Noted film personality and BJP MP, Shri Shatrughan Sinha has stressed the need to encourage Vanvasi art and culture. He was inaugurating the first International Tribal Film Festival held at Gandhi Hall in Indore on February 1. A total of 265 films from 40 countries were shown at the festival. The festival also witnessed an exhibition highlighting the Vanvasi art and culture. The Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram also joined the exhibition.
Shri Sinha praised the proposal of creating a Film City in Madhya Pradesh. Many leading film personalities participated in the festival, which was organised by the Vanvasi Department of Madhya Pradesh VANYA and Indian Infotainment Media Corporation (IIMC). Speaking at the inaugural ceremony, noted Hindi film personality Shri Randhir Kapoor said the past of the country has been closely connected with the Vanvasis and they cannot be segregated from the rest of the society. He said the Vanvasis could not made progress due to lack of opportunities.
Shri Kailash Vijyavargiya, Minister of PWD in Madhya Pradesh, said the Vanvasis may by economically poor but they are rich in their art and culture. Shri Kunwar Vijay Shah, Minister of Tribal Welfare of the state, welcomed the gathering and said Madhya Pradesh is proud of organising the event. Shri Anandilal, singer, was honoured at the function. Shri Endle, councillor of Ethiopia was one of the guest at the function, Shri Gautam Buddha Mukherjee, Secretary in Central Government, Shri S.P. Ranganathan, chairman of South India Film Chambers of Commerce and Shri Devendra Khandelwal of IIMC also spoke on the occasion.
More than 2000 people visited the exhibition and praised the work of the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram. Veteran Sangh Pracharak, Shri Shrikant Joshi also visited the exhibition and encouraged the workers. The concluding ceremony was held on February 3 in which various artists were honoured. Shri Lakshman Singh Gaur, Education Minister of Madhya Pradesh praised the Shivganga project undertaken by the Kalyan Ashram. He appealed to the audience to follow the rich samskars of the Vanvasi society.
(FOC)
