Now, a short film to spread rationalist Dabholkar's message

October 13, 2013

DabholkarPune, Oct 13: A short film made to support the anti-superstition mission undertaken by slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar will now become a vehicle for propagating the cause for which he campaigned relentlessly.

A Mumbai-based duo - Amandeep Singh and Amarnath Chandaliya - closely associated with Dabholkar, has produced an 18-minute film titled `Bhooth Bada Ki Bhookh` (which is bigger - ghost or hunger?).

Rights of this film will be passed on to the Andhashraddha Nirmulan Samiti (ANS), the anti-superstition movement group founded by the social activist who was murdered here on August 20.

According to Amandeep, the film`s director, they had conceived and completed the film revolving around the theme of eradication of superstition and development of scientific temper, in March this year, just five months before unknown gunmen shot the rationalist dead during a morning walk.

Still recovering from the shock of his sudden exit, Singh and Chandaliya, who has written the screenplay, decided to hand over the film - shot in just two days with a modest budget of Rs 2 lakh - to ANS as a tribute to selfless crusader who fought and died for a cause dear to his heart.

Singh said they would give 200 copies of of the film to ANS which would also have the distribution rights. The film DVDs/CDs will be supplied to the Pune-based organisation as per requirement at a nominal copying charge as the project was not a commercial one, he added.

The film, which seeks to convey the anti-superstition message with a story of a young boy and his mother, was screened in the city on Friday in the presence of Hamid, Dabholkar`s son, and other ANS activists.

"The mother, though uneducated, removes the fears of the boy who is scared of ghosts, offering simple explanations," Singh said, adding the entire narrative is presented in a sequence lasting just one day.

While noted Marathi actress Mitalee Jagtap has played the role of mother, two children were drafted from the Mumbai slums for the film produced under the banner `Junoon`.

The crew associated with the film`s production worked without any remuneration, Singh and Chandaliya noted.

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Agencies
July 28,2020

Mumbai, Jul 28: Megastar Amitabh Bachchan says he was left in tears as his daughter-in-law, actor Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, and granddaughter Aaradhya Bachchan were discharged from hospital after testing negative for coronavirus.

Aishwarya and her eight-year-old daughter, who were shifted to the isolation ward of Nanavati Hospital on July 17, were discharged on Monday.

Amitabh, 77, and his actor-son Abhishek are still in hospital after they were admitted on July 11.

In a post on official blog, the Bollywood veteran said that he became emotional when Aaradhya told him that he would be "back home soon".

"They go home, the little one and Bahurani... and the tears flow out... the little one embraces and tells me not to cry... 'You’ll be home soon', she assures... I must believe her," he said.

On Monday, Abhishek had said that he and his father were still under the care of medical staff at the Nanavati Hospital's isolation ward.

"My father and I remain in hospital under the care of the medical staff. Thank you all for your continued prayers and good wishes. Indebted forever," the 44-year-old actor tweeted.

Both Amitabh and Abhishek have been sharing their health updates with fans on various social media platforms.

Last week, Amitabh had dismissed reports that he had finally tested negative for coronavirus, calling the piece of news "an incorrigible lie".

Mumbai's Covid-19 tally rose to 1,10,129 on Monday with addition of 1,033 new cases.

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News Network
June 8,2020

Mumbai, Jun 8: Veteran writer-lyricist Javed Akhtar has won the 2020 Richard Dawkins Award for critical thinking, holding religious dogma up to scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values.

Akhtar has become the first Indian to be given the honour, which recognises a distinguished individual from the field of science, scholarship, education, or entertainment, who publicly proclaims the values of secularism and rationalism and upholding scientific truth.

Akhtar's wife, veteran actor Shabana Azmi said the award's relevance becomes more prominent especially in the current times when secularism is under attack.

"I am thrilled. I know what a hero Richard Dawkins has been for Javed. The award gains all the more significant because in today’s time when secularism is being attacked by religious fundamentalists of all hues, this award comes as a validation of Javed’s long service to rational thinking," Azmi told PTI.

The award is named after world-renowned English evolutionary biologist Richard Dawkins. Actor-comedian Ricky Gervais received the honour last year.

Bollywood celebrities Anil Kapoor and Dia Mirza took to Twitter to congratulate the 75-year-old writer for the recognition.

"Knowing that Richard Dawkins has been your hero since you read 'The Selfish Gene', the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award must be extra special for you @Javedakhtarjadu Saab! It's a truly incredible honour! Congratulations!" Kapoor tweeted.

Dia said Akhtar's win is a proud moment for rhe country.

"Javed Akhtar Saab has won the prestigious Richard Dawkins Award 2020 for critical thinking, holding religious dogma upto scrutiny, advancing human progress and humanist values. He is the only Indian to have won this award! @Javedakhtarjadu Congratulations! You make us proud," Dia wrote.

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News Network
March 5,2020

Bihar, Mar 5: A complaint has been filed before a court in Bihar against lyricist Javed Akhtar over his remarks on the FIRs being registered against expelled AAP councillor Tahir Hussain in the wake of Delhi riots.

The complaint was lodged on Wednesday by Amit Kumar, a local advocate, before the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Thakur Aman Kumar.

On the basis of a newspaper report, the complainant has alleged that Akhtar's remarks were seditious and promoted religious hatred.

The media report was based on Akhtar's tweet of February 27 that "So many killed, so many injured, so many houses burned, so many shops looted so many people turned destitute but police has sealed only one house and looking for his owner. Incidentally, his name is Tahir. Hats off to the consistency of the Delhi police."

The violence in northeast Delhi claimed at least 42 lives and left over 200 injured. The former Rajya Sabha member was heavily trolled for the tweet.

In a subsequent tweet, Akhtar who asserted that he is a non-believer and a rationalist, had clarified that he was not asking "why Tahir but why ONLY Tahir and not even an FIR against those who have openly threatened violence in the presence of the police".

The matter is likely to come up for hearing on March 25.

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