Umashankar Mishra
A three-day festival of films on the role of scientists and scientific institutions during the independence movement came to an end here on Sunday with the distribution of awards.
New Delhi: A three-day festival of films on the role of scientists and scientific institutions during the independence movement came to an end here on Sunday with the distribution of awards.
The event titled `Swantatrata Ka Vigyan Filmotsav’ was organised by The Ministry of Science and Technology’s Vigyan Prasar, Vijnana Bharati and Film Division, Mumbai, to celebrate the landmark 75th anniversary of India’s independence. It is part of year-long and pan-India celebrations -`Swantatrata Ka Amrit Mahotsav’.
Two entries would share the first prize of Rs.1,50,000/- with a trophy and certificate. One film titled `seekers of the sun’ focused on the history of solar studies from the pre-Independence period till date. It was produced by Enscitec and directed by Rakesh Rao. The other first prize-winning film titled `Sarkar’ talks about Dr ML Sircar, who had promoted science during the pre-Independence era in a big way. It was produced and directed by Manoj Patel.
Two films also share the Second prize of Rs.1,00,000/- with trophy and certificate. One film titled `Haathkaagaj Sanstha Pune-Bharat ki ek Virasat’ revolves around an indigenous handmade paper project. It was produced and directed by Dr. Balkrishna Digambar Damle. The other film, titled `Kamala: The Swadeshi Nutriindian’, is based on one of the first Indian women scientists. She had worked in the area of nutrition. It was produced by EMMRC, Pune, and directed by Sameer Sahasrabudhe.
Three films share the third prize of Rs.75,000/- with a trophy and certificate. The first film, titled `His Experiments with Science’, highlights Mahatma Gandhiji’s experiments with various scientific processes such as health, modern medicine, and naturopathy. It was produced by Vibhore Video Vision and directed by Aditya Seth. The second film, titled `Ramanujan: The Man who knew Infinity’ underlines the achievements of the eminent mathematician. It was produced by Paridhi Parmar and directed by Rahul Khadia. The third film, titled `Sciendependence’, depicts the contributions of various Indian scientists during the freedom movement. It was produced by Suparno Pal and directed by Suman Banerjee.
National Organising Secretary of Vijnana Bharati, Jayant Sahasrabudhe, said the holding of the film festival on the specific theme of the role of scientists in the Independence movement was particularly important since a distinguishing feature of the British rule in India was that it sought to establish itself in the country with the help of science and technology and the people of the country needed to know how they did and how several Indian scientists fought against attempts to suppress them.
Vice-Chancellor of Makhanlal Chaturvedi National University of Journalism and Communication, Bhopal, K.G.Suresh, and Director General, Films Division of India, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, Smita Vats Sharma, emphasised the need to encourage the use of popular media like films to create awareness about aspects like the role played by scientists in the independence movement.
The awards function followed a panel discussion, where jury members Mukesh Kumar of Narsee Monjee Institute of Management Studies (NMIMS), Mumbai, Dr. Chandramohan Nautiyal of Indian National Science Academy, Prof Danish Iqbal of Jamia Milia Islamia, and Rizwan Ahmed of Maulana Azad National Urdu University welcomed the effort made to hold a special film festival focused on the role of scientists in the independence movement and hoped more such initiatives would take place in coming times.
Courtesy: India Science Wire
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