With the General Elections 2019 just a few months to go, the Central Government passed the landmark Constitution Amendment Bill 124, 2019 aimed at giving 10% reservation in education and government employment to the economically weaker sections among the upper castes who are otherwise not covered under other reservations. The Upper Caste Quota had been passed almost unanimously in Lok Sabha on 8th January and on 9th January the bill was passed in the Rajya Sabha and now with the signature of the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind the bill has become a law.
It’s interesting to note how an amendment bill passed through the parliament so easily and comfortably? In fact, the passage of the amendment bill itself will tell a tale of the political power of the upper/forward castes. With hardly anybody voted against the bill, it had smooth sailing.
While Jats, Marathas and Patels/Patidars took to the streets to get a bigger share of the jobs pie, the BCs have demanded increase in their quota of reservation in proportion to the population, this new bill to provide reservations to the upper castes actually breached the 50% upper cap laid by the Supreme Court. The quota bill will take the reservations to 60%. Ironically the criteria earning less than Rs 8 Lakh annually and having less than 5 acres of land by the people make 95% of the population eligible for the reservation.
Whether one calls it a pre-poll stunt to appease the upper caste votes, the BJP govt is clearly trying to woo a large chunk of votes from the upper caste.
Is the bill really for the poor or mere a political stunt to consolidate the upper caste voters? Who are the real beneficiaries of the bill? Can it stand the scrutiny of the Supreme Court?
Come and join us for a panel discussion on India’s most generous bill!
The Discussants are:
Prof. Kasim, Osmania University
Prof. Bhangya Bhukya, University of Hyderabad
Prof Padmaja Shaw, Osmania University
Arunank, Social Activist
And others…
ALL ARE WELCOME. ENTRY IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL!!!
FREE EVENT
20 Fingers - A film in several episodes with Bijan Daneshmand and Mania Akbari, exposing some of the issues of men and women within the confines of tradition and family life in Iran.
#The film deals with controversial topics such as divorce and homosexuality and has not yet received permission to be shown uncut in its native country.#
Director: Mania Akbari
Run Time: 72 mins
Special Mention: #Shot in several long takes on a DV camera.#
Accolades:
* Winner of the Best feature film in Venezia Cinema Digital Section (Venice, Italy - 2004)
* The Grand jury prize for the spirit of freedom in Bahamas International Film Festival (Bahamas - 2004)
* Special Mention Femina International Women's Film Festival (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil - 2005)
* Winner of Best Director and Best Actress Digital International Barcelona Film Festival (Barcelona, Spain - 2005)
* Winner of the Most Innovative film Award Wine Country International Film Festival (California, USA - 2005)
Introduction - 10 mins
The movie starts at 7:10 PM
20 minutes post-screening discussion
Lamakaan invites one and all to join this discussion, as two fierce feminists will answer our questions and deliberate on the way forward.
"5-arrows musical troupe" is a loose collective of artists working with Punjab Naujwan Sabha with aim of creating and propagating revolutionary and progressive art content. We firmly believe that in an unequal society no art can be neutral and artists must recognize their duty towards society and shall focus their art towards the same. The name is derived from the historical event whereby Guru Gobind Singh gave 5 of his arrows to Banda Singh Bahadur to signify that Banda Singh Bahadur is to carry forward the struggle initiated by the Guru for an equal, exploitation-free society where everyone can live with dignity. Remarkably Banda Singh Bahadur was one of the first in the history of the Indian subcontinent to distribute lands to the tiller and dealt a lasting blow to casteism and Brahmanism by mobilising the most downtrodden sections of the society. The troupe hopes to carry forward the struggle left unfinished.
ENTRY IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL!!!
As we all know that Anand Teltumbde is one of the leading Dalit intellectuals of the present times. He has always taken a pro-people stand and raised voice against injustice and targeted exploitation. He has also written many books and articles to support the cause of common masses.
He will be shortly arrested by the State under unlawful activities prevention act(UAPA) for his alleged involvement in Bhima Koregaon incident. The charges levelled against by the State are not true and intellectuals like Anand Teltumbde are being framed because they have been taking rock solid stand for the cause of marginalized communities. He has clearly stood against the present regime and its anti people's policies. The State wants to create a fear among the intellectuals and to prevent them from writing and speaking against them.
Hence, in order to oppose this arrest and support Anand Teltumbde, a few democratic organisations have given a call for a joint solidarity meeting to extend support to Anand Teltumbde. Lamakaan, being an open and cultural space has also extended its support for the cause and conduct this meeting to propagate the cause.
His heart wrenching open letter to the general public clearly shows he's implicated in a false case.
https://theprint.in/governance/author-anand-teltumbde-seeks-public-help-to-prevent-his-arrest-in-bhima-koregaon-case/179091/
The participating organizations are:
Human Rights Forum
NAPM
Bigul Mazdoor Dasta
Azad Mann
Virasam
Civil Liberties Committee
Veekshanam
and several other like-minded organizations and individuals have extended their solidarity with this cause. Hence, we invite you to this solidarity meeting.
All are requested to attend the meeting
A dashing cricketer, a respected commentator, a popular anchor, an ambitious media mogul and a charismatic dictator are plotting to destroy the gentleman’s game. The Fundu Four, a team of teen sleuths, follow a trail of ruthless ambition, deceit, kidnapping and murder—which leads them to an exotic island, a tiny speck in the Indian Ocean.
Can the Fundu Four rescue the game and escape from the martinet and his men? The Siege ofCricket provides the answers with dollops of intrigue, adventure and humour.
About Speaker:
Ramendra Kumar (Ramen) is an award winning writer with 35 books in English and translations in 29 languages.
Ramen’s work has found a place in several text books as well as national & international anthologies. A much sought after inspirational speaker & story teller, the writer has been invited to participate in Sharjah Children’s Reading Festival, Jaipur Litfest (Outreach), Hyderabad Litfest, Bookaroo, etc. The writer had the privilege of chairing two sessions at the 36th IBBY Congress held in Athens recently.
Ramen who did his schooling from HPS, Begumpet is working as Chief of Communications, Rourkela Steel Plant.
The fourth edition of this conference in 2019 will focus on the theme of the 'List.'
For more details on the previous IRC's, see: https://cis-india.github.io/irc/index.html
Differing in their journalistic experiences and personal interests, authors Ankur Bhardwaj, Seema Chisti and Sushant Singh teamed up to draw one song per year, to complement the twists and travails of 70 years of post-independence India. Note by Note captures the rhythm of the country’s socio-economic and political rumblings to the beat of popular film music and the symphony it creates is imaginative, interesting and engaging albeit in parts.
Purpose of this gathering is to explore interfaith efforts to secure democracy and human rights in India, and in particular, the role of faith-based activists.
Format: 5-minute presentations by several faith-based activists/advocates for human rights and secular democracy in India followed by open discussion among all gathered.
Speaker: SUNITA will speak about progressive Hinduism which is devoted to the human rights of all faiths.
Some of the questions to explore during the discussion are: Does the "left" in India collaborate with faith-based efforts for human rights? Do such collaborations and interfaith efforts in India that stand for minority rights include Hindus? Are there Hindus who connect their activism against Hindu nationalism to the teachings of the Gita and Vedas etc. Of course, we know of Swami Agnvesh, Shashi Tharoor, KP Ramanunni -- but these are individuals. Are such views and efforts present in broader interfaith organizing in India? How can Sadhana support such efforts in India, from so far away?
ENTRY IS FREE AND OPEN TO ALL!!!
Organizer
Sunita Vishwanath and Lamakaan
FREE EVENT
Leila - Leila is a kind-hearted and loving woman whose marriage to Reza starts off happily. What happens after ?
Director: Dariush Mehrjui
Run Time: 110 mins
Taglines: The tragedy of a love torn apart by each partner's overeagerness to please the other.
Introduction - 10 mins
The movie starts at 7:10 PM
20 minutes post-screening discussion
The months of November and December 2018 were abuzz with political discussions and discussions all over the social media very intensely in the states of Chattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram, Rajasthan and Telangana. These elections were considered to be the semifinals to the General Elections to be held in the first half of 2019. Soon we shall see intense political discussions and discourses in social media across the country. It is important for us to see if this is going to be another tool for the subversion of the democratic process?
In India, we have witnessed certain methods pursued by a large section of the political parties that consistently subvert the electoral process to ensure their victories. The conventional methods included distribution of money to voters, unleashing violence, polarising people based on caste, religion, region etc. Now political parties are betting big on the usage of social media, at least the two mainstream political parties at the national level. The ruling party is far ahead with infrastructure in place, having an IT wing and a troll army comprising of their activists. The president of BJP has even claimed publicly that they are now in a position to trend whatever they decided to trend! Is it just because they have the numbers to do it? The answer to this question is not trivial and just having the troll army or the numbers isn’t sufficient enough to become influential in dealing with the new avenues of technology and fresh ways of utilizing media such as instant messaging, micro-blogging and social networks. These platforms themselves, in social medium also facilitate this process for a cost. This is a key aspect in which the subversion of the electoral process is going to be in 2019.
In hindsight, when we look at the General elections of 2014, they were very different from the preceding elections. It was for the first time that internet as a medium was also crucial in deciding the fate of the contestants in at least 160 parliament seats. The availability of the “smart phone” in the 2014 elections was limited to the rich, urban middle class and rural elite. In-spite of this limitation, the number of interactions among people was staggering. According to Facebook, “From the day elections were announced to the day polling ended, 29 million people conducted 227 million interactions (posts, comments, shares, and likes) regarding the elections on Facebook.”
The 2019 elections will see an exponential increase in these interactions. The interactions in 2014 were mainly through Facebook and Twitter, while the usage of WhatsApp was relatively less. With the advent of Reliance Jio and the falling mobile data rates, internet penetration has almost doubled now and we have close to 40 Cr smart phone users in India today. The total number of WhatsApp users in 2014 May was close to 5 Cr while now it is above 25 Cr. Now the total user base of WhatsApp supersedes any other platform. However, Facebook owns WhatsApp and it is evident that Facebook holds most of the information. The consequence of this increase in number will have an impact on the interactions and will be staggering. All the interactions on these platforms reside in the servers of these platforms even if the user removes it. The behavioural patterns of the users has been profiled by these platforms and are being sold for advertisers as audience by these platforms. Forbes estimated that WhatsApp’s total revenue will be $5 billion and the average revenue per user to be $4 by 2020. As of February 2018, WhatsApp had over 1.5 billion users and sees 60 billion messages sent per day, according to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg in a Q4 2017 conference call. Billions of dollars of revenue come to these platforms by the selling the information generated by the users in these platforms.
About the Speaker:
Mr Y. Kiran Chandra is the General Secretary Free Software Movement of India, A national coalition of organisations working
for free software, free knowledge and free society.
Founding member and Chairman, Swecha, A free software Initiative working on developing and
building free software infrastructure on a movement mode. Involves significant interventions in local
language computing, policy change in curriculum, deployment, training and development of free
software along with work on issues of patents and copyright
Associated with policy level changes in imparting free software based computer education in
schools. Building and incubating FOSS delivery models.
Worked as a consultant for media houses on services over the internet.
Extensively toured India for the propagation of free software and nurture building of free software
communities.
Is an active proponent of Digital Freedom and has been in the forefront of the struggles against 66A
Free basics and other issues.
Have been actively campaigning on the issues of internet surveillance.
ENTRY FREE & OPEN TO ALL!!!
The fourth edition of this conference in 2019 will focus on the theme of the 'List.'
For more details on the previous IRC's, see: https://cis-india.github.io/irc/index.html
Srivani Jade was introduced to music at the age of four by her father Bhavani Prasad Jade and uncle Raghavendra Tilwalli. She studied Khayal initially with Dr. Sharad Gadre in the Gwalior style (2002-03), and in the Kirana style with Pandit Parameshwar Hegde since 2006. Srivani also enjoys singing an eclectic repertoire of light classical music, such as Thumri-dadra, Tappa and Bhajans.
Although she grew up performing on the stage and radio in India, she debuted as a Khayal singer in Ragamala's Utsav festival (Seattle, 2008) and Devanandan Ubhayaker Yuva Sangeet Utsav for emerging artists (Bengaluru, 2009). She has since continued to study, teach, and perform Hindustani Gayaki in both North America and India--Kalakendra (Portland), Ragamala (Seattle), Chhandayan (New York), Anindo Chatterjee Institute of Tabla, Suburban Music Circle (Mumbai) to name a few--and major music festivals such as the Sawai Gandharv Bhimsen Mahotsav (2014).
Here is the link to this session’s reading: https://drive.google.com/open?id=1hOYbXXdjEy3ABOVICvSZx6F5z3MlQ_W4
This time we’ll read a paper titled “Insidious Dangers of Benevolent Sexism: Consequences for Women’s Performance” by Benoit Dardenne. In it, she discusses four experiments which suggest that benevolent, or a sort of patronizing sexism is worse than hostile sexism for women’s cognitive performance. Despite being garbed in apparently positive and harmless tone, benevolent sexism seems to be more harmful than the hostile kind.
This paper was suggest by Pallavi, another member of our reading group, who also suggested that we could go easy on the sections where she details the four experiments and instead lend greater attention to the discussion following each experiment.
This time, we’ll only have one reading. This is for three reasons, arranged here by the order of their predominance:
1. I am vacationing in Pondicherry and it was quite difficult take time off from eating to look for papers.
2. Since I am putting up this post a little later than usual, some of us might only have time for one.
3. Having one reading could prevent us from doing a shallow reading - which we otherwise might have done in the rush to finish both the readings.
While you're reading the text, please do make notes of what you agree or disagree with. Or of what you don't get. Or what you think is an example of benevolent sexism. That will make for a richer discussion.
If you want to keep getting notified of these sessions we do every other week, you can join our FB group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1451288351669247/
See you then <3
Director : Peter Yates
Synopsis :
A small-town boy obsessed with the Italian cycling team vies for the affections of a college girl.
Plan for the event :
Introduction - 10 mins
The movie starts at 7:10 PM
20 minutes post-screening discussion
What we cover?
Online selling, setting up your online shop, pricing strategy, discounts and offers, customer grouping, shipping
Target Audience: Business Owners, Startups, Home based business owners and Women Entrepreneurs.
Per head Rs/- 200/- only
Exhibition of the selected photographs of a Photography Competition for children in the age 10 to 14 yrs. Photographs showcasing the hopes of young minds towards a brand-new outlook for Hyderabad in 2019.
We live in an age where voices of dissent are curbed because they question those in power. There is a lack of any effective tool to articulate an effective challenge. In a world where the media and the social media are controlled by vested interests, where safe spaces are increasingly decreasing, we have turned to poetry.
Because poetry, like political language is rarely spoken without intention. As Audre Lorde puts it, “Poetry is not a luxury. It is a vital necessity of our existence. It forms the quality of the light within which we predicate our hopes and dreams toward survival and change, first made into language, then into idea, then into more tangible action. Poetry is the way we help give name to the nameless so it can be thought. The farthest horizons of our hopes and fears are cobbled by our poems, carved from the rock experiences of our daily lives.”
What makes poetry so powerful as a tool of protest? as a weapon we can use to challenge the malicious powers that have risen to prominence in this age? Because poetry is far more than syntax and grammar– the terms and measurements that help us identify and discuss language. It is more than copy on a page. It is rhythm; it is sensations; it is incantation. And, through this, poetry becomes meaning. It becomes truth.
We at lamakaan are happy to invite you come and participate in a poet led revolution. A revolution towards a more equal, trusting and loving society. Along with Sabika Abbas Naqvi, who is a protest poet and has performed at numerous occasions and more importantly, at numerous street corners, we invite you to write your own protest poems and read them to an audience on the 9th of February.
Exhibition of the selected photographs of a Photography Competition for children in the age 10 to 14 yrs. Photographs showcasing the hopes of young minds towards a brand-new outlook for Hyderabad in 2019.
Proposed Agenda:
Presentation of paper by Sagar Dhara
On environmental emergency:The cause effect and social relevance of protesting as a group
ALL ARE WELCOME!
American musician, composer and director Paula Jeanine Bennett brings an evening of her folk opera for all folk, "A Village Of One" (AVOO) to Lamakaan. AVOO is a music and theater piece that has traveled to Indonesia, Morocco and recently Bhubaneswar, Odisha, at the Kalanirvana Art Center. It is work that addresses the loneliness of the modern soul backlit by village sensibilities and illuminated by catchy songs - and solar lighting! For this presentation, Paula will talk about her recent experiences adapting the piece in India and share her compositions.
The audience will be invited to raise their voices too
About Artist:
Paula Jeanine Bennett, born in Cleveland, Ohio, the heartland of the USA, is a vocalist, percussionist, composer, lyricist and cultural arts activist. Her long and luminous association with Indian music began in 2001 when she was invited to participate in the elite Jazz India Vocal Institute program in Mumbai. She has returned to India many times and participated in a variety of festivals and concerts, most notably at the NCPA, the Kala Ghoda Festival and the Capital Jazz Festival. Paula has adapted numerous ghazals and thumris and was presented by the American Center in a 5-city tour of Western India performing this material in collaboration with local ensembles. She has also composed new material reflecting her deep love for the pure voice exemplified in North Indian classical traditions as evinced on her release on India's Mystica Music, "Melody Sky" (with guitarist Lee Boice).
She lives on the Brooklyn waterfront and can see the Statue of Liberty from her rooftop.
Michael Yorke : As an anthropologist I had always relied on talking to the Indian Hijra community wherever I was doing research. They had some of the most analytical and critical minds among rural agricultural people. Not having access to land in a patriarchal society, and not being able to nurture a family, they were a community of people who relied on their wits, intellect and intelligence to make a living. Whenever I needed to know why a tradition was followed, they never jut said “because my grandfather did it”; they would search out the human motivations and historical reasons for habitual mode of conduct. They were a people always free from received ideas. They were an uninhibited group of free-thinkers. They were the most valuable informants an anthropologist could have.
While discussing this with a friend of mine in Delhi, who had once married into a grand Rajasthani regal family, she said that when living in an old fashioned zenana, she had relied on the Hijra guards of the zenana to adjust to her new life. So together we determined to make a film exploring the profound and ancient tradition that India maintains to accommodation people of transgender inclinations in a society where masculine and feminine role are so widely separated. Her contact with the ancient and traditional hijras of Ajmer gave us the most extraordinary access to this otherwise hidden and deeply private world, that finally took us into the world of modern hijra prostitutes in Hijra Gully in Mumbai.
This film is an anthropological insight and analysis into the ancient Indian tradition of transgenderism for a western audience where transgender issues have only recently become an issue of great social concern.
American jazz and fusion vocalist, percussionist and lyricist Paula Jeanine Bennett comes to Lamakaan with an evening of music from many streams. From her background in jazz to forays into North Indian semi-classical forms (ghazal, thumri) and new approaches for the pure voice, Paula will present original and adapted compositions from a variety of sources.
This will be Paula's last performance before returning to wintery New York City.
The evening will be fun, unusual and highly melodi
‘THE JEEVES & WOOSTER GANG’
Readings from PG Wodehouse
Directed by Pranava Singhal
Dramatic Circle Hyderabad presents selected dramatized readings from the stories of the great humourist PG Wodehouse, at 7.30 pm on Friday,15th Feb 2019.
The readings are aimed at introducing the uninitiated to the delights of Wodehouse’s world, and also an evening of reunion for the cognoscenti to pay their respects on the Master’s 44th death anniversary !
“ The Funniest writer ever to put pen to paper.” – Hugh Laurie
“ Wodehouse is the greatest comic writer ever.” – Douglas Adams
“ You don’t analyse such sunlit perfection, you just sit back in its warmth and splendour. – Stephen Fry
Admission : Free Passes on ‘First-come’ basis
By Nishat and Eisha
Mandalas help in relieving tension and anxiety. It also relaxes and heals the body, mind, and spirit. Brush Lettering is also a form of therapeutic art which helps to create art with letters and words.
This workshop will include:
~ Basics of mandala making and brush lettering
~ Combining both art forms and creating a unique artwork to take back with you
P.S. You'll be given a hand-lettered name card and a mini mandala as gifts by the facilitators!
This workshop is designed for people who are enthusiastic about learning new art forms!
No drawing experience required.
Fee:
Online registration - 600/-
On-spot - 800/-
For registrations, contact: 9704295140/ 8985500910
The Speakers That Are Participating in this Programe are
1.Mr.K. Srinivas Rao ACP..CCS Hyderabad
2.Dr.E.Ravishankar Senior Endocrinologist Appolo Hospitals
3. Sonia Akula Founder Prasident AASA Foundation
Director : Robert Benton
Runtime : 111 mins
Synopsis :
In central Texas in the 1930s, a widow, with two small children, tries to run her small 40-acre farm with the help of two disparate people.
Plan for the event :
Introduction - 10 mins
The movie starts at 7:10 PM
20 minutes post-screening discussion