Words like democracy, patriotism have lost their meaning: Saeed Mirza
Mumbai, July 7: Words like democracy and patriotism have lost their significance in today's age, and there's a need to "retrieve" them, says National Award winning filmmaker Saeed Akhtar Mirza.
Known for pushing the bar for parallel cinema with movies like "Mohan Joshi Hazir Ho!", "Albert Pinto Ko Gussa Kyon Aata Hai", "Salim Langde Pe Mat Ro" and "Naseem", discussed democracy with academic and activist Ritu Dewan and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt at the launch of his new book "Memory In the Age Of Amnesia" at the Crossword Book Store here on Friday.
Mirza said: "Words like democracy, patriotism, national interest have lost their meaning today. We need to retrieve those words again. This book is to remind people of the past and give them hope. I don't write a book they are installations of my experiences and memories in my mind."
"Memory In The Age of Amnesia" seeks to establish multiple realities through a series of tales and stories that are rooted in one's understanding of dreams, nightmares, violence and repentance.
This book is a collection of excerpts from Mirza's personal life that showcase the past and links it to the present. It portrays a vision of building up of a nation from the colloquial tales and experiences of common people.
Mirza also discussed his childhood and the conflict-driven situations he had faced while growing up, with the panelists, who also spoke about the nostalgic past of India while sharing insights on their hope of what the future should be.
Bhatt said: "What is unique about the book is that if you have teared the enemy to shreds, you still have the ability to reflect. Our nation's soul is much bigger than the government; the nation is not the government. And this book looks unflinchingly at that reality. This book has the audacity of hope."
Also gracing the event were Ashutosh Gowariker, Sudhir Mishra, Aziz Mirza and Makarand Deshpande.
The book is available at bookstores as well as on commerce platforms.
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Noida student's death: Family cries foul, police says autopsy confirms drowning
Noida (PTI): The family of a 21-year-old university student, who drowned at an abandoned construction site in Noida, Thursday alleged foul play saying there were marks on his body even as the police confirmed drowning as the cause of death.
According to a police statement, sand and water were found in the lungs of the deceased, identified as Harshit Bhatt, while his viscera has been preserved for further examination.
Bhatt, a final-year Bachelor of Physical Education student of the private university and a resident of Indirapuram in Ghaziabad, had drowned on Wednesday in a water-filled area at the abandoned construction site in Sector 94, under Sector 126 police station limits.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Saad Miyan Khan said the student had gone to the site along with four friends to celebrate the end of their examinations.
"During the outing, Bhatt entered a nearby water-filled pit to bathe and suddenly drowned," the officer said, adding that the incident was reported to Dial-112 by one of his companions.
Police and PRV personnel rushed to the spot and, with the help of local divers, retrieved him from the water and rushed him to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.
Khan said other students who had entered the water in an attempt to rescue him were safely pulled out and are stable.
Meanwhile, Bhatt's mother has alleged that there were black marks on his body, raising suspicion over the incident.
Police, however, said no formal complaint has been received from the family so far and action will be taken if any complaint is lodged.
An eyewitness, who assisted in the rescue, said he and others rushed to the spot after hearing cries for help and managed to pull out two students.
"They told us it was their last exam and they had come for a party. One of them went deeper into the water while bathing," the eyewitness said.
