Celebrating Dosti and Democracy: Sabeen Mahmud
MUMBAI, May 15, 2015 — From T2F in Karachi to Sitara Studio in Mumbai, Asia Society India Centre celebrated Sabeen Mahmud through an evening of creative expression and tribute to her life and vision with Anand Patwardhan, Documentary Filmmaker, Danish Husain, Poet, Actor and Theatre Director, Munizae Jahangir, Journalist and Documentary Filmmaker, Patchworks Ensemble and Varun Grover, Stand-Up Comedian.
Danish Husain began the evening with readings of Urdu poetry, through which he expressed the need to craft spaces like T2F across India and Pakistan whenever possible to build and foster mutual understanding. Munizae Jahangir, joining the conversation live from Pakistan via Skype, shared her insights on the current state of affairs in Pakistan as well as the Indo-Pak relationship. Highlighting the feeling of brotherhood and humanity within nations of South Asia, Jahangir explained how Sabeen and her inspirational work will remain trailblazers for the country.
Anand Patwardhan showcased video clippings that highlighted the value of free speech and dissent in a democracy. Citing examples from Bangladesh, India and Pakistan he spoke of the importance of freedom of expression. He followed his presentation with a reading of one of Sabeen's favourite poems 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' by Dylan Thomas. Bunty Chand, Executive Director, Asia Society India Centre shared her fondest memories of Sabeen, after which Sabeen's 2014 Asia 21 interview was screened at the programme.
Switching gears, the evening turned into a celebration of all the values Sabeen stood for with Varun Grover’s comical act. Humorously pointing out democracy's various flaws, he spoke about censorship in India, and in his own entertaining fashion he brought light to the eccentricities of the Indian democracy.
Patchworks Ensemble wowed with an illustrative performance on censorship through a reading of Perumal Murugan's poetry. Their interactive piece had the audience stunned, and drove home a strong message against censorship.
The evening then ended with Danish Husain’s gripping poetry that spoke of bureaucracy and corruption, as well as marginalized voices and the importance of soldiering on. Participants moved by Sabeen’s life and work left messages to send to T2F and Sabeen’s family, showing their solidarity and support through words of encouragement.
Read 'The Eediots Guide to Indo-Pak Dosti', an Asia 21 India Pakistan Regional Young Leaders initiative to dispell myths existing in the India - Pakistan relationship here.
Video: Watch the complete programme (1 hr., 40 min.)
Reported by Antaraa Vasudev, Programme Assistant, Asia Society India Centre
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