ONE OF the most recognised images of the Bhopal gas tragedy is the photograph of a dead baby covered in rubble. Clicked by Indian photojournalist Pablo Barathlemow, the photograph captures the world's worst industrial disaster that unfolded in the heart of India in 1984. The image, which won the World Press Photo of the Year award in 1985, still keeps appearing in news programmes and publications the world over around the disaster's anniversary-December 2-3-as a reminder of the cost of industrial negligence.
There are many untold stories around the tragedy that took place on that cold December night in Bhopal. A disaster many saw coming and did little to prevent; a disaster that choked an entire city and tested limits of human empathy and resilience.
The Railway Men-The Untold Story Of Bhopal 1984, a Netflix series directed by Shiv Rawail, explores the many dimensions of the tragedy through the eyes of unsung heroes. The show, which has all the ingredients to be a good survival thriller, is sadly a painfully slow soap that dwells on the many dramas of the characters than the industrial disaster.
The series starts by juxtaposing real visuals with filmed shots to set a "docufiction" tone and reiterates that "it is based on real events" even though the characters' stories at times move away from reality. The series sets the context of the disaster early on. The false alarm scene in the factory gives a picture of negligence, of untrained employees, and of the stereotypical white villain with caricature expressions.
Denne historien er fra December 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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Denne historien er fra December 16, 2023-utgaven av Down To Earth.
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A SPRIG TO CARE FOR
Punarnava, a perennial herb, is easy to grow and has huge health benefits
DIGGING A DISASTER
Soapstone mining near Dabti Vijaypur village has caused many residents to migrate.
REVIEW THE TREATMENT
Several faecal sludge treatment plants in Uttar Pradesh suffer from design flaws that make the treatment process both expensive and inefficient
MAKE STEEL SUSTAINABLE
As India works to double its GDP by 2030, its steel industry must balance growth with sustainability. By embracing policies like the Steel Scrap Recycling Policy 2019 and adopting green technologies, India is paving the way for a more sustainable future in steel production
Can ANRF pull off the impossible for India?
Anusandhan National Research Foundation is expected to reorient India's innovation goals but funding issues, old mindsets remain a drag
TROUBLED WOODS
Forests are a great bulwark against climate change. But this is fast changing. AKSHIT SANGOMLA travels through some of the pristine patches of the Western Ghats to explore how natural disturbances triggered by global warming now threaten the forest health
BLINDING GLOW
The science is clear: increased illumination has damaging consequences for the health of humans, animals and plants. It’s time governments introduced policies to protect the natural darkness and improved the quality of outdoor lighting.
GROUND REALITY
What happens when the soil loses the ability to grow healthy, high-yield crops on its own?
GM POLICY MUST BE FARMER CENTRIC
On July 23, the Supreme Court of India directed the Union government to develop a national policy on genetically modified (GM) crops for research, cultivation, trade and commerce through public consultation.
Vinchurni's Gandhi
A 96-year-old farmer transforms barren land into a thriving forest in drought-prone region of Satara