Right to Information Act the Right Way to Information

Right to information
Right to Information Act can do within five or six days, what the government cannot do in five or six months, said Mr. Y. G. Muralidharan, Director of CREATE, Bangalore while speaking on “Right to Information: A Tool for Enhancing Qualityof Governance.”

The speaker, speaking elaborately on the Right to Information Act mentioned its context, said that right to information is enshrined the Constitution of India. It is part of freedom of speech and expression.

Whenever we become conscious of our social responsibility, we are called good citizens. Right to information is a powerful tool in shaping good citizens. He underlined the societal nature of the Right to Information Act.

He also was quick to add that our right to know is derived from the fact we pay the public servants. Citing various examples of efficient use of this revolutionery act, Mr Muralidharn, demonstrated the power of Right to Information act. Information Commission facilitates our attempts to obtain information. If any public servant fails to furnish demanded information, he said, the seravnt could be penalised Rs. 250/ per day, upto a maximum punishment of Rs. 25,000, which is cut from his/ her salary!

Earlier in the day, Ms Suchitra Rao and Mr Vasudeva Sharma spoke on Human Trafficking. Defining human traficking as illegal movement across national and international borders, the resource persons examined the cause of the problem. Commodification of women, lack of protection measures to vulnerable sections of society, adult unemployment and increse in child labour, perpetration of feudal relationships – neo-slavery – etc.

The resource persons explained how human traficking affects women and children. They also charted out an action plan to do away human traficking and what measures the governments can take to ameleorate the condition fo such vulnerables.

: Fr Richie Rego SJ with imputs from Ms Vineeth Mathew

Samprathi in Post Modern World – Making Social Work Relevant

SAMPRATHI 2006

 

“Knowledge  is  of   two kinds .We know a subject ourselves or we know where  we  can  find   information upon  it”-Samuel  Johnson.

 

30 October, 2006. Students of MSW at St Aloysius College Mangalore, under the banner of  Samprathi went a step forward towards fulfilling their quest  for  more knowledge. It was the annual seminar dealing with The Current Issues Challenging Social Work.   The IT auditorium of St. Aloysius College witnessed the inaugural function of Samprathi. Present in the auditorium were the dignitaries and the delegates from various institutions.

 

In the absence of Rev. Fr. Eugene Lobo, Ms Savitha Pereira, the Seminar Coordinator, extended a warm welcome to the guests. Ms. Mamatha Gatti, the President of Zilla Panchayath, Mangalore, was the Chief Guest for the day. Fr. Francis Serrao,the Rector of St. Aloysius Institutions, Fr. Denzil Lobo, the Vice-Principal, and Mr. Maxim D’Souza were present on the dais.

 

 

The inaugural ceremony began with the dignitaries lighting the lamps atop a globe borne by joined hands. This symbolized the joint efforts of every responsible social worker to keep the light shining in this dark world.

 

In the inaugural address, Fr Denzil Lobo emphasized on the need for having trained social workers who reflect and respond to the social problems of our day through their meaningful actions rather than too many activities.

 

The Chief guest’s address was an encouragement to the student social workers.  Ms Mamatha Gatti urged the students to continue to be energetic carriers of society.   She  quoted   Gandhiji’s  words   of the  youth   being  the  salt   of  the  earth .

 

Fr. Rector, in his presidential speech expounded the meaning of Samprathi, which means relevance. He urged the students to be alert and up-to-date  with the current  issues   of   the   social  scenario . “We cannot  give  yesterday’s    answers    for  tomorrow’s  questions,” he said. He  invited   each  student  to be   a torch  bearers of   society.

Student coordinator Mr Maxim D ’souza proposed the vote of thanks.

 

Documentary Workshop Comes to a Glorious Close

National Level Documentary Film Making Workshop Comes to a Close

 

30 Oct. The week-long National Level Documentary Film Making Workshop concluded here on Sunday with the screening of three short documentary movies.

 

“There is no difference between any good commercial film and the documentaries I watched today,” said Mr Richard Castelino, the chief guest at the documentary screening programme. He was speaking after giving away the certificates to the participants of the First National Level Film Making Workshop, organised by the Department of Journalism, St Aloysius College, Mangalore, on Sunday.

 

Mr Castelino, a noted director from Coastal Karnataka region, who has directed three Tulu and a Konkani feature films, has won seven awards for his Bangar Patler, a much appreciated Tulu film. He also won accolades for his Konkani film Bhogsane. He applauded the organisers (the Dept of Journalism) and the resource person for the wonderful opportunity given to the participants to learn from this workshop and make use of their creativity and talents on relavant themes.

 

After the screening, participants shared their experiences of this workshop; they articulated their learnings and gains from the workshop. Prof. Radhakrishnan, one of the audience, expressed his deep admiration and appreciation for the films made by the participants of the workshop. He regretted he missed out on such an opportunity!

 

Fr Richard Rego, Head, Dept of Journalism and the president of the programme expressed his satisfaction at the success of the workshop. It was his dream to orgainse such a workshop, he said. The experience of conducting this workshop would go a long way in imparting quality film education, he opined. He thanked all those responsible for making the workshop a success. 

 

Mr P N Ramchandra, noted filmmaker from Mumbai was the main resource person. His maiden film – Suddha was awarded the best Indian film at the Ocean’s Cinefan Film Festival in July 2006. It has also been screened in Croatia and Germany film festivals, besides being selected for Austin Asian Film Festival (USA) which will be held from 8 Novemer 2006. Mr Ramchandra, who attained fame with his first feature length digital Tulu film, has made a number of short films and documentaries. Besides, he also made the much watched teleserial Surabhi (Karnataka episodes). Mr Ramchandra guided the students in using camera, in-door and out-door lighting, non-linear editing, and sound management.

 

The workshop started on 23 October and ended on 29 October evening. Sixteen participants, including a doctor and a lecturer, from Goa and South Kanara attended the workshop. The participants made four films giving wide variety (thematic) to the films made. The groups shot films in actual locations, and made use of candid footage for the documentaries. The subjects of the documentaries ranged from devastating Mangalore riots (Conflict Zones) to the neglect of Sultan Battery (Everybody Says Nobody Does), to the pathetic condition of the Mangalore roads (Where is the Road?) to a peak into fishing life of fishermen in the deep sea along the Mangalore coasta region (A Day Out in the Sea – Trawler Fishing).        : RR

Film Workshop Comes to an End

29 Oct. It was a fulfilling day. The fruits of our labour, sweat and labour culminated in applause.

A Day Out in the Sea – Trawler Fishing

Everybody Says Nobody Does

Where is the Road?

Conflict Zones

That is it. Good work done. More news tomorrow; today is a rest day after the hectic day.

Touching Tomorrow…

28 October. We are almost touching tomorrow. Expectations are rife. Ripe. Tomorrow will tell us one another what we have done.

Well, being on the other side of the fence, I do know what it looks life. But for participants of the Documentary Filmmaking Workshop, it is a day of great anxiety. And to many, anxiety has peaked already last night.

Some of them did not sleep; they preferred to work in the Department the whole night; they left for home at 7.30 in the morning; and were back at 10.00 a.m. What do you call this – anxiety? passion ? craze? dedication? Call it whatever you wish. They are AT IT.

As of now, one group has completed their movie. Second group will complete it any time now (past 10.00 p.m.); the third and the fourth group are working like women and men possessed! They have decided they will not blink their eyes till they complete their project!

I wish all of you are there tomorrow sharp at 11 a.m. to watch these movies – on Mangalore riots, mangalore roads, a day in the sea, and Sultan Batter. It is a public screening. Some VIPs are expected… Mr Richard Castelino, a famous film maker will be our chief guest. Do join in. I would like to see you.

Watching Your Own Stuff…

27 October. And you thought it was glamorous making a movie! yea? Ask my students who are undergoing the grind! They have shot the footage, no doubt. But THEY THEMSELVES have to watch that footage – all  of it, and then decides, which part of it (and what percentage!) should be seen by others!

 Well, they have begun editing the footage: to begin with they logged it – a massive task. And then assembly. If they could complete real editing with sound, by tomorrow evening, it would be great.

To everyone’s amazement, some have decided to make the Dept of Journalism their REST ROOM, tonight, till it dawns! They have a definite task at hand, a goad to achieve.

 Here is the Invitation of our Documentary Films Screening

————————————————-

St Aloysius College, MangaloreDepartment of Journalism 

 

Invites you for the screening of Documentary Films 

At theValedictory of the National Level Documentary Filmmaking Workshop 

To be held at  

Teletorium, St Aloysius College (A-V Room) 

 

At 11.00 a.m. sharpOn Sunday, 29 October 2006 

Mr Richard CastelinoNoted Filmmaker (Tulu & Konkani) 

Will be the Chief Guest 

You are specially invited Your presence will enhance our joy 

 

Rev Fr Eugene Lobo SJ                                               Fr Richard Rego SJ              Principal                                                         Head, Dept. of Journalism        

Mr P.N. Ramchandra, filmmaker & Instructor during the Filmmaking Workshop will be present 

 [Note: There will be four documentaries of 5-10 minutes’ duration each on Mangalore riots, Mangalore roads, Sultan
Battery, and a day in the sea with fisherfolk]P.S.: This week has been a “Birthday Week” – Madhuri, Dale, Benu, and Sandhya today. It is great celebrating their birthdays – some of these youngsters – full of life, full of youth, full of energy; those whom we closely work with. May God grant them happiness and peace!

Film Workshop – Cutting the Rough Edges

26 Oct. The participants of the Documentary workshop seem to be seeing bright light on the other side of the tunnel. While many enjoyed shooting and other exercises, a couple of them found it quite demanding in terms of hard work, travelling in the hot sun, shooting in unfriendly conditions, getting necessary information, making appointments with common people-and-the-mighty, researching, etc.

Today all the groups completed their shooting for the documentary. All of them had a smile of contentment writ large on their faces. Some already got into editing mode. Others are wondering, how to glean through so muchof footage for a 5-8 minute movie! But that is fun; that is learning. Everybody has learnt to handle camera with a purpose, set up scenes, use light creatively, and now learning to make the movie on the table (editing)

We have a public screening of the documentary films made by the participants during the workshop and valedictory of the film workshop on Sunday at 11.00 a.m. (sharp). Mr Richard Castelino, the noted film maker of many a Tulu and Konkani film will be the chief guest.

Do come in; we want your presence. Make it a point to be present.

Date:    29 october

Time: 11 am

Sunday

SAC Teletorium

Shooting the Stuff – Workshop

25 Oct. After a relatively long break, some students are back to the campus, albeit for two days! We had some classes, even for just a few students. Tomorrow evening will be their last class hour before December 4.

Workshop is going great guns! Two more girls from Goa joined the workshop (the delayed ones!)  The students were out shooting. One team went out to shoot at 5 am to the fisher folk, and by 6 am they call me from the trawler! Enthusiastic bunch!

The other group went around scanning road in Mangalore! They got such a candid and rare shot – passengers actually pushing their bus  out of the pot hole! That is Kankanady. In another place, they did  not dar open the camera for the fear of harming camera due to dust!

The third group, with fear and trembling went to the riot-stricken areas of Mangalore, plus met some officials to gain an insight into the recent communal riots.

The fourth group did some sting operation en route to Sultan Battery – the long forgotten tourist spot of Mangalore. When some of those who returned reported their experiences and showed their footage, it was nothing but admiration for their zest and determination! Sure, on Sunday you will have a documentary feast awaiting you! Do join us at 11 a.m. in the College Teletorium. It will be a short doucmentary film festival.

Second Day of Film Workshop

24 Oct. As the second day of the National Level Workshop began, participants felt they are running short of time. You get it? Things are becoming interesting for them; they feel the heat, in next six days, they will have to leave!

After yesterday’s rushes’ analysis, today the participants did some more excercies for camera and outdoor light handling, and the results were there for all to see! Great improvement.

The participants watched the ZOO, a documentary by Bert Hanstra; they analysed the short documentary for sequencing and structure. It, then, was followed by brief input on sequencing and structuring documentary. Participants zeroed in on  a topic for their final project. They spent the afternoon on recce! Researching the locations, planning their movie.

Well, what did Yours Truly did, you think? He had a good cinematic time with Mr P N Ramchandra. Both of them watched Mooru Darigalu and Mane by Girish Kasaravalli, and had long discussion spilling over late supper! How are these movies seen from a trained film maker’s perspective? That was quite an experience; and those cinematic tea, coffee, lunch and supper! Yours Truly is enjoying, being at the helm, head aches and full full minds!

SAC Campus Comes Alive…

23 Oct. Two events lit up the College Campus – RexBand and Documentary Workshop.

The morning began with the nearby mosque crying out to God aloud – announcing to the world that it Eid-ul-Fitr. The campus was filled with the cars of the devotees; probably a thousand. When the police find it difficult to control the traffic, they divert it to the College campus, and forget their duty! There was hardly any space in the campus.

Then came the much awaited event – the National level Documentary Film Making Workshop; Mr P N Ramachandra was already in station. The Goans were in time, too. The workshop began in time – a characteristic of the Dept of Journalism.

The first day had much to delight the students – young and old alike. It was filled with excercises – camera basics and outdoor lighting (without going into the nitty gritty of the theoretical burdens). Then the students went round the campus with cameras in their hands, shooting. They returned only in the afternoon, all tired!

What followed was, perhaps , the most fulfilling aspect of the workshop -detailed analysis of their work – why some shot is good, why some is not, and how that could be improved…

And then came the soulful music – RexBand – one of the perfect blend of Eastern and Western music. The way those people got the crowd involved in the music was absolutely a revelation.

Well, my favourite was Alphonsus, the darling of the Malayalam film music industry. He was adjudged the Best Music Director and won the Film Critic’s award; and here is he to feed the souls of people. His voice is simply melifluous, and the timbre of his voice simply unbeatable!

The 4-5,000 odd crowd dispersed only after 9.15 pm, after the last song was sung! We need many more such music bands