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Human rights take centre stage through music, photography and more

Kavita Charanji, NewMhi
" Everyone or no one
All human beings are born free and equal
In dignity and life”
--- Article 1, Universal Declaration of Human Rights Human rights were at the forefront of Amnasty International India's Curtain Raiser of the International Week of Justice Festival 2008 recently. Through musical performances, a photography exhibition, a film, the festival was held to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR).
The show, titled Voices of Dignity, began with delightful fusion music by the group Advaita. Among their numbers were Mere Yaar, a song on AIDS awareness, Hamsadhiuani (about the happiness of the soul), and Why (a search for answers). The band, with a strong proclivity for the spiritual dimension, has been hailed as one of the most original and creative sounds to emerge from the Indian underground music scene. Described by the print media as "pioneers" and “a bright spark”, the group stole many hearts.
Another showstopper was a musical performance by Sajid Akbar who brought together acoustic guitar and electronic sounds. Likened with American folk singer Sufjan Stevens, the
singer's compelling music included Prayer for Rain, Late Afternoon Car Drives and Home
Another attraction was the inaugural film Khuda Ke Liye (In the Name of God) directed by Pakistani filmmaker Shoaib Mansoor. The film effectively captured the difficulties faced by the Pakistanis in particular and Muslims in general since 9711. It also homed into the conflict between the fundamentalists and the liberal Muslims. An interesting facet was the connection that was drawn between developments in North America, Europe and Asia. The film also delved into the condition of women during the Taliban days in Afghanistan and the tensions between religion and cultural expression.
The Amnesty function also featured a riveting exhibition of photographs. The works on display, said the organisers, “helps to break the numbing effect that the usual depiction of violence and suffering creates." The superb black and white works represented the talent of Parthiv Shah, Harikrishna Katragadda, Sohrab Hura, Sonia Jabbar. Suvendu Chatterjee and Swapan Nayak. The photographs packed a mighty punch -- Hura's effort was to capture how “the lack of employment opportunities in the villages force many to migrate to the cities with dreams of a better life. But only a few manage to survive."
Likewise. Sonia's work depicted the angst of three mothers whose sons had "disappeared" in Baramullah distnet of the troubled Kashmir.
Putting the festival in perspective was Mukul Sharma, director of Amnesty International India. ‘We feel there is a sense of urgency in addressing human rights issues in the country ... The UbVlk gave the world a framework to defend socio, economic, political and cultural rights along with the rights to marriage, sexuality, language and freedom of expression... People and the youth will have to defend human rights and persuade governments to enforce such rights."
The focal point of Amnesty India's International Week of Justice Festival Curtain Raiser, the film festival takes up the issues of death penalty, disappearances, terror-counter-terror. The photography exhibitions were held at various educational institutions in Delhi until yesterday.
'Art for activism' is how Amnesty describes its campaign: “While the written and spoken word have proved and still prove to be a powerful medium. Amnesty International emphatically has never ignored the global shift towards a visual culture and its powei to inform, sensitise and galvanise people " Certainly Amnesty's spellbinding programme did just that