Dear friends,

I feel greatly privileged and suitably humbled to be with all of you today and to inaugurate the fourth edition of the Vibgyor International documentary film festival. We have all worked and waited for this day; personally for me this represents a recognition of the work of Binayak Sen and his comrades in Chhattisgarh to be able to build a better world for the tribals and toiling people of the region. I am grateful to the human rights activists in Kerala who have agreed to step up the campaign for Binayak’s release.

Binayak Sen has today become an icon for the right of people to hold dissenting political and public opinion, to have the right to chose the kind of development model they want for themselves, and for the rights of all to basic legal safeguards in accordance with the constitution. He is in jail now for over 20 months because he was a vocal opponent of the Salwa Judum, a state sponsored vigilante militia let loose on the people of South Bastar in the name of curbing Naxalites. The fact that he visited a Maoist prisoner in jail has been used to fabricate a case alleging that he was involved in anti national and seditious activity. While we strive for the freedom of Binayak, it is important to remember that he is not the only one imprisoned in this way under the draconian Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act. Over one thousand persons are languishing in the various jails of Chhattisgarh, labelled as threats to Public Security, under this Act. It is symptomatic of the malaise of our system that the first arrest under the act was of a class 12 girl student, whose male friend is supposed to have had unsuitable political views. These large number of arrests and the general repression has driven much of the public dissent underground, and many people live in fear of speaking their minds. However, whatever is happening to the intelligentsia is being felt and lived many times over by the tribal people of our state.

The Adivasi people of Chhattisgarh are the inheritors of great natural resources and a rich cultural life. However, with the creation of the new state and its push to ‘develop’ the mineral resources and open them up to world markets, a saga of loot and plunder has begun. Lands are being acquired for ‘projects’ in total circumvention of constitutional safeguards like the mandatory consent of the gram sabhas under the fifth schedule operative in these areas. Once again it is symptomatic of the malaise that it was the now ill reputed firm of Price Waterhouse Cooper which was invited to draw up the Vision Plan for the state of Chhattisgarh, and not the spokespersons of peoples’ organizations in the state. Our government showcases adivasi culture through its presentations of tribal music and dance at the Republic Day Parade; however, this will not by itself save the adivasis from extinction, which the salwa judum and the policies of the government seem determined to achieve.

I want to end with saying that the situation I am describing is not only limited to Chhattisgarh. Many indigenous areas, in India and all over the world, are facing a similar situation. Documentary film makers have in the past played an important role in sharing the stories of these areas with the world. The challenge for them to continue to do so, and to remain the keepers of our conscience remains.I am sure the challenge will be accepted frontally not only by the established documentary film makers, but also by the younger generation waiting to grow with the times.

Ilina Sen, Thrissur, 04.02.09.

One more edition of ViBGYOR Festival is over.

5  days.. More than 100  Films …  ontinuous discussions on Open Forum on all days .. More than 1500 particiapants.. Community Radio workshop , Dicussions on Communalism, Sreelankan Issue, Dravidian ethnicity Politics,  Nuclear Threat of koodamkulam power plant, Myth vs Facts on Modi Model of development, Alternative Media Technologies/ Spaces, Initial discussions about Dalit Adivasi, Fishworkers Womens movement, Breakthoughts discussiosn on engagements & negotiations of civil society movements, Free Binayaksen Campaign etc..  Food Sovereignty conference & food festival..  Kabir sandhya and a Music Night ..  dalit Women with Movie Cameras filming all festival..

ViBGYOR 2009 was an experience.  The details during festival were not possible to upload on time to to time constrainst. This blog will be frequently updated with various discussion, interviews and videos from vibgyor 2009.  Also the details of 5th ViBGYOR festival will be updated very soon.. Stay tuned

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As part of VIBGYOR Mela,  many stalls from various parts of India are being exhibited. The active involvement and unity among women are the key elements in the presentations. DDS Hydrabad, Kerala Agricultural University are the units who has taken initiative to exhibit these stalls. Paper bags, honey, mushroom seeds, cocoa products etc. are the items which are displayed by the Agricultural University. There are also certain distinguished delicacies available at the stalls which have been prepared by the women themselves. Maithri Group Farming from Arangotukkara, Jyothirmayee women group farming Mulamkunnathukavu use unique bio-fertilizers for their cultivation. SICHREM & VIKAS ADHYAYAN KENDRA are the two  remarkable stalls which are being exhibited. You can even get a fabulous T-shirt from VIBGYOR worth Rs.200/- for which you can enquire at the registration counter. Apart from this there are also various posters hung all over the stalls that talk about certain prime issues. The stalls are catching everyone’s eyes as they are very tempting as far as the food part is concerned.

Direction : Razi
Music : KP Sasi

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Impressions from the 4th edition of Vibgyor
Guest Post by Benny Kuruvilla

One of the common refrains that activists hear from the establishment is ‘what is the alternative’. The national conference on food sovereignty (4 February) that preceded the inauguration of the 4th edition of the ViBGYOR international documentary film festival at Thrissur highlighted many of the diverse alternatives that exist and are already being implemented by communities across the country. Indigenous peoples in Manipur have been practicing sustainable farming without external inputs for over 700 years and they use 1/10th of the energy required in conventional rice farming. Forest communities are reclaiming control over forests in Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand using the provisions of the 2006 Forest Rights Act. Women in Andhra Pradesh are leading from the front and are in a sense autonomous from the state and corporations growing what they want and how they want. Two of these very women ( associated with the Deccan Development Society)were at ViBGYOR, video documenting the national conference. Kamla Bhasin the firebrand feminist activist provided an eloquent definition of what is food sovereignty ‘the right of of peoples and communities to define, design and implement agricultural, labour, fisheries, food and land policies that are economically, socially, environmentally and culturally appropriate to their unique circumstances’. Many worlds are possible, she added emphasizing that the uniqueness of food sovereignty is that it embraces diversity as one of its key principles. Smitu Kothari made the important point that the idea of food sovereignty provides a unique opportunity to forge alliances amongst diverse groups ( that otherwise might have conflicting interests) such as farmers, landless labourers, dalits, indigenous peoples, womens groups, progressive political forces and urban consumers. What was also clear is that the concept of food sovereignty comes from social movements and grassroots groups and not from Governments ( which are more interested in ‘food security’ which does not address fundamental questions of who produces the food and how is it produced).

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The second session of the National conference had powerful testimonies from grassroots groups such as the Kerala Independent Fishworkers Federation and the Deccan Development Society in Andhra Pradesh.

The festival was inaugurated later in the evening by Dr. Illina Sen; activist filmmaker K P Sasi read out a moving tribute to her husband Binayak Sen who has been illegally jailed since June 2007 under the draconian Chattisgarh Public Security Act. Then after the usual set of speeches, ViBGYOR got down to doing what it does best; screening documentaries. Some minor technical glitches notwithstanding the inaugral set of films were an appetiser to the feast of films to the follow in the next 4 days. The highlight of yesterdays screening for me was Shabnam Virmani’s poetic tribute to Kabir ( Had-Anhad)which shows the progressive Ram that is so eloquently seen in Kabirs poetry, sung by some brilliant singers in Pakistan and India.

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We, the organizers, film makers, delegates and viewers of the VIBGYOR International Film Festival hereby express our deep dismay at the continued detention of Dr Binayak Sen, the National Vice President of the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL),  one of the oldest civil liberties organisations in India.

The PUCL Chhattisgarh has been one of the foremost independent organisations to draw attention to the excesses committed by the Chhattisgarh Government under its Salwa Judum campaign. The fake encounters, rapes, burning of villages and displacement of thousands of and consequent loss of livelihoods have been known even to the international community. It is therefore clear that Dr Sen’s arrest is an attempt to intimidate the PUCL and other democratic voices that have been speaking out against human rights violations in the State.

Dr. Binayak Sen has spent his life time in saving the lives of some of the most marginalized sections in Chattisgarh and not in promoting any form of destruction of life. The continued term of imprisonment of Dr. Sen is part of a growing tendency of attackson the human rights activists as well as a strong violation of  our democratic norms. It is a matter of shame that the government is still playing deaf to the voices of every peace loving citizen in India as well as all over the world that the charges against Dr. Sen are baseless, false and politically motivated.

Dr Sen has been detained under the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2006 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004. These laws have been criticised by numerous civil rights groups as well as a number of reknowned personalities in India and abroad for giving arbitrary powers to the State to silence all forms of dissent.

We believe that Dr. Binayak Sen is only one of the hundreds of people who are languishing in Indian jails for involving in social and political actions for justice, peace and freedom. Therefore, in the name of all prisoners of conscience in this country we strongly demand the following:

1. That all charges against Dr Sen be dropped and that he should be released immediately;
2. That all activists who are facing similar jail terms for expressing their democratic rights be released immediately.
3. That the notorius Salwa Judum be disbanded immediately and
4. That the Chhattisgarh Special Public Security Act, 2006 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 2004 be repealed without any further delay.

As with any people led initiative, ViBGYOR film festival has been facing severe financial crisis. In spite of support from local groups, activists and partner organizations, the local organizers of the festival have incurred a cumulative loss of approximately rupees Seven lakhs over the past 3 years. One of the reasons is that the festival does not accept any corporate funding and has received little support from Government departments and public trusts. Major expenses incurred have been for travel, hire of equipment, halls, publications and accommodation and food for filmmakers and activists who attend the annual event.

We appeal to our friends and well-wishers (Organizations/Institutions as well) to join the ViBGYOR Film Fraternity and thus support this alternative film festival, so that we can address the current financial crisis and also plan for the future. There are several ways to become part of the ViBGYOR Film Fraternity:

1. Contribute Rs. 10, 000 ($ 300 for people outside India) and become a Patron Member of ViBGYOR Film Fraternity
2. Contribute Rs. 5, 000 ($ 150 for people outside India) and become an Associate Member of ViBGYOR Film Fraternity
3. Contribute Rs. 100 a month or Rs. 1000/- as one time payment and be a Member of the ViBGYOR Support Group
4. Contribute any amount as a support gesture

Contributors to the ViBGYOR Fund, apart from becoming eligible for different types of Memberships, will be listed on our website and in publications like the ViBGYOR Souvenir, the monthly News Letter and the upcoming Festival Book. They will be entitled to one Guest Pass entry to ViBGYOR Annual Film Festival and associated activities. An e-group will link all friends and supporters of ViBGYOR, with monthly updates on ViBGYOR events and concerns.

We hope to collect at least rupees 10 lakhs towards the deficit in the past and for the activities we have planned for the next three years. If you are interested in supporting this initiative, please write a DD/cheque to `ViBGYOR Film Collective’ payable at Thrissur and mail it to the address below. Or you may directly transfer the money to the ViBGYOR Collective account (a/c number: 110533, Catholic Syrian Bank, Thrissur Town Branch). Please intimate us and provide us with your postal address so that we can send you the receipt.

ViBGYOR Film Festival Office
Chetana, Kalliath Square, Palace Road
Thrissur: 680 020, Kerala, INDIA
Tel: +91-487-2330830/0-9447000830
info@vibgyorfilm.com, www.vibgyorfilm.com