Gujarat violence: prayers, cultural event to mark fifth anniversary
Feb 25, 2007 - 12:10:36 PM
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'With this weeklong programme, we want the people of Gujarat to remember the events,' said Hiren Gandhi, an activist and theatre personality.
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By IANS,
[RxPG] Ahmedabad, Feb 25 - Prayer meets, commemorative seminars, memorial programmes and a film festival will mark the fifth anniversary of the apocalyptic Godhra train fire of Feb 27, 2002, as well as the ensuing sectarian strife that changed social equations in the state.
A number of citizens' groups, including the Ahmedabad Women's Action Group -, have jointly organised an all-religion prayer meet at the historic Sabaramti Ashram of Mahatma Gandhi in the city Feb 27 in memory of the 1,169 people who were killed at the Godhra railways station as well as during weeks of violence in its aftermath across the state.
The Vishwa Hindu Parishad - is slated to hold meets in Godhra, Ahmedabad and elsewhere to pray for the 59 passengers of the Sabarmati Express who were burnt to death near the railway station of Godhra, about 140 km from here, on the morning of that fateful Friday.
The Mumbai-based Citizens for Justice and Peace - in association with AWAG, Action Aid, Ahmedabad Muslim Women's Association, Sanchetna, Sahr Waru and a number of other activist groups is organising a series of memorial programmes in the city under the title 'Sach ki Yadein, Yadon ka Sach' -.
It will include a two-day film festival, beginning Feb 27, at the Hussain Doshi Gufa, featuring documentary films from India, Pakistan, the US, Germany, France, Sweden and Israel.
Among others, the festival will screen a number of films by acclaimed filmmaker Anand Patwardhan including 'Ram ke Nam' on the Ayodhya temple movement, 'Father, Son and the Holy War' on the Hindu rightwing politics, and 'Narmada Diary' about the controversial dam project in the state.
A Gujarati version of 'Final Solution', a hard-hitting documentary on the Gujarat carnage by Rakesh Sharma, will also be released during the festival.
However, 'Parzania', a feature film about a Parsi family's search for their child who has been missing since March 1, 2002, will not be screened in the festival.
Rahul Dholkia's film was released across the country on this Jan 26 after much delay but theatre owners in Gujarat have refused to screen it - allegedly following threats from the Hindu rightwing organisations.
A painting exhibition, plays, skits and a seminar will also be held as part of the anniversary commemoration.
'With this weeklong programme, we want the people of Gujarat to remember the events,' said Hiren Gandhi, an activist and theatre personality.
At 'Survivors Speak: an Expression in Remembrance', organised by the CJP at the Gujarat Vidyapith March 1, about 3,000 survivors are expected to come together and voice their demands.
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