'Daughters of Mother India' in syllabus of Maharashtra schools

Mumbai, April 29: The acclaimed national award-winning documentary 'Daughters of Mother India', based on the aftermath of 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape and murder, has entered the Class VIII curriculum of around 200 schools in Maharashtra, filmmaker Vibha Bakshi said here on Tuesday.

The film is a journey through the aftermath of the December 16, 2012 gang-rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy intern in New Delhi.

The incident led to mass protests lasting weeks across India. "The students of the 200 English schools, mostly in Mumbai, shall watch the documentary as part of their curriculum on social and gender issues... We are hoping that more schools will follow suit," Bakshi told IANS.

"Besides, the film has been shown individually at police stations in Hyderabad, Mumbai, New Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai to sensitise the police force in handling and dealing with crimes against women," she added.

Based on the request from Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria, the film has been dubbed in Marathi to reach out to the police forces manning the remotest corners of the state.

Recently, Mumbaikars pledged to work for the cause of women's safety and dignity. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis launched a Women's Safety Campaign in the state, where Bakshi, 44, was present. "Our aim is to dub the film in all regional languages and ensure that it's shown to the police force, school and college students, the intelligentsia and the masses to raise gender-consciousness and enable women reclaim their status in the society," Bakshi explained.

"The documentary 'Daughters of Mother India' will now be premiered at New York on May 5 as part of the upcoming 'Indian Film Festival'. The premiere show is already sold out," she said.

"Taking a deep insight into Indian society and the government, it examines the swift and radical changes that came up in the police force, the judiciary and community groups who provoked a national dialogue on the existing sexist attitudes of Indian society and ways to change them," Bakshi said.

The documentary was adjudged the best on social issues and bagged the National Award, which will be presented to Bakshi next week in New Delhi. A Mumbaikar, Bakshi is an alumna of Boston and New York universities and has a passion for making films that are life-changing.

Her other film creations, both co-productions, include 'Terror At Home', based on controlling violence against women, and 'Too Hot Not To Handle', based on global warming.

IANS