The best days of my life were those 14 days in jail,” exclaims Sudesha Devi, the protagonist of Deepa Dhanraj’s documentary, Sudesha (1983). A peasant woman from a nondescript village in the foothills of the Himalayas, Devi was one of the leaders of the famed Chipko Movement for forest conservation. And she perceived her imprisonment as a refreshing break from the domestic drudgery and the traditional roles dictated by a society steeped in patriarchy. The film, which portrayed how women became the driving force of one of the first environmental movements from the Third World, set the tone for Jacaranda Tales—a four-day film festival on women and nature held recently in Bengaluru.
Organised by the Bangalore Film Society (BFS), the festival showcased a unique list of both Indian and international woman-centric films. “If you look closely, women have [always] been in the forefront of protecting the environment,” says Jahnavi Pai of BFS. “But her courage and leadership role are often side-lined. The festival is an attempt to make these women visible.”
Jacaranda Tales brought together filmmakers, feminist writers, activists, conservationists, and public policy experts to initiate conversations. “The discussions on documentary films as a community and as part of a collective are crucial to facilitate action,” says Manasi Pingle, filmmaker and member of Bengaluru Sustainability Forum. “The festival brings forth different facets of women’s relationships with the environment, and the films communicate cutting across cultural and language barriers.”
A golden girl
One of India's most formidable beauties passed away earlier this month. The odd thing is she would absolutely hate this obituary; she hated being written about and avoided publicity for all of her nine decades. Indira Aswani was 93 when she died. But anyone who encountered her, even briefly, was in such awe of her grace and poise, and one could not but remember her forever.
The interest in wine is growing delightfully in India
The renowned British wine writer and television presenter Jancis Robinson, 74, recently came to Delhi and Mumbai to reacquaint herself with India's wine industry. This was the Robinson's fourth visit to India; the last one was seven years ago. On this trip, Robinson and her husband, restaurateur Nicholas Lander, were hosted by the Taj Hotels and Sonal Holland, India's only Master of Wine.
United in the states
Indian-Americans coming together under the Democratic umbrella could get Harris over the line in key battlegrounds
COVER DRIVE
Usage-driven motor insurance policies offer several benefits
GDP as the only measure of progress is illogical
Dasho Karma Ura, one of the world's leading happiness experts, has guided Bhutan's unique gross national happiness (GNH) project. He uses empirical data to show that money cannot buy happiness in all circumstances, rather it is family and health that have the strongest positive effect on happiness. Excerpts from an interview:
India is not a controlling big brother
Prime Minister Tshering Tobgay considers India a benevolent elder sibling as the \"big brotherly attitude\" is happily missing from bilateral ties. He thinks the relationship shared by the two countries has become a model of friendship not just for the region, but for the entire world. \"India's attitude is definitely not of a big brother who is controlling and does not allow the little brother to blossom and grow,\" says Tobgay in an exclusive interview with THE WEEK.
Comrade with no foes
Lal Salaam, Comrade Yechury-you were quite a guy!
Pinning down saffron
In her first political bout, Vinesh Phogat rides on the anti-BJP sentiment across Haryana
MAKE IN MANIPUR
Home-made rockets and weapons from across the border are escalating the conflict
SAHEB LOSES STEAM
Coalition dynamics and poor electoral prospects continue to diminish Ajit Pawar's political stock
