Born into Brothels, apparently won the Oscars! No problem with that. My Congratulations! But the BBC reports that
"Ms Briski and Mr Kauffman plan to open an arts school in Sonagachi but have decided not to show the documentary in India because of the potential for "trouble". "

Now I am in India, I want to see this documentary. I thought the film makers wanted to assuage the condition of the kids by this video/camera docu. Unfortunately they will not show it here for perceived trouble.

They will not show the movie in India where the violence on the kids happen, where the kids live thier lives in terror, where the kids will get into trouble. The women and children apparently wanted their identities protected.

Unfortunately, I think this goes against the whole purpose of making socially relevant docus, where subjects get narcisstic and reveal all on camera, then they lack the courage to face up to their stories. Absolutely brilliant fodder for the "Non Indian" filmmakers.

I am going to be accused of "pseudo-intellectualism" here, I am not a sex-worker in Kolkata. I have not lived through the tales of hardship and years of documenting. But I do have a longing to know more of "India through the Western Lens".


I recommend reading of -
India through the Western Lens
Creating National Images in Film
authored by Ananda Mitra.
Brilliant analysis!

Some of my seniors from the University of Hyderabad, have made documentaries on "Sex Workers" in Hyderabad, maybe I should watch those.

At the recent conference I attended, there was a large contingent of PIO's from Malaysia. Now, I didn't know that Malaysia had such a strong Indian community. I read about the "Indentured Labourers" from Tamilnadu who set off to Malay to work on the Teak Plantations in the late 1800's, after my chance reading of The Glass Palace by Amitav Ghosh.

For lack of time, I googled for fast information on "Malaysian Indians". The result came up with a site Yayasan Strategik Sosial, a social development centre for the Malaysian Indian Community. Started by the Malaysian Indian Congress! Under the link of International Concerns, I found very interesting papers on the community's initiatives to maintain links with India - the homeland and the other larger family of pravasis.

When I have the time for research, I am going to find out some prominent Malay-Indian writers, apparently they are some good ones. Reminds me, I gotto get myself a copy of a documentary on "Malaysian Indians".

I am starting this blog, to basically connect the "Indian Diaspora" from all over the world, the inspiration was a conference I attended at the University of Hyderabad titled - "Indian Diaspora - Trends, Issues and Challenges" Feb 24-26, 2005. The University currently has a - Centre for the study of Indian Diaspora.

It was a refreshing, invigorating and very passionate intellectual and academic outpouring from Non-Resident Indians (NRI), People of Indian Origins (PIO), the Desi's etc.

I welcome anybody that is intersted in the phenomenon of "Diaspora" to use this blog, all you will have to do is email me .

I am Cecilia Abraham, currently enrolled for a Ph.D at the University of Hyderabad, Hyderabad, my evolving thesis will deal with “Films on the Indian Diaspora".

Why do NRIs matter to India and what would be gained by continuing a `pointless jamboree'? - Shashi Tharoor in the Hindu.

The article, does touch upon many questions that pravasis will face from intellectuals in the sub-continent. Valid answers provided!

South Africa received its first nomination (however, lost to a Spanish film) for the best foreign-language Oscar for Yesterday, a tragic tale of an HIV-positive mother facing death. The producer is Anant Singh, South African Indian Filmmaker.

Infact when I met Prof. Brij Maharaj from South Africa, I asked for a few filmmakers from South Africa, I think he gave me this name.

I appreciate the filmmaker for making a film in the local Zulu language, I was just wondering what is it like to be an South African Indian filmmaker. I took a look at his filmography, seems he's made movies only on South Africa, nothing "Desi" or "Diasporic" about any. However this guy, is kicking in a desi connection by producing Nelson Mandela's autobiography, directed by the very apna (our own) Shekhar Kapoor.