Re: [Assam] Deepa Mehta's love for Hinduism-- criticism and Mother Teresa

Wed, 03 May 2006 17:35:01 -0700

Ram-da,
 
I think you are right about the good thing about media people highlighting the plight of widows and other oppressed people. However, the main grouse which many have ( I read reports earlier in Indian newspapers) is that the movie depicts ALL widows in India of Hindu faith --- as sexually exploited or engaging in illicit relationships. For widows - if she was really interested she should start self help groups. Movies have their limitations as a means of social reform. It is very easy to draw support of Christian missionaries and other India haters - for funds and otherwise - to make films ridiculing Hinduism. Has she made any film about Canadians and their problems - she has spent most of her adult life in Canada. Why not?
 
In the West noone would raise any objections if Deepa Mehta has sexual relationships with many men and women but it would certainly raise eyebrows in India or other parts of Asia. You may call it double standards - but where do you draw the line. Why doesn't USA allow topless women in public whereas Nordic countries do that.
 
I saw her movies Fire and Earth at Harvard library last year . There was nothing really appealing about them. Shekhar Kapur's Bandit Queen was a hundred times better - if you can really compare them.
Umesh
 
PS: My views here may seem extreme - but such are the views of those who strike out against her and all those who have nothing good to give to India and only criticise. Have you reasoned why noone in India dares/d to speak out against Mother Teresa?

Ram Sarangapani <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I just read the write-up on "Water" and Deepa Mehta in the NYT.
 
I think Umesh you are being way too sensitive. Film produces/directors and authors usually have the leeway in portraying as they see the world. They often make us see things that a community or a country does not or just ignores. In that aspect, I think Mehta has actually done a great service to the cause of Hinduism.
 
This aspect of widows being shunned by society and even by family members is very real and is shameful to say the least. The NYT article mentions villages etc where these practices still exist. I for one am not willing to blame the villagers, as they may be too steeped in traditions and customs - but do find fault with the supposedly educated class of Indian society which seems to ignore such faultlines.
 
Progressive Hindus ought to be able to take their messages across India and educate people on the evils of casteism, ill-treatment of widows, or other evils that haven't necessarily been mandated by Hinduism.
 
So, IMHO, Hindu fundamentalists ought to be thankful to a Deepa Mehta for opening their eyes to such problems instead of creating havoc.
 
One last thing I would like to state is that generally, you will find mainstream Hindus peg themselves to varying viewpoints on this and other issues regarding criticisms of their own religion, and thats a great thing. At least one won't see a Salman Rushdie like dikat on Deepa Mehta from a majority of Hindus.
 
-- Ram
 

 
On 5/3/06, Rajen Barua <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
>I haven't seen any effforts by Deepa Mehta to highlight any good points about Hindusim at all.
 
Why you have to depend on Deepa Mehta to high light the goods of Hinduism. Are there no other Hindus who can do that?
Or Deepa mehta have some special; power?
RB
----- Original Message -----
Sent: Wednesday, May 03, 2006 3:14 PM
Subject: [Assam] Deepa Mehta's love for Hinduism--or otherwise

 
Just like I haven't seen any love emanating from C-da's writings about Hinduism similarly I haven't seen any love emanating from Deepa Mehta's movies or otherwise about Hindu faith.
 
Anybody who is not a Hindu should expect negative response to negative comments about Hinduism.
 
I take my own case - while I was in India I did not know many realities existing in US etc . But after coming to US I started commenting about them - and then a member of my mailing list got angry that if you did not like USA why did you come here. My constructive comments were miscontrued. Now I take care to highlight good points of USA from time to time.
 
I haven't seen any effforts by Deepa Mehta to highlight any good points about Hindusim at all.
 
have you?
 
Umesh


Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005




Umesh Sharma
5121 Lackawanna ST
College Park, MD 20740

1-202-215-4328 [Cell Phone]

Ed.M. - International Education Policy
Harvard Graduate School of Education,
Harvard University,
Class of 2005

Switch an email account to Yahoo! Mail, you could win FIFA World Cup tickets. 
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