Celebrating Diversity and Pluralism - Invitation & Press Release

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Invitation & Pre-Event Press Release

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND PLURALISM
DEFENDING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
March 6th 2010 I 4 pm to 10 pm I St. Andrews College, Bandra, Mumbai

Invitation & Pre-Event Press Release

CELEBRATING DIVERSITY AND PLURALISM
DEFENDING FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND DEMOCRATIC RIGHTS
March 6th 2010 I 4 pm to 10 pm I St. Andrews College, Bandra, Mumbai.

Keeping in its folds myriad traditions, cultures, art and further rejuvenating it with time, to appeal, to reach out to the newer generations is very much the part of persona of Mumbai. This is what makes Mumbai, the Cosmopolitan City of India. However, in the past few decades, attempts have been made to dilute the diverse and plural way of living and to widen the divide between the hearts of people. In order to give a glimpse of fabric of diversity, pluralism and to celebrate democratic forms of expression, ANHAD (Act Now for Harmony and Democracy) is organising a cultural event on March 6, 2010, at St. Andrews College, Bandra, Mumbai.

As India is celebrating 60th year of Constitution, therefore in its wake, this event “Celebrating Diversity and Pluralism: Defending Democratic Rights and Freedom of Expression” has been conceptualised to give a platform to the younger generation to use their poetry, music, dance, paintings or other art forms as a medium for expression of their vision of democracy, diversity and secularism. In these days, there are efforts or pressure from many quarters to fall in line with monolithic way of thinking, cultural practicing that acts as barricade for democratic functioning. When people from diverse cultural and social background come together, they form a beautiful mosaic and people find the chance to exchange cultural expressions that in long run wean off the prejudices and triumph over ‘U’ and ‘ME’ rhetoric.

We are happy to extend to you a personal invitation to join us and engage in a fruitful dialogue with the artists, dignitaries and organisers.

Program Flow
4.00 pm – 5.00 pm
The program will begin with the children of the age group 10-15 painting umbrellas to express their notion of diversity and plural society. The best 10 paintings will be awarded.

5.00 pm – 6.00 pm
There will be an hour-long interactive session among youth, Nandita Das and Rahul Bose.
Young artists paint a 100 feet canvas on diversity
A photo exhibition on Mumbai auto-taxiwallas by Sahir Raza

6.00 – 9.00 pm
Artists and groups from across Mumbai, will exhibit their talent on the stage in the form of dance, proscenium theatre, singing etc. Many celebrities active in different walks of life such as musicians, actors, social activists, lawyers, singers, poets will express their solidarity with statements and thematic poetry on Diversity and Pluralism.
Participating artists and activists include:
Amjad Khan, Anand Teltumde, Atul Tiwari, Auritra Ghosh, Chandan Roy Sanyal, Dhruv Sangari, Gersen da Cunha, Imaad Shah, Kumud Misra, Madhur Bhandarker, Mahesh Bhatt, Mahesh Dattani, Manu Rishi, Mehneer Sudan, Neiloufer Bhagwat, Nandita Das, Piyush Misra, Proscenium, Rahul Bose, Rajit Kapoor, Saba Azad, Sahir Raza, Salim Arif, Sambhaji Bhagat, Shabana Azmi, Shekhar Sen, Shyama Kulkarni, Swanand Kirkire, Vahida Nainar, Vidhyadhar Bhave, Vikrant Chaturvedi, Yuvak Biradari

9.00 pm – 10.00 pm
The programme will culminate with Dhruv Sangari, disciple of Late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan adding flavour of Sufism by singing Sufi music. He will be accompanied on Tabla by Amjad Khan.

This is an open event and we encourage every denizen of Mumbai to be part of ‘Celebration of Diversity and Pluralism’ of Mumbai.
The programme is organised by Anhad and supported by Oxfam India and Hivos.

For more details contact
shabnam hashmi
Cell: 09811807558