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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Nearly 2,000 Manipur Police recruits pass out from Assam academy
Dergaon (Assam) (PTI): Nearly 2,000 recruits of the Manipur Police passed out from the Lachit Borphukan Police Academy here on Monday, strengthening the force in the violence-hit northeastern state, an official said.
Assam and Manipur Governor Lakshman Prasad Acharya and Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh attended the ceremony as the chief guests.
The intensive 44-week basic training course for 1,984 Manipur Police recruits commenced at the Assam Police academy here in January, the senior official told PTI.
"Of the 1,984 recruits who began training, 1,946 passed out. Unfortunately, two recruits died due to medical conditions and the remaining opted out for medical and personal reasons," he said.
The Lachit Borphukan Police Academy (LBPA) was chosen for this programme due to its "successful track record in training recruits over the past two years", where nearly 7,000 were effectively trained, the Assam Police official claimed.
The initial training period was 44 weeks, but this was extended as there was a two-week mid-term break in June 2024, and most of the recruits reported late after the recess, he said.
"Given the ongoing law and order challenges in Manipur and their possible deployment in a high-risk environment, additional emphasis was placed on endurance training, including long-distance speed marches, firing proficiency, tactical and intensive unarmed combat (UAC) training," the official said.
To foster mental toughness and unit cohesion, special focus was given to national integration training, building esprit de corps and enhancing cohesiveness among the riflemen, he added.
The comprehensive training programme included physical fitness, proficiency in handling small arms, unarmed combat (UAC), crowd control, disaster management, law and policing, soft skills development and tactical training.
The recruits were drawn from nine Manipur-based India Reserve and six Manipur Rifles battalions.
Asked about the community profile of the new recruits, the official said, "The caste distribution of the recruits is diverse with 62 per cent being Meiteis, 12 per cent Kukis and the remaining 26 per cent belonging to Nagas and other tribes."
He also said that upon arrival, the recruits' fitness levels were a matter of concern as 50 per cent were overweight, including five per cent who were classified as obese.
"By the end of the training, only five per cent remain overweight, primarily due to chronic medical conditions. Additionally, 31 per cent of the recruits fall within the 30-40 years age bracket, which posed additional challenges for the trainers," he added.
Since 2022, the training methodology at LBPA has been revamped to incorporate scientific and practical approaches in line with contemporary policing requirements, the official added.
Notably, more than 250 people have been killed and thousands rendered homeless in ethnic violence between Meiteis and Kuki-Zo groups in Manipur since May last year.
