MP: Youngsters' 5-min film has secularism message

Bhopal, Aug 16: When asked to name his religion, a four-year-old says ''Koh-e-Fiza'' (his local area of residence), a five-year-old girl answers ''mummy'' and other children respond similarly thereby revealing an ignorance regarding the word religion.

These innocent responses reflect that the kids do not know anything about religion so who are to blame for polluting their minds with communalism when they grow up? This forms the turbulent beginning of a film merely five minutes long 'Who We Are? (Hum Kaun Hain?)' produced and directed by city-resident Shruti Shrivastava. Her creation is on the verge of being screened at the All India Documentary Film-makers Association (ADFA) festival on the subject 'sarva dharma sambhav' (all religions are equal) at Delhi.

''Ninety movies made an entry in the fest and 13 were selected for showcasing. The subject of my film has a contemporary global relevance,'' 24-year-old Shruti told sources.

Her creation underlines the message that the Sun never discriminates in spreading radiance, a breeze is the same for a Hindu or Muslim, falling raindrops never distinguish between the body of a Sikh or a Christian, there is no difference in the flowers offered at a dargah or temple.

''Nature never discriminates so why are we fighting one another on the basis of religion and priding ourselves over it?'' says Shruti who completed her year-long Film Journalism diploma from the city-based Makhanlal Chaturvedi Rashtriya Patrakarita Vishwavidyalaya (MCRPV) and also a Film Appreciation Course from the multi-art centre Bharat Bhavan.

ANI

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