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Gandhi Film Festival hits rural Bihar

NEWSnet Desk | January 11, 2012 | Comments (0)

Ashok Chaubey addressing the gathering at Bhitiharwa

A 21 day festival celebrating Gandhi and rural regeneration is travelling through villages in the districts of East and West Champaran in Bihar.

The festival, consisting of street-plays, discussions, and documentaries is touring the remotest Panchayats, reviving the memory of Mahatma Gandhi and his vision of self-reliance.

The Gandhi Shodh Sansthan Bhitihawra and Bharat Yatra Trust,Delhi have made the effort. A huge number of men and women participated in the discussions and witnessed nukkad plays [street theatre] on themes of self governance, Right to Education, and Right to Information. Gandhi Research Foundation, Jalgaon, is also associated with the programme

However, inclement weather on some days puts a damper on the programme, as was the case on Tuesday, where rain and cold stopped performances and film shows.

‘The team is enthusiastic, and the response is great, we will visit those villages later,” says Ashok Chaubey, the team leader. ‘It’s true that the cold wave conditions cause some problems, but we are hopeful that the weather will improve soon.”