact, it was a very good time in Tumkur thanks to Jyothi, Raj and Tumkur Reds team.
Father Joseph did not forget me. He sent me the CD of the film. My College life Nainital friend Rajiv Kumar, another promising film director from Kolkat visted Tripura recently for a location survey for his next film. We are working on Chakma refugees. Rajiv met father Joseph there. Father and Meena talked to me on my mobile number 09903717833.
I had some problems with my computor at home. Only yesterday I managed to get updated my CPU. Today I saw the film.Quite a visual experience! Music was excellent. I could not understand the dialogues as it is in kokborok, the local tribal dilect. But it is beautifully subtitled. The film is centred on Witch Hunting.
The film in tribal kokborok language on the prevalent witch killing and the several other social superstitions of tribal community was awarded the best feature film prize in the weeklong international film festival held in Warsaw, capital of Poland. Catholic Priest Joseph Pulinthanath directed the film while it was shooting in tribal hamlet in Tripura with the actors and actress of the state in last year. This is the first time a film made in Tripura on an indigenous theme has won international acclaim and award in a festival outside India.
The film was screened in Warsaw from May 19 to 25th. Mr. Zygmunt, chief organiser of the festival, conveyed the news of the award in a message to Joseph Pulinthanath on Wednesday last. Since nobody could attend the festival on behalf of Mathia, the organisers would send the award consisting of a citation and statuette though the Indian embassy in Poland.
The director has used a very intense focus on the problems with community plus individual dimentions. As the director is directly related to Church, he has avoided sensuousness and intimacy of the lead Male Female characters. Though he used very powerful circumstances and symbols. The film is well edited and music is quite melodious. Indigenous instruments are quite vocal.
I am impressed with the details of community life and day today routine. characterisation is very strong.Analysis of indigenous aboriginal triabl psyche and spritualism are the achievement of the film. I am particularly impressed with the characterisation of the victim, the so called witch portrayed by our dearest lady Meena. The inner strength and the self confidence of the marginalised, victimised, enslaved tribal girl is quite depicting. Meena acted very well. She looks lady melancholy personified with glimpse of hope, confidence and survival instincts. Sexual psyche of a woman is cleverly portrayed and analysed without any vulgaraity. Women`s resistance against witch hunting is very inspiring. Small characters like the lover girl of the villain, Sampari and the mother of the protagonist, Bantu, his young sister and the lady next home, contribute much to the story. It is a post mortem of the psyche behind with hunting with surgical precision. The male protagonist Bantu reprents the Tribal Man very well. his ego, his consciousness, the Witch within, superstition, inner struggle, economy , society are filme very well.
In Marxist ruled west Bengal, Witch Hunting is a very persistant problem. Marxist tribal leaders like Upen kisku, former minister and Bilasi bala sahees, still a minister have tried their best to convince our tribal peole to resist such practice. In vien. Devllena hembram anothre minister is also engaged to stop this evil. Time to time, these leaders addressed the tribal peole in remote areas. But the attempt has been always political. Paradoxically the Ruling Polity tend to defend the offenders on the name of indigenous culture and tradition, noninterference of internal tribal matters as this is very sensitive issue for the mobile tribal vote bank. Clearly, superstition plus evil like Witch Hunting may not be finished with Vote Bank politics. An initiative like women`s lead and empowerment in indigenous world of internal governance is mendatory. Father joseph has cleared the way with commited involvement of tribal youth represented by the likes of Meena.
Director of the film Joseph Pulinthanath said that he want to focused on value-based films with a social theme and Mathia was one among 52 entries from countries like Australia, Russia, Byelorussia , Italy, Canada, USA, Jordan and Cyprus. Along with Mathia two other films awarded by the festival jury in Warsaw were polish film Kossak a film from Australia. The polish filmmaker Pawel Woldan was awarded the. Festival Grand Prize for his fifty-four minute documentary Pastor.
The story of Mathia, which revolves round the theme of witch-hunting, is based on the love-story between a tribal boy and a girl, suspected to be a witch. It ends with the death of the girl who implores his beloved to remember her as a fair and normal human being. Mr. Joseph Pulinthanath said that apart from the evil practice and message the film had ?certain cinematic flaws?, he hoped to get rid of in his next venture.
Roop-Kala Kendra, an Indo-Italian project, first screened Mathia in Kolkata at Nandan auditorium in February this year in the course of the international cinema conference organised. An elated Mr. Joseph Pulinthanath said that the festival jury had awarded the film for its ?realistic depiction of the culture and heritage of a community in Tripura.
The causes of conflict and strife, injustice and inequality, discrimination and deprivation have the same landscape everywhere in this divided geopolitics. As we realised in Tumkur Interactions that there may not be any island of peace, we have to realise the peace is a global phenomenon which is impossible without sustaining the very existence of Man and Nature. Thus, every social activist has to be a Eco activist also as we have to defend the natural resources of human civilisation which are targeted most by global hegemony whatever you may call it. Peace is possible only when life and livelihood are defended. As we recognised the need of people to people dialogue, we simply denied the validity of so called political borders already made irrelevant by global MNC raj!
TUMKUR: The three-day "Peace Event", organised by Rural Education Development Society, Booshakti Kendra and Dalit Panchayati Parliament ended here on Friday.
Delegates from sixteen States in India and from Sri Lanka, Sweden and the U.S. exchanged their views on establishment of world peace at seven parallel sessions held here and at Nelehal, near here.
Delegates visited several villages in the district and evinced keen interest in the working of the Dalit panchayats being formed to bring about amity between the Dalits and other sections of the people in the villages. They appreciated the peace that prevailed in these villages.
Speaking at the valedictory function of the event, President of the Booshakti Kendra, Dalit Thayi Jyoti Raj, said: "Women and children are easy targets during any violence. Lasting peace must be established in the world to ensure happy living for all."
Ms. Raj said it was the ordinary people who strived hard to establish peace in the world.
They worked within the means of available resources and never aspired for recognition. She said, as a forerunner for the Peace Event, research was undertaken to identify persons working for world peace in Asian countries. Sixteen were chosen for the study. Sharada of Kanakuppe in Tumkur district was among them. The findings of the research group were published in the book "You Can Inspire".
Mathia
| User Rating | |
|---|---|
| Producer(s) | Joseph Kizhakkechennadu |
| Director(s) | Joseph Pulinthanath |
| Release Date | 2004 |
| Runtime | 132 min |
| Format(s) | 35mm, DVD |
| Youth Media | yes |
Film Description
Mathia is the second film in the tribal Kokborok language of Tripura in Northeast India. It is the first film from the state to get an entry into the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India and also to get an overseas award (Poland).
The film concerns the issue of witchhunt - a still prevalent practice whereby the village brands innocent (often economically weak and widowed)women as a 'witch' and then cruelly kills her. 'Mathia'is the story of Kwchwngti, one such woman and Banthu, a young boy who is drawn to the accursed girl. For Banthu, it takes something greater than human love and ordinary fidelity to overcome the gnawing doubt that his beloved might actually be a witch. For Kwchwngti, the prospect of having to be buried alive is painful, but more painful is the realisation that her beloved is part of the murderous mob.
| Contact | jpulin@rediffmail.com |
|---|
Tripura Film bags accolades from the City of Joy
(Courtesy: www.tripurainfo.com)
A recent Tripura film about witch-hunt has caught the imagination of the
Kolkata film buffs. The die-hard film buffs of the cultural capital of
India were exposed to a rare delight from the interior villages of strife-
torn Tripura when Mathia, the Kokborok feature film, was premiered at
Lighthouse and DBPC Hall on 31st August and 1st September respectively. A
website called it "one of the few gems to emerge from Indian regional
cinema today."
Gaston Roberge, founder-director of Chitrabani and consultant of Indo-
Italian Project, Roopkala Kendra, called the film a "notable contribution
to the culture of a people."
Having for its byline the Eliot phrase, "mixing memory and desire", the 130
minute film is the remarkable love-story of Banthu, a slightly handicapped
young man and Kwchwngti, a socially ostracized young woman considered a
witch by the villagers. Mathia has subtitles in English.
The film is a strong indictment of the practice of Witch-hunt that has, in
Tripura, reportedly claimed 36 innocent women since the turn of the
millennium alone.
The shoot of the film was done in the interior-most villages of Tripura
besieged by poverty, illness and insurgency. Among the many who fell
seriously ill after the film shoot, one of the crewmembers succumbed.
Over 60,000 people, mostly in the interior villages of Tripura have seen
the film, whose popularity, according to publicity in-charge, AK Debbarma,
has "exceeded far beyond our expectation".
Sampari Pictures, the production group, has decreed that Mathia be shown
only free of cost, as they believe it contains "a message that must reach
the rich and the poor alike." The producer Joseph Kizhakkechennadu, a
member of the Don Bosco Society, insists that Mathia, like the education
they render, is primarily a "contribution" and not a profit-oriented
venture.
Mathia is only the third full-length feature film made in Tripura. It also
has the distinction of being one of the first digital feature films
produced in the country - shot completely without traditional film. It is
also the first feature film in the country to be directed by a catholic
priest, Joseph Pulinthanath sdb. Pulinthanath, has also done the story and
screenplay of Mathia.
At the Agartala premiere in May this year, Jitendra Chaudhury, a Cabinet
Minister of the ruling Marxist Government called the film "a crusade
against age-old superstitious beliefs of our people". According to his
cabinet colleague, Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma, Mathia is
a "production the State can be proud of."
CM Paul, president of SIGNIS (India), an international media group says
Mathia gives one a glimpse of "the dignity and silent strength that women
are capable of." Women have incredibly low percentage of literacy in
tribal Tripura.
A couple of NGOs spread across the cTripura Film bags accolades from the
City of Joy
A recent Tripura film about witch-hunt has caught the imagination of the
Kolkata film buffs. The die-hard film buffs of the cultural capital of
India were exposed to a rare delight from the interior villages of strife-
torn Tripura when Mathia, the Kokborok feature film, was premiered at
Lighthouse and DBPC Hall on 31st August and 1st September respectively. A
website called it "one of the few gems to emerge from Indian regional
cinema today."
Gaston Roberge, founder-director of Chitrabani and consultant of Indo-
Italian Project, Roopkala Kendra, called the film a "notable contribution
to the culture of a people."
Having for its byline the Eliot phrase, "mixing memory and desire", the 130
minute film is the remarkable love-story of Banthu, a slightly handicapped
young man and Kwchwngti, a socially ostracized young woman considered a
witch by the villagers.. Mathia has subtitles in English.
The film is a strong indictment of the practice of Witch-hunt that has, in
Tripura, reportedly claimed 36 innocent women since the turn of the
millennium alone.
The shoot of the film was done in the interior-most villages of Tripura
besieged by poverty, illness and insurgency. Among the many who fell
seriously ill after the film shoot, one of the crewmembers succumbed.
Over 60,000 people, mostly in the interior villages of Tripura have seen
the film, whose popularity, according to publicity in-charge, AK Debbarma,
has "exceeded far beyond our expectation".
Sampari Pictures, the production group, has decreed that Mathia be shown
only free of cost, as they believe it contains "a message that must reach
the rich and the poor alike." The producer Joseph Kizhakkechennadu, a
member of the Don Bosco Society, insists that Mathia, like the education
they render, is primarily a "contribution" and not a profit-oriented
venture.
Mathia is only the third full-length feature film made in Tripura. It also
has the distinction of being one of the first digital feature films
produced in the country - shot completely without traditional film. It is
also the first feature film in the country to be directed by a catholic
priest, Joseph Pulinthanath sdb. Pulinthanath, has also done the story and
screenplay of Mathia.
At the Agartala premiere in May this year, Jitendra Chaudhury, a Cabinet
Minister of the ruling Marxist Government called the film "a crusade
against age-old superstitious beliefs of our people". According to his
cabinet colleague, Tribal Welfare Minister Aghore Debbarma, Mathia is
a "production the State can be proud of."
CM Paul, president of SIGNIS (India), an international media group says
Mathia gives one a glimpse of "the dignity and silent strength that women
are capable of." Women have incredibly low percentage of literacy in
tribal Tripura.
A couple of NGOs spread across the country, along with Sampari Pictures,
are exploring possibilities of dubbing the film into other Indian
languages. According to Gujarat-based Rappai Poothokaren, "killing
of 'witches' continues, even in parts of Gujarat."
The lead pair of Mathia, Jayanta Jamatia and Meena Debbarma who are well-
conversant in Bengali and Hindi besides mother-tongue Kokborok, have
received offers from Bengali productions in Kolkata.
The film itself is awaiting entry into the Kolkata Film
Festival.
By-Joseph Pulinthanath
| Title: | "Mathia" (AKA: The Bangle) |
| India. English. 132 mins. DV. Drama (+Mystery). July 2004 (Completed). | |
| The first film to be selected to the Indian Panorama of the International Film Festival of India, from the remote Northeaste Indian State of Tripura. | |
 | |
| Production Co: | Sampari Pictures (India - view map). |
| t: 91-381-2867555 / 09436126649 Taking the indigenous Northeast India to the world | |
| |
| Rights Available: | All, Worldwide |
| Producer: | Joseph Kizhakkechennadu |
| Director: | Joseph Pulinthanath |
| Writer: | Joseph Pulinthanath |
| Cast: | Meena Debbarma, Jayanta Jamatia |
| Target Audience: | 19-30 years |
| Total Budget: | US$35,000 (Finance Sought: US$35,000) |
| Screenings: | 35th International Film Festival of India (IFFI 2004) Indian Panorama |
| |
| General: | The film, Mathia (The Bangle) has subtitles in English although it is in the tribal language of Tripura (in Northeast India) called Kokborok. Shot in DV and converted into 35MM, the film is the second in the language and the first to be selected to International festivals. It received the Best Feature Film Prize at the 18th International Film and Telvision Festival of Niepokalanow, Warsaw, Poland. The story of the film has for its background the superstitious practice of witch-hunt, disturbingly rampant among many tribal communities in India.. The film shot entirely on location in interiormost villages of Tripura and has sync-sound. |
| |
| Synopsis: | The villagers of Hathai Para unable to make up their mind if Kwchwngti is a witch or not. Her solitary life at the edge of their village raises suspicions. Amidst growing concensus that she is indeed a witch who prevents marriages and casts spell on children, Banthu, the male protagonist accidently comes into close interaction with her. He realises that far from being a witch, she is a poor woman, abused and abandoned by the powerful sections of society. Despite the growing love between the two, and their elope to the idyllic jungles, he cannot but turn against his beloved on learning that his mother is dead and that she might have had a hand in it. On the impulse of the moment, and in the belief that she is indeed a witch, he brings her to the village and hands her over to the villagers. She must now undergo the punishment meted out to witches - being buried alive. Even as she is being buried alive, it is the voice of Banthus saintly mother that inspires him to return to sanity and to save his beloved from the pit of death and social stigma. |
| |
| Create Email Alert telling you when films with similar genre/budget to this appear. | |
| Date Submitted: | 15-Dec-06 by user 215073 |
| Profile: | Sampari Pictures | |||||||||||||||||
|
POLISH AWARD FOR KOKBOROK FILM
By The Telegraph Northeast
Guwahati, May. 29. Mathia, a film directed by Catholic priest Joseph Pulinthanath in the tribal Kokborok language, has bagged the best feature film award at the international film festival held in Warsaw form May 19-25.
The film is based on the prevalent custom of witch-killing in Tripura`s tribal community. Zygmunt, chief organizer of the festival, conveyed the news in a message to Sampari pictures of Bishramganj in Bishalgarh subdivision, yesterday.
Since nobody on behalf of Sampari films could attend the festival, the organisers will send the award, consisting of a citation and statuette, through the Indian embassy n Poland.
This is the first time that a film made in Tripura on an indigenous theme has won international acclaim and been awarded at a festival outside India. An elated Pulinthanath said the jury had selected the film for its ``realistic depiction of the culture and heritage of a community in Tripura``.
``The film was screened at the festival on May 21 and won instant appreciation from the audience as well as the jury``, Pulinthanath said.
The director said the festival had always focused on value-based films with social themes. Mathia was one of the 52 entries from countries like Australia, Russia, Belarus, Italy, Canada, USA, Jordan, Cyprus and others, he said.
.......
The story of Mathia, depicts the love between a tribal boy and a girl. The latter is suspected to be a witch. It ends with the death of the girl who implores his beloved to remember her as a fair and normal human.
Pulinthanath admitted that the film had certain cinematic flaws which he hoped to get rid of in his next venture.
Mathia was first screened during an international cinema conference, organized by Roop Kala Kendra, an Indo-Italian project, at Nandan in Calcutta in February.
The director said he would begin work on his next film very soon. The film would deal with the social evils afflicting Tripura`s tribal society.
http://donboscoindia.com/english/bis/default_ms.php?yr=2003&mn=5&newsid=224&pno=1&newsidlist=,224,
Tripura film makes a point about witch-hunts
A film from Tripura in the Kokborok dialect is making its presence felt at the International Film Festival of India (IFFI) here with its theme of superstition, witchcraft and women. "Mathia" (The Bangle), only the second film in Kokborok, is made by 38-year-old Joseph Pulinthanath, a priest by vocation, who says he has had no real formal training except for some "media education" in Delhi and Pune. "Our response at the film festival was much more than we expected," says the director modestly. The film on "superstitious practices" of witch-hunts was part of IFFI's Indian Panorama. "Witch-hunts are a very serious problem. In the past few months, we've had 36 cases," says Pulinthanath. Through his 132-minute feature film, Pulinthanath tells the story of a village called Hathai Para where people are unable to decide whether a young woman -Kwchwngti -- is a witch or not. The issue clearly strikes a chord. The film's main star Meena Debbarma talks of how her aunt was killed after being labelled a witch. "We're not trying to bring about reform. We are not trying to impose (another) value system. It is for the community to liberate itself," says Pulinthanath. Made on a budget of Rs. 2.7 million, the film was co-sponsored by the Tripura government which contributed Rs. 200,000 towards its making. Pulinthanath's team, part of the Don Bosco Centre's Sampari Pictures, says its is a non-commercial film. Cinematographer Sunil Lucas explains the movie was shot entirely in DV-cam (digital video camera) mode and not in celluloid to keep costs down. It was later converted into 35mm at Hyderabad.. "We didn't have the money to make it in celluloid. The entire film was shot on a single camera. We edited it on a simple (computer-based) platform, using Adobe 6. It's a reasonably simple film. To have it as part of the Indian Panorama section was a big morale booster," says Lucas. Shooting the film meant 45 days of long treks -- one of three hours through a river -- with six tonnes of equipment loaded on eight buffalo-carts and fighting rain on difficult terrain. The name Kokborok comes from two words, kok which means language and borok which means man. Thus, Kokborok means "the language of man" or "the language of the Borok people". There is a community of Kokborok speaking people in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Let Justice Come! Let There Be Peace!
TUMKUR CHARTER OF PEACE
Peace Event in Tumkur
10 – 12 October 2007
REDS, Tumkur
Preamble
In a world where hegemony and dominance are increasingly overpowering human realities of life Peace is becoming a rare and precious more by its absence and less by its presence. This has to be reversed to make peace become a human reality by its active presence in the living reality of the people who have every right to occupy the space that nature has generously provided. The reality of peace is constantly being disrupted by the emergence of engineered conflict in different parts of the world by forces that have a design to hold the reins of governance of nations in their hands. Such engineered disruptions of peace take place within communities of people, within nations and among nations. The whole world is put in an alarming situation of destroying its own peace and soon many communities of the world may be wiped out existence as a peaceful existence and co-existence may become impossible. Recognizing the increasing difficulties of peaceful existence 102 delegates from 19 States of India and from 4 countries outside of India assembled at the Rural Education for Development Society in Tumkur of Karnataka to celebrate peace and share the inspirational experience of establishing peace in situations where conflict are wrought by dominant forces of all hue and cry. The Celebrations and deliberations were part the National Peace Event that was held in Tumkur from 10 to 12 of October 2007. This Charter of Peace is the result of multiple endeavor not only of those who desire peace but also of all those who have worked consistently for peace either in their personal situations or in their community/national and international contexts.
The delegates of the Peace Event note with happiness that the experience of peace in Tumkur is memorable. The cultural resurgence that is taking place in Tumkur under the innovative concept of Booshakthi touches raw nerves of all those who come in touch with it and is almost like the heart of India. The participants enjoyed Dalit hospitality of the village people, the Booshakthi Sevaki/Sevakas (volunteers), the Dalit Parliament Members, the Dalit Panchayat leaders and the staff of REDS to the full. Celebrations of peace and life, visits to Peace Zones in Tumkur District, interactions with village people, dialogues with delegates from all sections of society, discussions with the students of the Diploma Course in Dalit Studies, the serenity, peace and calm of Booshakthi Kendra which is the Dalit Ashram, the vibrancy of the cooks and drivers etc. are all memories of the Peace Event "reserved in the Ivory Towers of Human Sensitivity".
"The topography, landscape, coastline appearance, weather and above all the warmth and hospitality of REDS, who planned and executed the Peace Event in Tumkur have been rare achievements. The presence of eminent intellectuals, National and International Human Rights Organizations, reputed NGOs, top level bureaucrats of governments, Peacemakers from Sri Lanka, North East India, delegates from Bangladesh etc. encouraged us much. Peace is an experience and not a concept. There is a need to escalate this experience all over the world."
The Peace Event in Tumkur also made it clear that the evolution of Peace with which we are engaged is a peace with freedom. In this context we recognize the existence of a subjugated or gifted peace all over the world. This Peace Event rejects any subjugated or gifted peace. It recognizes a peace that is natural and a core value of the people of the world. In a caste ridden society like India a subjugated peace prevails. People in general accept caste subjugation as their fate and under this form of slavery peace is made possible almost in all cities and villages of India. When Dalit and Adivasi people begin to assert their rights there is a backlash on them leading to the disruption of subjugated peace. However, after the recognition of the dignity, equality and rights of the Dalits, another type of peace come. This is an achieved peace. It is a peace which comes with freedom. The Peace Event in Tumkur is focused on this type of Peace with freedom. Therefore, the Peace Event in Tumkur has chosen the symbol of the butterfly for peace.
The delegates are deeply aware that this Peace Event is held in a small town. However, the Event has global significance as its concerns are relevant for the entire world. The delegates were drawn from many countries with international outreach. Moreover, during the entire Peace Event the endeavor of the delegates was to look into ways and means of making Peace for the world and not to create islands of peace. The Peace Event acknowledges that there will not be any island of peace.
Peace is Possible
This Peace Event firmly believes that despite the reality of peace becoming a rare human commodity, peace still has a chance if all lovers of peace and peacemakers come together and share their energy and commitment to spare the world of unnecessary conflict, war, systemic and structural destruction of peace. The world still has a large number of unrecognized ordinary and simple people who love peace and who believe in the possibility of peaceful co-existence despite differences or because of differences. Therefore, this Peace event makes the first and fundamental assertion that "Peace is Possible".
You Can Inspire
This Peace Event of Tumkur deeply appreciates all the simple and ordinary people of the world, especially those who have been researched and whose personal stories of Peace have been published in the book "You Can Inspire". This appreciation comes out of a recognition that these ordinary and simple people of Asia have worked in an extraordinary way for ushering in peace in their micro situation on their own. This Peace Event of Tumkur recommends that world peace is possible through such generally unrecognized rural and indigenous people of the world. The peace Event also appreciates the committed effort of CIDSE of European Union and Cordaid of the Netherlands who made the research on Peacemakers and publication of the book "You Can Inspire" possible.
Causes of Conflict
The Peace Event of Tumkur acknowledges that the situation of extreme poverty is a major cause of conflict. The world claims to be very powerful with its modernization and weaponization. Yet it is a matter of great concern that even today there are many villages in many countries of the world that go without power and are plunged into darkness without electricity at all. The same can be said of education, health and many areas of basic needs of human communities. When people are deprived of their basic needs that have been enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and in the Constitutions of countries and at the same time a few people are allowed the privilege the enjoying unlimited luxuries peace is disrupted due to conflict of interests. This Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that such inevitable conflicts are caused by those who appropriate the right to unlimited wealth and power and not by the poor themselves as is generally attributed to them.
This Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that such gross neglect of the rights and dignity of poor, the Dalits, the Tribal people, the indigenous people and women of the world is the cause of injustice and its consequent untold misery for these sections of people. In the face of such enormous injustice conflict is not only inevitable but is often more than necessary in order to rectify the mistakes of misplaced priorities of ruling oligarchies as well as to establish justice on earth only which can bring about lasting peace for all people of the world.
This Peace Event in Tumkur realizes that even in resolving conflict it needs to be done in a just manner. If there is injustice in conflict resolution it will only lead to further escalation of animosity and hatred. In order to resolve conflicts and bring peace the actors for peace should be peace lovers and not military as is done in many countries and very predominantly in the North East India, in Sri Lanka and in Bangladesh. Armed forces are not capacitated for peacemaking but for fighting. Peace cannot be brought about with violent methods and through bombings. Peace established by military can only be a subjugated peace and not a peace with freedom.. The owners of peace in such cases can only be the armed forces and not the people themselves. Therefore, the presence of the army in the lives of people can and does lead only to disruption of peace and not its enhancement.
This Peace Event in Tumkur highlights the injustice done to the Adivasi people all over Asia in the name of development and a very high level of unacceptable industrialization. This has led the depletion of resources from the Tribal region and to the destruction of tribal culture. Such a dominant development intervention destroys the peace of the Adivasi people which they have enjoyed with nature from time immemorial and as a consequence leads to conflict between the indigenous people and others as well as between them and the government.
This Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes that modernization of the dominant order has led to fast urbanization because of its total neglect of rural economy. Rural poverty and deprivation of survival chances of the poor in general, and Dalits and Adivasis in particular have led to displacement of an unimaginable magnitude. To this has been added the woes of the consequences of the withdrawal of the welfare state from its responsibility to its poor citizens. Displacement adds new dimensions to the lives of people, both the poor and the rich who live completely oblivious of, indifferent and callous to the sufferings of the poor. In any society such a situation is bound to cause disruption of peace and the rich and ruling powers must own up the responsibility for such conflicts in societies.
This Peace Event in Tumkur takes stock of the following as inevitable causes of the destruction of peace in the world. There is a constant threat of war boosted by multinational corporations and weapons industry. Natural resources of indigenous people and their language, culture and economy are exploited on large scale. Deployment of Nuclear Warheads continues with complete space dominance along with simultaneous colonization of Moon and Mars. Islamophobia and intense Dalit hatred are the main elements of the so called growth and sustainable development in 'Shining India'.
Unipolar World
The Peace Event in Tumkur is aware that global governance in contemporary times is completely conditioned by the emergence of a Unipolar world constricting the possibility of a world of differences existing together with mutual respect. The world is moving more and more towards the adherence of the norms put forward by one unchallenged super power which is the United States of America. The Peace Event in Tumkur notes with concern that the role of 'global police' assumed by the US is a major cause of world peace.. This Peace Event understands clearly that the emergence of a Unipolar world with its dominant strategies is not the atmosphere conducive to world peace. By its dominant discourses and strategies as well as by its crude attack on nations of the world the United States of America is constantly challenging the peace loving people of the world. Such unprovoked challenges will lead to destruction of peace in the absence of which humanity may be unable to exist. This Peace Event in Tumkur strongly condemns the dominant strategies of the United States and recommends that it gave up its role of being a promoter of military conflicts with weapons of mass destruction.
India
India is emerging as a giant power in Asia. This places India directly in competition and often in conflict with China. In the lives of the village people in India this is a common sight that the dominant caste people divide the Dalits and reap maximum benefit for themselves out of such conflict among the poor. We urge India to understand its own social dynamics and not become a victim of global dominant designs by fighting against China. This Peace Event urges India to strike a peace agreement with China so that all Asian people will be enriched by the combined strength of these two important countries in this region.
Internally India has followed the same colonial principle of divide and rule between the Dalits and the caste society. India has officially divided every village in almost all states as the main village and the colony of the village which is the area where the Dalit people live. This Peace Event urges the government of India to immediately get rid of such internal colonization of the Dalit people. That untouchability has not yet been removed from India in spite of having strong and just constitution speaks volume about the lack of will of the dominant caste ruling powers in India. This Peace Event identifies such internal colonization of Dalit people as a major cause of conflict in society and unending atrocity on the Dalit people. Since this is a constitutional neglect of the government of India it requires the immediate strong arm tactics of the government in favor of justice. This will restore peace in Indian society.
India has also indulged unhesitatingly in a false propaganda war against the Mulsim community. This Peace Event recognizes Indian Muslims as a peace loving community of people. The Event also recognizes that such a propaganda war has been engineered only in order to gain political and economic mileage by the dominant caste and Hindutva communal forces. This has led to un-resolvable conflict between citizens of the same country in the name of religion and caste. This Peace Event in Tumkur condemns all the communal, fundamental and fascist forces of India for their very shortsighted selfishness which has slowly crept into the otherwise peaceful ethos of this country. This Peace Event urges the government of India to deal a death blow according to constitutional provisions to all communal and caste forces of India.
This Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes that the above said communal and caste mindset has found an easy way into the very same government forces that are supposed to protect the victims of Caste and communal violence. The armed forces, on the other hand, often become perpetrators of violence on innocent masses of people owing loyalty to their caste and religious origin. Therefore, This Peace Event urges the government of India to give only minimum representation to dominant caste people and maximum representation to Dalits, Adivasis, Minorities and women in all representative bodies. All government nominations should provide maximum space to such communities in India.
This Peace Event in Tumkur views with seriousness the shrinking spaces of different sections of people in social life as well as in the Instruments and Mechanisms of national governance. This is being achieved successfully by dominant groups in society because of their intolerance towards marginalized groups of people and especially to women. This Peace event is of the strong opinion that any society has to welcome differences among its citizens as a very significant path of progress and not aim at uniformity in society. Recognition and acceptance of differences in different communities of people can become the strength of any nation. However, in many countries of the world, especially in India because of its dogmatic social allegiance to the caste system, differences have become the foundation of discrimination and consequently also of denial of Human Rights. Therefore, this Peace Event in Tumkur appeals to all governments of all nations to enact legal measures in order to increase the space of the discriminated people in their respective countries in the Instruments and Mechanisms of national governance.
Nort East India
The Peace Event in Tumkur views with great concern the conflicting situation in almost all of the North Eastern States of India. The pace of the disruption of peace in these States is increasing at an alarming speed. The Peace Event recognizes that most of the conflicts in the North Eastern States are designed and executed by external forces that have vested interests. We also recognize that because of these external interventions for conflict the people of North East are often forced to be in conflict with the government whose agents are the bureaucracy and the armed forces. Unfortunately though, such conflicts which are forced upon the people of the North East are presented to the rest of the world as conflicts of the people of North East. This Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that the root cause of conflict all over the world, as well as in the North East is injustice. This Peace Event asserts that gross injustice by external forces in the North Eastern region of India be removed according to the Constitution of India.
Vested Interests
The Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes the fact that there are intra and inter tribal conflicts of a much less magnitude among the different tribal communities of the North Eastern region. However, such conflicts are often engineered by vested interests that do not belong to any of the tribal communities of the region. While recommending to the Government of India to put in place appropriate conflict resolution capacity building for the people of the North East the Peace Event also strongly demands that the Government of India effectively prevent the predominant role of such engineering groups from outside as well as to remove the over-imposing presence of the military from the region. That India listens to the sound of guns is the loud message that one often hears from the military presence in the North East.
Minority Rights
The Peace Event in Tumkur asserts that the growing majoritarian tendencies in South Asia are matters of grave concern. Minority rights have been put to question and have been violated by majority groups in different countries as a consequence of emerging rightwing fundamentalism. The term minority need not be understood as religious minority. It also includes ethnic and linguistic minorities including Dalits and Adivasis in these countries. Peace has become a captive to rightwing nationalism in the Asian Continent. This Peace Event in Tumkur strongly urges the governments of Asian Continent to ensure that such rightwing nationalism is completely uprooted from all Instruments and Mechanisms of governance and that governance be based on constitutional mechanisms recognized in the United Nations. State sponsored riots and killings of minorities must be treated as genocide and the concerned political leadership at the highest level be made fully responsible and accountable to the UN for the violation of constitutional provisions.
Srilanka
This Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes the fact that if the conflict in the North East of Sri Lanka stops there will be peace in the whole of Sri Lanka. In war torn Sri Lankan ordinary people are the ones who pay a heavy price for peace. There is also something called the war of silence. Many lives are being lost without any noise. The war of silence is not peace. Where human life is not respected it is a war of silence. We cannot win the war of silence with weapons. We can achieve peace only through negotiations. There needs to be a spirit of give and take in the negotiations for peace. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur asserts that international mechanisms of peace making should be implemented with an unprecedented vehemence. The Event stresses the need for effective prevention of wars of all kinds and simultaneous conflict resolution mechanisms.
Andaman Nicobar Islands
This is a direct statement of the delegates from Nicobar islands.
"We value life, non-violence, justice and peace. We note with concern the injustice meted out to the indigenous people. We condemn vested interest groups who are attempting to break down age old traditions of the people by State and State actors under the pretext of national integration, development, religious and cultural assimilation. We express our solidarity with the oppressed people of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the rest of India."
Local Peacemakers
The Peace Event in Tumkur recognizes that external interference in conflict situations can lead to further disruption of peace among people of the region. We also recognize the tremendous wisdom and capacities of local and indigenous people to establish and negotiate peace as a way of life. For them peace is a core value drawn from their culture and it is not a discourse of the intellectual order. Peace is not something that the local people have learned from universities but is something that very natural to them. They live in peace in as much as peace lives in them. Therefore, this Peace Event in Tumkur asserts the need for integrating the capacities of local peacemakers in conflict regions for the realization peace all over the world.
Peace Dialogue
Peace is a public issue. Concerns of peace need to be discussed in open space and not in closed doors. The State in different countries of Asia need to recognize the cultural diversity of their respective nations. In many countries the spaces of common people are blocked or grabbed by a small number of powerful people belonging to dominant sections of society. Where the common people seem to have some space is not their own space but the space that is gifted to them with vested interest. If there has to be peace in society spaces of people have to be created and owned by them. This Peace Event in Tumkur therefore, strongly recommends a dialogical evolution of space and peace.
Peace with Dignity
This Peace Event of Tumkur is of the opinion that it is ordinary and simple people of the world who are the torch bearers of peace as they have a natural inclination to live in peace. The type of peace they sustain is based on mutual respect and theirs is peace with dignity. This Event asserts that in order to achieve peace with dignity there is a need to overcome the subjugated peace that is now prevailing in many parts of the world. Therefore, this Peace Event asserts the need for adequately integrating the peace culture of ordinary and simple people in many parts of the world and also equipping them with capacities for negotiating peace at the level of communities and governments.
Women Centred Peace
In this assuming of the responsibility for the restoration of world peace the Peace Event in Tumkur appeals to all women of the world to take up leadership positions. This Peace Event recognizes that women are naturally peace loving and are best equipped with capacities to spread peace and make peace possible. This Event acknowledges that often it is women and children who are the direct victims of violence that destroys peace and therefore the type of peace that they desire and establish will be the most appropriate one for the world. This Peace Event recognizes that there is a strong gender imbalance in all social, economic and political institutions of the world. This, added to the female feticide can become seeds of future violence unless they are eliminated with all the necessary commitment and firmness. Therefore, The Peace Event in Tumkur to all male biased people of the world as well as to governments to ensure gender equality and complete elimination of female feticide as a sure path to the realization of world peace..
Distrubitive Justice
This Peace Event in Tumkur realizes the need for reconstructing the development process to ensure distributive justice as peace is being disrupted in many countries of the world in the name of development. Dominant countries have evolved development discourses that suit their greed and camouflage subjugated peace as real peace. Through their brute power they develop impunity for all their acts of peace destruction. Many countries of the world speak about freedom but practice slavery. Therefore, this Peace Event asserts the need for developing new language for social discourse, positive and assertive discourse and for reconstructing development priorities and processes in order to ensure distributive justice.
Land Distribution
Land is a bone of contention, a locale of conflict. There is enough land but the Dalits do not have land. This is injustice. There cannot be peace under these circumstances of injustice. Five acres of land for each Dalit family will go a long way in bringing about economic equality in the rural areas. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur urges the Government of India to make a policy decision to give five acres of land to each Dalit family in India. This Peace Event also urges the government of India to effectively redistribute land by implementing not only Land Ceiling Act but also hand over the village community land to the Dalits, Adivasis and other landless people.
Public Resources
The Peace Event in Tumkur sadly notes the growing nexus between the governments of nations and private investors for reaping rich harvest from the common resources of the poor people. Privatization of public resources , particularly forest, land and water in the name of development is an agenda that is being vigorously pushed by Western powers and vested interest groups in Third World countries. Such mindless execution of the selfish interests of dominant groups of poor nations has led to displacement of millions of people a majority of whom are Dalits and Adivasis. They have been literally uprooted from their traditional occupations and have been forced to render their labor to the needs of modern industries at a cost fixed by the industrialists. The Peace Event reminds the dominant forces that this will lead to unnecessary conflicts in society in the long run and demands that such privatization be stopped forthwith for the sake of world peace.
Dalits and Adivasis
The discrimination of Dalits, Adivasis and indigenous people by the governments in different countries is a major cause of the disruption of peace in their respective regions. Therefore, the Peace Event of Tumkur urges governments of different nations of the world to constitutionally and practically safeguard the rights and dignity of these marginalized sections of people and thus ensure lasting peace in the world. We further remind governments of nations that efforts for peace do not preclude the right to defend oneself. When discriminated people are pushed against the wall they will be left with no option but to defend themselves with limited resources.
People to People
In this context of marginalization of sections of people and the prevalence of widespread practice of untouchability and atrocity on Dalits in the South Asian region this Peace Event of Tumkur urges the people and civil society actors of India to apply unlimited pressure on the government of India to genuinely play a major role to establish lasting peace in the region based on mutual respect and dignity. Getting dominant caste dominance out is a precondition for peace. In order to apply a collective pressure in the region this Peace Event recommends a people to people exchange for peace.
People's Participation
This Peace Event of Tumkur reminds the Government of India and all people of the world that untouchability is still being practiced predominantly in India but also in other countries of South Asia. This is bound to cause disruption of peace as it is already doing in India. While this Peace Event urges the Government of India to implement the Constitution of India in favor of the Dalit people we also urge the people of India to participate in all the peace efforts of the civil society in India.. People's participation is much necessary for peace.
Peace and Children
In order to bring about lasting peace in any region of the world it is of paramount importance that peace is inculcated into the mindset of all citizens right from childhood. If peace has to become natural to society children must grow in an environment of peace at formative stages of their character. Therefore, this Peace Event in Tumkur urges the government of Asian countries to integrate peace lessons in school syllabus and conduct events of peace for students so that peace becomes a student culture.
Proportionate Electoral System
The Peace Event of Tumkur recognizes that another locale of conflict is the lack of adequate representation of communities of people in the Instruments and Mechanisms of national governance in many countries. Majoritarian Electoral system that is in practice in many countries of Asia is highly problematic for peace as it effectively gives representation to minority dominant sections of society. Therefore, this Peace Event urges the government of India to reform its present electoral system and bring about a Proportionate Electoral System as is being implemented in 24 out of 28 Western European nations.
Dalit Panchayat
Dalit Panchayat is a noble concept and method which has no parallel in many other States of India. The replicability of the Dalit Panchayat model is very good. Civil, political and economic rights as visualized by the Dalit Panchayat Movement will bring lasting peace in many micro situations as it is being witnessed in the District of Tumkur in Karnataka. One of the most important aspects of Dalit Panchayat is that it is totally participatory. Dalit Parliament can connect people of the world because it is a world forum. Therefore, this Peace Event of Tumkur recommends to all civil society actors and organizations to actively promote the model of Dalit Panchayat and Dalit Parliament in their respective engagement with the liberation and development of the poor, Dalits, Adivasis and women. This Peace Event recognizes the Dalit Panchayat Movement and Dalit Parliament as the harbingers of hope for future world peace.
Role of Religion
This Peace event in Tumkur realizes that all major religions of the world and their institutions have played the twin role of mediating a peaceful co-existence as well as its opposite of instigating people to violence and even to war. Many religious institutions in modern times have instigated hatred of other religions by establishing themselves as the chosen arm of God. Thus many religions are more in need of redemption than their followers. Such fundamentalist and rightist stand of religious institutions has disrupted peace among peace loving people of the world. This Peace Event of Tumkur endorses the widespread view that religion can indeed be a cementing factor if it is cleaned of its fundamentalist exclusivist positioning. Therefore, This Peace Event appeals to all religious institutions, their heads, leaders and followers to internalize the proactive and creative ideas of religion for establishing all religions as true promoters of peace and peaceful co-existence in the world.
Nuclear Weapons
The Peace Event in Tumkur takes serious stock of the situation in India vis-à-vis world peace. The ruling classes and castes of India announce to the world that India is non-violent land of peace. While this Peace Event deeply appreciates the possible desire for peace beneath such global propaganda it recognizes a wide gap between what is professed and what is being practiced, especially by the dominant forces of India. Joining hands with the United States of America for nuclear power under the garb of development has many natural underpinnings that will not augur well for the realization of peace in the world and within India. Possession of nuclear weapons by India stands in stark contradiction to its profession of being an ambassador of peace. This Peace Event proposes to the ruling powers of India and appeals to all citizens of India to transform this country into a model of genuine non-violence and peaceful coexistence in Asia. In this context the Peace Event in Tumkur has the strongest possible reservation to the Nuclear Agreement that is being negotiated between the ruling class of India and hegemonic forces of the United States of America.
This Peace Event in Tumkur understands with certain alarm that contemporary rulers of dominant nations in the world are leading the world to self-destruction by mindless production of nuclear weapons. A world that possesses nuclear weapons of mass destruction cannot be called peaceful by any stretch of imagination. Therefore, it is evident that the ruling powers of the world are primarily responsible for the disruption and destruction of peace in the world today. This should change. This Peace Event in Tumkur makes the strongest recommendation to all nations of the world to destroy all nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction. Dalits, Adivasi and other indigenous people are natural lovers of non-violence and peace. Therefore, this Peace Event in Tumkur recommends with all the courage that it can muster, a completely nuclear weapon free world. This Peace Event in Tumkur understands that a dialogue for peace is possible among living beings, however dominant they may be. However, a dialogue for peace is not possible with weapons which can only destroy the world.
Conclusion
Peace is a process of sensitivity and it is taking responsibility. Peace is tolerance, inclusive, open and provides unlimited space. How do we response to the Dalit reality? The response to this will also be a response to Peace. Environment has to be free of discrimination and exploitation. Communal forces are dividing people. Religious fundamentalism and fascism of all kinds are the enemies of peace. Implementation of Constitution, Conflict resolution mechanism etc. need to be in place to ensure peace. Peace is holistic. Peace should also start within each one, within communities of people and within nations of the world. The world is in need of peaceful persons. The Peace Event in Tumkur appeals to all citizens of India, of Asia as well as of the world to immediately wake up to the impending danger of the losing individual, community and international peace in the near future. All citizens of the nations of the world and members of all communities must take on themselves the responsibility for restoring and establishing peace on the face of the earth as each one's primary task in life. Peace is not a hobby of jobless people nor is it a part time responsibility of any one. It is the epicenter of the life of common people in the world.
Contact Details
Rural Education For Development Society Phone: ++91-816-2277026
REDS Road Fax: ++91-816-2272515
Shanthinagar Emails: jothiraj12@rediffmail.com
Tumkur 572102 mcraj2000@rediffmail.com
Karnataka, India Website: www.dalitreds.in
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