N-awareness

“The idea was to create awareness about the dangers of playing with the atom. The process of nuclear fission in nuclear reactors is the same as in an atom bomb. Even after knowing the devastating impact of radiation post-Hiroshima,we continue to have a casual approach towards things that pose such severe danger to the entire human race,” says Neeraj Jain,convener at Lokayat.

Even after 65 years,the radiation continues to cause cancer,fetal abnormalities,skin diseases,mental disabilities,and the trauma has been passed on to succeeding generations of the victims. “Our archives consists of over 300 documentaries on nuclear disasters. We chose some of the most rare and unseen films for the film festival,” says Jain. It happened in Bhopal,an Al-Jazeera documentary; Poison on the Platter directed by Mahesh Bhatt,Tarapur to Jaitapur: The Yatra cannot be stopped directed by Suma Josson,Half Life: A Journey to Chernobyl directed by Phil Grabsky and D Beckerstaff,and Vinash Sanhita by Amit Narkar were screened at the festival.

“The films are eye-openers for the society. At a time when Japan,Italy and Germany are putting an end to nuclear activity,India is pushing for it. Even after the Bhopal gas tragedy and the genetically modified food issues,we want to create something against the laws of nature,” says Prof Abhijeet A M from the College of Engineering,who attended the festival. “The victims of Bhopal have not been given justice for over 26 years now. There is hardly any value for human life. The people of the country need to wake up and raise their voice,” he adds.