[IMC Bombay] Film Screening: Fire Within

[john from bombay ced]

Invitation for the screening of a documentary film =91The Fire Within=92  =
a
film on the socio-political, ecological impact of the 150 year old 
Indian
coal industry in the Jharkhand region.   


The Fire Within
(57 min. Colour/Hindi with English-2002) 



       On  what they have  done  to the  coal industry,  and  the 
people
       /environment of Jharkhand  spanning  over  150 years. Circa 
1775-
       the first coal mine was blasted in the Raniganj area.  The
       indigenous people owned this coal   rich land till the British
       Dispossessed them.  Since 19th century, specially the World 
Wars
       and after, the railways were introduced and the extraction of 
coal
       began in a big way. These mine were owned by the private 
parties,
       who were engaged by ruthless exploiting the nature T
The open mine literally on fire; there is no water and the land has 
turned
totally infertile.  From being owners of land the indigenous people 
are
forced to turn into coal stealers in the eyes of the law.

 The Fire Within draws a painful portrait of the transformation of the
 land of the Tana Bhagats; a sect of the oraon tribe who were 
beliverers
 of non-violence and Ganghian philosophy to a land witnessing 
violent
 Naxalite movement today.

At the same time it talks about the mafia, corruption, the energy
politics, - how a peaceful area is declared a disturbed area. Now the
whole area is under control of under ground Maoist gorilla groups.

 A Film by Shriprakash 

kritikashri@yhaoo.com


John D'Souza
CENTRE FOR EDUCATION & DOCUMENTATION
www.doccentre.org

Three New Backgrounders from CED
1. Background to Globalisation
2. Changing the Stream: Backgrounder on Women's movement in India
3. The Long & Winding Road: From Structural Change to Structural Adjustmen=
t. Backgrounder on NGOs and people's movement